Jharkhand transport department directs sanitization of buses, maintain record of travel history of passengers

Jamshedpur, March 19: Amidst fear of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the transport department has asked long distances buses to maintain a record of travel history of passengers. Moreover, to ensure sanitization of buses on a daily basis.

�We have written all the district transport officers (DTOs) at all district and also to all the private long distance bus operators to ensure sanitization of seat handles and seats of all public transport on a daily basis. We have also asked buses to display awareness messages on novel coronavirus not only inside the bus terminus but also at the bus terminuses,� said an official.

The directive said that the long distances buses plying to other neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bengal and Bihar to maintain a register of passenger�s travel history with details like contact number, address of passengers on a daily basis.

The official said the crowd at the bus stands will be controlled and proper steps will be taken by providing handwashing facilities for the public. He said that the directors of the Health Department have suggested measures that need to be taken on an emergency basis.

�We have asked the people to do less travelling during this time and do it only when necessary. The buses have to record details of all passengers including travel history, contact number (mobile number), complete address of passengers (based on ID card like Aadhar card,� said the official.

Sources in the state transport department revealed that the DTOs have been directed to conduct random checking on the long distance buses not only at the bus terminuses but also along the way (state highways and NHs) to check if the directive of keeping travel history of passengers is being followed or not and if sanitizers and public messages are displayed in the buses.

To avoid spread of Coronavirus buses are being sanitized daily at night. Since thousands of people travel in these buses everyday and public transport are one of the major reasons of spread.