APSRTC resumes bus services

Starting operations after a hiatus of two months (of lockdown), the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has begun running roughly 1683 buses across 436 routes. Doing so with new operating procedures for its employees and safety guidelines for passengers, the state transport undertaking, claim sources, is running buses of categories like Telugu Velugu, Express, deluxe, ultra-deluxe, super luxury and AC. They amount to roughly 17 per cent of the organisation’s bus parc, inform sources. Expected to gradually ramp up the operations in-line with improvement in occupancy, APSRTC, mention sources, is ferrying only those that have bought tickets. Called upon to adhere to the rules laid down by the authorities like social distancing, the state transport undertaking, explain sources, is operating buses without conductors to avoid physical contact. It is also providing access to hand sanitisers before boarding the bus, and has made wearing of masks mandatory, they state. After every trip, the buses are sanitised.