The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday reiterated to states and union territories of the country the need to ease inter-state truck movement to keep the supply of essential items going. The ministry asked the states and UTs to keep the economy going by letting seamless truck movement take place as the nation enters the third phase of lockdown.
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Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs said in a press conference that a toll free number, 1930, has been issued, in consultation with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), where truck operators can call and file complaints. The number is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So far, close to 12,000 complaints have been handled by the home ministry regarding issues to trucks during lockdown.
She further added that in the event that the truck is on the move on any national highway, the truck operator can also call 1033, which is the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) helpline number to file any complaints.
Srivastava said, “The ministry has urged states and UTs (union territories) to ensure that no impediment comes in the inter-state movement of trucks and goods carriers which is necessary for uninterrupted supply of essential items and to give boost to economic activity.”
The Joint Secretary also said seeing increasing cases of police officials contracting COVID-19, the ministry in consultation with the Bureau of Police Research and Development and the health ministry has issued guidelines to protect themselves while working in the field.
Along with that, the home ministry has also asked all states and UTs, by means of an advisory, to be mindful of health protocols and guidelines issued for safety practices to be followed at work.