All shops set to open in city on alternate days
Offices, barber shops to open, except in containment areas
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Monday announced the opening of business establishments, shops, including salons and offices, across the state from Tuesday, except those in containment areas, more particularly Hyderabad.
He was briefing the media of the decisions taken by the Cabinet which met at Pragathi Bhavan on Monday to discuss the future course of action in the backdrop of the extension of the nationwide lockdown by the Centre till May 31.
The Chief Minister said, “Barring the containment areas, the rest of the state has been declared as a green zone. The lockdown will be implemented till May 31 as declared by the Union government, and night curfew will continue to be in force from 7 pm to 6 am.”
The Chief Minister also announced that RTC buses will ply across the state except in Hyderabad, where Metro Rail and RTC services will continue to be suspended. Inter-state buses will not be allowed till May 31.
Mr Rao said taxis, private cars and autorickshaws will be allowed to ply but passengers will be limited to three in the case of taxis and private cars and two in the case of autorickshaws.
In Hyderabad, business establishments will be allowed to open on alternate days and the GHMC officials will work out the modalities by following the odd-even method.
He also made it clear that no shop or any other activity will be allowed in the containment areas.
Mr Rao said e-commerce activities will be allowed and all private and government offices will be permitted from Tuesday.
Mr Rao said the prohibition on religious places, gatherings, festivals, public meetings and rallies will continue and bars, pubs, gyms, amusement parks, restaurants, function halls, malls and educational institutions will remain closed till May 31.
Thanking the people for their cooperation for the effective implementation of the lockdown, he said that scientists across the globe had made it clear that there was no certainty with regard to developing a vaccine for Covid-19. The people have no choice but to learn to live with the Coronavirus by following all safety norms.