Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (SD)

Panaji, Apr 6: Goa government has been shifting the migrants and homeless people to shelter homes to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection amidst lockdown.

Nearly 2,500 people have been shifted since March 26 with the help of Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC). "Our buses are being used for shifting of migrants from their workplace to shelter homes. A major chunk of the workforce constitutes people from the neighbouring states who had come to Goa. They were facing difficulties in finding food after they were out for work due to lockdown," KTC general manager Sanjay Ghate said.

Following the social distancing norm, only 12 people were being carried at a time on the bus. On Sunday 40 people were shifted in the KTC buses. The general manager said that the labourers were identified by government machinery.

"About 300 of them were found at Chorla ghat attempting to go back to their respective hometowns in Karnataka. They were picked up and brought to the shelters. They are asked to observe social distancing and practice basic hygiene," Ghate said.

"Migrant labourers from Goa who are not able to move out due to lockdown especially in the industrial areas are provided with food. Six buses are engaged for the purpose," Ghate added.

"Six buses are modified for carrying groceries and are enrolled in the civil supplies for the 'Groceries on Wheels' initiative by the government," he said.

"We also operate 24 buses daily to transport doctors and staff to government hospitals - Hospicio, Asilio, IPHB and the GMC. These buses operate from Pernem, Valpoi, Canacona and Sanvordem," Ghate added.

All the vehicles of the corporation were being sanitised using sodium hydrochloride with the help of pressure gun and bleach.