The Home Ministry has finally allowed for inter-state travel in private individual cars and buses in the forth phase of lockdown along with allowing public transport like buses, autos and taxis to ply in all three zones.
India now steps into the forth phase of lockdown from today, dated May 18, 2020. The Central Government has now relegated the duty of classification of zones to the State Governments and Union Territories. In this forth phase of lockdown, much more relaxations have been allowed on your movement in your own vehicles or even public transportation like buses, auto rickshaws or even private cabs and taxis. Let’s look in a little more detail to understand what’s really allowed and what’s not in terms of vehicular movement, most importantly, inter-state travel during lockdown.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has released a new set of guidelines which now even allows for inter-state travel of individuals in private passenger cars as well as buses. More importantly, this relaxation is applicable for the all the three zones – red, orange and green. However, this relaxation still does not apply to all the containment zones that have been specified in several parts of the country.
As for public transport, plying of auto rickshaws, buses and taxis have also now been allowed in all the three zones. Until now, only taxis were allowed to operate in the orange and green zones but we shall now see autos and buses in several places too. There still remains a restriction on the number of passengers allowed in each vehicle. Auto rickshaws can only carry 1 passenger in all the three zones whereas private vehicles and taxis can carry two passengers apart from the driver. Pillion riders on motorcycles are only allowed in orange and green zones while still prohibited in red zones.
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Buses too can only operate at 50% of their carrying capacity in all the zones with bus depots also operating at 50% capacity. The movement for non-essential services for individuals in all three zones is however only allowed from 7am to 7pm everyday. You will need a curfew pass in the remaining times. It has been mentioned that social distancing practices have to adhered strictly at all times at all places. For people aged above 65 years of age, pregnant women and children below 10 years however still cannot step out at any time.
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As vehicular traffic and road users gradually rise, naturally neighborhood garages and service centers have also been allowed to open up, provided they strictly follow social distancing and hygiene guidelines. Manufacture service centers and dealerships too have started opening up at several places adhering to strict guidelines as well. The Center has also said that the states and union territories can alter the rules according to the prevailing situation. There is still however a ban on domestic flights and metro services in cities.
