Assam transport minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on Sunday said around 1,500 trucks were being mobilised every day to transport essential commodities in the state during the lockdown period.

Patowary said these essential commodities have been unloaded in 28 railway points in 18 districts.

“So far, 44,624 trucks-trips have been made in the state to unload 357 railway rakes, with 31,435 man-days work of labourers. This includes essential items like rice, wheat, edible oil, salt, sugar, potato and onion,” he said.

Patowary said to ensure sufficient availability of food stocks, 3.75 lakhMT rice and 0.14 lakhMT wheat have been brought to the state.

“The transport department has been relentlessly working with Indian Railways and the state food and civil supplies department to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to Assam and other northeastern states,” Patowary said.

He said essential drugs and medicines to all northeastern states are supplied from Guwahati and the transport department has facilitated movement of these drugs to places like Agartala and Imphal.

“Likewise, trucks were arranged for sending masks and other Covid-protection items to Aizawl, on request from the government of Mizoram,” he said.

Patowary said validity of transport permits, driving licences, registration certificates, which will expire during the lockdown period, has been extended till June 30. In addition to that to ensure smooth movement of trucks, 45 dhabas have been ordered to be kept open on highways, for truck drivers, observing all precautions. Similarly, 85 truck repair shops are being kept open according to instructions from the Union ministry of home affairs.

Patowary said the ASTC has also been extending support to manage the situation arising from the pandemic in the state by providing 211 buses, which are now operating in coordination with district administrations, hospitals, police and municipal bodies.

“Out of these 211 buses, 39 buses are operating with health department and facilitating the movement of health officials,” he said.

In addition to that, Patowary said to facilitate intra-district movement of stranded people, the transport department on Saturday provided 323 buses.

On the first day, around 5,000 people benefited from it. Around 800 buses were pressed into service on Sunday.

He said for the first phase the priority was to send the passengers between two nearest districts.

In Guwahati, for Sunday and Monday ASTC, Paltan Bazar, Machkhowa, Adabari and ISBT, Betkuchi have been fixed as the designated boarding points.

“The ASTC will also arrange adequate free bus service to pick up the people from different city bus stops. For other districts, ASTC headquarters bus stations will be the boarding points,” Patowary said.