GUWAHATI, March 13 - Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary today reviewed a meeting on preparedness in view of the coronavirus fears in the State.
The meeting held at Janata Bhawan was attended by the health officials, divisional superintendents of ASTC, executive and junior engineers of IWT, and representatives of bus operators, cab operators, autorickshaw operators, Ola, Uber and Rapido services, among others.�
�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,� Patowary said.
He advised ASTC divisional superintendents and IWT junior engineers to conduct awareness drives and sensitise people in their respective districts, at bus stations and ferry terminals.�
�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.�
Stating that airports and bus stations play a vital role in commuting passengers, Patowary asked the Ola and Uber service representatives to sensitise 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 said.
Dr KK Dwivedi, Commissioner and Secretary, Transport Department, asked the officials and other stakeholders to maintain good hygiene and paste leaflets and messages related to coronavirus on the cabs, public and private buses and at bus stations.
Adil Khan, Transport Commissioner; AP Tiwari, MD, ASTC; Pabitra Khaund, Director, IWT; Dr Arup Deka, WHO official, and other officials were present in the meeting.
