ASTC to ferry 41,651 persons to home districts free of cost: Himanta

April 24: Assam Government has provided a window of 3 days for people struck outside their home district but within the state of Assam to return back. Those persons who are struck in other district of Assam and is not in possession of any vehicle with them, such category of inhabitants has been provided an opportunity to come back to their home district by ASTC buses. Such persons have registered themselves by means of calling ‘104’. Finally, 41,651 such persons has been permitted to travel to their home districts by ASTC bus free of cost. This was informed by State Health minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma during a press briefing at NHM office in Guwahati on Friday.

The minister further made it clear that this will only be a one-way facility to the home district per se. As the number of ASTC buses are limited, so no new calls for travelling back to home districts will not be entertained now. He, however, mentioned that the facility may resume again, if the lockdown is extended by the centre. Himanta said though it was mentioned earlier that this special window was provided for only 3 days, but the service will continue even beyond, till the 41,651 persons are sent back to their respective home districts by ASTC buses.