Metro services to resume from Sept 7
LUCKNOW The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday night announced the Unlock 4 guidelines under which metro trains will be allowed to resume services from September 7 in a graded manner, while social and religious congregations of up to 100 people are permissible from September 21. However, schools, colleges and other educational and coaching institutions will remain closed for students till September 30, with some relaxations for students of classes 9 to 12 (September 21 onwards).
“Now, a district magistrate cannot impose any lockdown outside containment zones in the respective districts. However, the weekend statewide restrictions introduced by the state government, as they were announced on July 14 by the state government, will continue till further orders,” said Uttar Pradesh chief secretary RK Tiwari in the guidelines that he issued on Sunday night.
With these guidelines, the UP government, in sync with the Centre’s Unlock 4 guidelines, has allowed more activities outside the containment zones but has kept some things unchanged. The Centre’s guidelines were announced on Saturday.
What’s new?
The metro trains, which have not run since March when the first phase of the lockdown
came into effect, have been allowed to resume services from September 7. The resumption, however, will be gradual and graded. Standard operating procedure (SOPs) for Metro operations will be issued later.
Students of classes 9 to 12 may be permitted to visit their schools in areas outside the containment zones only on a voluntary basis for taking guidance from their teachers.
Such students volunteering to go to school will have to furnish prior written permission from parents/guardians.
Now, 50% of teaching/nonteaching staff could be called to the schools for online education/consultation from September 21 onwards. The government would issue SOPs for it separately later.
Social, academic, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious, political functions and other congregations will be permitted with a ceiling of 100 people, with effect from September 21, but the organisers have to ensure social distancing norms and the wearing of masks.
Till September 20, a wedding can have not more than 30 guests while last-rites/funerals cannot have more than 20 persons. However, after September 20, the new limit of ‘not more than 100 persons’ would be introduced. Open-air theatres will be permitted to open with effect from September 21. What remains unchanged? Apart from some relaxations for students of Class 9 to 12, schools, colleges and other educational and coaching institutions will remain closed till September 30. Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres and similar places will remain shut. International air travel of passengers, except as permitted by the home ministry, will not be allowed. There will be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods. No separate permission, approval, e-permit will be required for such movement.
Vulnerable persons, those above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidity, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years have been advised to stay at home. The use of Aarogya Setu mobile application will continue to be encouraged, according to the guidelines.