The resumption of the services means that all three interstate bus terminals(ISBTs) in Delhi would reopen. The three ISBTs to be allowed to restart its services are Anand Vihar, Kashmir Gate, and Sarai Kale Khan.
On Saturday, the senior officer revealed that bus services in Delhi are about to start from this week. After, three and a half months of closure, these services are all set to resume.
Once functional, fewer passengers than usual may board buses; no passenger will be permitted to stand. At the ISBTs, provisions are being made for the disinfection of buses after each journey, as well as the screening of passengers. The departures and arrivals of buses will also be lurched to avoid crowding, government officials announced.
In Delhi, the movement of interstate buses halted from 21st March. But before the coronavirus breakage, the ISBTs recorded around 250000 travelers every day. A minimum of 3467 buses from states such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Chandigarh would ply through these ISBTs each day.
Senior Officer of the Transport Department asserted that the Delhi Disaster Management Authority shown a green signal to resume ISBTs.
The transport department had sought a clarification from DDMA on whether buses from other districts could appear at ISBTs. DDMA has now deciphered that there is no restriction by the Centre or the Delhi government on the movement of interstate buses and that such services can be continued, said a transport supervisor.
Under unlock 2.0 guidelines, travelers can move across the state borders without any need for passes.
Services will resume by next week most probably. So far, Rajasthan has indicated an interest in beginning again interstate services with 70 buses initially. More states have to come ahead for us to utilize the ISBTs fully. Some states are worried about continuing services as of now because of the elevated number of Covid-19 cases in the national Capital. Delhi doesn’t own or regulate any interstate bus assistance, the transport official told.
The UP government will instruct when our interstate bus service will resume. Till then our interstate bus service shall remain suspended, UP transport chief said.
Punjab state transport commissioner Dr. Amarpal Singh announced the state has continued its interstate transport services. But in Delhi’s case, we are still anticipating clearness. As far as we know, the Delhi government’s interstate bus services are close. We will assess restarting our bus services to and from Delhi they allow, he said.
Table of Contents
7 Great & weird experience in DTC buses in Delhi
According to the government reports, ISBTs suffered a loss of around 5 crores every month. This is because the main source of income was the fee collection which was entirely blocked from past months.
Officials at Anand Vihar ISBT explained that even though the terminals are close, they are readying for the time when services resume. The thermal screening will be necessary. But, it is yet to be determined whether the respective state carrier authority staff will screen passengers or if ISBT personnel will have to do it, an official told.
UNLOCK 2.0 : DELHI’S CP MARKET REGAINING ITS OLDER CHARM
A standard operating protocol will have to be rationed with all stakeholders. Clarity is also needed on how social distancing inside buses will be obeyed, the official added.
