Curbs tightened in HP, workers start leaving
SHIMLA: With Himachal Pradesh witnessing an unabated rise in Covid-19 cases, the state government on Sunday tightened restrictions and workers started heading towards their native places from Shimla.
While the public transport system will remain suspended, private vehicles can only move with permission.
In the state capital of Shimla, the shops will remain open from 10am to 1pm. Deputy commissioner Aditya Negi has clarified that agriculture, horticulture and construction activity has not been prohibited. Workers are allowed to work from 7am to 9pm.
Contractors have been directed to issue valid identity cards to the workers ensuring that they follow the laid guidelines. However, in the wake of reduction of work hours, the workers have started gathering at the main ISBT at Tutti Kandi.
“I work at Darlaghat, but I am from Bihar. I have to go back home due to personal reasons, but I am not getting a bus. Let’s see what happens because from tomorrow we will not get buses,” said a worker, Ashraf Ali.
Another worker said: “I was trying to get a bus to Chadndigarg and got it after many hours. The buses are full to capacity, I was lucky to get a seat.”
Ramanad Thakur, in-charge of the Himachal Pradesh Road and Transport Corporation at ISBT, Shimla, said that the state buses were arriving, but there was a shortage of buses. They were also operating special buses for transportation to Chandigarh: “We will ensure bus service till every passenger is not sent home. But no buses will ply from tomorrow onwards.”