How to apply for a Covid19 travel pass?
Date: 12th May 2020

If you are stranded away from home, then these are the steps to apply for a travel pass.

  1. Find a doctor for check up.
  2. Then get a prescription for a Covid19 test.
  3. Then apply for a test at any local diagnostics centers such as Suburban Diagnostics, Metropolis, SRL, etc.
    • This is a tricky process because they are not allowed to administer the test if you have no symptoms.
    • They rejected my doctor’s prescription which mentioned no symptoms.
    • They asked me to wait at the counter, and get a fake prescription from the same doctor with minimum of two symptoms.
    • The test is chargeable by law at INR 3500 if you visit a test center for sample collection, and INR 4500 if the technicians visit your home for sample collection.
    • Nonetheless, the diagnostic center will charge you INR 4500 even if you visit a test centre for sample collection.
      i.e. they will bill you for a home visit for a sample collection that they take at the test center.
  4. Then take the test.
  5. Then wait for 48 hours for test report.
  6. Then use that report to get a fitness certificate from the same doctor.
  7. Then use that fitness certificate to apply for the travel pass on the website of the state you are stranded in.
    • For example if you are stranded in Maharashtra then it is covid19. mhpolice. in
    • Please Google search the website for your respective state.

A.
This is a tricky process because the police will ask for a vehicle number with corresponding RC book.

  • This applies even if you select the public transport option on the application.
  • So assuming that you don’t own a bus, you will have to be hopeful that they accept your application without the RC book.

So you cannot go home if you don’t own a vehicle

B.
For Mumbai, the website will direct to a emergency pass for medical cases page.

  • It says, if you are a stranded student, migrant, or tourist, please apply to the local police station directly.
  • Upon my visit to the police station, the cops at the police station informed that they have received instructions to issue travel pass only for interstate transit.
  • They have received no instructions to issue travel pass for interdistrict transit.
  • The local police advised to go home in an auto or a private vehicle.
  • The autos are not allowed to cross intrastate borders.

So you cannot go home if you are stranded within Mumbai