Did a Bangalore - Moolehole Check post drive on 10-May to drop my sister and aunt at border. They were picked up from border by my brother who came in another car from Calicut.
Listing down process and details for others.
Getting KL entry permit
Since my sister is pregnant and she is traveling to Calicut for delivery, emergency permit was applied though
CovidJagrata portal
She had to upload a letter from doctor certifying that she is not having any Covid related symptoms. Do note that its NOT a Covid negative test report, but a letter from doctor mentioning that no visible symptoms are present.
Along with this, the usual documents - ID proof and all were uploaded.
Earlier application was rejected since doctor letter was not uploaded and she had to reapply for the same.
The second time, with all documents, application was approved within half hour.
Calicut to KL border permit
My brother had applied for a separate pass for driving till KL border from Calicut to pick up my sister. He too used the same link mentioned above with reason as to pick of person from border. Approval for that too was done within an hour.
KA inter district pass
There was a declaration form KA police that those who are going out of state with valid pass from another state need not apply for KA inter district pass. However, in my case I had a return drive from border and also to be on safer side, I applied KA inter district pass for both sides from the below link.
KA inter district pass
The process is very simple and quick. However, do note that the pass is valid for only the date you select and you can apply only two passes (onward and return) from a single phone number (validated via OTP).
The drive
Started from home near HSR around 07.45 AM on 10-May, took Silkboard - NICE road Hosur entry. Decided to take Kanakapura road since roads past Mysore is blocked since it passes through containment zone.
Traffic on Kanakapura road was high for a lock-down Sunday morning. Past Kanakapura traffic thins out and the first checkpost is just before Halagur. Location is roughly around
here
There one need to get out of the car and share the vehicle details, your name, destination and details like that. There was a queue of around 5 people, so it took few minutes since not everyone was having pass causing delay since officers were explaining the process.
Past that there was no checking till the second check-post soon after you get off bridge over river Kaveri at Satyagala (near turn off to Barachukki falls)
Location
Here too, like Halagur checkpost one need to get your details entered.
Then it was smooth sailing till Bandipur forest gate, where forest department notes down the pass and vehicle details.
There wasn't much crowd enroute and we reached
Moolehole checkpost around 01.00 PM.
On KA side, they verify the KA pass, KL pass and note down your details in the register.
On the bridge which is the KA-KL border, KL police personnel and forest department personnel is present. They check the documents and name against the pass and ID card and let you through.
My brother was allowed to drive till here, so its only a short walk after parking car at KA side. We saw another two groups getting down in cabs at KA border, crossing to KL and getting in to a KL cab and proceeding further.
KL side details as given by my brother below -
There is a line of taxi cabs awaiting passengers who are coming in KA cabs or getting dropped like in my case at border.
The same is managed by an RTO who is present at border. One need to contact the RTO personnel and they will arrange the cab for you. The price is fixed and the cabs can be hired till your home or till the medical check point mentioned below.
Cabs awaiting near border bridge -
Past that just ahead of
RTO /Excise checkpost, fire force will spray disinfectant on the vehicles. Since brother had gone in the car only to pick up from border, it wasn't done for him.
Ahead of this, at the excise check-post, there is a 3 step verification.
1. Revenue department official will note validate the permit you are carrying.
2. An education department official will note down your details, number of passengers, exit point from Wayanad if you are headed to another district. Picture of car and passengers are taken and uploaded through an app on their phone. A Thasildar oversees this operation.
3. Just ahead of that, there is another check-post by police where they collect just the contact details and name. No document check done here. Once done, they will hand over a paper with number of passengers in car with a seal from SP of police. The only process where any contact is involved.
Also, do note that private vehicles going to pick up passengers from border are allowed only till here are per process. One is expected to take taxi from border till here if they were dropped at KA border like our case. However, on requesting with police officials there, brother was allowed till border since it was a medical case.
Some 5KMs from here, just when the farm section which is a frequent location for speed governors earlier is the medical check point.
Rough location
here
Its a temporary setup created, there was around 20 cars and 10 bikes when they arrived.
At the entrance, there is a small booth were they write down details, where they direct to waiting area. Before entering waiting area, 2 staffs make sure that you wash hands is the wash basins there.
Hand wash is provided. Even hand sanitizers are kept at everywhere. Wait time is a bit long. However since sister was pregnant, they gave her priority.
Those coming are send to a medical screening room where temperature check is done and explained about quarantine procedure.
They asked to contact the ward member/ Asha worker/ Councillor of the area your house is located and inform about the arrival. Health officials are supposed to reach the house before travelers arrival and check if house is suitable for home quarantine. Otherwise institutional quarantine will be provided.
At the time of exit, police will note down the vehicle number and district you are travelling to, then you need to wait in your vehicle till the convoy is formed and police take you till Wayanad border. This took around 15 minutes for them.
A police constable was offering water bottles to all drivers in the meantime. Convoy of around 10 vehicles are then taken till Wayand border. The convoy goes through Kalpetta town instead of bye-pass, may be since due to lock-down and lesser traffic its faster this way and less bumpy.
At Lakidi, police officers takes the details again. A confirmation that you are exiting Wayanad district. Just ahead at the CLT - Wayanad gate, there is health officials from CLT district you takes down details of every passengers in the car.
The details are again entered in app along with the photos are a proof that no one is left out.
My brothers details were not taken down since he had just gone for pickup. Here quarantine procedure is explained again.
Few points to note-
- Do carry multiple print out of passes with you. They do accept soft copy, but printout is less hassle and safer.
- Carry sufficient water and food for your drive. No restaurants are open.
- Officials manning the check posts were very polite and straightforward. This was something which I noticed in KA and my brother mentioned the same about KL side too.
- Sadly the personnel manning the KA side check posts were not having any gloves, sanitizers or a proper mask (they were using cloth masks)
- Food was offered at Calicut border to all car passengers, since they were carrying lunch, they declined.
- KA police personnel who was at border check-post asked if we want to cross border and drop my sister at medical camp and come so as to avoid making her walk. If KL police agrees for the same, he is fine with that. This was mentioned even without me requesting him anything. However, we didn't require the same since brother was allowed till border.
- Toilets are available at medical testing center.
Drive time:
Onward - 07.45 AM to 01.00 PM
Return - 01.25 PM to 05.50 PM with a 15 min lunch break for having packed lunch.
Kerala war room number
0471- 2781100
0471- 2781101
Norka Bangalore
080-25585090