Amid the rise in Covid-19 cases in Assam, the state government issued revised guidelines a few days back, whereby public transportation like city buses have been ordered to function with fifty percent of the total capacity. where it was stated that public transport in the Kamrup Metro and Assam can continue to ply with 50% capacity.The new rule has created havoc among the passengers as the buses are now charging fares double than usual.
NKTV took stock of the situation from across Guwahati. Our reporter at the Jalukbari bus stop found massive chaos during the morning office hours. People crowded the bus stops for hours. Further chaos was seen due to the unregulated fares, as angry passengers confronted the city bus crew.
Every bus trip has been hiked from 50 to 200 percent. Speaking to NKTV a driver said, “We are not even allowed to take customers to full capacity. We are following the guidelines, we did the same last year. But where is our profit. We are not paid anyt compensation for the losses incurred. We also need to survive.”
Earlier the All Assam Motor Transport Association had given a press release whereby it was stated that the government had not provide any help to the transportation workers who were left without work for months last year. They demanded salary hike of the workers and other payments which could not be earned by merely carrying 50 percent of the passengers.