COVID-19: Buses in Ganjam to Run with 50% Seating Capacity

Berhampur: Further stepping up its efforts to enforce social distancing to prevent the spread of highly contagious Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Ganjam district administration has decided to reduce passenger load on bus services by 50 percent from Friday.

According to Ganjam Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange, this will be implemented strictly in the district.

The public and private bus operators have been asked to reduce the sitting capacity by 50 per cent from March 20 until further orders in view of the pandemic situation arising out of COVID-19.

The RTO officials and police personnel have also been instructed to check the vehicles plying in the district.

The city buses operating for intra-city service and other buses plying to other parts of the district and the neighbouring districts will be closely monitored to avoid overloading. Commuters will not be allowed to stand while instructions will be given to them to sit at a distance from each other.

As part of the preventive measures to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, it is highly necessary to control crowding, said Ganjam Collector.

He further said that the administration is taking all necessary steps to sensitize the people about the preventive measures, advisory and guidelines of the government on COVID-19.

Earlier, the district administration had imposed Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) across the district as a precautionary measure.
Educational institutions, cinema halls and malls have been closed down till March 31st. Restrictions on devotees at ongoing Chaitra Mela at Tara Tarini temple have also been imposed.