Rlys to run only spl, parcel, freight services
NEW DELHI, May 17: The Centre today allowed inter- and intra-State movement of public vehicles with conditions and reopening of all shops except those in malls and COVID-19 Containment Zones as it extended the nationwide lockdown till May 31, during which flight and Metro services and all kinds of public gatherings will be barred.
Immediately after the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Nodal Department, announced lockdown 4.0 to check the spread of the Novel Coronavirus, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued fresh guidelines to allow further resumption of economic activities.
Click here to watch video
It allowed e-commerce platforms to deliver all goods, including those considered non-essential, in all areas except Containment zones.
All shops, except those in Containment Zones and malls, will be allowed to open from Monday with staggered timings during lockdown 4.0 which includes barber shops and parlour except in Containment Zones.
It allowed inter-state and intra-state movements of passenger vehicles and buses from areas other than the Containment zones. However, the guidelines made it clear that bus services will be allowed with mutual consent of States and Union Territories involved.
All necessary standard operating procedures which includes social distancing, wearing of masks, availability of sanitiser need to be ensured.
The Government also decentralised delination of Red, Green and Orange Zones — marking of areas based on COVID-19 case load — to State and union Territories but said that the same should be done after taking into consideration of parameters shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Night curfew shall continue to remain in place from 7 pm to 7 am and local authorities shall ensure strict compliance with it, the order said.
The Government directed persons above the age of 65 years, persons with co-mobbities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years to stay at home as they are more vulnerable to the deadly virus.
Domestic air travel of passengers, metro rail, schools and other educational institutions, hotels, restaurants, gyms shall remain closed and all social, political and religious gatherings will be barred.
Religious places shall be closed to public and there shall be no congregation allowed.
The Centre has, however, opened sports complexes and stadia but banned entry of spectators.
Taking a view of limited air services opened for bringing stranded Indians home and taking people through trains, the Centre allowed running of canteens at bus depots and Railway stations.
Restaurants shall be allowed to operate their kitchen for home delivery of food items.
Issuing a nine-page guidelines, the Union Home Ministry listed the dos and don’ts during the lockdown 4.0 that has been clamped in the country to break the chain of Coronavirus infection.
Local authorities should ensure that shops in markets, except in Containment Zones, open with staggered timings so as to ensure social distancing.
All shops shall have to ensure 6 feet distance (2 gaz ki doori) among customers; not allow more than 5 persons at one time.
Allowing the States and Union Territories to decide of coding of various zones, the Home Ministry said that inside the red and Orange Zones, Containment and Buffer Zones will be identified by the district administration or local urban bodies.
Within the Containment Zones, strict perimeter control shall be maintained, and no movement of persons would be allowed, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services.
Buffer Zones are areas around each Containment Zone, where new cases are more likely to appear. In the Buffer Zones, more caution needs to be exercised.
“The Lockdown measures in place since March 25, 2020 have helped considerably in containing the spread of COVID-19. It has therefore been decided to further extend the lockdown till May 31, 2020,” the home ministry said.
In order to facilitate the movement of persons, various modes of transport have already been opened up which includes limited train services since May 11.
Further, evacuation of foreign nationals from India, return of stranded Indian nationals from abroad, sign-on and sign-off of Indian seafarers, and intra-State and inter-State movement of stranded persons by bus and train, will continue to be allowed.
Under these guidelines, wearing of face covers is compulsory, spitting will be punishable with fine, and social distancing is to be followed by all persons in public places and in transport.
Rules barring not more than 50 persons for marriage and 20 for funeral will continue to remain in force.
The practice of work from home (WFH) should be followed to the extent possible and staggering of work hours should be adopted in respect of all offices and other establishments.
With a view to ensure safety in offices and work places, employers should ensure that Aarogya Setu app is installed by all employees having compatible mobile phones, it said.
State and UT Governments shall continue to strictly enforce the lockdown guidelines and they shall not dilute these guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, in any manner, the Home Ministry said.
The Union Home Ministry tonight said the fresh guidelines for the fourth phase of the nationwide lockdown were issued after taking the views of the State Governments following a video conference held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the chief Ministers on May 11.
In a communication to Chief Secretaries of all State Governments and Union Territory administrations, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said under the new guidelines effective from Monday, States and UTs will now categorise Red, Orange and Green Zones taking into consideration the revised guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday.
New guidelines on lockdown measures have been issued in supersession of earlier lockdown orders, except the Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued on the movement of persons.
These guidelines have been issued after taking into consideration the views of the state governments following the video conference held by the Prime Minister with the Chief Ministers on May 11, Bhalla said.
The Home Secretary said States and Union Territories (UTs) will now categorise Red, Orange and Green Zones and inside the Red and Orange Zones, containment and Buffer Zones will be identified by the district administration and local urban bodies with technical inputs at local level and by taking into consideration the Health Ministry guidelines.
Within the containment zones, strict perimeter control shall be maintained, and no movement of people would be allowed across the zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services, the letter said. The Home Secretary said a limited number of activities will continue to remain prohibited throughout the country.
In order to facilitate the movement of people, various modes of transport have already been opened up as per SoPs issued by MHA and all other activities will be permitted except those which are specifically prohibited under these guidelines. However, in containment zones, only essential activities shall be allowed, as mentioned earlier.
“As emphasized in my earlier letters, I would like to reiterate again that States and Union Territories cannot dilute restrictions imposed vide the aforesaid guidelines issued by MHA,” Bhalla said.
“States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain other activities in various zones, or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary.”
“I would urge you to ensure compliance of the new guidelines, and direct all concerned authorities for their strict implementation,” Bhalla said.
Railways today said only Shramik Specials, other special trains, and parcel and freight services will operate during the fourth phase of lockdown, beginning on May 18.
The national transporter, which has cancelled all its regular passenger services till June 30, said the guidelines issued during Lockdown 3.0 will be in force as far as rail operations are concerned.
While parcel and freight trains were in operation through all the lockdown periods which began on May 25, the Railways began running Shramik Special trains to ferry migrants from May 1 and 15 pairs of special trains on the Rajdhani route for the general public under certain restrictions. “There is no change in rail operations. It will be same as in Lockdown 3. The Shramik Special trains and the 15 pairs of special trains will continue to run along with our freight and parcel services,” railway spokesperson RD Bajpai said.
Hours after the Modi Government announced extension of the Coronavirus lockdown, Indian aviation regulator DGCA said all scheduled commercial passenger flights have been suspended till May 31 midnight.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said “foreign and domestic airlines shall be suitably informed about the opening of their operations whether international to or from India or domestic, respectively, in due course”.
All commercial passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 25, when the lockdown was imposed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The regulator today said the suspension of all domestic and international scheduled commercial passenger flights have been “further extended up to 11.59 pm on May 31”.
This restriction would not be applicable to domestic and international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA, it said. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
