State Home Department has notified SOP for passenger vehicles in Nagaland

August 9, 2021

In pursuance to the office order of even number dated 01.08.2021, and the other lock down orders issued from time to time, and in supersession of all the order, guidelines and advisories issued for vehicles, the State Home Department has notified that the following Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, shall be applicable for all kind of vehicles in the State:

A. Commercial Passenger Vehicles

  1. In buses, and in light vehicles, the maximum occupancy permitted shall be 50%. In case of taxis, and auto rickshaws, the maximum allowed passengers shall be 2(two), without any passenger in the front seat. If there are more than 1 (one) row, then in each row not more than 2(two) passengers will be permitted.
  2. The driver and attendants of every passenger vehicle including taxis, auto-rickshaws and buses, plying within the district, should be asymptomatic and should have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (taken both the doses), or should have taken the first dose against COVID-19, and 15 (fifteen) days must have passed since taking the first dose. If none of the two aforesaid criteria regarding vaccination is fulfilled, then the driver/attendant should carry a COVID-19 negative test report taken through either RT-PCR/TrueNat or CBNAAT with the swab taken for testing not earlier than 15 (Fifteen) days.
  3. In case of inter-district bus service/ taxi service, in addition to the drivers/attendants fulfilling the conditions as mentioned in Para 2 above, the passengers should have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (taken both the doses), or should have taken the first dose against COVID-19, and 15 (fifteen) days must have passed since taking the first dose. If none of the two aforesaid criteria regarding vaccination is fulfilled, then the passenger should carry a COVID-19 negative lest report taken through either RT-PCR/TrueNat or CBNAAT with the swab taken for testing not earlier than 72 (seventy two) hours from the date of travel.
  4. All the travelling passengers should be asymptomatic. Further all the passenger vehicles should also mandatorily maintain a daily log book of all travellers at the ticket/booking counter, with the following details:
    a) Name, Age and Sex
    b) Contact Number
    c) Date of travel
    d) Destination
  5. Hand sanitizer/ extra face masks should be carried at all times and all passengers must sanitize their hands before boarding. The vehicles should be washed daily and disinfected periodically.
  6. All the vehicles to the extent possible should move with their windows rolled down. Further, light commercial passenger vehicles including taxis and auto rickshaws are also advised to put a plastic barrier in the vehicle to isolate the driver from the passengers as an added safety measure.
  7. The driver/attendant should mandatorily carry appropriate disinfectants and periodically disinfect frequently touched surfaces of the vehicle such as doors and window handles, seats, overhead hand grips, etc.
  8. Drivers/attendants should not assemble or gather in groups at bus/taxi/auto rickshaw stands. The Municipal/Town Council will ensure installation of adequate hand washing facilities- soap and running water or foot-operated alcohol-based Hand Sanitizer at the bus/taxi/auto rickshaw stand and display adequate IEC materials (posters/ pamphlets/ flex banners).
  9. The Municipal/Town Council in collaboration with concerned Union/Association of passenger vehicles will conduct orientation programme on standard preventive measure for drivers and travellers. Necessary technical support will be provided by District Task Force.

B. Private Passenger Vehicle

In case of private passenger vehicle there should not be more than two persons sitting on the middle and rear row seats. In case of rear seats being along the length of the vehicle, not more than one person should sit on each of the rear seat. In the front row seat, including the driver there should not be more than two persons sitting. The occupants of the vehicles should be asymptomatic they should adhere to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour. Further, to the extent possible the vehicle should move with the windows rolled down.

C. Compulsory Wearing of Face Mask

In both private and commercial passenger vehicles, everyone including the drivers, attendants should mandatorily wear mask at all times. If anyone is found not wearing mask, he/she shall be fined an amount of Rs. 200/-,

D. Pillion riding and two wheeler taxi service shall continue to remain suspended.

E. Carrying of passenger(s) in any transport vehicle carrying goods/commodities, including water carrier, dumper etc. shall not be permitted.

F. Inter-State travellers or those passenger(s) transiting through the State of Nagaland will continue to be guided by the Revised SOP for returnees and inbound travellers issued vide the office order of even number dated 16.07.2021.

G. The above SOP will come into force with effect from 9th August 2021.

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