Train, launch services from Sunday; buses, minibuses to ply from Monday
Major modes of transport will begin operations across the country as early as Sunday, when the nationwide shutdowns are lifted.
Some passengers, however, may see an increase in fares.
Launch and train services will resume on all the routes from Sunday, while buses and minibuses will begin operations from Monday, maintaining all the health guidelines.
The decisions were taken by the different authorities today.
Road Transport and Highway Division Secretary Nazrul Islam said operations of road transport will resume Monday with a committee to hold a meeting tomorrow to decide on new fares.
Meanwhile, launch authority and owners have decided to operate their vessels on all routes across the country from Sunday. During a meeting today with Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) authorities, the owners also asked for an increase in fares.
At the meeting, it was also decided that disinfectant tunnels would be installed at all launch terminals and authorities would check the temperature of each passenger before they board, said a press release issued by the BIWTA.
Following the demand of owners to increase fare due to the possible decline in passenger numbers, the meeting also decided to observe the situation for 10 days before deciding on the matter.
Besides, Bangladesh Railway decided to start selling train tickets from tomorrow afternoon, as the authority is set to resume operations from Sunday on a limited scale.
Md Shamsuzzaman, director general of Bangladesh Railway, said they would resume operation of only several intercity trains from Sunday.
"We will sell 50 percent of the tickets of each train to ensure social distancing," the DG said.
No AC coach would be operational as per the Director General of Health Service guidelines, he added.
Usually 50 percent tickets are sold from counters, while 50 percent through online. But the official said they were yet to get any instruction in how the tickets would be sold.
Transport operations across the country came to a halt after the government announced a general holiday March 26 in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The government also suspended operations of all passenger trains, launches and domestic flights.
Comments