This story is from May 11, 2020

Odisha government roadmap for cyclists, pedestrians at border checkpoints

The state government has asked the police to intercept Odisha-bound pedestrians and cyclists at border checkpoints during the lockdown and inform the concerned district administrations. Though the government currently has a detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) for people returning by vehicles at the border checkpoints, there is no such clear policy for pedestrians and cyclists.
Odisha government roadmap for cyclists, pedestrians at border checkpoints
BHUBANESWAR: The state government has asked the police to intercept Odisha-bound pedestrians and cyclists at border checkpoints during the lockdown and inform the concerned district administrations. Though the government currently has a detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) for people returning by vehicles at the border checkpoints, there is no such clear policy for pedestrians and cyclists.
“We have alerted our personnel at the border checkpoints to keep tabs on the movement of pedestrians and cyclists, who are entering the state from Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
Police will stop the pedestrians and cyclists, verify their credentials and immediately inform the district administrations. The district officials will take them to temporary medical centres (TMCs) or institutional quarantine units,” additional director general of police (law and order) Soumendra Priyadarshi said.
Sources said the cops at borders have been strictly asked to address the issues of pedestrians and cyclists from the humanitarian point of view. “We should show empathy to those poor persons and realize their plight during the crisis. Our personnel have been asked to arrange food and drinking water for them. The district administrations will immediately take their safe custody for their follow-up care, examination and health check-up,” another police officer said.
Sources said the state government is planning to open TMCs for pedestrians and cyclists near the border checkpoints. The governmenta said it is difficult to arrange transport facilities for hundreds of pedestrians and cyclists, who come from neighbouring states during the lockdown crisis, and drop them at quarantine centres in their gram panchayats. "Now, we face hardship in sending them to their home districts or natives in different parts of the state. It will be better if quarantine centres come up near the checkpoints," a district official at Girisola checkpoint in Ganjam district said.
Government is also worried about the safety of the walkers and cyclists as a number of them were injured after being hit by vehicles in some states. "We are more worried after Aurangabad train mishap in which several migrant labourers, who were asleep on track, were mowed down. Tired and exhausted walkers and cyclists may also face a similar threat from vehicles on roads," another officer said.
Government sources said almost all the pedestrians and cyclists are migrant labourers and reach the checkpoints without pre-registration with government’s Covid-19 portal. While the migrants are ignorant about internet operation, their family members back home had not informed the district administrations about the former’s return. Officials at the border checkpoints have been keeping details of the unregistered persons and sending them to home and institutional quarantine centres.
Currently, 12 designated border checkpoints function in 11 border districts -- Biramitrapur in Sundargarh, Champua in Keonjhar, Chandili in Koraput, Girisola in Ganjam, Jamshola in Mayurbhanj, Kanktora in Jharsuguda, Kerada in Rayagada, Khariar Road in Nuapada, Laxmannath in Balasore, Loharchoti in Bargarh, Motu in Malkangiri, and Sunki in Koraput. The state shares borders with Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
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About the Author
Debabrata Mohapatra

Debabrata Mohapatra is an Assistant Editor at The Times of India, Bhubaneswar. He had been writing for TOI from Puri since 2006 before joining the Bhubaneswar bureau in August 2010. He covers crime, law & order and Congress.

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