The Chief Minister’s announcement on Sunday that buses would ply only within the district limits had created confusion among the public about the operation of the MTC buses, as it covers not only Chennai but neighbouring districts as well. V Dhayanantham, general secretary of the CITU-affiliated union in the transport corporation explained that that the MTC buses would be operated within city police limits. “Passengers travelling beyond that will have to board mofussil buses from the border,” he said.

The corporation has planned to operate about 3,000 buses on the first day, and would increase the number based on demand. As part of the preparation for resuming services on Tuesday, all the buses have been cleaned and disinfected. “All buses were inspected to ensure that they are in working condition,” the official said, adding that only 24 passengers would be allowed on a bus with seating capacity of 44.

Dhayanantham said that workers were keen to resume bus operation after five months of inactivity. “The management has assured to provide face masks, gloves and face shield to the driver and conductor, along with hand sanitiser fixed in the buses for passengers. We hope the public will cooperate by wearing masks and maintaining social distance inside the bus,” he said. He added that the practical issues would be known only when the operation commences.

The absence of public transport had hit the daily wage workers hard as they were dependent on public transport. With a fleet strength of 3,679 buses, MTC used to carry 35 lakh passengers every day covering Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu districts.