Through this article, we will talk about the permission to run Delhi Public services with full seating arrangement amid the ever-growing cases of Covid-19 cases. The decision seems delusional as cases are increasing, and as the winter season is around the corner. Eventually, people will be exposed to this virus more. During the winter season, people suffer from fever, cold, or even sore throat, which is also now considered Coronavirus symptoms. After knowing the repercussions and casualties, Delhi Lt. Governor Anil Baijal has accepted and ordered the travel of inter-state buses with full seating capacities.
As of earlier, the buses were running with 20 passengers to avoid the spread of the virus. However, a long queue on every bus stand was visible where people use to push on another to be able to sit on the bus. While for the government, the taxes experience a huge setback as the terrified public opted for personal cabs. With the outbreak of Coronavirus, people wanted to limit their movements, but their work made them travel. In a situation where people are finding hard to survive cannot even bear the need for hunger. Moreover, this move is an action with deadly repercussions but sends a message of ‘Aatm Nirbhar’ (self-sufficient). The official told the media that SOP would be issued in the next few days. However, the opposition leader Ramvir Singh Bidhuri thanked and congratulated Baijal, considering it a fresh move against the Covid-19 virus.
Anil Baijal is the chairman of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), has accepted the proposal of running the buses with the packed seating arrangement. Initially, the operating procedure will be executed next week. While explaining the reason, officials stated, “Witnessing long queue on the city bus stands and people pushing one another leads to disharmony.” Hence, the number of DTC and Cluster buses will run with full capacity so that no one will have to wait for their turn. Around 40-45 seats will be present in the DTC and Cluster buses. However, on October 23rd, 2020, the issue of increasing the allotment for more passengers was raised in the DDMA meeting. As a result, the transport minister, Kailash Gahlot, has sought permission for discouraging the practice where people had to wait in long queues.
Eventually, the travel of inter-state buses was restricted because of the pandemic. Even though people found it difficult to reach their homes because of the buses’ unavailability, the pandemic ate many jobs of the small-vehicle pullers. As soon as complete lockdown began in March, four inter-state bus terminals in the city were in a complete shutdown. In terms of Covid cases, on Thursday, 5,739 cases have been recorded where the cases spiked highest on a single day. To conclude, the decision to permit the buses to travel with a full capacity may bring more covid cases under consideration. However, we do hope people to be cautious while traveling in public transports. One should carry sanitizer and wear a mask covering the nasal area and mouth all through the journey.
