Sharad Shrestha

Many Nepali people rely on public transport to get around as they lack the resources to own a personal mode of transport. So they are compelled to travel in public vehicles that are often unsafe, unmanaged, and the people operating them are regarded as an uncivilised, foul-mouthed bunch.
The syndicates that have been operating public transport have the system in their grip and there is little one can do against these syndicates. The outbreak of COVID-19 has changed our attitude towards public transport, which is still an integral part of our urban life. People need to get around so they need buses, taxis and other modes of public vehicles. Currently, all forms of public transport have halted their services due to the pandemic. But once normalcy returns, public transport will resume their services in full flow. The bus syndicates have exerted pressure on the authorities to recommence public transport services as soon as possible.

Unhygienic
The COVID-19 outbreak has underlined the problem of hygiene in public transport. Cramming people shoulder-to-shoulder in a filthy vehicle has always been unhygienic; the situation has only exacerbated the virus spread.
The governing bodies have attempted to curb these anomalies in buses, but the efforts have always fallen flat. However, undertaking and enforcing safety measures has never been more important. This pandemic has made people aware of the perils of contagious viruses. It has instilled a sense of fear, which may encourage people to take precautions for one's health.
Consequently, this fear might nudge people to adopt safer measures while travelling via public transport. As public transport is a necessity, it is the government’s job to make sweeping adjustments to ensure public safety, and this is the perfect opportunity to put in place stringent reforms. Several measures can be and need to be implemented.
First, the implementation of a strong and well-managed system is the need of the hour. The government needs to invest in infrastructure to allow people to use public transport like civilized folks. The main problem is the lack of vehicles to meet the demand. The government should begin drafting recovery measures to ensure the financial sustainability of transport companies, particularly as the pandemic pushes the global economy into a slowdown as per the World Bank. Hence, it is important to assess the capacity of public transport under different scenarios. Now it is high time to take the immediate measures people can take when public transport operators resume services.

Safety Measures
On an individual level, they can adopt safety measures when travelling. This needs to be strictly reinforced by authorities and vehicle operators. One such measure includes bus ticket systems or even better e-tickets to reduce points of contact. Public transport should operate at 30-50 per cent capacity, depending on demand.
The front-door boarding should be closed to avoid unwanted contact with the driver. In case a vehicle has only one boarding area, the driver area should be separated from screens. There should be social distancing markers inside vehicles and bus stops to ensure adequate spacing. Proper ventilation in the vehicles should be ensured at all times and passengers must be encouraged for using windows and fans.
Employees should be reminded of the basic personal hygiene rules. Designated stops need to be diligently used by the vehicle operators and the passengers. All passengers should be wearing face masks/covers while getting on the bus and during the entire travel. Only people with confirmed tickets should be allowed in the vehicles. All passengers should be given hand sanitizers at entry and exit. During boarding and travel, passengers should practice social distancing.
Likewise, all vehicles need to be subject to regular and frequent cleaning and disinfection, diligently enforced by the authorities and vehicle operators. Ensure regular cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces such as handles and rails. Taxi operators (and other vehicles) can also think about introducing glass screens to separate drivers and passengers. The authorities should put infographics in waiting areas and bus stops, explaining the importance of physical distancing, and hygiene. Now, the authorities are expected to take steps to ensure the safety of the civilians and to keep our cities running.
As per the government’s decision, public transport entrepreneurs were all set to resume their services from July 20 on Monday, following all health safety guidelines issued by the government amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the government decision and discussion within the representatives of public transport operators, there would be strict implementation of health safety guidelines issued by the government to control the spread of coronavirus.
After almost four months of nationwide lockdown enforced by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19, a few public transportation companies had resumed transportation services in Kathmandu Valley. The government of Nepal has permitted transport companies to resume its service following the health safety guidelines issued by the government and charging 50 percent extra fares from the customers.

Resumption
The government has decided to allow the resumption of long-distance public transport services starting from September 21. The government had suspended these services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in late March. The Nepali government's decision came ahead of major festivals in Nepal, Dashain and Tihar when people tend to travel faraway places. Officially, the government in early July had decided to allow short-distance public transport to resume services.
The local administrations in many districts have halted entire transportation services, citing the resurgence in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. As the public transport services have now resumed, the local governments should take initiative to run public transport services by enforcing strict monitoring of the rules and consultations with stakeholders during the pandemic period as this step may support in the recovery of some losses suffered by the public transport operators. Awareness programme for public transport users is also required to maintain health safety protocol in order to defeat COVID -19.

(Shrestha writes about environment and sanitation issues)