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, K
alahandi, 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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