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Delhi has urged the center to open markets and shopping malls oddly (Representative)
New Delhi:
The Delhi government on Thursday submitted a proposal to the Center on lockdown relaxations after May 17 and suggested opening markets, shopping complexes and operating buses and subway services with strict social distancing rules.
The government has suggested operating construction activities in the national capital and allowing the movement of workers inside Delhi, government sources told PTI.
Two-passenger taxis will be allowed, they said, adding that on buses, 20 passengers are likely to be able to travel under strict social distancing rules.
“The government suggested that markets, complexes and shopping malls should be allowed to open in Delhi. However, non-essential goods stores in shopping malls and malls should operate in an odd way,” a source said.
In the next two or three days, the government will present a standard operating procedure to allow economic activities from Monday in the national capital.
The national blockade was imposed from March 25 to April 14, then extended to May 3 and again to May 17 to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said that different economic activities will be allowed in the city starting May 18 based on decisions made by the Center regarding the relaxation of the running of the bulls.
In an online press conference, he said that most people suggested that schools, colleges, hair salons, spas, salons, movie theaters, and swimming pools should not open after May 17, and that there should be a limited operation of metro services.
On Tuesday, Mr. Kejriwal solicited suggestions from Delhi residents on the lockdown relaxations after May 17 and asked them to submit their views by 5pm on Wednesday.
During a video conference chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with chief ministers from different states on Monday, Kejriwal had said that, except for the containment areas, economic activities in the national capital should be allowed to resume.
Buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws should be able to operate in the city but with social distancing, he said during the online briefing on Thursday.
“The country, including Delhi, has been closed for the last month and a half due to the coronavirus-induced blockade. It was easy to close it, but we have to work very hard to open the economy. We generally work hard.” The times ahead are very difficult, “said Kejriwal.
The prime minister said the government had received more than 5 lakh suggestions from Delhiites on lockdown relaxations after May 17 and most of them suggested strict action against those who do not wear masks and violate social distancing rules.
“Different activities will be allowed in Delhi starting Monday depending on the decisions of the Center on the relaxation of the confinement. But it is certain that we have to strictly follow the social distancing,” said Kejriwal.
“We also received suggestions from market associations and most of them advocated opening markets in an odd way. Some people said that malls can open by allowing one-third of stores to open,” he said.
Some suggestions were in favor of closing the hotels, but most advocated opening restaurants through which home delivery of food and takeaways can be allowed, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently asked states to submit their proposals on what they want after May 17 when the third phase of the shutdown ends, Arvind Kejriwal said.
On Tuesday, Mr. Kejriwal made it clear that the blockade cannot be lifted entirely as the city records a large number of coronavirus cases daily.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is posted from a syndicated channel.)
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