Steps adopted to operate transport services during health risk: Dilum

Three steps have been introduced and informed the health authorities by the Transport Ministry to operate the transport service when there is a health risk, Transport State Minister Dilum Amunugama said.

While announcing the steps, the State Minster said transporting passengers to the seating capacity, transporting passengers with 75% of the seating capacity, and transporting passengers with 50% of seating capacity.

Therefore, the State Minister requested the health authorities to inform the Ministry on which step should appropriately be taken once the transport services resume.

"We saw some bus operators take passengers not even according to the first step. Nearly 80 bus route permits have been cancelled and will not be allowed to continue. There are people who do not adhere to any kind of regulation. The police have been instructed to take stern action against them, "he said.

Public transport will resume according to the instructions of the health authorities, the State Minister said.

However, there is a huge threat to operating transport services in this present situation because of the vast spread of a new COVID variant, the State Minister added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)