People misusing travel permit will be put behind bars, warns Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar

“Strict action is already being taken against those who indulge in misusing e-passes. The persons who continue to misuse e-passes will be put behind bars,” warned the Minister while addressing the media after reviewing COVID-19 containment works at Purasaiwalkam.

After lockdown was imposed since March 25, the State government had restricted the movement of people between districts. To monitor and permit those with genuine reasons to cross district borders, the e-pass system was brought in. But there have been several complaints that these passes were being sold through agents.

However, when asked about the complaints, Udhayakumar maintained that agents had no role to play in issuing e-passes. The members of the public can directly apply for it online, he added. When it was brought to his attention that people in rural areas were not able to apply for e-pass even if the reasons were genuine, the Minister replied that if the requirement was genuine, the people could approach VAO or the district administration for help.

Commenting on the progress made in containing the spread of the virus, he pointed out how cases have come down drastically at Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zone, which was once a COVID-19 hotspot. “In all, 8,085 persons are infected, of which 6,603 have been cured. Initially, 1,850 out of 2,300 streets had reported cases. But now the count has reduced to 573 streets,” he said.

When asked about the reopening of e-Seva centres, he said they would be opened again once the situation was brought under control. The State government was taking all possible steps to reduce the infection rate, he added.