Planning Konkan trip for Ganpati? E-pass for pvt vehicles a must

Mumbai: The state government has finally come up with guidelines on travel for devotees headed to Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts in Konkan to celebrate the annual 10-day Ganesh festival, from August 22, thus resuming inter-district travel during lockdown. ST bus passengers do not need an e-pass.
People can travel but a 10-day home quarantine is compulsory, while travel should commence before August 12.Transport minister Anil Parab said 3,000 buses have been reserved.
He said those who want to travel after August 12 will have to submit a Covid-19 report, tested 48 hours before. Only those testing negative can travel,” said Parab.
Parab said each bus will carry only 22 passengers. “For group bookings of 22 seats, the bus will not halt at any destination in between,” he added.
Online booking started on Tuesday. Every year, around 2,200 buses ply but this year ST department reserved 3,000.
An e-pass will be mandatory for private vehicles, he said. While pointing out hefty charges by private buses, he said they can charge 1.5 times more than ST fare. “If the department receives complaints of overcharging by private players, action will be taken against them,” said Parab.
He also said the finance department led by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar sanctioned Rs 550 crore for salary of ST employees. Over a lakh employees have not been paid in for two months due to Covid-19.