Delhi unlocks today: Markets set to reopen

Police, dist administration deploy teams to enforce Covid-appropriate behaviour

Markets, malls and offices in the national capital are all set to reopen on Monday after being shut for one-and-half-months, with the police and district administration deploying teams across the city to enforce Covid appropriate behaviour.

The Metro train services that were stopped on May 10 will also resume from Monday morning with 50 per cent seating capacity only.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Saturday announced further relaxations in the lockdown, and said Delhi Metro will operate at 50 per cent capacity and markets and malls in the national capital will open on an oddeven basis from June 7.

District administration and police officers said super spreader areas like prominent markets, malls and liquor stores that attract large crowds have been earmarked and special deployment will be ensured there for strict compliance of precautions like use of face masks and social distancing.

“50 teams have been formed for enforcement purposes. At major places where crowding is expected like Lajpat Nagar market, 10 or more teams will be deployed,” said southeast Delhi district magistrate Vishwendra.

He said both static and mobile teams will be deployed with focus on super spreader areas that have been already mapped for ensuring effective enforcement.

According to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, the ongoing lockdown, which had been imposed on April 19, has been extended by one more week (up to June 14).

Malls, markets and market complexes (except weekly markets) will open between 10 am to 8 pm on odd-even basis in accordance with their shop numbers, from Monday morning.

The Delhi Metro is set to resume services from Monday. However, only half of the available trains will be inducted into service with a frequency ranging from nearly five to 15 minutes on different lines, officials said.

The DDMA in its order on Saturday allowed various relaxations, including opening of markets, malls, Metro train services, and opening of government and private offices with 50 per cent staff.

All standalone and neighbourhood shops in residential complexes will be permitted to open on all days without any distinction of essential and non-essential goods or services, the order said. The liquor vends that were closed, after the lockdown was announced on April 19, will also open from Monday on odd-even basis.

A senior police officer said “extra pickets are being deployed and patrolling will be intensified as the unlocking begins from Monday.