After long wait, the State Transport (ST) buses finally moved out of their respective districts again on Thursday following Maharashtra Government’s green signal to inter-district services. However, on the first day of the service, often referred to as the ‘life line of rural transport’, received a cold response.
The private and public bus services were stopped from last five months after the coronavirus outbreak as a precautionary measure to contain spread of coronavirus.
With different phase of unlock various other services and markets started opening but still the transportation was on halt. Now when the services within the district started the response has been lack luster as people themselves do not want to travel, that too in public transport, due to the COVID concerns.
The bus service started on August 19 for Nagpur, Wardha, Akola, Washim and Yavatmal district. It may be mentioned here that the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) was already running into losses even before it was hit by the COVID scare. And then the lockdown just added to the woes.
Earlier, the intra-district bus service was started from 8 bus depots in Amravati district. Now, inter-district bus services has been started from August 19 with Government permission with certain norms.
Buses are allowed to carry passengers only half of its capacity so that social distancing can be maintained inside the bus. The services started in Amravati include Amravati to Yavatmal and back, Amravati to Akola and back, Amravati to Washim and back, Paratwada to Akola and back to Akola, Warud to Nagpur and Nagpur to Warud, Amravati to Wardha and back, Daryapur to Murtizapur and Daryapur to Akola.
