Assam CMO directs officials to ensure public, emergency vehicles face no inconvenience during CM convoy movement

The Assam Chief Minister's Office on Thursday directed all district commissioners and senior police officers to ensure that the public, particularly emergency vehicles, face no inconvenience during the movement of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's convoy.

The CMO reiterated that ambulances, fire tenders and other emergency vehicles must not be obstructed during VIP movement and said the convoy could be paused, if necessary, to allow them immediate passage.

"It is once again emphasised that under no circumstances should the movement of ambulances or other emergency vehicles be impeded on account of VIP carcade arrangements," the directive said.

The order said traffic regulation during VIP movement should be planned in a manner that prevents delays or obstruction to emergency vehicles.

It also instructed officials to ensure that arrangements for the chief minister's convoy do not cause inconvenience to the general public or unduly disrupt routine traffic.

The directive follows an incident in Silchar on Wednesday in which an ambulance carrying a patient and the patient's family was stopped to make way for the chief minister's convoy.

Sarma apologised to the patient and the family following the incident. Four police personnel were subsequently suspended for alleged negligence of duty.

The CMO said the latest instructions were issued pursuant to directions given by Sarma after the Silchar incident.

"Pursuant to yesterday's directions by HCM Dr @himantabiswa, instructions have been reiterated to all DCs and SPs to strictly ensure there are no inconvenience caused to public during the passage of Chief Minister's convoy - which has also been curtailed to a minimum compliant with security needs," it said in a social media post.

The order said clear instructions had already been issued to district commissioners and senior police officers on ensuring that emergency vehicles were not blocked during VIP movement.

It further emphasised that convoy arrangements should be kept to the minimum necessary for security and that routine traffic should not be unnecessarily disrupted.