Stranded Tamils vent ire against e-pass system

T Senthil Kumar, a private company employee, said he visited Bengaluru in connection with a work in March, but got stuck there due to back-to-back lockdowns. “I got held up in Bengaluru due to back-to-back lockdowns and managing to stay at a friend’s house. My family is alone in Chennai. I have been applying for TN e-pass and it is getting rejected immediately,” he posted on Twitter.

“Stranded in another State and lacking sources of living. My e-pass has been rejected six times. I have to vacate my house here by July 10,” Balakrishnan, who lost his job in Hyderabad, wrote. In another tweet, he wondered why flight and train passes were being approved faster than passes for their own vehicle. “I feel private vehicles are much safer than public transport at this point,” he said, awaiting approval for the pass to reach his hometown Madurai. However, a senior government official said that restrictions on travel were imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “Only those who have emergencies and stranded somewhere are being given passes. The applications are not rejected summarily. If there is no clarity, we ask the applicant to submit documents substantiating the necessity to travel,” the official said.