Issuing an advisory on maintaining hygiene and sanitization by State Transport Undertakings —Punjab Roadways, PRTC and PUNBUS, and private bus operators — during the transport of migrants or passengers amidst Covid-19 pandemic, Punjab Government on Thursday asked them to follow all rules and norms to check the spread of coronavirus including social distancing, washing or sanitizing hands, cleaning or sanitizing work areas, among others.
The advisory, issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department, maintained that the Transport Department has to ensure Home Department’s approval before allowing state and private operators fleet to ply for any purpose.
“Only those buses essential for transport of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons who had moved from their native places before the lockdown period but could not return back to their native places or workplaces and are stranded, shall ply only to the extent allowed by the Government, that is till local railway stations or other state-districts,” said the spokesperson.
The transport authority has been advised to make comprehensive plan in a manner that only staff or manpower essential for transportation of migrants is called for duty, and they should be mandatorily examined medically both before and after journey.
“Not more than 50 percent of seating capacity of bus shall be allowed to be filled at any time during journey and a minimum distance of one meter be ensured amongst passengers during boarding, sitting for journey and deboarding. The same can be ensured by advising the passengers to sit on the alternate side — window, middle or aisle on each seat,” said the spokesperson.
Spokesperson said that transport, in active consultation with district administration, shall decide on pick-up or start point, destination, routes, timing, frequency of buses on the basis of number of migrants residing in district who have expressed willingness to return, seating capacity norms laid above, distance etc. The halting point, if any, during the journey shall also be clearly laid out.
Installation of thermal scanners at entry gate of bus-stand or bus is mandatory to screen staff or passengers suffering from high fever. The transport authority is advised to install foot-operated hand-washing stations at the bus stands, service stations or workshops etc.
Markings at all crowded areas like entry gate, water coolers, and canteens or shops (if operational) etc should be done to facilitate social distancing, to be ensured by temporary counters, circles or squares with proper safe distance marking of at least one meter.
THE authority should encourage ticketing of passengers before they board the bus. The ticketing employee or conductor should wash hands after ticketing with soap and water and before boarding the bus. Encourage digital payment, wherever feasible.
Advisory reads that working areas, high contact surfaces, ticket counters, buses, etc should be thoroughly disinfected. The cushion time of 1-1.5 hours for the purpose of disinfection and staggered boarding should be kept in mind before starting any journey.
Advisory also stipulated that staff should be advised to follow strict social distancing measures and maintain a minimum distance of one metre amongst themselves and with passengers at all times. They shall be advised not to indulge in any handshakes or hugs to greet or see-off each other and not to roam unnecessarily in depot space or corridors bus bays etc.
The depot staff, drivers or conductors etc should always wear a cloth mask at all times immediately from leaving the house, during the journey and till they enter back into their house.
The driver, conductor or passengers should not spit inside the bus or anywhere in the open and should not smoke or chew tobacco-based products such as gutka, pan masala etc. in the vehicle or during other times. They should avoid all types of addictions at all times and refrain from touching face, mouth, nose and eyes with his hands at all times.
The driver should avoid any unnecessary halts during the journey and should not pick up any new or additional passenger en-route even if the vacant seats are available.
The conductor, while transacting cash, should immediately sanitize his hands after any such transactions. He should also encourage the other person to sanitize hands before and after the transaction.
Passengers should not crowd, while boarding or de-boarding the bus and must wear cloth mask at all times during the journey.
The advisory mentioned that air-conditioning inside buses should not be used without presence of any ventilating system. Exhaust fans can be installed inside buses so as to increase air circulation in buses.
The transport authority shall therefore maintain a complete and proper record of all staff or manpower reporting for duty on any particular day as well as the passengers, who have travelled on any particular bus.
All are encouraged to take proper diet, assimilate correct information and keep themselves aware and updated with the information at all times, and indulge in useful and productive activities during the available free time, he added.