In a major relief to the commuters in the city, the Chandigarh Administration on Wednesday lifted restrictions on the number of passengers in private cars, cabs, auto rickshaws and two-wheeler, as the country enters unlock 2.0 phase amid COVID-19 pandemic.
Apart from this, the UT Administration has also discontinued the odd-even stipulation for shops in congested markets in Chandigarh. These are among a series of decisions taken during the meeting held under Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore on Wednesday while reviewing the relaxations under unlock 2.0 in the city.
A day before, the Administration had announced a relaxation of an hour in night curfew enforced from 10 pm to 5 am from July 1 onwards. Earlier, the timings for night curfew were from 9 pm to 5 am.Manoj Parida, Adviser to the UT Administrator said that the odd-even system, presently being followed in selected markets will be discontinued. This will also apply to street vendors who were following the odd-even system, he said.
The odd-even stipulations for shops were put in place on May 18 in congested markets such as Sector 46 Rehri market, Sector 22 Shastri market, Sector 15 Patel Market, Sec 41 Krishna Market, Sec 19 Sadar Bazar and Pallika Bazar, Sec 18 Gandhi Market, Sec 27 Janta Market and street vendors in various sectors of the city.
The Administration had earlier allowed the shops to open seven days a week to recover from the financial crisis.About lifting restrictions on passengers allowed in vehicles, Parida said in a similar pattern as Punjab, maximum two persons on a scooter or motorcycle, four persons in a car and three persons in an auto-rickshaw will be allowed (including the driver) in Chandigarh. As per the order, call centres and industrial establishments have also been allowed to operate night shifts provided their employees do not come out of the office or factory premises during curfew period from 10 pm to 5 am in the city.
While serving liquor at marriage functions have been allowed after permission of the UT Excise Department, restaurants and hotels have not been allowed to serve liquor under the unlock 2.0 rules. “Service of alcoholic drinks in marriage functions will be permitted, provided specific permission from the Excise Department is taken.
However, bars will continue to remain closed,” stated the UT Administration’s order. The order further stated, “All shops and restaurants have been allowed to remain open from 10 am to 9 pm.”
Earlier, the shops in the markets were allowed to open from 10 am to 8 pm Apni Mandies and organic markets will continue to remain closed, till further orders. Also the inter-state bus service which was suspended on June 12 after a surge in COVID-19 cases will continue to remain suspended till further orders.
"There will be a complete ban on social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other large congregations, as per Government of India’s guidelines. Te activities like cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, spas, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will not be permitted", the UT’s order stated.
HOSPITALITY SECTOR DISAPPOINTED
While the UT Administration has provided a much-needed succor to shopkeepers in the city by lifting the odd-even system for shops, the higher authorities failed to announce any relaxations for the hospitality sector. For the revival of the hospitality sector facing huge losses due to COVID-19 triggered restrictions, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Chandigarh had demanded time relaxations till 11 pm, allowing serving liquor in hotels and restaurants and opening of spas and gyms in hotels among other relaxations under unlock 2.0. However, the UT Administration on Wednesday decided not to allow the opening of bars and pubs in hotels and restaurants for serving liquor.
Ankit Gupta, president, Chandigarh Hospitality Association said that though the UT Administration has been allowing staggered opening of hospitality services, the service of liquor , which is an integral part of guest requirements, continues to remain banned. This will have a massive adverse impact on an already paralyzed hospitality industry, he said.
