The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Kohima issued new SOPs for city bus and taxi operation in Kohima town with effect from Monday.

An official release on Monday said seating arrangement in the bus should be in a zigzag manner leaving alternate vacant seats to maintain social distancing. No standing passengers will be allowed.

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Every bus should be sanitised/fumigated at the end of each day.

The release said the drivers and conductors should wear a facemask and also ensure that no passenger is allowed in the bus without a face mask.

Hand sanitizer should be made available in the bus for passengers while boarding passengers have been asked to carry necessary fare to maintain minimum contact.

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This was decided at a meeting in the office of Kohima additional deputy commissioner Lithrongla T. Rutsa.

In view of the current pandemic, the meeting fixed bus fare per passenger at Rs 20 till September 30. It will be reviewed with further relaxations in the SOP.

Every bus owner should make sure that a transparent barrier between the driver’s cabin and passenger area is made to avoid contact.

Driver and conductor should remain inside their vehicle and avoid group gathering or assembly at the workplace.

With no scope to maintain social distancing, two-wheeler taxi services will remain suspended until further notice, the release said.

In a taxi, only 3 three passengers are allowed- one beside driver and two at the backseat. The taxi fare will remain at Rs 25 per passenger.

The RTA said violators will be penalised as per relevant MV Act.

Checking will be carried out from time to time by the district administration, police and motor vehicle department.