Intrastate bus service to resume in Himachal, RT-PCR report not mandatory

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 11

The government today extended the curfew after June 14 with several more relaxations such as intrastate transport to resume, shops to open from 9 am to 5 pm and the RT-PCR test report no more mandatory for entering the state. Though Section 144 would be lifted, the curfew would continue from 5 pm to 5 am. The decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting.

The government extended the time to open shops up to 5 pm from June 14. However, the shops would remain closed on Saturday and Sunday.

The Cabinet decided that offices with a staff strength of 75 and above would function with 50 per cent employees. All medical, Ayurvedic and dental colleges would open from June 23 while pharmacy and nursing schools would open from June 28. Meanwhile, the intrastate public transport would be allowed with 50 per cent occupancy.

The Cabinet provided a relief of about Rs 40 crore to the transport sector. The relief would include an interest subvention scheme on working capital for stage carriage operators, under which a loan of Rs 2 lakh per bus and a maximum of up to Rs 20 lakh would be provided to bus operators as working capital. The duration of the loan would be five years — one year moratorium period, and 75 per cent interest subvention to be paid by the state government. Around Rs 11 crore as relief had been provided under the scheme.

The Cabinet gave relief to the tune of 50 per cent on the payment of special road tax and token tax from August 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021, to the owners of stage carriages, taxis, maxis, auto-rickshaws and institution buses.

It decided to provide 50 per cent relief (around Rs 8 crore) on special road tax and token tax for three months from April 1 to June 30, 2021, to owners of stage carriages, taxis, maxis, autorickshaws, contract carriage buses and institution buses.

Curfew stays, Section 144 lifted

• Curfew to continue from 5 pm to 5 am, Sec 144 lifted
• Cabinet provides Rs40 crore relief for transport sector
• Offices with a staff strength of 75 and above will function with 50 per cent employees
• Intrastate public transport will be allowed with 50 per cent occupancy
• All medical, Ayurvedic and dental colleges to open from June 23 while pharmacy and nursing schools to open from June 28

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