SMS confirmation must for availing ASTC bus service, says Assam Minister

GUWAHATI: Minister of Transport, Industries and Commerce Chandra MohanPatowary has said that people not getting SMS confirmation through 104 for inter-district ASTC bus service should not come to Bus Stations. A tweet was sent out on this.

https://twitter.com/cmpatowary/status/1255894104396804100

Minister Patowary, along with senior officials of Transport Department visited ISBT, Betkuchi; ASTC, Paltan Bazar and Machkhowato a few days ago to oversee the safe transportation of the stranded people.

“On Day 1, Transport Department has put 323 buses into service for facilitating the travel of around 5,000 registered passengers for short distance journey in 18 districts namely, Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Hailakandi, Hojai, Jorhat, Kamrup Metro, Karimganj, North Lakhimpur, Majuli, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Tinsukia, Udalguri”, the minister added.

The passengers underwent a medical examination before boarding the bus and also after they were dropped at their respective locations. The ASTC passengers were transported by following the health advisory of the Government. Hand gloves and masks were mandatory and the norms of social distancing were followed.

According to a release, the total number of registered applicants through 104 helpline number was 41,651. The lines were closed on midnight of April 23. An initial message was sent to all registered applicants that their request has been accepted. It may be mentioned that the declared red zone districts were excluded from this purview.

A thorough plan was made to categorize the passengers district-wise. For the first phase, priority was to send the passengers between two nearest districts. Accordingly, ASTC sent SMS Ticket to around 5,000 people yesterday, containing the bus details, boarding point, serial number, origin and destination, time and date of journey etc.Only those people were allowed to travel in buses who showed the confirmed SMS Ticket.

Meanwhile, more than 200 ASTC buses have been deployed across the State for the assistance of various departments including – police and health departments.

Also Read: ASTC provides helpline numbers to registered passengers on 104

Also Watch: Sellers take advantage of helplessness of panic stricken citizens by overpricing commodities