With the dawn of General Elections 2024, citizens of the state will have to contend with fewer commercial vehicles and the associated inconvenience in the coming days
As Assam prepares for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the state is looking to come to terms with a pressing issue: a scarcity of vehicles. The teaser trailer of what citizens can expect unfolded during the last visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Assam on March 8-9. During his two-day trip, Guwahati, the bustling capital city of Assam, experienced a shortage of transport options, leaving residents and authorities alike scratching their heads and searching frantically for motorised means to remain mobile.
The looming crunch of vehicles has emerged as a significant concern for Assam. With the Election Commission of India announcing the election schedule for Assam on March 16, 2024, preparations are underway to conduct the polls across the state's 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in three phases April 19, April 26, and May 7.
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According to senior officials from the All Assam Bus Association, approximately 400 buses were deployed during Prime Minister Modi's visit, highlighting the strain on the existing transport infrastructure.
"The demand for vehicles during Prime Minister Modi's visit was unprecedented, with around 400 buses being requisitioned," said a senior official from the All Assam Bus Association.
Similarly, the All Assam Cab Association reported a surge in demand for cars, with over 3,000 sedan cars already hired for election-related activities.
"We have a fleet of at least 18,000 cars," said an official from the All Assam Cab Association during a conversation with GPlus.
"During elections, there's always a spike in demand, and currently, more than 3,000 sedan cars have already been booked for election-related purposes."
Addressing the logistical challenges posed by the elections, officials from the Assam Transport Department outlined the various requirements for vehicles during the polling process. These include transport for polling parties, mobilisation of security forces, and access to remote areas where conventional buses cannot reach.
"Basically, in every district, there is a requirement for vehicles first of all for polling parties depending on the number of polling stations. Each polling booth requires one polling party and with them, we need to send police/home guard personnel. Every polling party will get a bus or any other vehicle depending on the size of the group. If it is an isolated polling station, they might need more vehicles, but if it is on a regular route, five or six polling parties will club together in a bus", one of the officials from the department told GPlus.
In addition to buses and cars, motorboats are essential for reaching the riverine locations across the state. "Second is the use of motor boats. There are areas that require motor boats," he said.
He further said, "Third will be some areas where buses cannot go, so these areas will need tractors or four-wheel drive vehicles to send the polling personnel; this will be required a day before the polling. These parties will be carrying the polling materials. DTO will have to arrange the vehicles."
"Another important requirement is security force mobilisation. We will receive this requisition from the police. There are two types of forces: Outside or Central police force. They will be crisscrossing the state as one phase of polling gives way to another,” the official said.
He further added, "Police will be coordinating with the transport department."
"Approximately 25000 vehicles, including buses and other smaller vehicles, will be utilised for the civil personnel and another about 11000 for their police counterparts,” he said.
The coordinated efforts between the transport department and law enforcement agencies are crucial in ensuring smooth logistical operations during the electoral process.
The utilisation of vehicles across different phases of polling will optimise resources and mitigate the challenges posed by the scarcity of vehicles in Assam.