All the efforts of our teams in India are addressing the crisis
As you know, India is the second most populous country in the world and took the first steps to address this health emergency weeks ago. But finally, before the end of March, the government decided to immediately implement the total confinement of its population (known as lockdown): more than 1.3 billion people would remain in their homes.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in a television address that all the country’s inhabitants must remain in their homes for 21 days, from March 25 to April 15.
That same Wednesday, Transport and Roads Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that, “in view of the situation caused by COVID-19, it has been ordered that toll collection be temporarily suspended at all toll plazas in India.”
This announcement triggered the mass exodus of Indian workers from the cities to their places of origin, mostly rural areas in India.
Initially this movement was carried out by means of transport such as buses or trains, but when these collapsed, the workers decided to move on foot through the state highways.
In view of this health crisis, our staff at the toll plazas have been supportive and have provided food, aid packages, snacks, tea and water to all the people passing through our highways. This has been done with the support of the local administration, various NGOs and people from nearby villages.
These urgent measures, to attend with basic goods are being able to develop thanks to the excellent work of our colleagues in India, who, from the first day, offered all their support to the cause.
The health emergency is evolving day by day. ROADIS teams have the necessary protection equipment to carry out these tasks and continue to develop plans and seek new opportunities to support local communities near our assets. We will continue to share with you some of these initiatives.
Congratulations, team and thank you for this much needed work!