Iran Government Did Not Enforce Quarantine, Nowruz Travel Increased

With Iran’s government refraining from imposing restrictions on Nowruz travel, reports indicate a significant surge in trips to various regions across the country during the coronavirus period; a development that could trigger a new wave of COVID-19 in Iran.

Iranian officials have repeatedly urged people in recent days to stay home during the holiday period and avoid Nowruz travel.

Meanwhile, Tasnim News Agency reported on Monday, the 2nd of Farvardin, citing the Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, that vehicle traffic on inter-city roads increased by approximately 11 percent over the past 24 hours.

From the 20th of Esfand to Monday, the growth rate of inter-city traffic was reported at 47 percent.

Alieh Qadami, head of the Road Police in Mazandaran Province, reported on Sunday a 70 percent increase in vehicle traffic on routes leading to the province compared to the same period last year, and the General Directorate of Road Maintenance and Transportation in Razavi Khorasan stated that the total number of road trips to the province during the Nowruz holidays compared to last year increased by 72 percent.

Local officials in Qazvin and Ardabil also reported a 100 percent increase in traffic on inter-city roads in those provinces.

It appears that Nowruz travel is expected to continue in the coming days.

In this regard, the Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization reported on Monday heavy traffic on the Chalus route from south to north between Shahrestanak and Vali Abad in most sections, and smooth traffic on the Heraz, Firouzkouh, Tehran-North Freeway, and Qazvin-Rasht Freeway (both directions).

Additionally, the Karaj-Tehran Freeway in the Jahan Nama district area is experiencing moderate traffic congestion.

Based on the latest official statistics, the highest vehicle departures were from Tehran and Alborz provinces, while northern provinces experienced the largest accumulation of non-local vehicles.

Data from the intelligent transportation systems of the National Road Management Center shows that from the 20th of Esfand to the 1st of Farvardin, an average of 1,730,229 vehicles per day traveled through inter-provincial routes, which represents a 47 percent increase compared to the same period during last year’s Nowruz.

Source: Radio Farda