All You Need to Know about Universal Travel Pass

Posted on: Feb 22, 2022 | | Written by:

All You Need to Know about Universal Travel Pass

Published on March 8, 2022. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

Covid pandemic has come up with many restrictions and opened up a world of opportunities. With formalizing the concept of “work from home”, travel had almost come to a complete halt except in the case of emergency. Leisure and work travel had taken a backseat.

Even for most Mumbaikars, the local trains are their lifeline. Of late, however, numerous travel protocols need to be followed related to mandatory RTPCR tests, showing Covid Vaccination Certificates, etc. Despite the covid restrictions, many people use the trains daily with fake tickets and bogus passes.

Covid waves, new variants and unauthorized travel led the Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority to introduce a Universal Travel Pass in association with the Indian Railways to check and ease local travel within Mumbai in trains and metro rails. This pass would be issued only to fully vaccinated travellers. The BMC is hopeful that the new system will easily track the people travelling in Mumbai metro, monorail, and local train.

What Exactly is the Universal Travel Pass?

Universal Travel Pass is an online e-pass that would allow fully vaccinated citizens to travel in suburban trains. Just like travel insurance, this is another way to secure your travel. The pass was originally introduced for only the people who were working in the medical, education and utility sectors; however, now, people who work in registered companies would also be eligible for the pass. The UTP will allow people to travel freely within or outside the state and reduce the repetitive regulation of showing IDs and vaccination certificates or covid-19 negative reports. This pass will have a QR code that would allow people to travel to their destination without hassle.

There are 5 degrees of universal passes according to the level of restrictions in the state. If a state faces the level of restrictions at three, people who have Degree-3 passes or more will be allowed to travel and so on. Travel level degree 5 will be allowed to travel with any restrictions.

Eligibility Criteria for Universal Travel Pass:

There are certain eligibility criteria for getting registered for Universal Travel Passes:

1. Initially, only the people working in medical, education and utility sectors could apply for a universal travel pass. However, some State Governments are issuing ID cards to the employees of registered companies.

2. The applicants should have completed 14 days of their second dose of COVID-19 vaccination.

3. The applicants must be above 18 years.

4. One should be compliant with categories and sub-categories in the application procedure.

5. Applicants must fill up all the required details in the application form.

Documents needed to apply for a Universal Travel Pass:

While applying for the passes, keep the following documents with you:

1. Aadhar Card

2. Voter ID

3. Registration certificate

4. Registered company

5. Industrial papers

6. Registered mobile number

How to Apply for a Universal Travel Pass?

Here are some procedures you have to follow while applying for the passes:

1. First of all, you have to go to the official online portal that your state government has made, especially for passes.

For example, the website for Maharashtra residents is https://epassmsdma.mahait.org.

2. Click "Register Your Establishment",

3. You will see a page where you will be required to fill in all the details,

4. Fill in the registration number, establishment category, type of establishment and photo of registration certificate, etc.

5. Accept all the conditions and click on the declaration.

6. When you click on "Register", you will receive a message on your registered mobile number that will ensure the completion of the registration process.

7. Generally, a link to download the Universal Travel Pass is received within 48 hours.

8. You can save the Pass on your device.

Objectives for Launching Universal Travel Pass

The objective behind establishing a technologically enabled system of issuing passes is to bring relief in travelling for routine workers. Following are the goals of the state governments:

1. The UTP will help make travel safer, as only vaccinated people would be allowed to travel

2. The menace of fake IDs for travel could be managed

3. The repetitive covid-19 test can bring a possibility of attracting viruses, and this risk can be avoided with a universal pass.

4. Interstate travel will become easier and hassle-free for Universal pass holders, and they’ll be able to travel to other states safely.

5. The online system will further eliminate the need for physical verification.

What is included in your Universal Travel Pass?

Universal passes are valid in public transport, airports, railway stations, and buses. The following details are available in your pass:

1. Your photograph

2. Travel category as in levels 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5

3. Your age and gender

4. Date of both of your vaccination doses

5. Beneficiary ID allotted to you

6. QR Code to scan

If you are a frequent traveller across the world, even within the country, it is important for you to opt for a travel insurance plan, especially now during the pandemic. The tremendous uncertainty with travel cancellations will be covered with a comprehensive travel insurance plan; which could cover your losses due to trip cancellation or delay due to sickness, injury or death of the traveller or the family member, protection against any illness due while travelling, cover for loss or theft of your baggage.

Conclusion

If you're looking forward to travelling freely in and out of the country without showing documents repetitively, you must apply for a Universal Travel Pass. Along with the UTP, travel insurance also helps solve problems relating to your travel expenses if any unpleasant event comes up while travelling. Suppose your job profile includes travelling. In that case, you must get your universal passes along with the right travel insurance policy as soon as possible to reduce your expenses in medical examinations, a loss incurred due to flight cancellations, missed connections, loss of baggage, flight delays, etc. You can save your time and interactions by getting QR based universal passes. Travel insurance is especially necessary while travelling abroad as medical emergency hospitalisation costs are extremely high. This is where travel insurance comes in most handy!

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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