Bhubaneswar: Private bus service in Odisha, which was suspended due to COVID-19 lockdown, resumed on Thursday after more than 2 months.
The All Odisha Private Bus Owners’ Association had on Wednesday agreed to run buses after discussions with the state government regarding various demands of the body.
Association Secretary Debendra Sahu said social distancing will be maintained in the buses and the vehicles will be sanitized frequently. He also assured that bus fares will not be increased in view of the prevailing pandemic situation in the state.
The Transport Minister has assured the private bus operators that taxes payable by the bus owners during May have been waived and steps are being taken for providing insurance facilities to the staff, he said. Earlier, the private bus owners were not ready to operate intra-state buses after the government gave them permission on May 24 as they felt that they would have to pay taxes for the month of May.
