TN GOVT ISSUES STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATION

The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday, 31 May, announced that operation of public transport will resume across the State excluding four districts that include Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur.

The State has been classified into eight zones. Public buses will not ply between districts belonging to different zones.

"Inter-zone and inter-State operations of public transport continue to be prohibited except for the specifically permitted operations," the notification from the government read.

The State also issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the operation of public transport. Here are a few important points from the same.

All transport undertakings will promote issue of monthly passes to the passengers using city/town bus services to the maximum to avoid cash transaction. QR code panels may also be deployed inside buses and on ticket and pass issuing counters. For the passengers not possessing pass or wallet, physical tickets will be issued by the conductor.

The bus has to be disinfected before and after every trip. All buses should be fixed with sanitizer dispensers of appropriate size near both rear and front gates. Use of air conditioner in buses shall be avoided for better ventilation. Seats to be occupied by the passengers and seats to be left vacant should be marked to maintain physical distancing inside the bus.

All passengers should mandatorily wear mask. If all the seats are filled in a bus, passengers should not board the bus and wait for the next bus. Those suffering from fever, cough and other ailments will not be permitted to travel in the bus.