Representational image.

The Mizoram government opened its border with Assam at Vairengte for passengers- stranded state residents and outsiders (visitors), to streamline their arrival at the designated entry point, a senior official said on Friday.

State home secretary Lalbiaksangi said that the government opened the entry point at Vairengte for entry of passengers and passenger vehicles for 7 hours between 6 am and 12 noon from Monday to Saturday.

The order to this effect was issued on Thursday, she said.

The home secretary said that Vairengte entry point will be opened 24×7 for vehicles carrying goods as usual.

She said that the order allowing passengers to enter the state within 7 hours between Monday and Saturday was issued to streamline entry of stranded people and visitors as the officials and police, who are on duty at the entry point faced inconvenience due to shortage of manpower.

According to the home secretary, any people willing to enter Mizoram must take prior permission from the home department for movement.

She said that all incoming passenger vehicles will be identified by fluorescent orange coloured stricker maked “Bound for Quarantine”

Mizoram has completely sealed international and inter-state borders barring entry point at Vairengte, which was opened for commodities carrying vehicles, on March 22 to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus

Later, Kanhmun on the state border with Tripura and Bairabi on the Mizoram-Assam border were opened for vehicles carrying goods.

Mizoram shares 722 km international borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar and also 284 km inter-state border with Assam, Manipur and Tripura.