GUWAHATI: Amid further spike in the number of COVID-19 positive cases, a 14-day lockdown was enforced in Kamrup Metro district effectively from Sunday evening in a bid to break the transmission chain of the virus in the city.
As it is, such a restriction was imperative given the onset of the first stage of “community transmission” in the city, which has already reported close to a 1000 COVID-19 positive cases in quick time, and a majority of them not having any travel history.
As a matter of fact, as many as 195 positive COVID-19 positive cases were reported from Guwahati alone out of the 327 fresh cases registered in Assam on Sunday.
According to reports, 120 of the cases reported from the city are without any travel history.
Meanwhile, the arterial roads of the city wore a deserted look throughout Monday with the city police not taking any chances to let violators off the hook.
Barring authorised vehicles and those on essential duty, private vehicles without permits are being prohibited during the lockdown with city police pledging strict legal action under Disaster Management Act and IPC against violators during the 14 days.
Apart from routine patrol, the city police are also resorting to drones for round-the-clock aerial surveillance of sensitive areas.
ASTC bus service
In view of the lockdown, the Assam State Transport Corporation has arranged special bus services from various pick up centres in the city to the airport and railway station.
The buses will operate from the pick-up points at an interval of two hours from 5am to 7pm. Fifteen police stations and seven police outposts have been designated as pick-up points.
They are Dispur police station (PS), Noonmati PS, Panbazar PS, Latasil PS, Paltan Bazar PS, Bharalumukh PS, Geetanagar PS, Jalukbari PS, Bashistha PS, Fatasil Ambari PS, Hatigaon PS, Gorchuk PS, Bhangagarh PS, Satgaon PS, Chandmari PS, Fancy Bazar outpost (OP), Maligaon OP, Odalbakra OP, Birubari OP, Jorabat OP, ISBT OP and Panikhaiti OP.
Passengers undertaking outbound air or rail travel should register at http://assamtransportrelief.in/ for airport/railway station drop at least 24 hours prior to the commute. They should give full details including name, mobile number, pick-up point in Guwahati, flight/train number, flight/train departure date and time and PNR code.
Passengers will also need to show the train/flight ticket at the time of boarding the ASTC bus. Those using personal or hired vehicles for pick-up and drop from the airport or railway station do not need to register. However, the driver of the vehicle would have to carry a copy of the ticket in both legs of the commute.
Additionally, 12 helplines have also been opened for any assistance during the registration.
Meanwhile, the 02067/02068 Guwahati-Jorhat-Guwahati Jan Shatabdi Special train has been cancelled from Monday till July 12, 2020 in view of the lockdown in Kamrup Metro district.