DIMAPUR: Fares for taxis and auto-rickshaws have been revised back to an earlier rate in Nagaland’s Dimapur.
The orders were issued yesterday by the deputy commissioner and chairman regional transport authority, Dimapur, Rajesh Soundararajan IAS.
The DC Dimapur issued the order in response to a Government of Nagaland office order dated March 19, 2021, which allows all vehicles to carry 100 percent of their passengers.
Until further notice, all taxis and auto-rickshaws will charge at the previous existing rate, which was released on August 23, 2017, according to the order.
The order said, "In both private and commercial passenger vehicles, all, including the driver and attendants, shall wear masks at all times." No passenger shall be permitted to fly without a properly fitted mask.'
‘Vehicle shall not accommodate more than the total seating space, and no standing passenger shall be carried in the vehicle,' it added.
All passenger vehicles must keep a regular logbook of all passengers with information such as name, phone number, and date of travel. It stated that hand sanitizers must be carried at all times and that all passengers must sanitise their hands before boarding.
The driver and attendant must bring adequate disinfectants and disinfect frequently touched vehicle surfaces such as door, window handles, seats, overhead hand grips regularly.
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Vehicles must be washed regularly and disinfected regularly, and at the bus/taxi/autorickshaw stand, drivers/attendants shall not assemble or gather in groups, the order said.
At the bus/taxi/autorickshaw stand, the Municipal/town council will ensure the installation of appropriate hand washing facilities – soap and running water or a foot-powered alcohol-based hand sanitizer – as well as adequate IEC materials (posters/pamphlets/flex banners).
An orientation programme on standard preventive measures for drivers and travellers will be conducted by the Municipal/town council in partnership with the concerned Union/association of passenger vehicles. The District Task Force will provide the requisite technical assistance, it said.
The DC further stated that this order must be followed strictly by all parties involved, and that failure to do so would result in legal penalties.