Assam Transport Department Ups Ante to Prevent Covid-19 Outbreak

Dispur, March 21, 2020:

In a bid to prevent Covid-19 outbreak in the state, the Assam Transport Department has taken a slew of measures and is constantly monitoring the situation in the field.

A high level meeting was taken by Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on March 13 last with concerned officials of the departments and all transport associates and transport bodies to sensitize about Coronavirus. He discussed at length with these stakeholders about the precautionary measures to be taken in the public transport vehicle, bus terminus, bus stand, taxi stand, ferry terminals etc. in order to prevent the outbreak of the disease.

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As instructed, the District Transport Officers (DTOs) are carrying out sanitization activities on public transport vehicles across Assam. Special cleanliness drives have been undertaken at ASTC bus stand, bus terminus and other transport vehicle stand. Sanitization facilities have been provided for entry point of the office of the Commissioner of Transport and in all DTO offices of the State for the general public coming to the office. Display of public health measures like banners, posters, hoardings have been put up in transport offices, bus terminus and taxi stand.

Extending support to the Prime Minister’s call for Janata Curfew on March 22, ASTC buses, IWT ferries and private vehicles will remain suspended. Since, Umananda Temple has been closed for visitors, ferry services to the temple has been suspended by IWT. Similarly, as Kamakhya Temple has also been shut down, ASTC buses to Kamakhya have also been suspended temporarily. On request from the Transport Department to city bus associations and other public transport associations, they have agreed to ply 50% buses in rotation from March 23 until further order.

In Guwahati, the city buses are being sanitized and COVID-19 awareness posters have been pasted in the vehicles for public awareness. The vehicle owners were asked to disinfect the seats, doors, windows, handles of their buses, auto rickshaws and taxis. Screening teams have been placed at ISBT, Betkuchi for infra-red thermal screening of passengers.

Face masks have been distributed to drivers, conductors and handymen. Awareness leaflets are being distributed to increase public awareness in Assam. They have also been sensitized to report any suspected case to the nearest health institution.

To reduce footfall, tests for learner licence and driving licence have been suspended till March 31, 2020, except for those learner licences which are expiring in between March 20 to 31, 2020. District Transport Officers are taking measures to encourage online payment, tax fee etc. in order to reduce visitor in the offices. It has been ensured that public buses are not overloaded; every bus runs in optimum sitting capacity only and no standing passenger has been allowed in the buses. Official mobile number of all District Transport Officer has been displayed as Helpline No. / WhatsApp No. for information of public to address urgent issues related to public transport.

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In case of Inland Water Transport (IWT), all the running vessels, pontoons have been properly cleaned, sanitized and disinfected. Ferry commuters including vessel staff have been provided sanitary materials like hand wash/anti-septic solution for proper sanitization of their hands. Toilets, urinals, passenger seats, railings etc are being sanitized on a daily basis.

Public Announcement system has also been installed at ferry ghat points and announcements are being made regarding precautionary measures/steps to be taken for prevention of Coronavirus. Thermal screening of crew members and passengers has also been carried out in some of the ghats where passenger traffic is heavy. The ghats and vessels have been provided with running water, soap/ hand wash/ sanitizer and social distancing is ensured to the extent possible. IWT officials have also ensured that unnecessary gathering is avoided in the rest room or waiting rooms of ferry terminals.

The Assam Transport Department has constituted five teams at the state level to monitor the compliance of instructions to handle Corona Virus. The teams are ensuring that the instructions are being complied with by the concerned agencies, associations, stakeholders, and at ferry ghats, bus stands, ISBT- Betkuchi, Uber, Ola, Rapido services, auto/ e-rickshaw stands etc. The Transport Department is working closely with the passengers for enforcing precautionary measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19.

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