To minimise overcrowding, Delhi cancels driving licence tests and puts nodal officers on buses.

New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) In the face of rising COVID-19 infections, the Delhi transport department has taken efforts to minimise overcrowding in city buses, including suspending driving licence checks and deploying nodal officers, according to an order issued on Wednesday. 

In the wake of the DDMA's Tuesday order, Joint Commissioner Navkendra Kumar Singh issued an order suspending all activity relating to driving skill tests, new online appointments, and testing for current appointments for permanent and learners' licences. 

All existing appointments will be rescheduled, and candidates will be notified through SMS, according to the statement. 

Kailash Gahlot, the Delhi Transport Minister, announced the news on Twitter. 

"In light of the recent DDMA guidelines and the increased number of COVID cases, all appointments for DL and LL testing (new and existing) “

In light of the city's escalating COVID-19 incidents, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) issued an order directing government employees engaged with non-essential services to work from home. It also ordered that nodal officers be appointed to monitor overcrowding on buses and Metro trains. 

To avoid crowding at bus stops and stations, the DDMA allowed buses and Metro trains to run at full capacity, but it prohibited standing travellers. 

In the public interest, the validity of existing learner licences will be extended in due time, according to the transportation department decision. All services will be provided at zonal offices in a Covid-appropriate manner, according to the statement.

Commercial vehicle fitness checks will continue, with owners and drivers behaving in a Covid-appropriate manner. 

The department's enforcement team will, in addition to their current responsibilities, monitor public transportation vehicles for compliance with the DDMA directive, according to the statement. 

The Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) executive director has been named the city's nodal officer for all three ISBTs. He shall take all necessary steps to ensure that adequate manpower is available at all times to supervise Covid-appropriate behaviour at the ISBTs.

He would also select general managers of ISBTs as sub-nodal officials to oversee adequate sanitization and adherence to DDMA norms. 

The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and the Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transit System, which operate public transportation buses in Delhi, have also been told to adhere to the DDMA standards. 

In a 24-hour period, eight deaths and 10,665 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Delhi, according to a health alert released by the Delhi government on Wednesday.