RSRTC services to begin in green zones after Rajasthan government approval

JAIPUR: Rajasthan State Roadways Corporation (RSRTC) is awaiting directions from the state home department to begin its operations in the green zones. In its order on Monday, the home department said private and RSRTC buses would have to take approval for buses for its routes.
With a possibility to start even inter-state bus services in green zones, the state transport department is also in touch with neighbouring states such as Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
The Union ministry has already given a nod to start inter-state bus operations especially between green city or a state to green city of another state. However, the state transport department is awaiting clearance from the state home ministry to chalk out modalities.
“First, we will start intra-state bus services between one green zone to another. Second, we are in touch with neighbouring states to discuss on areas through which we can start services,” said transport commissioner Ravi Jain on Monday.
He said that transport department will abide the orders of home department and take its approval before deciding a route.
However, sources said a bus can’t directly go from green city to green city within a state or outside the state. “Suppose we have a district like Hanumangarh which we consider to be green and we need to send a bus to another green zone city say Baran. Thus, the bus will have to pass through the districts including Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Jaipur and Kota to reach Baran. And in the course the bus will have to pass through red zone cities and districts. So, things are very vague at this point of time. Nothing conclusive can be said,” said Naveen Jain, CMD, RSRTC.
He added that initially bus movement will be very restricted and RSRTC will have to follow SOPs.
“Buses will be sanitised while going out from a depot. Bus conductors are likely to be given thermal scanners to screen the passengers at the time of boarding the bus. In case a passenger has Covid-19 symptoms the medical and health team of the originating bus depot would be alerted. Also buses would run with 50 per cent capacity to start with,” said transport minister Pratap Singh Khachariawas.
According to sources, in Jaipur too there is a possibility of changing the originating place. “We are thinking of changing the originating bus stops for various buses in Jaipur. For example, buses to Kota are likely to be operated from Tonk Road and those to Sikar, Bikaner and Jhunjhunu would be operated from Sikar Road,” an RSRTC officer said.