Continue to restrict train and air travel to Odisha till June-end: Patnaik to PM

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to continue with restrictions on train and air travel to Odisha at least till end of June to contain spread of COVID-19.

He made this request during second phase of prime minister's video-conference with chief ministers.

"June is toughest month for Odisha because a large number of migrants have returned and monsoon has also started. Hence, Government of India should continue with restrictions on train and air travel to Odisha," Patnaik said.

He also drew prime minister's attention to fact that some people from Odisha were still stranded in Gulf countries. " Government of India should take steps to bring m back as most of m are engd in low-paying jobs," Patnaik said.

He underlined difficulties of students set to appear in all-India examinations like NEET, JEE-Main, CLAT etc. " national-level entrance examinations should be conducted only after state level Plus-II examinations are completed," chief minister said.

state government, which has adopted different strategies to contain spread of COVID-19, anticipates that regular train and flight services will add to number of people who have returned to state during pandemic. So far, as many as 5,56,443 Odias have returned to state, including 2,498 on Wednesday.

People are returning by trains, buses, or vehicles and also by special planes. More than 2.5 lakh people have already returned to state by 239 Shramik Special trains, an official said.

Odisha's COVID-19 tally increased after arrival of migrant workers from states with a large number of coronavirus cases such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Kerala, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh etc.

Similarly, more than 2,000 people have returned to Odisha by planes from UAE, US, Kuwait, Oman, Nepal and or countries.

Incidentally, Odisha's first positive coronavirus case was an Italy returnee, an official said, adding that refore, BJD government wants to restrict train and air travel to state in June as with onset of monsoon, flu-like disease is likely to get aggravated.