CHENNAI: The Covid-19 surge and rumours of a stricter lockdown in Chennai have triggered an exodus of residents to their native places in the central and southern parts of the state.
Several hundred rented private vehicles carrying families, especially the elderly, have whizzed south via Perungalathur, the main exit point, in the past few days. Others are boarding private buses that offer ‘pass-free’ ride home for a hefty fare. Some apply for e-passes to legally cross district borders, but many more take to country lanes at the dead of night to evade police checks.
About 5,000 Chennai residents apply for e-passes every day. Only about 1,600-1,800 e-passes are issued, while the receiving districts reject the rest. "Roughly, only one-third of the applicants stand a chance," a senior government official said. There is no such rush to enter the city, though. The Greater Chennai Corporation receives only about 1,000 e-pass requests, and about 90% are allowed entry, sources said. Rules allow district collectorates to reject applications without citing any reasons.
Lawyer and T Nagar resident G Rajendran, a senior citizen, left for his native village in Thanjavur earlier this week. "I am not returning to Chennai till the scare subsides. At my age, it is a big health risk,” said the septuagenarian, who is now spending his time tilling his farm in the Cauvery delta.
A private college lecturer and Tiruvaminyur resident packed his bags and left for Madurai with his family after a colleague at college tested positive. As attempts to get e-passes failed twice, they simply set out in their car in the wee hours. They reached their home in Madurai without anyone stopping them.
“It is impossible to stop every vehicle leaving the city and check passes,” said a cop manning an exit point. During peak hours 350 to 750 vehicles pass through Vandalur every minute, and most of them are non-commercial vehicles, a police officer said.
A couple running a stationery store in Adyar got an offer from a private bus operator. “He has quoted Rs 1,600 per head up to Madurai, and we do not have to worry about e-passes. If the situation gets any worse, we may leave,” they told TOI.
"If people are allowed to travel to remote areas of Tamil Nadu, population density in Chennai will be reduced for the time being. It may reduce Covid-19 spread," said Vasudevan, a Taramani resident, who set out for his farm house in Virudhunagar district.
Several hundred rented private vehicles carrying families, especially the elderly, have whizzed south via Perungalathur, the main exit point, in the past few days. Others are boarding private buses that offer ‘pass-free’ ride home for a hefty fare. Some apply for e-passes to legally cross district borders, but many more take to country lanes at the dead of night to evade police checks.
About 5,000 Chennai residents apply for e-passes every day. Only about 1,600-1,800 e-passes are issued, while the receiving districts reject the rest. "Roughly, only one-third of the applicants stand a chance," a senior government official said. There is no such rush to enter the city, though. The Greater Chennai Corporation receives only about 1,000 e-pass requests, and about 90% are allowed entry, sources said. Rules allow district collectorates to reject applications without citing any reasons.
Lawyer and T Nagar resident G Rajendran, a senior citizen, left for his native village in Thanjavur earlier this week. "I am not returning to Chennai till the scare subsides. At my age, it is a big health risk,” said the septuagenarian, who is now spending his time tilling his farm in the Cauvery delta.
A private college lecturer and Tiruvaminyur resident packed his bags and left for Madurai with his family after a colleague at college tested positive. As attempts to get e-passes failed twice, they simply set out in their car in the wee hours. They reached their home in Madurai without anyone stopping them.
“It is impossible to stop every vehicle leaving the city and check passes,” said a cop manning an exit point. During peak hours 350 to 750 vehicles pass through Vandalur every minute, and most of them are non-commercial vehicles, a police officer said.
A couple running a stationery store in Adyar got an offer from a private bus operator. “He has quoted Rs 1,600 per head up to Madurai, and we do not have to worry about e-passes. If the situation gets any worse, we may leave,” they told TOI.
"If people are allowed to travel to remote areas of Tamil Nadu, population density in Chennai will be reduced for the time being. It may reduce Covid-19 spread," said Vasudevan, a Taramani resident, who set out for his farm house in Virudhunagar district.
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