Bus Services Likely To Resume In Odisha Post Lockdown

Bhubaneswar: Commerce and Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera on Wednesday said that steps are being taken to normalise bus services across the state post lockdown.

The ongoing lockdown will end on July 16.

Briefing the mediapersons here, he said that the Odisha Bus Owners’ Association has demanded regular plying of buses across the state from July 17.

Notably, the government had allowed bus services to resume in 20 Category A districts, where the test positivity rate was less than 5 per cent at the end of June, with COVID-19 guidelines.

Referring to the remaining 10 districts, he said that there has been a drop in COVID caseload in these districts and the government will soon take a decision on plying of buses there.

The minister further said that they are actively considering the association demand for waiver of taxes.

The association had demanded a tax waiver for the losses they have incurred because of the lockdown since May 5. They had also sought a yearly interest-free loan of Rs one lakh a bus and other financial assistance to each staff and threatened to halt bus services across the state if their demands are not fulfilled.

Also Read: Odisha Bus Owners’ Body Demands Tax Waiver, Threatens To Stop Services