States demand special trains, get ready to allow private vehicles

New Delhi: A day after the Union home ministry eased curbs for inter-state movement of stranded workers, students, tourists and pilgrims, many state governments have appointed nodal officers to facilitate their movement.

Some other states have come up with their own standard operating procedure to allow the use of private vehicles after seeking permission from the receiving and sending states. The MHA has, however, only permitted the use of buses to transport passengers.

The MHA on Thursday once again asked states to ensure free movement of trucks, goods carriers, including empty trucks. “Local authorities must not insist on separate passes at inter-state borders. This is essential to maintain supply chain of goods and services,” the letter stated.


The Maharashtra government in its SOP said: “All persons who wish to travel by making their own arrangements can proceed on the basis of the letters of the sending and receiving states/UTs.” The home ministry in response to a query clarified, “As of now, the directives are to use buses.”