Travel pass system may continue till Aug end

After the meeting convened by Chief Secretary K Shanmugam with department secretaries and Collectors through video conferencing on Monday concluded, sources said the State government was taking suggestions from various departments and agencies before a taking a decision on doing away with e-pass system. “However, it is likely to continue till the end of August,” said a source.

Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan was among those who opposed the cancellation of the system, highlighting the challenges the department and district administrations would face, as tracing labourers would become a difficult task.

During the discussions, Shanmugam received inputs from Collectors on the possible impacts of cancelling the system. He also asked suggestions on extending the lockdown beyond August 31.

The meeting came in the backdrop of the communication from Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla asking all states to lift the restrictions on inter-State and intra-State movement of goods.