Goa only State in India that offers restriction-free travel

PANAJI
Goa appears to be the only state in the country with next to “no restrictions” on entry for domestic travellers, be it the airport, the border check posts or the railway stations.

Although thermal screening at the airport is compulsory according to the rules laid down by the Central government, a quick glance at the Covid travel guidelines for Goa on various travel and ticketing portals shows that Goa is the only state which does not enforce screening or quarantine rules. 

While the airport authority itself is not being held to any obligations, the only compulsion for the passengers, at least on paper, is to download the Aarogya Setu app.

In stark contrast to this, majority of the states and Union Territories across the country have tightened the travel restrictions for domestic passengers. These restrictions vary from Covid negative RT-PCR certificate of not more than 72 to 96 hours validity, self-declaration forms, free Covid test on selective passengers upon arrival and thermal screening. 

The Covid safety measures are yet to be enforced by the Goa government even on the backdrop of daily spike in new Covid cases being recorded in the state.

Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Wednesday reiterated his stand for stricter enforcement of Covid safety measures. “In view of the rising cases in the state, it is my humble appeal to the citizens to follow all the SOPs of wearing a mask and following strict social distancing as per government directions. We shall be interacting with the expert committee on further steps to be taken to keep the virus under control,” he posted on his social media handle.

Despite this visible downward spiral in the state’s Covid scenario in the wake of the rise in cases nation-wide, the state government has steadfastly refused to take any serious measures fearing these might affect Goa’s tourism sector. 

The tourism industry in Goa has boomed since the opening of domestic travel routes owing to continued severe travel restrictions on international travel.