Team Herald
PANJIM: A day after train passengers of Goan origin complained of being charged for undergoing mandatory COVID-19 test, the State Executive Committee (SEC) has announced that every traveller will be charged.
A meeting of the SEC chaired by Chief Secretary Parimal Rai has decided that the practice of testing every incoming person needs to continue, besides discussing the issue of charging people for testing.
“After deliberations, the SEC directed the Inter-State Movement Cell (ISMC) of Goa to convey to the railway and other authorities that any traveller coming to Goa will have to go through compulsory testing and a testing fee of Rs 2,000 per person will be charged, except from those who are covered under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana or under any other exempted category like government staff on duty etc, irrespective of mode of travel,” the press release issued by the Directorate of the Information & Publicity reads.
The SEC directed the ISMC to send bulk SMSes to all incoming travellers with an online link for filling up the self declaration form and ensure downloading of Arogya Setu app. “Arrangements may also be made, if required, to make available these forms in paper format at the Railway Stations or in trains,” it said.
Several Goan passengers, who arrived via Rajdhani train from Delhi, on Saturday, slammed the government for charging them to undergo the test. They reminded the government its recent decision that only non-Goans entering the State will have to pay for COVID-19 test. The upset Goan returnees also took to social media expressing their anger.
As Goa has been hit with the wave of 19 cases till Saturday evening, the SEC clarified that nodal officer PS Reddy will continue to supervise movement of all persons, who are coming either by sea or by air, and the ISMC will continue to handle to movement of persons by train and buses. The Collectors will continue to coordinate various movements and provide necessary support to the IAS officer and the ISMC.
Meanwhile, the Nodal Officer (Foreigners) informed that as on May 14, 2020, a total of 7352 foreigners have exited the State in 36 special flights from the Goa Airport. The Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited informed that 178 buses were operational on May 14, 2020.
As per the Department of Information Technology, 17,085 people have moved out of the State and 2129 have entered since April 29, 2020.
The Goa Police has acted against 1007 persons for not wearing face masks, despite mandatory. Another 6460 persons are booked for spitting in public places.
About the Goa Board exams for students who hail from the districts across the borders, the SEC asked the Education Secretary to examine the possibility of conducting the board exams in one of the nearby schools across the border, for these students studying in Goa schools.