Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation on Sunday announced that public transportation services will resume across the state once again from June 1. The state will split into eight different transportation zones where the buses will be operating excluding Chennai district as one zone followed by Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpet districts as another zone. These districts have been split as two different zones as they have been recording the most number of coronavirus cases and are classified as containment zones as per the government's orders. In the remaining six zones, buses will be operational with 60 percent passengers and no e-pass will be required for travel with private bus services also given authorization to carry out services in the permitted routes. The ban on transport services between zones and states will continue while an e-pass is mandatory for those traveling from other states to Tamil Nadu and for those traveling from Tamil Nadu to other states. 

Coronavirus crisis | Tamil Nadu government's guidelines for bus travel during lockdown 5

A list of guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for commuters who will be traveling has also been released. Travelers are requested by the state government to get monthly passes instead of buying tickets on an everyday basis to avoid any chances of physical contact. Tamil Nadu government has also announced that arrangements are being made for travelers to get monthly passes at all bus depots and government offices. The government has also issued a notice informing travelers showing symptoms of cough, cold and fever will not be allowed to travel in the bus.

Coronavirus crisis | Tamil Nadu government's guidelines for bus travel during lockdown 5

These new relaxations by the Tamil Nadu government comes a day after lockdown 5 was announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs to the entire nation excluding the containment zones and is instead being dubbed as Unlock 1, which means phased-reopening of areas outside containment zones. These relaxations in Tamil Nadu will be till June 30 with orders for 50 percent of bus services to resume across the state. 

Coronavirus crisis | Tamil Nadu government's guidelines for bus travel during lockdown 5