The Bengal government has decided to reintroduce entry and exit passes to facilitate the travel of people in emergency cases after hundreds of migrant workers landed in distress because of harder restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Sources in the state transport department said on Tuesday that the entry or exit passes could be obtained from the government website by anyone to travel within or out of Bengal.

“Passes would help them head for their destinations without any hassle. Whenever stopped by police, they can show the passes to confirm that they are travelling because of an emergency. This system was launched during the lockdown last year and we have reintroduced it,” said an official of the state transport department.

The applicants will have to state the reason for the emergency travel and furnish the proof.

Lockdown was announced in some states and additional restrictions imposed in Bengal in the past three-four weeks as there was a steep surge in Covid cases.

As a result, hundreds of migrant workers, who hail from other states and live in Bengal or who are from this state but work elsewhere, faced problems in returning their homes.

In north Bengal, the Siliguri police commissionerate and the Kalimpong district police also launched the online permission facility for vehicles which need to move for emergency purposes or with essentials.

“Specific email IDs have been circulated through social media. A person will have to apply to the officer concerned at his/her police station for the permission. But the applicants should keep in mind that the permission is only for emergency purposes or for supply of essential commodities,” said a police officer.

In the past couple of days, police sources said, when some people were intercepted with cars, they entered into altercations with policemen while trying to justify their travel.

“Now that we have started issuing permissions, such problems can be resolved,” the officer said.