Maharashtra / Mumbai eases curbs from today; non-essential shops to open on alternate days

Maharashtra: With COVID-19 cases on a steady decline, Mumbai's civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal corporation (BMC) listed the guidelines for the graded reopening in the city. In an order issued Monday, a few restrictions in place to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission have been relaxed.

While relaxing the stricter lockdown-like curbs, the BMC, in an order issued under the 'Break the Chain' initiative, also permitted the distribution of non-essential items along with essential ones under e-commerce.

The BMC stated that these orders will be applicable until the directives issued by the state government under 'Break The Chain' remain in force.

New guidelines issued by BMC-

1. The BMC has now allowed non-essential shops to function between 7 am to 2 pm on alternate days from Monday to Friday for the next 15 days.

2. All non-essential stores will however remain shut on weekends.

3. The shops selling essential items, which are currently allowed to operate between 7 am to 11 am, are now allowed to remain open all days between 7 am to 2 pm.

4. As per the order, the shops located on the right side of the roads will be open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while the shops on the left side will be allowed to operate on Tuesday and Thursday.

"Next week, the shops on the left side of the road will be open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while the shops on the right will be open on Tuesday and Thursday," the order stated.

All business units must ensure social distancing, ensure everyone wears a mask and strictly follow all Covid protocols, the order said.

The announcement comes a day after the Maharashtra government extended the lockdown-like curbs till June 15 and also announced that relaxations will be granted depending upon the COVID-19 positivity rate and availability of oxygen beds.