Metro to run at 50% capacity

With the number of Covid-19 cases coming down significantly in the last few days, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced further relaxations in lockdown, saying markets and malls will open on an odd-even basis and the Delhi Metro will now operate at 50 per cent capacity from June 7.

According to an order issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Saturday, all standalone and neighbourhood shops will be allowed to function. These include liquor vends which will reopen from Monday when the new relaxations will come into force.

However, establishments like cinemas, theatres, restaurants (except home delivery and take away), bars, gyms, spas, barber shops, salons and beauty parlours will remain closed till further orders, it said.

As per the order of DDMA, malls, markets and market complexes (except weekly markets) will open between 10 am and 8 pm on odd-even basis in accordance with their shop numbers.

 “This implies that only 50 per cent of the shops (excluding those selling essential goods) will be opened,” the DDMA said in its order.

It also said home delivery through e-commerce platforms has also been allowed and any shop pertaining to entertainment and amusement services will also remain closed, the order stated

However, shops selling essential goods, including educational books and stationery shops, fan shops in malls, markets and market complexes, are permitted to open on all days without restriction of timings.

The order further stated that all standalone and neighbourhood shops in residential complexes will be permitted to open on all days without any distinction of essential and non-essential goods/services, the order said. However, the timings of such shops dealing with non-essential goods or services will be between 10 am and 8 pm.

Addressing the media, the Chief Minister said that those working in essential services will work with 100 per cent capacity and the ‘Head of Departments’ will decide who will be a part of the essential services while all private offices can be opened up with 50 per cent manpower.

Kejriwal said, “The lockdown that was announced last week is applicable till 5 am this Monday. While the lockdown will continue, certain activities will be given concessions and will be opened up. All markets and malls will be opened up on an odd-even basis. Half the shops will be operational on one day and the other half the following day. This will be from 10 am to 8 pm, based on the shop numbers.”

“In the last 24 hours, only 400 cases have emerged, the infection rate has come down to 0.5 per cent and considering the situation appears to be under control, we began the unlock procedure last week,” he said.