BMC Launches ‘Test-In-Drive’ To Reduce Rush At Labs For Covid Test

Bhubaneswar: After getting satisfactory results from the Drive-in-Vaccination exercise, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched ‘test-in-drive’ programme in order to reduce heavy crowd at various hospital laboratories and testing centres for Covid-19 RT-PCR and antigen test in the city.

The special drive has been launched at the parking lot of Bhawani Mall at Saheed Nagar in the city.

As per the plan, people having covid symptoms can drive into the mall's basement area through the entrance gate and give swabs while sitting inside their vehicles before driving back home through the exit gate.

In a tweet, the civic body stated, “BMC will start Drive-In #COVID19 RTPCR and Antigen Testing facility at BMC Bhawani Mall, Saheed Nagar. Citizens can get themselves tested at the Centre by going to the centre on their own arrangement in a vehicle.”

“The initiative was launched to avoid heavy congregation at testing centre. People will no more have to stand in long queue to get them tested. Anyone who complains of covid symptoms can drive straight to the place and get tested without queuing up for hours,” said Suvendu Sahoo, Additional Commission of BMC.

Elaborate arrangements have been made for the special exercise with deployment of more staff for the examination, he added.

The civic body had earned good response from its innovative vaccination programme - Drive-in-Vaccination- in order to expedite the second dose inoculation exercise. The programme was carried out at the basement area of Esplanade Mall at Rasulgarh in the city.

Taking cue from BMC’s novel programme, the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) has also launched similar event to ensure hassle-free vaccination. The drive is going on today at Khallikote college ground with adequate arrangements.