Here’s how you can get a nationwide lockdown e-pass

You will need this if you need to travel across states at this point

You can now apply for a country-wide e-permit that is valid for certain categories like students, essential service providers, tourists, pilgrims, emergency/medical travel and marriage purposes. (Satyabrata Tripathy/Hindustan Times)

We had told you earlier how you could get an e-pass to commute inside your city. Now, under Lockdown 4.0, newer, relaxed rules have been put in place that will allow you to move around a little more. The government of India has created a website for a single-point access to apply for a Covid-19 e-permit pass that will allow you to travel across states if you need.

Developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the webpage (http://serviceonline.gov.in/epass/) has e-permits for 17 states that you can apply for. This e-permit is valid for certain categories like students, essential service providers, tourists, pilgrims, emergency/medical travel and marriage purposes.

According to the webpage, any individual or group can apply for the e-pass and will need to submit all mandatory details for it. Those applying will also need to have scanned copies of all documents needed before applying for the pass since you will need to upload them. You also need an active mobile number when you apply to get the OTP for verification.

You will not get the e-permit immediately. Once you apply, you will be given a reference number through which you can check the status of your application. When the pass is issued it will carry the applicant's name, address, a QR code and validity.

Applicants must carry a soft copy or a hard copy of the e-pass while travelling since they will be required to show it to security personnel on demand.

Right now, states are yet to issue detailed rules about inter-state travel.