‘Health department nod must for full occupancy in public transport’

GUWAHATI: Assam transport minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on Tuesday said that the government can allow public transport to ply with 100 percent capacity only with the permission from the health department since Covid-19 protocols are still in force.
The minister, who convened a meeting with the All Assam Motor Transport Association (AAMTA) after it called for an indefinite strike from Monday demanding fare increase or 100 percent capacity, said that the transport body has accepted the government’s request to call off the strike. “We have requested the association to call off the strike from Wednesday and they have agreed to it,” he added.
However, AAMTA said that it would continue with the strike until there is any positive outcome. “The strike will go on. We will have an executive meeting and will decide on the further course of action,” Pradip Das, general secretary of the association said.
The other demands of the association were 50 percent waiver in road tax and waiver of quarter tax of two months till the Covid-19 protocol is in force in the state. The association had earlier said that the government’s ignorance to the problems faced by thousands of workers since the lockdown was imposed to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic has hurt the workers.
“The pandemic has worsened things. The government has now allowed resumption of transport services after the prolonged lockdown for over six months and put restrictions on it. So, we have demanded a waiver in road tax by 50 percent, quarter tax of two months and an increase in bus fare till the Covid protocol is in force,” the general secretary added.
Meanwhile, the Assam State transport Association (ASTC) had said that it would ply 650 buses across the state from Monday in view of the strike. “The corporation would ensure that privately owned ASTC buses will also ply in the state. All necessary arrangements have been done in this regard,” ASTC MD Anand Prakash Tiwari said.
The department has also directed the deputy commissioners and the superintendents of police of all districts to keep strict vigil and ensure smooth operation of the ASTC buses.
The state government on August 13, while allowing movement of the public transport adhering to the Covid-19 protocols, had issued strict guidelines. Public transport was allowed with 50 percent capacity and following Covid-19 protocols were made compulsory.
The Centre in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court on Friday had said that it has decided to waive off compounded interest for loans up to Rs 2 crore during the six months loan moratorium period in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. The government stated that the relief on waiver of compound interest will be for auto loans, MSME loans, education loans, housing loans, consumer durable loans, credit card loans, personal loans and consumption loans, all up to Rs 2 crore.