CANACONA
Further confusion was in store for travellers crossing the Polem border at Canacona, as officials at the Majali border check post began demanding an RT-PCR negative report not older than 72 hours as well as a double vaccination certificate to permit entry into Karnataka.
People complained that while Rapid Antigen tests are available across both border check posts, officials at the Majali border check post had been demanding only an RT-PCR negative report not older than 72 hours.
During a visit to the Majali border check post, officials explained that Antigen tests are conducted free of cost at the border check post itself for people entering Karnataka on emergency or health issues.
“We don't have facilities to conduct RT-PCR tests at the check post and people coming from the Goa side should get the RT-PCR tests done from the available locations in Goa,” said an official.
When a group of five youth, who were stopped at the check post, were found enquiring about RT-PCR tests, the official told them it would take at least 8 hours to get an RT-PCR report and there were no immediate plans to conduct the RT-PCR tests at the check post.
All vehicles, including Goa’s KTC and Karnataka’s KSTRC buses, were made to stop and passengers were asked to alight and produce their RT-PCR negative reports and double vaccination certificates to authorities.
“An RT-PCR negative report not older than 72 hours and a double vaccination certificate are needed to enter Karnataka. When the order was issued on January 5, were were slightly lenient with travellers on Thursday morning on account of the chaos and huge rush at the check post,” said an official.
“We are now strictly enforcing the orders which are applicable to everyone, whether they are from Karnataka or not, who are arriving via the Goa borders.”
Incidentally, KTC drivers were given certain exemptions and were permitted to cross the Majali check post without the RT-PCR negative certificate, provided they had a double vaccination certificate.
