Covid-19: Tamil Nadu exempts business travellers on short visit from quarantine

CHENNAI: In an effort to boost economic activity in the state affected by Covid-19 and lockdown, the Tamil Nadu government on Thursday evening permitted business travellers visiting the state for a short duration of three days (72 hours) to be exempted from quarantine.
Business travellers representing various industries including IT/ITeS, hospitality, entertainment and legal could avail the facility, a government order said.
State-owned Elcot had earlier approached the government with a proposal to permit the representatives of Ascentium Business Solutions Private Limited, which has been engaged by Elcot for the 12 months for facilitating investments in the fields of IT/ITeS as well as electronic hardware manufacturing. As representatives from that company wanted to visit Tamil Nadu from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and to have a brief stay in the state, Elcot requested the state to relax the e-pass norms.
The state information technology department, while recommending the proposal, felt business travellers from various industries also need to travel to the state. Hence, it requested a general purpose approval for all categories of business travellers may be accorded, it said.
After careful examination of the proposal, the state government issued an order that e-pass shall be issued to all business travellers representing industry, IT/ITeS, hospitality, legal and entertainment segments – visiting Tamil Nadu for a short stay of 72 hours and exempt them from quarantine.