Bhubaneswar: A day after categorizing districts under red, green and orange zones amid COVID-19 pandemic and issued guidelines on relaxations and restrictions, the Odisha government today allowed plying of buses in the green zone districts.

Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Jena informed buses will ply exclusively within green zones without passing through the territory of any red zone or orange zone.

However, buses have been allowed to run with passengers up to 50% of their seating capacity.

In an order the State government stated plying of buses within green zones shall be further subject to fulfilling other statutory requirements such as valid route permit, registration certificate, fitness certificate, pollution under control certificate and insurance.

Meanwhile, restrictions on bus services in orange and red zones will remain in force.

The Odisha government categorized 16 districts of the State as green zone.

While 11 districts have been kept under orange zone category, three districts and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation are categorized as red zone.