Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday directed that female passengers, accompanied by one companion, be allowed to travel free of charge on Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation buses from the night of August 27 to the night of August 28 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
He instructed the Transport Department, police, and administration to work together to ensure comprehensive arrangements, so that women can reach their homes safely and conveniently for the festival.
He also directed that 'Anti-Romeo Squads' remain active to ensure women's safety and that traffic management be optimised on major routes.
The chief minister held a meeting at his residence on Saturday with senior government officials, the UP government said in a statement. During the meeting, he reviewed the situation regarding waterlogging and floods in the state, transport arrangements for female passengers for Raksha Bandhan, sugar availability, the upcoming sugarcane crushing season, and the status of school facilities.
Adityanath issued instructions regarding the screening and monitoring of bus drivers. He said that no driver under the influence of intoxicants should be permitted to operate a bus, and ordered the verification of private bus drivers.
He also directed that, alongside the verification of auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers, necessary measures be taken to ensure the safety of female passengers. The Transport and Police departments must coordinate to ensure safe and smooth transportation for passengers during Raksha Bandhan, he noted.
{{/usCountry}}He also directed that, alongside the verification of auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers, necessary measures be taken to ensure the safety of female passengers. The Transport and Police departments must coordinate to ensure safe and smooth transportation for passengers during Raksha Bandhan, he noted.
{{/usCountry}}Additionally, the chief minister reviewed the waterlogging situation across various divisions and districts of the state. He sought details regarding waterlogged areas and the underlying causes from the divisional commissioners of Prayagraj, Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Meerut, Saharanpur, and Ghaziabad, as well as from the Noida Authority.
He emphasised that there should be no unnecessary waterlogging, and directed that low-lying areas be identified and additional pumping stations be established wherever necessary. Drains where water flow is obstructed due to silt, garbage, or other reasons must be cleaned immediately, he said.
Adityanath directed all mayors and chairpersons of municipal councils and town panchayats to visit the field alongside local councillors to inspect waterlogging and sanitation arrangements. He instructed that any encroachments on drains be identified and removed immediately.
The chief minister reviewed the situation in the state's 19 flood-affected districts. He sought updates on the flood situation and relief operations from the district magistrates of Ballia, Gonda, Bahraich, Barabanki, Farrukhabad, and Lakhimpur Kheri.
He directed all district magistrates to remain fully alert and ensure that district control rooms remain continuously active. He also ordered round-the-clock monitoring of all districts from the headquarters level.
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