Returnees To Odisha Must Take Permission Of States Of Departure

Bhubaneswar: The state government has made it mandatory for those coming from outside Odisha to obtain permission from the state authorities of the origin of their travel and registration of the vehicles to be used for return journey.

Speaking to the Press here, Transport Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda said the returnees will also have to register themselves and their vehicles on the Odisha Government’s COVID portal. Failing to fulfil these directions, the vehicles will not be allowed to enter the state through the 12 designated check posts along the borders.

After examination of the document of the travellers and vehicles, the check posts will issue a pass for movement in Odisha with route details. Besides, the returnees will be stamped with indelible ink, Panda said.

Cautioning the drivers against overloading and change of prescribed routes, the Transport Commissioner said that they have to report to the nodal officers concerned after reaching their destinations.

According to the government’s spokesman on COVID-19 Subroto Bagchi, 8,830 people have returned to Odisha in the last 24 hours. While 6,382 people have comes in buses, 2,409 travelled by trains, he said adding that around 4.92 lakh more people are likely to come to Odisha in the next few days.