NST drivers on COVID-19 duty. Morung File Photo
Plans to resume city buses from November 2
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 29
After a long halt amid the spread of COVID-19, the Nagaland State Transport (NST) resumed its bus services on October 29, with strict adherence to SOPs and maintaining social distancing of 50% seating capacity.
However, the service on the first day was limited to Kohima and Dimapur.
A department official told The Morung Express that only a couple of buses were operated between Dimapur and Kohima on Thursday while there were no other buses from other districts.
The services will slowly pick-up, the official said, further attributing lesser travelling amid COVID-19 as another reason behind non-resumption in other districts.
It was further informed that the department is planning to test out resumption of city buses, particularly in Dimapur from November 2.
The official further said that the NST buses are still being employed for COVID-19 duties and the department is doing its best to meet COVID-19 challenges. The Deputy Commissioner at a meeting on October 29 also asked for the usages of those buses till November 2, he added.
Meanwhile in Kohima, Senior Superintendent, Kevichutuo Sekhose said the department has resumed bus services strictly following recommended COVID-19 guidelines. The NST Kohima has sent only one bus to Dimapur from Kohima, DD News reported quoting the Superintendent.
The Department also informed that all long and short distance travel buses will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before the start of every fresh journey with new passengers, it added.
Earlier on October 23, the NST informed in a circular that it would be resuming its services from October 29 with 50% seating capacity.
The NST has also made it mandatory for all passengers, drivers and conductors to wear masks as well as mandatory provision of hand sanitisers for use by the passengers. A circular has also directed its stations to restructure the fares in view of the pandemic with multiplier of Rs. 2.61 per seat per km and rounded off to nearest 10 rupees till the COVID-19 SOP guidelines were lifted by the government.
