Pune: Dismissing all possibilities of imposing ‘weekend lockdown’s, Saurabh Rao – the Officer on Special Duty at Divisional Commissioner Office – clarified on Thursday that the pre-strict-lockdown rules and norms as issued by the state government earlier will be in place from Friday (July 24) in the city. Rao said that the standalone shops providing non-essential services and products will be allowed to remain open on an odd-even basis as they were operating earlier.
IT companies, private offices and other government offices can remain open as per earlier guidelines of state which were in place before July 14. “No new order regarding the lockdown will be issued,” Rao clarified.
WHAT’S ALLOWED FROM FRIDAY (JULY 24)
Rao was addressing mediapersons on the lockdown issue through an online press conference when he made this announcement. He said, “The 10-day long strict lockdown has been lifted. Henceforth, up to July 31, the Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and District Administration will allow shops, companies and industries to operate as specified in the state government regulation which was being implemented prior to the strict lockdown period. The state government will take a decision about the relaxed-lockdown status post-July 31 and we will follow and implement those rules as and when they are released.”
ODD-EVEN BASIS FOR SHOPS TO CONTINUE
Standalone shops and shops in market places were allowed to open on an odd-even basis before the strict lockdown started. Hereafter too, that is Friday (July 24) onward, the same formula will be applicable for shops and traders.
Rao said, “There will be a uniform policy for Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad cities regarding opening or shutting of shops. The administration has decided to continue with its earlier policy of staggered opening based on odd-even dates. The Municipal Commissioners and Police Commissioner will take a review of the situation and then decide whether this needs to be changed. So for now, the odd-even basis formula will continue in the city.”
Along with Saurabh Rao and Naval Kishore Ram, Pune Divisional Commissioner Vikram Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police Dr Ravindra Shisve were present in the video press conference.
