Inter-state bus services from the Sitaramdera Bus Terminus, Kolhan's biggest bus depot, resumed on Sunday after three months as the state government made further relaxations in lockdown rules.

The inter-state long distance bus services had to be stopped in the last week of April this year due to a spike in Covid-19 cases during the second wave.

On Sunday morning, bus operators came to the bus terminus with their staff and started booking tickets from passengers for various destinations in Bihar, Bengal and neighbouring Odisha.

Over 300 inter-state buses ply from Sitaramdera bus terminus to different states.

"Today, being the first day, the number of passengers was less. Buses for various destinations are expected to run in full capacity in the next couple of days," said Upendra Sharma, chief patron of Jamshedpur Bus Owners Association.

He said that with the steep rise in diesel prices they would be forced to hike the bus fare for various destinations.

"During the last three months the diesel price witnessed a rise of about Rs 40. So, it is very difficult for us to sustain with the old fare. The bus operators will meet here on Tuesday for a discussion on the fare hike, "said Sharma.

Most of the inter-state buses start their journey from the Sitaramdera Bus Terminus in the evening and night.

Notably, the inter-district buses have resumed operations from July 1.

The state government had on Friday further relaxed Coronavirus-induced curbs as part of the unlock process, following a dip in Covid-19 cases.

The provisions related to observance of the Health Safety Week in the context of Covid-19 shall stand extended till further orders.

Vegetable, fruit, grocery stores remained open in the steel city on Sunday.

All shops barring vegetable-fruit grocery/restaurant/bar, eatables and essential services (milk and fuel outlet) remained closed in steel city on Sunday.

People flocked to the vegetable and fruit stalls at Sakchi, Bistupur and other places.

The curbs which came into effect on other shops from 8 pm on Saturday will remain effective till 6 am on Monday.

As per the government directive all shops in all districts can remain open till 8 pm between Monday and Friday.

However, restaurants and bars can remain open till 10 pm.

"Because of the weekend lockdown for the last couple of months we had to make necessary purchases - vegetables, fruits, fishes and other foods on Saturday itself. But, with the government providing further relaxations it enabled me to buy vegetables and groceries on Sunday, " said Anita Gupta, a homemaker at Sakchi.