Assam government on Monday took a slew of measures for better co-ordination and smooth management of the situation arising due to coronavirus.
State transport minister Chandra Mohan Patowary held a discussion with senior officials from airport and railway authorities at Janata Bhawan on Monday.
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Officers of Transport, Food & Civil Supplies, and Health & Family Welfare departments were also present.
During the course of the meeting, Patowary asked all stakeholders to work in unison and make necessary arrangements for smooth supply of medicines, food grains and other essential commodities.
Also read: Coronavirus: Assam CM assigns ministers to oversee situation
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Sanjeev Jindal, regional executive director, Airport Authority of India (AAI) informed that all passengers are being screened at LGBI Airport.
He added that adequate arrangements have been made at the airport.
He further stated that AAI would support the State Government for any assistance in transport sector.
V V Jituri, chief commercial manager, N F Railway, stated that Indian Railways has announced the closure of all passenger rail services across the nation till March 31, except the trains that have already started the journey.
Remaining such trains will culminate the journeys on Tuesday in Guwahati.
However, freight rail services would continue to bring in all essential commodities to the State.
Food and Civil Supplies Department would extend support to N F Railway for providing trucks and labour for loading and unloading commodities to godowns.
Patowary directed the health officials to arrange to stamp all passengers arriving at airports and railway stations for mandatory home quarantine for two weeks, to avoid spread of the virus.
In order to contain the outbreak of Covid-19, all IWT and private passenger ferry services, have been suspended up to Mach 31, 2020.
Transport Department has also prohibited the use of passenger vehicles (i.e. contract carriages, ttage carriages, taxi cabs, maxi cabs) and also private vehicles for transporting passengers or persons plying to and from Assam to other states and union territories for public safety and convenience up to March 31 next.
However, this order will not be applicable for emergency services like goods vehicles, medical services, fire & emergency services, personnel on Government duty and other essential services.
K K Dwivedi, commissioner and secretary, Transport Department; Adil Khan, commissioner, Transport; Razvee Hussain, secretary, Transport Department; AP Tiwari, MD, ASTC and other officials were present in the meeting.