Amid Lockdown, Govt Allows Local Shops To Reopen: List Of What Will Open, What Will Remain Closed

Shops that are allowed to reopen from today include those located in residential complexes within municipal areas, but at a 50 per cent strength and after taking necessary precautions.

Exemptions will not be applicable in locations identified as hotspot and containment zones. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: In a late night order on Friday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) allowed opening of shops as part of the easing of lockdown restrictions announced on April 15 with neighbourhood shops and others being allowed within the city and all shops except those in malls allowed outside the municipal limits with 50 per cent strength of workers. As per Home Ministry order, shops that are allowed to reopen from today include those located in residential complexes within municipal areas, but at a 50 per cent strength and after taking necessary precautions.

Market complexes, except those within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, are allowed to open.

Mandatory: 50% strength of workers, wearing of masks & observing #SocialDistancing Relaxations not applicable in #Hotspots/containment zones — Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) April 24, 2020

However, the order signed by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, made it clear that shops in market places, multi-brand and single brand malls located in municipality areas shall continue to remain closed till May 3. "All shops, including neighbourhood shops and standalone shops, shops in residential complexes, within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, registered under the the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State and UT" will be allowed to open during the lockdown," read the statement issue by Home Ministry amending its April 15 orders. List of shops that will open from Saturday: 1. Shops registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State/Union Territory will be allowed to open. 2. Shops located in residential complexes and market complexes, outside the municipal corporations and municipalities, will be allowed to open. 3. Neighbourhood shops, standalone shops and those in residential complexes within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, will be allowed to open 4. Shops located in registered markets located outside the municipal corporations and municipalities can open only with 50 per cent staff after following precautionary measures such as practicing social distancing, wearing masks etc. 5. Local salons and parlours will be allowed to open from Saturday. 6. All market are allowed to open in rural and semi-rural markets. 7. Shops and standalone stores in Urban areas would be allowed to operate only if they are located in residential areas. List of shops that will remain closed: 1. All shops (multi brand or single brand) outside the limit of municipal corporations and municipalities will remain closed 2. Shops in market complexes and shopping malls within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities to remain closed. 3. Cinema halls, malls, shopping complexes, gymnasiums, sports complexes, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls will remain closed. 4. Famous shopping markets such as Sarojini Market, Nehru Place Market, Lajpat Market etc will remain closed. 5. All liquor shops (government owned/ private) will remain closed. However, the Home Ministry also made it clear that the above mentioned exemptions will not be applicable in locations identified as hotspot and containment zones across the country.