‘Public transport may resume soon’
NEWDELHI:Public transport may resume soon with measures related to social distancing and hygiene in place as the resumption along with reopening of highways will go a long way in instilling confidence among the public, Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said Wednesday.
In his address to members of Bus & Car Operators Confederation Of India via video conferencing, Gadkari said a standard operating procedure will have to be drafted for operating public transport with social distancing norms and for adopting measures like hand wash, sanitising, face masks, etc.
Public transport has been suspended across the country since March when the ongoing lockdown was imposed to ensure social distancing to check the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) spread.
The Centre has made an exception for the operation of bus and train services to enable movement of the stranded people.
A ban on regular air, rail travel and interstate transport remained as the Centre extended the lockdown until May 17 last week. Taxi and cab aggregators were allowed to operate with two passengers even as inter and intra-district buses remain prohibited in orange zones.
Following comprehensive guidelines issued on May 1, the home ministry further clarified that the inter-district and intradistrict plying of buses remains prohibited in Orange zones but cabs and personal four-wheelers are allowed only for permitted activities.
In a statement, the Union road transport and highways ministry said Gadkari assured the operators that the government is aware of their problems and will support them to mitigate their issues.
“The minister has assured the bus and car operators of the country that the government is fully aware of their problems and will fully support them to mitigate their issues. He said that he is in regular touch with the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister,” the ministry said.
Gadkari said his ministry was looking at adopting the ‘London model’ of public transport, which will involve promotion of private investment in the sector. He added the pandemic has presented India an opportunity to seek global investments from firms looking to exit the Chinese market.
The confederation members made suggestions like extending interest payment exemptions, restarting public transport, and deferring state taxes, etc.
All Indian Motor Transport Congress president Kultaran Singh Atwal said the transport sector was facing a severe downturn due to persistent lockdown. He said a majority of operators are small and unable to sustain the financial pressure. “The government must extend a helping hand to more than 200 million people dependent on this sector...”