Amid the third phase of the lockdown in India, Union Transport and Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said that the public transport may start soon and the centre would issue guidelines for the same. However, Gadkari did not inform about a specific timeline for public transport to start.
While addressing members of the Bus and Car Operators’ Confederation of India via video conferencing, Gadkari said that there was a need to start airlines, railways and bus transport at some level as people are stranded amid the lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“We have started highway construction and industries. Along with this, the import and export have also started. To deal with the present situation of the home-bound migrant workers, we can start industries, business, public transport. This will build trust and they will stay back. We will have no problem,” Nitin Gadkari said.
However, the Union Minister said that the public transport could only open if everyone practised social distancing norms along with washing and sanitising hands and using face masks among other safety measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Gadkari’s remarks come after the confederation showed a presentation on cities across the globe are running public transport amid the battle with the COVID-19 while highlighting the bus and car operators are looking at a huge financial problem.
Gadkari said that the centre was aware of the problems being faced by the passenger transport industry and would fully support them. The Indian market is going through a tough financial condition due to the pandemic, he added.
However, with companies trying to move out of China, good business opportunity was emerging from the global industry. Indian industry should use this for its advantage and invite foreign companies to invest with them in India, the Union Minister said.
India has entered the third phase of lockdown which ends on May 17. The country went under a nationwide lockdown on March 25 in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the number of COVID-19 case are still rising.
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