Delhi govt allows intra-state movement of buses with full seating capacity from November 1

Amid surge in COVID-19 cases, Delhi government has allowed intra-state movement of buses with full seating capacity on a trial basis from vember 1. State Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Saturday said passengers can travel on all seats of public transport buses and cautioned that travellers will have to compulsorily wear face masks and maintain social distancing. minister also ded that  passengers will be allowed to travel in a standing position.

Earlier in May,  Delhi government h fixed number of maximum passenger in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Cluster scheme buses to 20. Lt Goverr Anil Baijal, who is chairman of Delhi Disaster Manment Authority, (DDMA) on Friday gave approval to government's proposal to run  public transport buses with full seating capacity.

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According to  DDMA order issued by Chief Secretary Vijay Dev  movement of buses will be permitted on a trial basis up to vember 8 or till furr orders. Whichever is earlier, subject to condition that passenger will be allowed to travel in a standing position, without a mask and all or stipulations of standard operating procedure.

Meanwhile, Gahlot in his tweet said bus travellers will require to wear face masks and appealed to people to observe proper physical distancing in view of COVID-19 threat.

" passengers can travel on all seats of buses from tomorrow. passenger, however, will be allowed to travel in standing position. Wearing mask is compulsory and I appeal to all travellers to maintain social distance to check spre of Corona virus," Gahlot tweeted.

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SOP for temporary bus service resumption

According to  SOP, in case number of persons boarding bus is more than seating capacity n driver and conductor will request extra passengers to de-board with help of marshal, if available. If  extra passengers refuse to comply with order, driver and conductor will seek police assistance, SOP stated.

Strict disciplinary action will be taken against driver of any DTC or Cluster bus if he is found carrying passengers more than vehicle's seating capacity.  driver will also be liable for prosecution action under Disaster Manment Act 2005, it ded.

DDMA also directed Transport commissioner and managing directors of DTC and DIMTS to ensure strict compliance with its order. It furr said that disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against driver and conductor of bus, and responsibility will be fixed on depot manr concerned for supervisory lapses.

In March, inter-state bus services were stopped after imposition of COVID lockdown, resulting in shutting down of inter-state bus terminals at Anand Vihar, Kashmiri Gate and Sarai Kale Khan.

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(With PTI inputs)