Transport dept starts providing hand sanitisers to passengers

Kolkata: State Transport department has started offering hand sanitisers to passengers boarding buses, trams and vessels to help stop the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

"Hand sanitisation has started at Howrah, Fairlie and Shipping Ghats of West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC). All depots have been instructed to increase focus on handwashing before alighting and returning of buses," said Rajanvir Singh Kapur, managing director of WBTC.

While regular washing of hands using sanitiser or soap is one of the key steps recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), people should also avoid mass gathering to prevent the disease from entering the country.

"We have identified different routes where a lot of passengers travel. On these 33 routes (S3A, S31, S3B, S9, S10A, S12, S9A and others), we are increasing bus frequency so that buses are not overcrowded. Also in some ferries, frequency has increased in Jetties," pointed out Kapur.

This apart, Corona awareness jingle and audio would be played in all buses through Surodhara, state government-owned FM channel to entertain and inform passengers, from March 18. Corona awareness posters will also be put up in all buses soon. "We want the passengers to be aware and safe," pointed out Kapur.

It might be mentioned that the state Transport department had already started bus and vessel disinfection drive as precautionary measures to combat the spread of Coronavirus. Chief Engineer, Marine, Arup Dutta is overseeing the disinfection operations under WBTC.

Public Vehicles Department, Beltola officials also conducted a Coronavirus awareness meeting with private bus operators, taxi operators and auto-rickshaw operators on Tuesday.

"The bus conductors and drivers are in constant contact with the passengers throughout the day. They are wearing masks since March 11," said Tapan Banerjee, joint secretary of the Joint Council of Bus Syndicate.