State government allows operation of buses with AC facilities

The Tamil Nadu government has permitted all State Transport Undertakings and personal operators to function buses with air-conditioning facilities.

The resolution additionally applies to buses operated or engaged by industries to move their workers, or for college and school college students on a need-basis by complying with the usual working process (SOP) issued on this regard.

“The temperature setting of all air conditioning devices should be in the range of 24-30 degrees Celsius, relative humidity should be in the range of 40-70%, intake of fresh air should be as much as possible and cross ventilation should be adequate. The air circulation system should allow fresh/treated air with a fresh air level of more than 50%. The air conditioner temperature should be more than 25 degrees Celsius and maximum air circulation should be ensured. People with co-morbidities and senior citizens above 65 years of age should be barred from boarding,” mentioned a G.O., issued by Chief Secretary Rajeev Ranjan.

As per the SOP issued, passengers should cowl their mouth and nostril with a masks or material and may board solely from the rear door and alight from the entrance door.

“If all seats are filled in the buses, passengers shall not board the bus and shall wait for the next bus,” the rules state. Passengers with fever, cough and different illnesses is not going to be permitted to journey on the buses.

Local our bodies are to make sure that all bus stops and terminals are cleaned and well- maintained.

All state transport undertakings will promote the issuance of month-to-month passes to passengers utilizing metropolis/city bus companies to keep away from money transactions. “Wherever possible, QR code panels may be deployed, including inside buses and on ticket and pass-issuing counters. Once the QR code is scanned by the passenger and the amount filled and debited from their wallet, they can show it to the conductor, who will then issue a ticket to them,” it mentioned.

Seats which might be to be occupied by passengers and seats to be left vacant shall be marked to make sure bodily distancing inside buses.

The physique temperature of the crew will likely be checked every day earlier than the graduation of responsibility. The crew will use a facemask and gloves whereas on responsibility. All crew will likely be offered with a bottle of sanitiser for private use, the order mentioned.

“Line-checking inspectors should be deployed at bus stops to ensure that passengers board the buses maintaining physical distancing, besides controlling crowd, in case enough seats are not available in the bus, and checking ticketless travelers,” it mentioned.

The resolution of the State government to permit air-conditioning facilities in buses follows a communication from the Transport Commissioner, who mentioned attributable to non-operation of buses with air con facilities, the revenues of all Tamil Nadu STUs had been affected. The Transport Commissioner noticed that because the unfold of COVID-19 had decreased, autos with air con could also be allowed to run for the operation of STUs/personal operators.