What documents you need to cross Haryana border

Vishakha Chaman & Bagish Jha | TNN | Updated: Apr 28, 2020, 11:41 IST

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GURUGRAM: NCR cities like Faridabad and Sonipat strengthened their border firewalls on Monday to regulate movement to and from Delhi after remarks from state home minister Anil Vij that many who worked in Delhi but stayed in Haryana had become “corona carriers” stoked controversy.

Later in the day, the Faridabad administration announced it was ‘sealing’ its borders, and gave all government officials who live in the NCR city but work in Delhi 72 hours to make alternative living arrangements in the national capital. Faridabad deputy commissioner Yashpal Yadav said they would not be allowed to commute after these three days till cluster containment measures remained in place for Covid-19.
There was no such move in Gurugram, where police said border checks had been stepped up. “Police personnel at the border have been directed to stop vehicles for proper checking and deny any kind of unauthorised entry,” said Gurugram police commissioner Mohammad Akil, adding the border had been sealed when the lockdown began and a mechanism for more stringent checks had been put into place.
The outspoken Vij had earlier “appealed” to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to make staying arrangements for people those who work in Delhi in the national capital itself. “There are many who work in Delhi and live in Haryana and are commuting between the two areas every day through passes. Such people have become corona carriers and this is a matter of concern,” said a statement from Vij.
A source in the Delhi government said the Haryana minister’s remarks went against the guidelines of the central government. “They should understand we are one country and Delhi and Haryana both belong to India. The high number of coronavirus cases in Delhi is not Delhi’s doing. It is because a large number of Indians living abroad were brought back to India in February and March. They belonged to various states in India but Delhi took care of them and quarantined them. Coronavirus came to Delhi due to these international arrivals. Today, Delhi is suffering much more than other states. We did not complain,” said the source, adding, “The life of every person in Haryana is as precious to us as that of a Delhiite. We hope the Haryana government will change its attitude in these difficult times and not cause harassment for these employees.”
Vij also ruled out Haryana sending buses immediately to bring back migrant workers from other states. Referring to similar initiatives by Punjab and UP, Vij told TOI, “We have already sealed inter-state borders to restrict movement of people. Hence, we really have no plans, especially till May 3.”
In Faridabad, the sealing of the border will not mean an additional set of restrictions like the ones Noida has imposed or invalidating passes issued earlier. “We are sealing the border to check unregulated movement on the Faridabad-Delhi border and strictly allowing movement for essential services. Movement of essential services will be allowed only after checking,” said deputy commissioner Yadav.
Journalists will not need passes and can continue to travel using their identity cards between Faridabad and Delhi, the administration said. However, those who live in Faridabad and work in Delhi will not be allowed to commute daily and passage through the border would only be allowed if they have an assignment, an official said.
There are also no restrictions on the movement of healthcare workers on non-Covid duties and all passes issued so far both remain valid.

(Additional reporting by Alok KN Mishra in Delhi)