[Vipin Kumar]

If one has to come to Bangalore by road (by personal car) from UP (via MH/TS/AP) and return from Bangalore after three days or so by the same route, what will be the nature of the ePass? Will it be same as that of transit traveller?

Or, does one need to apply for two separate passes?

[Makin Rulesz]

Originally Posted by Vipin Kumar

If one has to come to Bangalore by road (by personal car) from UP (via MH/TS/AP) and return from Bangalore after three days or so by the same route, what will be the nature of the ePass? Will it be same as that of transit traveller?

Or, does one need to apply for two separate passes?

I was in same situation last week, but only difference being my entry and exit was from TN. There is no option to apply for exit pass from KA in Seva Sindhu portal(unless migrant worker), it says epass is not required if you are getting out of KA. But the catch is if you are entering from other states and want to return within 48 hours, authorities at the border checkpost want you to show them an exit pass to ensure that you are actually leaving the state. They do not accept the entry pass of other state as a valid document, in my case i had the entry pass for TN within 48 hours entering KA.
There are 2 options:
1 - Apply for Transit epass, but for this your entry and exit points have to be different states
2 - Apply for Business visit, which allows exit within 48 hours without the need of any quarantine.

Both the above options does not require you to upload any document evidence while applying the epass, but you may be asked for proofs at border.
There is one other option which I don't want to explain here in the forum, but you can explore it while you are at border and I have seen many getting through by way of this

[MCR]

Originally Posted by MCR

So no institutional Quarantine in New Delhi for interstate travelers?

My Parents are taking a Chartered flight to Mumbai from Melbourne. As per my understanding, there is no quarantine in Mumbai for transit passengers. From Mumbai they will take an Indigo flight to Bangalore and later a Taxi to Mysore. They have registered their arrival on Seva Sindhu portal and have requested for home quarantine since they are senior citizens.

[aaggoswami]

Just to update this thread, I traveled to Bicchiwara and Kherwada in RJ from GJ. No checking whatsoever, it was sort of normal driving condition but less traffic. The traffic is lesser than Pre-Covid times which includes highway traffic in Gujarat and also the traffic in RJ. Better average speeds as compared to pre-Covid times. Most of the hotels are not serving full menu plus very little guests. But no ePass or anything required before entering Rajasthan.

[ashis89]

Background
I got a transfer to relocate from Hyderabad to Bangalore. Due to my sheer laziness, I decided to make the move by end March 2020. I booked the services of a packers and movers agency and paid them a token advance. Meanwhile, COVID kept spreading and before we know, Govt. announced a full lockdown of the country.

Come May, there were reports of people applying for a pass from the local DC office and were allowed to travel in case of compelling reasons. I tried that too and after a few visits, when the DC office agreed, the TS government launched their online portal to apply for inter-state travel pass. I applied for a pass and it was approved in a day. I chose the date of travel as May 10 so that I could send my goods before I make the move.

On May 7, I got to know about Seva Sindhu portal where it was required to apply for a pass before anyone was allowed to enter KA. Immediately applied for a pass and kept waiting. In the meanwhile, the movers and packers guy who had denied to take my luggage due to lockdown, calls me and says that they have resumed operations. The next day, their team came, packed everything and left behind a near empty apartment for me. Since there was no sign of my KA pass and the luggage delivery in Bangalore could possibly be delayed due to lockdown, I kept behind some essential to carry along with me in my car.

My childhood friend, who lived nearby, was my host all these days. With lockdown in place and no gas stove/utensils, I went to his house twice daily for my meals. He and his wife gave me company and all support during these days.


Interstate Travel Pass and the ever changing State Regulations

May 10 came and went away but I never heard about the KA pass. I kept tracking my application on the Seva Sindhu portal almost 20 times a day but no luck. Meanwhile I kept reading about people and their travel experience every day. People who had applied on the portal on 10th, had received the passes and there were some who were waiting since May 5th. Hyderabad summer, a near empty house and all this uncertainty was not a good experience to say the least.


Govt. of KA was changing the rules frequently. Some of state entry points were closed and people were diverted to other check-points. On May 12, they issued a circular that anyone entering KA will have to undergo mandatory institutional quarantine, mostly at paid institutions. That was the last straw and I decided, I was NOT paying 30-40k to stay in some hotel with other travelers. It was expensive, very risky (high chances of contraction) and frustrating too. I decided that I will travel only when these restrictions are removed, a month down the line.

Around 6PM on May 13, I receive an SMS that my pass has been approved with a travel date of May 14! I wanted to ignore it but my parents (back in Odisha) and my wife (who was alone in Bangalore) wanted me to travel. Took me good 4 hours to pack all my remaining belongings into bags and cartons.

May 14 2020
Went to sleep at 12, woke up at 5 to pack all the my minute things, started loading the car to the brim. Handed over the apartment keys to the watchman and informed my landlord that I was formally vacating his house.

Early morning Sunrise. The last one from the balcony of my ex-apartment


My friends had been prompt too. They had packed fresh breakfast and lunch for me to have on the way. With food, water and a car full of luggage, I started from Hyderabad at 7:30AM.

The Hyderabad ORR was closed and I took the service road till I hit the highway at 8:30. Roads till Jedcharla were surprisingly busy. Once I crossed this town, the traffic thinned and I took a short break to have breakfast.




Resumed driving but I was very tensed. What happens next? Will I be allowed to pass? Will I be asked to check in to some govt. quarantine center? Will they ask me to return or can I choose to return? Will TS allow me to enter? These were just few of the questions going around in my head in a loop.

Crossed Kurnool around 10:30AM and found the first check-post, AP entry checkpost. I was shunted to the road side where I parked and entered the tent where few cops were seated. I was asked where I was headed. When I said Bangalore, they asked me for the KA pass and my Aadhar card as an ID proof. The cop noted it down and then allowed to resume my journey, all in five minutes.

Empty roads means atleast I was enjoying the drive. Jacked up the volume slightly to drown the speed beeps and I went on. Because of the tension, I never felt tired in this trip. By 12, I was at Anantapur and there was enough fuel for me to reach Bangalore. Since I wasn't sure how long I would have to wait at the checkposts, I decided to refuel.

Small halts on the way. It was a hot and humid day




By 1:15PM, I was at Bagepalli toll plaza. After you cross the toll, there's a government owned building which was converted into the inspection check-post. Parked and walked in with all my documents. There were some 7-8 officials in there. I was handed two forms which I needed to fill. After waiting for some time, I was called to submit my form, get my temperature checked and finally my hand was stamped with the quarantine end date.

Thereafter, I was explained that I have to wait until at least more cars/families arrive at the check-post. Once they have these many cars and their verification are done, a cop car will escort all of us till the next checkpoint, after Devanahalli toll plaza. Once there, we would be registered and then led to the respective institutional quarantine centers/hotels. And yes, that was mandatory, no way out there.

This was a long wait for me as I was the first car to have arrived. I loitered around and then decided to share my packed lunch with a stray dog playing around the place. After a good two hours, there were 7 cars including mine and the convoy started. In all the tension and confusion, I never clicked any pictures for the next 4 hours or so.

The remaining six cars had families and were full. I was traveling alone. Two officials from the check-post were looking for a lift and simply walked into my car. After opening the door, they realized that even their wallet wouldn't fit into my packed car. They squeezed into the pilot car and the convoy started the next 70 km trip. The cop car lead the way and was clearing whatever little traffic was on the road. They even instructed the Devanahalli toll guy not to take toll from us but my Fastag was auto-debited! All this time, I kept thinking if I should opt for a 2-star budget hotel or play safe, pay the premium and got for the 3-star(or 5 star one). I had also informed my wife that I will let her know which hotel or center I am allocated so that she can come and take away few valuables from me as I wasn't comfortable holding on to them in an unknown place for 2 weeks.

It was 4:30PM when we reached the next checkpost. One guy from each car was asked to stand in the long serpentine line in front the tent at this checkpost. I saw few people exiting the tent and then going way and I thought how lucky they are to go back home! A family from one of the cars of my convoy were also let go as they had a small child with them.

After 30 mins or so, my turn came. I was asked to produce the Seva Sindhu pass and a proof of residence in Bangalore. With that they noted down my contact number, local Bangalore address, vehicle number and my temperature. Then I was instructed to go home and stay in home quarantine for the full two weeks.

I stood there for two seconds. Then I asked the official again what should I now? It was such a relief but I was still confused. I waited until the couple standing me in the line came out of the tent. They were also part of my convoy and so I checked with them if we are good to go home. They replied in affirmative but even they were surprised as to how the rules changed. I am a firm believer of destiny and the unseen force. That faith remained intact

I got into the car, switched on the AC at full blast and let the information sink in. Then called my parents and in-laws, who had been worried as hell that whole day, to inform them of my acquittal. Next I called my wife and asked her to make my favorite dish for dinner since I was coming home!! I have never felt happier while going home.

About 80% of the total luggage that I carried in my car

[Nalin1]

Thanks a lot for sharing.

What ridiculous processes!.

If the ultimate aim is to stop people mixing around freely and stop spreading the virus, all this drama just shifts people mixing in place A to place B!.

Any wonder that all kinds of lockdowns have bitten the dust.

[NowNew7]

Originally Posted by jaunthead

I am planning to travel from Bangalore(KA) to Noida(UP) via Nagpur-Jhansi in Unlock3.0.

1) Do I need epasses for all the states or just for the state of my final destination?
2) Do I need an epass for passing through Maharashtra given the restrictions in place till Aug 31st?
3) Can I layover for a night in Nagpur or this needs different permissions/documentation?
4) What other documentation beside epasses are necessary(Covid reports?) ?

From my initial online search it appears- KA, AP, TS, MP and UP should be no problems to pass through. But I might be wrong. MH I am not clear about.

Have a similar requirement, and theoretically it seems except for KA exit pass, nothing else is likely to be required.

Has anyone conducted a practical of this theory in Unlock 3.0 though? I am similarly worried about the documentation required (if any), for one or more overnight halts as I would be travelling with family, and plan to drive only during daylight. Plan is to be self sufficient within the car for the duration except for call of nature...

[anantpoddar]

For international passengers arriving in Delhi, are they allowed to proceed to their home state by road?

As per Delhi Airport's latest notification, passengers coming with a negative RT-PCR report are exempted from institutional quarantine and can home quarantine. My mother is landing in Delhi later this month and I plan to pick her up from the airport and drive down to Kolkata non-stop where we can quarantine at home. The only bummer will be if she's asked to home quarantine in Delhi/Gurgaon then we'll have to stay there for additional 2 weeks.

Has anyone done something similar or is aware of the feasibility?

[ContessMan]

I'm planning on travelling from Palakkad in Kerala to Hyderabad, Telangana this weekend for work. I'll be driving down in a personal car alone. Since I'll be travelling via Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh to enter Telangana, it's really confushing which states need an epass for transit.
Any info regarding epass requirements would be really helpful.

[Thumping Soul]

Hi Friends

I'm planning to travel to my hometown Bhagalpur (Bihar) from Bangalore in early September. The route is as below:

Bangalore - Tirupati - Naidupet - Nellore - Vizag - Bhubaneswar - Kolkata - Durgapur - Dumka - Bhagalpur

The return is also planned on the same route, may be in late October or early November. Not sure on the return dates yet.

I would be crossing through 3 states on the way - Andhra, Orissa & West Bengal, before reaching Bihar.

What all entry & exit passes should I plan for? And anyother thing that i should be planning for in the current COVID situation.

Regards
Saurav

[Cessna182]

Someone I know had to go from Kolkata to Mumbai recently and the ordeal is frightening.

1. Kolkata banned flights from Mumbai and airlines are now redirecting these through smaller cities like Patna and Jaipur. I don't get what purpose this serves. The person had to spend 5 hours on a layover at Patna airport where there is only 1 gate and no one wears a mask properly. No social distancing, no clean toilet and complete chaos. If you did not have Covid earlier, you could catch it while at the Patna airport.

2. Mumbai airport has huge queues at the arrival gate. The management is obviously better and the toilets are usable.

3. Many in the bus and lines are not wearing masks properly.

I don't get why the management of these protocols cannot be enforced even after 4 months of the lockdown. The babudom is busy making people apply passes etc. but they do nothing for making the passengers exit the airport at the earliest. Also, it is shocking that some states are selectively banning flights and then airlines have to route them through the poorly maintained airports like Patna where the risk of infection is very high. The level of mismanagement and strategic errors is shocking and perhaps justifies the high daily increase in cases globally.

If you can drive and have a reliable car, that's the best way to travel now. At least you can take precautions.

[MCR]

Originally Posted by MCR

My Parents are taking a Chartered flight to Mumbai from Melbourne. As per my understanding, there is no quarantine in Mumbai for transit passengers. From Mumbai they will take an Indigo flight to Bangalore and later a Taxi to Mysore. They have registered their arrival on Seva Sindhu portal and have requested for home quarantine since they are senior citizens.

Idiots at Mumbai airport did not allow my parents to take the transit flight. They insisted on COVID -ve report despite my parents being senior citizens having a valid ticket.
The rules in Maharashtra related to handling COVID is a bloody joke. The same Mumbai airport jokers allowed my parents to take a taxi all the way to Mysore. Its extremely illogical since, you don't allow a person to take a flight but are ok with the same person taking a taxi.

They just handed over a e-pass for traveling through MH. Entering Karnataka was a breeze since we were clear about the need to register on Seva Sindhu Portal and were ready. As of now my Parents are observing 14 days home quarantine.

[jkrishnakj]

What rubbish honestly ? Disallowing the transit flight but allowing road travel seems illogical.

OT:
I wonder if it was at all possible for anyone facing this kind of scenario to exit the terminal , and re-enter through the domestic departure gates using just the transit flight tickets ?

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

I wonder if it was at all possible for anyone facing this kind of scenario to exit the terminal , and re-enter through the domestic departure gates using just the transit flight tickets ?

Its possible if you have the same PNR tickets. However, in cases like above, you need to complete your immigration process.

[maheshsm12]

Drove back from HYD to BLR yesterday
Checks were done both at AP and KA borders
AP (before Kurnool) - was asked for destination details, number of persons travelling, Aadhar number and telephone number. Time taken: 5mins
KA (after Bagepalli toll) - temperature taken, need to fill a form, hand stamped for Home Quarantine. Time taken: 20mins

Total travel time: 9 hours
Total drive time: 8 hours