With anxiety about coronavirus (COVID-19) growing among the people, the Assam transport department is stepping up efforts to prevent the potential spread of the deadly virus.

In view of the coronavirus outbreak, Assam Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary instructed that all ASTC buses and IWT ferries must be cleaned thoroughly after each trip.

“A separate sanitizer for the bus drivers and conductors and another one for the passengers must be kept in the buses and ferries,” said Patowary.

The Minister reviewed a preparedness meeting at Janata Bhawan on March 13th, 2020. The meeting was attended by the health officials, divisional superintendents of ASTC, executive and junior engineers of IWT, and representatives of bus operators, cab operators, auto-rickshaw operators, Ola, Uber, Rapido services etc.

“Transport system is an essential service for daily mobility for the masses. In view of coronavirus, safety is a top priority for everyone working in, and using public transport,” he said.

Patowary instructed the ASTC divisional superintendents and IWT junior engineers to conduct awareness drives and sensitize people in their respective district bus stations and ferry terminals.

Stating that airports and bus stations play a vital role in commuting passengers, the Minister asked the cab, Ola and Uber service representatives to sensitize their drivers of the precautionary measures to be taken while transporting passengers.

“If a passenger shows basic symptoms like a runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever, enquire courteously his/her travel history and guide the passenger to the nearest PHC or hospital,” he added.

KK Dwivedi, Commissioner and Secretary, Transport Department, asked the officials and other stakeholders to follow good hygiene and paste leaflets/messages of coronavirus in the cabs, public and private buses, bus stations etc.           

Minister Patwory also instructed the concerned departments to paste leaflets in cabs, public and private buses and bus stations to aware the general public regarding the coronavirus.

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