Metro Back on Tracks, Markets Reopen on Odd-Even Basis: What's Open in Delhi as Kejriwal Eases Curbs

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced further lockdown relaxations from the next week amid a dip in the city’s daily Covid-19 case count. The CM announced that markets will be opened on an odd-even basis between 10 am and 8 am, while metro services will run with 50% capacity.

Talking about the third wave, Kejriwal said that the government does not know when it will happen but they are preparing for it. “Based on experts’ inputs for next wave, we are getting prepared keeping in mind 37,000 cases per day as the base,” he added.

Last week, the government had allowed manufacturing and construction activities in Delhi beginning phased unlock process. The lockdown was imposed in Delhi on April 19. The city recorded 523 fresh Covid-19 cases and 50 fatalities on Friday, while the positivity rate stood at 0.68 per cent, according to Delhi government data.

What’s Open in Delhi and What’s Not:

• All Government offices of NCT of Delhi, Autonomous bodies, PSUs, Corporations, Local Bodies can function with officers of the level of Grade-I /equivalent and above to the extent of 100% strength. The remaining staff will attend up to 50% as per the requirement to be assessed by the HOD concerned (the remaining 50% of the staff will work from home). However, offices involved in essential services can function without any restrictions (ie at 100% strength).

• All private offices in Delhi can function to the extent of 50% strength of their staff between 9 AM to 5 PM on the production of a valid authority letter and valid I card issued by their employer, firm or company. Private offices and organizations are also advised to stagger the office timings and stagger the presence and quantum of staff with an objective to reduce the number of employees attending office at the same time so as to ensure the protocol pertaining to social distancing at the workplace. They are also advised to follow the practice of work from home, as far as possible.

• All malls, markets and market complexes (except weekly markets) can open between 10 AM to 8 PM on an odd-even basis, ie, shops can open on alternate days depending on their shop number. This implies that only 50% of the shops (excluding those selling essential goods) can open. However, shops selling essential goods including educational books and stationary shops, fan shops in malls, markets and market complexes, are permitted to open on all days without the restriction of timings.

• All standalone (single) shops and all neighbourhood (colony) shops and shops in residential complexes, can open on all days without any distinction of essential and non-essential goods/services. However, the timings of such shops dealing with non-essential goods/services will be between 10 AM to 8 PM.

• The movement of the owners and the employees/workers of the shops of all malls, markets, market complexes, standalone (single) shops and all neighbourhood (colony) shops shall be allowed on production of a valid I card issued by the employer, firm or company or valid e-pass issued by District Magistrate concerned through an online portal.

• The liquor vends can also open from Monday on an odd-even basis from 10 AM to 8 PM.

• Transportation by Delhi Metro shall be allowed up to 50% of the seating capacity of metro coach. The metros will run as per the normal time schedule.

• Delivery of all type of goods through e-commerce is allowed on production of a valid I card issued by the employer, firm or the company.

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