Medium and long-distance commuters across the country may soon get relief from unhygienic public vehicles. The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) has announced new guidelines to ensure cleanliness in public vehicles and install audio features to communicate necessary information during the journey.

The department has made new rules regarding vehicle management, cleanliness, adherence to health standards and the behaviour of drivers/co-drivers. It is mentioned in the guidelines that the vehicle should be kept clean. A rule has also been introduced to keep the seat cover, floor, windows, curtains and ceilings clean on a regular basis. Similarly, smoking should be completely prohibited inside public vehicles and loud music should not be played in public vehicles.

Public health promotion notices should be posted on public vehicles and long and medium distance vehicles should stop only at places with hygienic eating areas and clean toilets. The directive also states that a health checkup of drivers and co-drivers should be conducted every three months and the garbage collected in running public vehicles should be disposed of only in designated places. The relevant company must ensure that the vehicle is regularly cleaned while providing the vehicle’s Chalan (paperwork) or Cue card.

A rule has also been introduced that drivers and co-drivers should pay special attention to their personal hygiene. Employees working at ticket counters must carry an identity card provided by the company, and drivers and co-drivers must carry an identity card provided by their employer or company. It is also stipulated in the guidelines that they should wear clothing that reveals the identity provided by the employer.

The guidelines states that drivers and co-drivers should not smoke or consume alcohol during the journey, and drivers and co-drivers should show modest and polite behavior with passengers.

Similarly, passengers should be encouraged to throw garbage only in the dustbins in the vehicle. Transporters should provide their drivers and co-drivers with clothes that reveal their identity twice a year. The rule also states that drivers and co-drivers should not engage in any unnecessary conversations with passengers while driving.

Moreover, medium and long distance vehicles have to play informational audio for the passengers as specified by the government at the beginning and end of the journey. A sample of the dialect.