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Udupi : District public complaints in regard to private buses not maintaining social distance while in operating the buses. District Collector G. Jagadeesh has instructed regional transport authorities to file a case under Epidemic Act against such buses.

He was speaking after presiding over a private bus owners’ meeting held at the district office on Thursday, June 11.

Social gap maintaining is essential to regulate corona, there are complaints from the public about a fixed number of people being transported without a social gap on the buses. G. Jagadeesh DC, who suggested that without Transport Act, according to the Epidemic Act, such buses case can be registered. He told the bus owners to strictly follow the orders given by the government.

All the operating buses would not carry more than 30 passengers at a time and DC instructed transport department officials to inspect buses. The bus owners should provide sanitizes the passengers and not allows passengers to enter the bus without a mask.

Bus owners said that during peak time hours only the passengers are very high and the passenger traffic at other times is very low. Hence, the social distancing is very difficult during the peak time hours. Under no circumstance will the social gap be breached, drive a large number of buses during peak hours or change the timing at your own pace, said District Collector G. Jagdeesh.

Asked by the DC Jagadeesh as to what order the bus fares were increased,  the bus owners said due to Corona has not increased bus fares, the government had agreed in January to increase bus fares and already the increase in KSRTC. Private buses have now been increased across the state after the order. The bus owners requested the District Collector to take in the buses for 30 passengers, but the remaining seats should be taxed and allowed to be paid only for the number of passengers.

The meeting was attended by Additional District Collector B. Sadashiva Prabhu, ASP Kumara Chandra, Regional Transport Officer Ramakrishna Rai, Chairman of Canara Bus Owners Association Rajavarma Ballal, Secretary Sadanand Chhatra, President of Udupi Service Bus Owners Association Rajesh Shetty, Shirva Bus Owners Association President Shivaram Shetty and others were present.