BHUBANESWAR: Though the government has lifted restrictions on movement of buses across the state, it may take a few more days for private operators to resume their services in 10 districts, including Khurda and Cuttack. Meanwhile, city bus service in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack will start from Monday.
Till now buses were allowed to ply in 20 out of 30 districts of the state.
In the latest COVID-19 guidelines issued on Thursday, the government has allowed intra-state public transport in Nayagarh, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj. Bus services to and from Puri city will remain suspended till the midnight of July 25. But interstate bus services will remain closed till 6 am on August 1.
debendra kumar SahuGeneral Secretary of All Odisha Bus Owners Association said, “We will first discuss our issues including loans, insurance, bank EMIs and taxes with the transport minister. Padmanabh Behera on the Saturday before the resumption of services.”
He said, “Most of the buses require maintenance as they were off the roads for several months. But we do not have money for maintenance. Many bus owners could not pay their loans for more than three months, the bank said. Can’t give grants. Loans to us. We will seek minister’s intervention to help us avail loans to resume services.”
He further said that the association would also request the minister to waive off the tax for the months of August and September.
Only 20% of the total buses are plying in 20 districts since getting the green signal from the state government on June 30. “We are yet to resume services in the remaining 10 districts. After Saturday’s meeting, we will take a decision on that. We have around 14,000 buses across the state,” Sahu said.
Capital Region Urban Transport, which provides public transport services within the capital Bhubaneswar and its neighboring cities Cuttack and Puri, will resume regularly.mo bus‘ Service from Monday.
Till now buses were allowed to ply in 20 out of 30 districts of the state.
In the latest COVID-19 guidelines issued on Thursday, the government has allowed intra-state public transport in Nayagarh, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj. Bus services to and from Puri city will remain suspended till the midnight of July 25. But interstate bus services will remain closed till 6 am on August 1.
debendra kumar SahuGeneral Secretary of All Odisha Bus Owners Association said, “We will first discuss our issues including loans, insurance, bank EMIs and taxes with the transport minister. Padmanabh Behera on the Saturday before the resumption of services.”
He said, “Most of the buses require maintenance as they were off the roads for several months. But we do not have money for maintenance. Many bus owners could not pay their loans for more than three months, the bank said. Can’t give grants. Loans to us. We will seek minister’s intervention to help us avail loans to resume services.”
He further said that the association would also request the minister to waive off the tax for the months of August and September.
Only 20% of the total buses are plying in 20 districts since getting the green signal from the state government on June 30. “We are yet to resume services in the remaining 10 districts. After Saturday’s meeting, we will take a decision on that. We have around 14,000 buses across the state,” Sahu said.
Capital Region Urban Transport, which provides public transport services within the capital Bhubaneswar and its neighboring cities Cuttack and Puri, will resume regularly.mo bus‘ Service from Monday.
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