New Delhi: As India prepares to enter phase four of unlocking, the Center is reported to be able to ease restrictions on local trains, metro services, hotels, restaurants and bars. The government is considering opening the local rail transport which will likely reopen from the first week of September, while schools, universities and movie theaters are likely to remain closed, according to sources.
The government received several suggestions asking to allow the resumption of the local train / metro, single theater movie theaters, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar venues.
“The process of gradual reopening of activities will be further extended and the new guidelines will be based on comments received from the states and UT and extensive consultations with related ministries and central departments,” a senior government official told ANI.
Here’s what to expect from Unlock 4.0
Metro services can be resumed
Metro services, which have been stopped since March 22, are likely to resume in Delhi and NCR from September 1. The government will ensure that tokens and the contactless ticketing system are not used. Additionally, special seating arrangements could be made with alternate seating to ensure social distancing.
Local trains in Mumbai will not resume at this stage. Meanwhile, Chennai has made electronic passes mandatory for inter-state and inter-district movements.
The use of a mask will be compulsory and spitting or littering in the station facilities could generate heavy fines.
Clubs can reopen
While pubs and clubs are expected to open next month and bars will be allowed to serve liquor at the counter for take out, the central government may give more relaxations, but its implementation in the respective states or Union territories (UT) will be based on an evaluation carried out by state governments, according to sources.
Schools, universities will remain closed
Although it is likely that schools, colleges and educational institutes remain closed. In light of the main NEET and JEE reviews, Odisha and Jharkhand have lifted certain curfews and restrictions that allow free movement of traffic on curfew days and even allow hotels to stay open on days when they are exams scheduled. In Karnataka, the universities’ online classes for various degree courses for this academic session will start from 1 September. While offline classes can be resumed from October 1, the state government said.
Movie theaters will be closed
Theaters and single-screen movie plexuses are likely to remain closed, as it will not be feasible to run shows with only 25-30% capacity.
Meanwhile, India on Saturday reported 76,472 cases and 1,021 deaths in the last 24 hours, the total number of coronavirus infections in the country crosses to 34,63,973 while the country’s death toll has reached 62,500.
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