Blatant violation of SOPs observed at bus terminals

The government-laid SOPs for the prevention of the coronavirus are being blatantly ignored at the bus stands in Lahore, posing a grave threat to passengers as well as the general public.

It has been noted that passengers are travelling without masks in the public transport while bus stands also lack arrangements for hand sanitisers and hand washing. Commuters are left with no option but to use dirty washrooms and unsanitary waiting areas. Not only that, people also do not observe social distancing while standing in long queues to buy tickets.

The provincial transport department has become a silent spectator to the blatant violations of coronavirus SOPs. Citizens without masks are barred from entering the Metro and Orange train lines, but many commuters flout the directives of the transport staff. Even if passengers comply with the SOPs initially, they remove their masks as soon as they are seated in vehicles.

Lahore and other major cities of the country face a high prevalence of the coronavirus since safety measures are difficult to implement in the congested areas. The only way to stop the spread of the disease is to follow the SOPs at busy places such as bus stands.

According to sources, about 4,500-5,000 buses depart daily to different parts of the provincial capital in which more than 300,000 passengers travel. In pursuance of the SOPs issued by the federal government, Punjab’s transport department had directed all bus stand operators to provide soap and water to passengers.

The bus services were also directed to disinfect passengers before taking them on board. It was further advised that travellers will not be permitted to board a bus without a mask and temperature check.

Similarly, physical distancing within buses was also initially advised under which passengers were supposed to be seated with a gap of a seat. However, the proposal was later cancelled due to the protest of transporters but the remaining SOPs were supposed to be strictly implemented.

Read Transporters say will hike fares if fuel prices go up

According to the documents obtained by The Express Tribune, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) had sealed three bus stands on November 7, 2020, over a gross violation of the SOPs.

However, due to the alleged involvement of influential people, the transport department could not close the stands for long and failed to enforce the SOPs.

In this regard, RTA Secretary Lahore Ghiasuddin Ahmed shared that the RTA teams are constantly working to implement the measures. He said that fines are imposed for violations and three bus stands were also sealed over continuous violations. “The RTA conducts surprise checks at bus stands and inspects buses.

The bus staffers who do not comply with the SOPs are first given a warning and then a fine is imposed upon them,” he said.

In this regard, General Secretary of All Pakistan Transport Owners Association Sajjad Hussain Shah said that transporters are fully implementing the SOPs, denying the violation of safety measures.

“The bus stops are fully equipped with hand sanitisers, soap and water for passengers.

Passengers pass through the disinfection gates and observe social distancing while purchasing tickets.”

A passenger named Nadeem said that fellow travellers do not wear masks all the time and do not follow any safety measures. “People should travel only when absolutely necessary these days.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2021.