Bhubaneswar: Bus services are expected to resume in 20 Category A districts in Odisha from Thursday.
Speaking to mediapersons, Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera said that guidelines will be issued for RTOs & bus owners associations. “Passengers up to sitting capacity will be allowed. Wearing masks is mandatory. Buses will not ply in Category B district,” he added.
The Odisha government has allowed public transport in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Balangir, Nuapada, Sonepur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Boudh, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Angul, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar, where the COVID test positivity rate is less than 5 per cent.
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While making the announcement on Wednesday, Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra said bus transport will be allowed in the category A districts with strict adherence to COVID protocol. “Buses will be allowed to pick up passengers up to seating capacity only. Taxis and autos can carry a maximum of two persons apart from the driver,” he added.
There will be no weekend shutdown in these 20 districts.
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