Bengaluru, May 17: Left to itself, Karnataka will look to spring back towards normalcy under Lockdown 4.0 as the state government is on standby to resume public transport services from May 18, if the Centre allows it.
Though KSRTC and BMTC have been preparing for resumption of services, officials in the two corporations told DH that they cannot make a move till the government makes a decision.
Transport Commissioner N Shivakumar said the department will take a decision based on the state government's orders. "The government will take a call on buses as well as taxi and other transport services," he said.
Senior officials in the state government said Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Laxman Savadi has written to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari seeking a nod for resumption of the services.
Transport Secretary Gaurav Gupta has written a separate letter to his counterpart in the Union government requesting permission to operate public transport. "The state government wants the services to open. The official has listed out the steps the corporations will take to ensure social distancing other steps that will be taken to check spread of Coronavirus," a source said.
The B S Yediyurappa administration has been bullish on easing lockdown restrictions.
If the Centre empowers the states to define Lockdown 4.0, Karnataka is likely to do away with the red-orange-green zoning of districts and allow public services to resume, except in COVID-19 containment zones. The government is also likely to redefine its containment strategy by micromanaging localities where COVID-19 cases are reported, without letting life in an entire district get affected.
The government has already shown willingness to allow hotels and gyms to open after May 17 subject to social distancing norms and restrictions. In fact, the government has proposed to allow the resumption of all economic activities in standalone establishments. The government, however, is not keen on opening malls, theatres, diners and establishments that have centralized air conditioning.
“Everything depends on the Centre,” Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan said. “Our only stand is that the red zone should be treated at par with the other zone when it comes to relaxation.”
"D Raja should demand that communists should shoot and kill his daughter for taking part in the JNU protest. To prove my love for this country, I would have done the same if my child was taking part in such anti-national protests," he told reporters in Coimbatore on Saturday.
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More such a talks are more benefit for Congress. Nai Bogalidare Deva loka haalaaguwude????
Let them bark whatever they feel. Let us fight for the freedom from RSS - Jai JNU
These BJP leaders and their followers are crazy.
Those students are not anti nationals. they are protesting for their rights. They are joined by the staff of the JNU.
Most of the students & staff are Hindus. If you are a flag carriers of Patriotism, how your own children can do this.
They are fighting against govt policy.
Why should the parents kill their children. If you want to kill, die yourself, that is also you don't have right to kill yourself. Because your life is the property of your God and it is given by your God.
Are people Mad ,,,,,even after ZEE tv producer quit and agreed that the slogans were fake .....but its also fact that the damage to JNU almost successful ..........
anyways Fascism is already in Thrid stage....either we have to cut the main part of take proper therapy for Fascist Media
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