Odisha govt nod to intrastate buses with full seating capacity

BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Sunday allowed intra-state movement of buses, passenger vehicles and city bus service with full seating capacity besides giving the nod to passenger trains to resume operation within the state. “Barring containment zones, buses can start operating across the state from Monday,” special relief commissioner (SRC) P K Jena said.
“Though vehicles can operate with full seating capacity, standing of passengers inside buses will not be permitted. The state transport authority and police personnel will enforce it strictly,” Jena added.
But maintaining social distancing could pose to be a big challenge if passenger and city bus services are run with full seating capacity. “Since special passenger trains and flights operate with full capacity, the government has also allowed buses to run with full seating capacity,” a senior government official said.
“As a precautionary measure, it has been made mandatory for all passengers to wear masks while persons with visible symptoms will not be permitted to board vehicles,” the official added.
Despite the government’s nod, the All Odisha Bus Owners’ Association (AOBOA) said they will not be able to operate buses unless the government resolves some issues. “The government has only issued a formal order but is yet to come out with a standard operating procedure (SOP). They said person/persons with visible symptoms will not be allowed to board vehicles. How will it be enforced? What about the safety of passengers and staff?” said Debendra Kumar Sahoo, the association general secretary.
State transport minister Padmanabha Behera accepted that there will be some doubts in the mind of passengers while boarding buses. “The government had earlier allowed movement of buses in green zones with passengers up to 50 per cent of the total capacity. But bus services could not be resumed. Even if the government now allows buses to run with full seating capacity, there is apprehension that passengers may not turn up,” Behera said, adding that the government will soon hold a meeting with bus owners on various issues.
Movement of passenger trains within the state has been allowed keeping in mind the standard operating procedure laid down by the Union ministry of home affairs.
Despite night curfew (7 am to 7 pm), the state government also allowed movement of public transport, private vehicles and taxis including app cabs to and from airports, railway station and bus terminals/stands/stops round the clock for facilitating movement of passengers by air, rail and road.
The four-wheelers and auto-rickshaws are allowed to run with up to two passengers apart from the driver.
Though inter-state bus services has been allowed by the government, the SRC said it can be resumed only with mutual consent of two states. Hundreds of buses run between Odisha and neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand.
Official sources said the state-owned Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) and various city bus authorities are actively considering to start operations following the state government nod.