Hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders will have to change their commuting habits over the coming weeks as the state government looks to impose strict controls on the public transport network that may result in traffic havoc on the roads.

The number of Sydney commuters using public transport dropped from more than 2 million per day to around 400,000 during the two months of the coronavirus lockdown, the lowest in a century.

But as thousands of people begin trickling back onto trains, buses and ferries amid easing restrictions, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned that the system is nearing capacity for safe social distancing measures.

The government is considering imposing physical distancing measures on the network, with a cap as low as 12 people per bus being raised as an option during discussions, the Herald has been told by sources familiar with the debate.

Full story on the SMH website