Background:
The Lockdown / Curfew for containment of COVID-19 pandemic was announced by honorable Prime Minister of India to be effective from 25th March 2020. Issuance of e-Pass was felt necessary for movement of persons / private vehicles for maintaining essential services or due to emergency cases during Lockdown / Curfew in Bihar. First of all, District Magistrate of Patna had taken initiative for issuance of e-Pass online on 25th March 2020. The ServicePlus Team of NIC Bihar configured the e-Pass issuance system on ServicePlus platform and made the application operational on the same day. There after one by one other districts of Bihar came on board.

Process to apply:
Applicant can apply by visiting Bihar ServicePlus Portal (https://serviceonline.bihar.gov.in)) or scanning a QR code in Smartphone. There is no need of sign-up and sign-in to avail this service. Applicants fill online form, upload their photograph or take photo online from webcam / phone camera, attach scanned copy / image of their identity card and relevant document showing purpose of movement and submit the application. Applicants get online acknowledgement along with SMS and Email notifications acknowledging application submission with Application Reference Number and expected delivery date.

Process to issue e-Pass:
e-Pass application is submitted to SDO or DM (or Authorized officer by DM) depending on type of e-Pass and jurisdiction. Health screening was done for applicant including co-passengers by Team of Doctors at District Control Room or Sadar Hospital in case of Inter-State e-Pass and it is issued only when everyone found medically fit. Application is approved / rejected online by SDO / DM depending on information filled by applicant and declared medically fit. If approved, SDO / DM can issue e-Pass by DSC sign. If issued, applicants get SMS containing download link for e-Pass and Email with e-Pass as attachment. If rejected, applicants get SMS and Email notifications for rejection with reason of rejection.

Roll-out status:
E-Pass became functional on 25/03/2020, the same day of start of lockdown. It is implemented in total 37 out of 38 Districts of Bihar. Due to frequent changes in Standard Operating Process (SOP) of Central and State Governments, total 12 versioning were done till date. The total application received is 1,68,782, total e-Pass issued is 33,205, total applications rejected is 80,914 and total application pending is 54,663 till 19.05.2020.

Features:
e-Pass contains nation-wide Unique Reference Number, QR Code, Water-Mark and online Verification Link.