Transport Restrictions Announced for Election Day; Long-Haul Busses to Remain Exempt

Ramesh Chandra Ghosh, President of the association, noted that while services will run, ticket demand for February 11 is lower than usual. In contrast, there has been a massive surge in bookings for February 10, as industrial workers and employees look to return to their ancestral homes ahead of the polls.

Regarding election day on February 12, the association clarified that although there is no official legal ban on long-distance bus movement, services are expected to be extremely limited. This is primarily due to drivers and transport workers taking leave to cast their own votes. However, regular services are expected to resume late that night once polling concludes.

In alignment with the Election Commission's directives, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has issued a formal notification detailing specific vehicular restrictions. Taxi cabs, pickups, microbuses, and trucks will be completely prohibited from plying the roads for 24 hours, starting from midnight on February 11 until midnight on February 12. Additionally, a nationwide 72-hour ban on motorcycles will be enforced from midnight on February 10 to midnight on February 13.

The government has clarified that these restrictions will be relaxed for emergency services, including ambulances, fire services, and vehicles carrying medicines or newspapers. Furthermore, passengers traveling to and from airports will be allowed to use vehicles upon presenting valid tickets and passports. Long-haul passenger busses and vehicles used for election-related duties with official stickers are also exempted from the ban to ensure that the electoral process and essential connectivity are not entirely disrupted.