SHILLONG, July 4: The district administration of East Khasi Hills has expanded the ambit of relaxation for public transport in the district by permitting up to 20 per cent of commercial vehicles in urban areas and 50 per cent in rural areas starting Monday till Saturday, an order by the Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo, said. As per the order, an arrangement for “city bus, mini bus, local taxi and auto rickshaw (excluding SPTS, SSTS & SSPTS)” has been made by the district administration which will be effective between 6 am to 6 pm.
The order specified that 50% of the capacity or “not more than 2+16” will be utilised in buses, “1+3” in local taxis, and “1+2” in auto rickshaws.
In Shillong Urban Agglomeration and adjoining areas, “city bus, mini bus, local taxi and auto rickshaw will ply within areas falling within whole of municipality area, whole of Cantonment area, all Census Towns and villages under Mawlai and Mawpat C&RD Block, as well as areas under Mylliem C&RD Block”.
The order stated that there will be no transportation of passengers outside Shillong Urban Agglomeration and its adjoining areas even as it added that any inter-district movement and movement outside Shillong Urban Agglomeration and its adjoining areas will be permitted only through passes duly obtained from the authority concerned.
According to the arrangement, commercial vehicles with registration number ending with 3 and 4 will operate on Monday, 5 and 6 on Tuesday, 7 and 8 on Wednesday, 9 and 0 on Thursday, 1 and 2 on Friday and 3 and 4 on Saturday.
Commercial vehicles operating in areas falling under Mawryngkneng, Mawkynrew, Mawsynram, Sohiong and Mawphlang C&RD blocks will function at 33% strength. The order states that these vehicles will ply only within the block concerned on the days permitted for opening of essential and non-essential activities. There will be no transportation of passengers to Shillong Urban Agglomeration and its adjoining areas, while such movement will only be permitted for essential services and with passes obtained from the Block Development Officers (BDOs) concerned.
Also, public transport in Sohra and Pynursla (Civil) Sub-Division will function at 33 per cent strength per day.” Arrangement will be made by the Sub Divisional Officers (C) of the Sub-Division concerned for commercial vehicles to ply within the Sub-Division only,” the order said. “Vaccination status should be clearly indicated on the vehicles. Wearing of double mask or N-95 is mandatory, even for a single person driving a vehicle. In case of persons travelling in any private car with valid pass or authorisation, up to 100 per cent of its seating capacity, wearing of double mask or N-95 is mandatory for all the persons. Use of sanitisers is mandatory. Proper ventilation of the vehicle is advisable. Pillion riding is not allowed except with women or children in case of two-wheelers with valid pass or authorisation. All public transport authorities shall strictly enforce COVID-19 appropriate behavior and seating inside the vehicles,” the Deputy Commissioner said in the order.
Night curfew in SWKH
In South West Khasi Hills, the Deputy Commissioner, C Kharkongor, has imposed curfew from July 5 till 9 between 10 pm to 5 am and lockdown from 10 pm of July 9 till 5 am of July 12 in the entire district in view of the high transmissibility of the virus.
The DC also informed that the markets in the district have been regulated where shops selling essential commodities at village-level are allowed to open but should close by 5 pm daily.
The Mawkyrwat Market and the temporary farmers market will be allowed to open from Monday to Friday between 9 am and 5 pm.