GUWAHATI: Assam has extended the period of inter-district movement for stranded people to April 30 while allowing round-trips for people with own vehicles till the same period.
One-way inter-district movement for stranded people was earlier allowed from April 25 to 27 in strict compliance with the guidelines of the ministry of home affairs (MHA).
Moreover, patients in need of inter-district travel for medical purposes would be given e-passes for the entire lockdown period, subject to prior verification and approval of the respective deputy commissioners.
Addressing reporters here on Sunday afternoon, Assam health and family welfare minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Assam State Transport Corporation has so far received 41651 applications and till yesterday about 2585 people have been ferried to their home districts.
“Today, another 12000 are likely to be transported to their home districts. The authorities of ASTC given the massive exercise in the wake of the lockdown have sought more time to transport the remaining persons who are stranded here,” Sarma said.
Likewise, as many as 73000 applications were received by the deputy commissioners from persons having their own vehicles but stranded in other districts.
“Already, 26950 persons have returned home while 11,588 applications are pending. The rest were rejected because they had applied for round trips as against one-way travel. However, given that there are so many people in need of round trips, we have decided to allow the privilege only to fresh applicants during April 28, 29 and 30,” Sarma said.
The minister said the objective of facilitating inter-district movement for stranded people first is to subsequently regulate the entry of those coming from outside the state post-lockdown by adhering to all protocols required to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It is estimated that over 5 lakh people from Assam who are stranded outside the country could be entering the state after the lockdown.
He however said that only one-way movement to “red zone” districts would be allowed during the period. “The 391 students from Kota (Rajasthan) would reach the city by this evening and quarantined for 14 days. The male students would be kept at the Sarusajai quarantine centre while the female students would be quarantined in hotels nearby,” Sarma said.
