Covid norms go for a toss on buses

Covid norms go for a toss on buses

Deepak Karthik & Sukshma R TNN

Trichy/Madurai:  04.09.2020

Twodays after intra-district bus services resumed, there has been significant improvement in patronagefrom passengers in Trichy and Madurai. However, buses that stop at borders of neighbouring districtswereovercrowded in Trichy despite inter-district services not resuming. Passengers have been taking the buses plying within the district to reach the border and then walking the remaining distance.

Though services resumed after two monthsfrom September 1,TNSTC had been blaming the poor patronage on absence of inter-district operations. However, the past two days saw more people, particularly women, taking buses to reach their workplace. In Trichy, Pettaivaithalai which shares borders with Karur and Thuvakudi that has a border with Thanjavur saw a surge in footfall. Besides locals travelling to reach Trichy city, inter-district travellers constitute a sizeable chunk.

In Madurai, buses connecting Melur and Thirumangalam witnessed overcrowding in peak hours. Between 8am and 10am, safety measures such as wearing face masks and social distancing had gone for a tosson these buses. “During peakhours, nobody maintains social distancing. Certain buses connecting Trichy city with Pettaivaithalai were overcrowded,” P Aiyarappan, a resident of Allur said. TNSTC officials in Trichy said the situation will improve once inter-district bus services resume. “Inter-district passengers are also a reason for overcrowding,” an official said.

In Coimbatore, the situation was not alarming. TNSTC officials said buses that were operated to places abutting the district borders had more passengers than city buses, but even in those vehicles masks were worn by most passengers. But, buses plying in Coimbatore had fewer passengers. Hesitation and fear to use public transportation as Covid-19 is peaking in the district were cited as the reasons for poor patronage for TNSTC buses in Coimbatore.

(With inputs from A Subburaj)

PATRONAGE POURS IN: A scene at Chathiram bus stand in Trichy on Thursday