Janta Curfew: A Look At What Services Remain Operational & What Are Shut

Coronavirus: The Janata curfew which started at 7 am will end at 9 pm. All markets and establishments except those dealing in essential goods and services will be closed for the day.

(Photo by Sumit Saraswat/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

New Delhi: As an unprecedented nationwide ‘Janta curfew’ came into force on Sunday for 14 hours in a bid to contain the chain of coronavirus spread, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special appeal to the people, streets and markets across the country lie deserted and people are largely keeping themselves indoors. The Janata curfew which started at 7 am will end at 9 pm. All markets and establishments except those dealing in essential goods and services will be closed for the day. Here is a look at what services shall remain shut: • No passenger train will originate from any railway station in the country from midnight to 10 pm on Sunday while all suburban train services will be reduced to a bare minimum as well. • Metro services, including in Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai, will remain suspended for the day. • Markets will be shut except for grocery stores and pharmacy shops. • In the national capital Delhi, 50 per cent of Delhi Transport Corporation buses will not function. Auto rickshaws and taxis will not run except for some Ola and Uber services. Autos and taxis will, however, be off roads in the national capital as several unions including the Delhi Autorickshaw Sangh, Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union, Delhi Auto Taxi Transport Congress Union and Delhi Taxi Tourist Transport Association, have decided to join the 'Janata curfew'. • Air carriers like GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara have announced that they will be curtailing domestic operations on Sunday. • Traders' body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has announced that they will keep their establishments shut across the country for the 'Janata curfew'. Also watch | Coronavirus: Mumbai local closed for general public till March 31 • From suspending regular prayers involving large gatherings in shrines of various faiths, including Sunday mass, to disallowing jail inmates from meeting their families on the day, organisations and institutions in every sphere have announced restrictions. • Schools, colleges, gyms, nightclubs, restaurants, cinema halls, swimming pools and malls are already shut in many cities. These will be shut across the nation on Sunday.

What’s operational

• With limited staff and services, fuel stations will run. • Emergency medical services including hospitals, dispensaries, mohalla clinics (in Delhi), and pharmacies will be open. • Grocery stores and ration shops will remain functional. • Garbage picking and sanitation work will also remain uninterrupted. Also Watch | Janta Curfew underway as Coronavirus cases reach 315 • Fire, police and traffic services will be operational. Services and operations related to water supply and electricity will be available. Gas cylinder services, food delivery services will be in operation. • Barring public representatives, government servants and medical professionals, all senior citizens have been directed to remain indoors and avoid gatherings, except for medical reasons and for essential services.