Port Blair, May 18: Public bus transport was discontinued in the UT after the announcement of Lockdown from 25.03.2020 to contain the spread of COVID -19. Now in view of the relaxations announced by the Government of India in Lockdown 4.0 and subsequent notification issued by Andaman & Nicobar Administration vide O/o 500 and 501 dated 17.05.2020, the Transport Department has now decided to restart the public bus transport service in the South Andaman District. Adequate safety measures will be observed while operating the public bus transport service which will be strictly as per the following guidelines:
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for operation of bus service to General Public
- All buses to be sanitized before commencement of the trip. The crew should ensure that a certificate to this effect is always kept in the bus.
- Thermal Scanning of all passengers to be mandatory done before boarding by the duty bus conductor. After completion of duty the Bus Conductor should hand over the Thermal Scanner to the next Bus conductor/Enquiry Incharge. Persons whose temperature exceeds 38 °C shall not be allowed to travel in bus.
- Social distancing to be maintained. At no point of time more than two passengers will be allowed to sit in a three seater seat and more than one passenger will be allowed to sit in a two seater seat.
- Passengers as well as bus drivers and bus conductors while on duty should always wear face mask / cover.
- Bus conductors should always wear hand gloves while on duty.
- Cashless transaction to be promoted. Affordable and attractive bus pass to be introduced.
- No Bus services will be available between 07.00 pm to 7.00 am.
- No persons above 65 years of age and below the age of 10 years will be permitted to travel in buses except for health and essential purposes.
The Bus Services shall be operated w.e.f. 19.05.2020.