mid-day investigation: Many tours and travel operators in Mumbai issuing COVID-19 negative report for Rs 300

Maruti Nandan Travels, which is run by a man only known as Rameshbhai. Pics/Rajesh Gupta

Amid lockdown-like restrictions in Mumbai, many migrant workers have again been returning to their villages. With a negative COVID RT-PCR test report mandatory in many states, a new business of providing people with such reports without any testing is also flourishing. In sting operations at Ghatkopar's Gopal Bhuvan stop and at Borivli's SGNP bus stop, mid-day found many tours and travel operators issuing COVID-19 negative test reports for just Rs 300-Rs 500 to travellers going to Gujarat and Rajasthan.

A tour bus operator was busted by the Crime Branch in Mira Road in the early hours of Tuesday for arranging fake COVID negative certificates. The businesses of other travel agents though continue unaffected. mid-day reporters visited the offices of tours and travel operators at Gopal Bhuvan bus stop in Ghatkopar West and at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) gate on the Western Express Highway (WEH) on Tuesday and conducted sting operations. Negative RT-PCR test reports were being provided for Rs 300-Rs 500. Workers on buses said that the test reports are required only at checkpoints while crossing over from Maharashtra to Gujarat.

The driver of a bus in Ghatkopar going to Udaipur said that if security is too tight, those with fake reports are shifted to vehicles with local number plates to cross the checkpoints. Assuming that local vehicles will have residents from the area, authorities do not check them. The passengers board the bus again after crossing the checkpoint. The cleaner of the same bus also appeared to be under the impression that RT-PCR tests are done online and showed his ‘test report' to this reporter.

Travellers cross the border on foot or in hired minivans

Tour operators at Borivli were very confident of themselves and said they'd take the responsibility if anything were to go wrong. They claimed their fake certificates are more powerful than genuine ones as they have arrangements with cops posted on state borders who allow them to jump lines while bus operators following rules have to wait for several hours.

Following is a full transcript of mid-day's conversations during the sting at Ghatkopar:

Ramesh bhai, Maruti Nandan Travels

Ramesh bhai at his shop in Ghatkopar

mid-day: I need 6 tickets to Udaipur tomorrow.
Ramesh bhai: We will know if they let vehicles pass tomorrow. Take my number and call at 5 pm.
mid-day: What about the report?
Ramesh bhai: You decide what to do. Ticket costs Rs 2,500, report costs Rs 500.
mid-day: Can you get a report?
Ramesh bhai: (walks out of the shop) If you get it, it'd be better. Need an RT-PCR report.
mid-day: How will we get in 24 hours. Can you adjust?
Ramesh bhai: You get Rs 500, we will manage and get you a report which would be enough to cross the border.

Manik, bus driver and Sanket of Sanket Travels World

Bus driver Manik (left) and travel agent Sanket

mid-day spotted a bus with Manik written over it. The driver, named Manik, was talking on the phone. mid-day enquired with him about going to Udaipur and asked him if he can help arrange reports.
Manik: A report is compulsory.
mid-day: Can we manage there [on the border]?
Manik: I did it, but my vehicle was seized on the border. I told them sir I am going back to Mumbai, please return my vehicle. They said if you are returning, then I will let you go. So I returned. People were crossing the border in minivans for Rs 1,200 per person, or crossing in rickshaws.
mid-day: What was the problem with the report?
Manik: They said the report is fake; 20 people had such reports. (shows his report on the mobile phone) see it was like this, they said it's fake.
mid-day: Can you help me out, please?
Manik calls someone and confirms the destination and number of travellers.
Manik: Hello, there are six travellers for Udaipur, can you arrange? I am standing here Dilip, with my bus, outside your office. But these people don't have a report.
A man in a blue shirt arrives
Sanket: How many are travelling?
mid-day: Six people.
Sanket: When do you want to go?
mid-day: Tomorrow.
Sanket: Tomorrow there's a bus leaving at 12 pm
mid-day: How much will you charge?
Sanket: Rs 2,500. Do you have a COVID report?
mid-day: No, I don't bhai.
Sanket: Rs 2,800 then, with the report, in a sleeper bus
mid-day: When would I have to pay?
Sanket: If you pay today, it will be done.
mid-day: Till where will you drop us?
Sanket: We will drop you at Udaipur
Manik: Once payment is done, we will drop you at Udaipur. Be ready to pay Rs 50-Rs 100 on the way [to pay to police at the checkpoint if they identify the fake report].
mid-day: How do we pay you?
Sanket: For six people, pay Rs 1,000 in advance. (shares his number)
Manik: Give the Aadhaar cards of the six people.
Sanket: Report is just to cross the border. It has no other use
mid-day: By when do you need the payment
Sanket: Pay by 4 or 5 pm

Rohit Jaiswal, Falcon Bus Line

Rohit Jaiswal

mid-day: How much do you charge for AC bus to Udaipur?
Rohit Jaiswal: Rs 2,520.
mid-day: What about the report?
Rohit: Do you have one?
mid-day: No.
Rohit: Then Rs 400-Rs 500 extra would be needed.
mid-day: Will I have to come or will it be done directly?
Rohit: It will be done.
mid-day: Would there be any trouble on the way?
Rohit: No.
mid-day: What documents do you need?
Rohit: Aadhaar card. Mail or WhatsApp it to me after the booking is done.

London Pari bus's cleaner Rathod and driver

Bus cleaner Rathod

mid-day approached a person sitting next to the wheels of a bus with the words London Pari on it; he identified himself only as Rathod, cleaner of the bus. mid-day spoke to him and the unnamed driver.
mid-day: Is the report compulsory?
Driver: You will have to get the report sir.
mid-day: There are six people, a family.
Driver: Get a report, otherwise they will send you back from Gujarat border. Or you can walk till Vapi. Get a report. No one will question you till Rajasthan.
mid-day: But everyone is testing positive nowadays.
Rathod: Then get it online.
mid-day: You can't get it online, you have to do a test.
Rathod: But we get it online (starts checking his mobile).
mid-day: By when will the report come? Show me yours.
Rathod: It will be made.
mid-day: But how?
Rathod: One who wants to get it will procure it anyhow. Aadhaar card will be needed.
mid-day: If you know someone, could you give their number. I don't know anyone.
Rathod: Our office gets it made.
mid-day: Online?
Rathod hands his mobile to this reporter, shows him a COVID negative report
mid-day: Will a test be needed, or it will be done directly?
Driver: Direct, there are five-six types of reports. From these, the real one must be shown to the police inspector. If you have a duplicate report, you have to pay [the cops].
mid-day: Okay, then we shall do that.
Driver: See if you get a report then it will be better. Otherwise, you will have to cross the border on foot. Women crossing the road at night won't be safe. Getting the report is best.
While mid-day was leaving, some passengers came to the bus. The driver asked them about their reports and one of them said they are being brought from the booking office. The driver then told the passengers to keep the reports with them.