Guwahati Unlock: Restaurants on both sides of the streets allowed to open

Guwahati: Slightly modifying the tenets of the Unlock 1.0 rules in Kamrup (Metropolitan), the district administration in a latest order issued on Tuesday has allowed restaurants on both sides of the street to function during non-curfew hours. 

"Based on the directions from the Government, it is hereby clarified that restaurants and other hospitality services are allowed to function from Monday to Friday on both sides of any street during non-curfew hours in the Kamrup (M) district on a takeaway basis including online home delivery of cooked business", an order issued from the Deputy Commissioner's office said.

The Kamrup (M) Deputy Commissioner Biswajit Pegu on Sunday convened a meeting with trading bodies to deliberate upon the opening of shops in the first phase of the unlock in Guwahati city. In the meeting, it was decided by draw of lots that in the next week on Monday, right-hand side of any street and on Tuesday, the left-hand side of and so on of the street, the shops, and business establishments will be opened.

For this, Paltan Bazar will be the nodal point from where the right and left sides will be finalized. For example (i) Paltan Bazar to Khanapara -- right-hand side on Monday, (ii) Jalukbari to Noonmati -- right-hand side on Monday (iii) Jalukbari to VIP Road, Azara -- right-hand side on Monday (iv) Six Mile to Narengi -- right-hand side on Monday (v) Six Mile to Panjabari -- right-hand side on Monday. In the next week, it was decided, the reverse system of opening will be done.

However, there will be certain exemptions to this rule (for instance, "emergency" services like hospitals and pharmacies) and restaurants and other hospitality services have now been allowed.

Meanwhile, the curfew timings in the Kamrup (Metro) region have been revised to last from 6 pm in the evening to 6 am in the morning. The lockdown restrictions were brought into effect on June 28 to arrest the spread of the COVID-19 virus that has infected over 20,000 people across the state. The Government took the drastic decision to impose the lockdown after reports of the spread of the virus at the community level in persons without travel history. The consequent Unlock in Guwahati is the Government's attempt to revive the sagging economy.

Also Watch: Get Set Global: Travel Restrictions Creating Havoc For People In The UK