Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) vice chairman and general manager RP Thakur said the company has stopped some services due to a decrease in the occupancy rate (OR) due to an increase in COVID-19 cases.
“Depot Managers (DMs) have been empowered to cancel services on routes with no traffic and instructions have been given to operate buses with only 50% capacity,” Thakur said.
“A total of 114 APSRTC employees have died from COVID-19, including 21 in the second wave, and 6,790 employees across the state were infected with the virus, of whom 1,090 contracted the virus in the last 45 days. We are taking all steps to protect our employees and officers, ”said Thakur The Hindu On Monday.
Staff have been instructed to wear double masks, take the vaccine, follow COVID precautions, raise awareness of virus prevention at all bus stops, and operate buses as needed, he said.
“On April 25, the surgery had fallen to 43%. We attach great importance to the safety of employees and passengers. The officers were instructed to regularly disinfect bus stops and buses with sodium hypochlorite, ensure the wearing of masks, use disinfectants and maintain social distance, “said Thakur, thanking Prime Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for treating APSRTC staff as frontline workers and them has given priority in vaccination.
Personnel Manager (CPM-Incharge) D. Samrajyam said APSRTC was providing medicine to staff at all RTC district and regional pharmacies and treating emergencies at APSRTC State Hospital in Vijayawada.
“We advise you over the phone and specialists monitor the health of COVID patients. Treatment is also offered in referring hospitals. For our employees, vaccination warehouses will be set up in all depots and in the nearest Primary Health Centers (PHC), ”said Ms. Samrajyam.
Mr Thakur said the company operates services to Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Odisha according to the terms set by the respective states, and from time to time alerts passengers about the cancellation of services to avoid inconvenience.
Meanwhile, on Monday, against the backdrop of a rising number of COVID cases, few passengers were seen at Pandit Nehru (PNBS) bus station in Vijayawada, as well as RTC complexes in Guntur, Machilipatnam, Gudivada and other bus stops.