The Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) resumed city bus services in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada from the 19th of September.
The city bus services started after a duration of six months. Since the first nationwide lockdown was imposed, the APSRTC services to Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada were suspended.
However, six months after the lockdown, the bus services in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam started from today.
The APSRTC planned strategically to run city buses in compliance with the regulations of the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19. Social distancing, mandatory wearing of face masks and sanitization of buses would be in place.
The APSRTC bus services started in all other districts of Andhra Pradesh from the 21st of May.
However, city bus services were suspended in Andhra Pradesh.
The buses will be operated in six routes from morning to evening in the State.
Considering the Novel Coronavirus guidelines, only one person would be allowed in a seat, which is 60 % of the total passengers capacity.
In another major decision, the APSRTC decided to charge Rs. 5 as a minimum fare.
Regional manager Nagendra Prasad said, “Passengers are allowed into the bus after sanitizing their hands and wearing a mask is mandatory.”
A total of 100 buses are being operated to Mailavaram, Agaripalli, Vissanapeta, Pammaru, Vidyadharapuram and Mangalagiri on a trial basis.
In addition at every bus stop, a person would be deployed at every bus stop to check the body temperature of the passenger getting into the bus. People above 60 years old and concession in bus fare like for students and senior citizens passes would also be not considered.
The city buses would run on a trial basis until the 26th of September.
Stay tuned for further updates.
