Bengal lockdown: Your questions on the new curbs- bazaars and hats open from 7am to 10am- discourage” driving to markets to reduce the number of vehicles on the road

In a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19 infections, the state government imposed fresh restrictions till May 30

Passengers with money in their hands vie for the attention of the conductor to get tickets and board a bus headed to Midnapore from the Howrah station bus stand on Saturday, hours after the curbs were announced.: Picture by Pradip Sanyal

Debraj Mitra, Monalisa Chaudhuri   |  TT  |  Calcutta   |  16.05.21 :   From Sunday, Calcutta will head to fresh restrictions. The Telegraph tries to answer some of the vexing questions surrounding the curbs:

Will I be allowed to walk to the bazaar?

Yes. “Retail shops and supplies, bazaars and hats relating to vegetables, fruits, groceries, milk, bread, meat and eggs” will be open from 7am to 10am, said the notice issued on Saturday by the state’s chief secretary. The shopkeepers were worried about being able to wrap up by 10am. Many of them, who come from the suburbs, were doubtful about being able to reach the markets in time. But police said they would stick to the timings from Day One. “We will first try to explain the need to adhere to the deadlines. But repeat offenders would be booked under the Disaster Management Act,” said an officer.  

Can I drive to a market?

The possibility is you will be stopped, especially if you live in, say, New Alipore and claim to be heading to Lake Market. Interactions with multiple police officers suggested the cops would “discourage” driving to markets. “People should go to the market in their neighbourhood. One of the objectives of the fresh curbs is to reduce the number of vehicles on the road,” said a police officer.

Can I walk to a bank?

Yes. Banks will remain open from 10am to 2pm. But expect limited services and a depleted workforce. Many government banks have already pasted notices saying only basic services like “cash deposit/withdrawal, cheque deposit and government schemes” are being provided. 

“The suspension of transport will create enormous difficulties for many employees who have to endure long journeys to reach their workplaces,” said a representative of a bank officers’ union.

Can I drive to a bank?

Yes, but make sure you carry a pass book, cheque book or some other document that can serve as a “proof”.

Can I visit an ATM?

Yes, if you are walking into one. But if you are driving, there is every chance of a cop stopping you. “There are more than one ATM in every neighbourhood. Why would someone need to take the car out to visit an ATM,” said a police officer.

I have a marriage in the family. Can I drive to jewellery and sari shops?

Jewellery and sari shops have been allowed to remain open between 12 and 3pm because May-June is a wedding season. “There are eight wedding dates from May 21 to 30,” said the owner of a jewellery chain. But like in case of driving to a bank, you should keep a proof handy, said a police officer at Lalbazar. A wedding card can come in handy, or an e-card on the phone.

Can I order food?

“E-commerce/home delivery of all commodities shall be allowed,” according to Saturday’s notice. Online food aggregators will be operational. Many restaurants also said they had ramped up their delivery fleet since the places had been shut for diners.

Can I order groceries and other raw food?

Yes. Online aggregators will be operational. But the suspension of transport options might cripple the supply chain and distribution channels of FMCG companies because people managing them often come from the suburbs. “The same thing had happened during the restrictions last year,” said an official of an FMCG company.

Can I buy liquor?

An excise official said all “retails counters” selling alcohol would remain shut from Sunday to May 30. There was no clarity on online orders and home delivery of booze. The Spencer’s liquor delivery platform accepted orders around 9.30pm on Saturday, slotting a Monday delivery. An official of Spencer’s said on Saturday night that he was “still awaiting clarity” on whether fresh online orders would be accepted from Sunday.

I work in a restaurant or a bank or any other sector that will remain operational. Do I need any document to go to work?

Calcutta police on Saturday launched an “e-pass facility for movement of essential service providers and online delivery services”. The police have demonstrated the process to download the pass on their social media handles.

Will confectioneries be open?

Sweetmeat shops will be open from 10am to 5pm, the notice says. Many confectioners who make savouries along with cakes hoped they would also be allowed to operate in that window.

Can I step out at night?

The government has imposed a night curfew from 9pm to 5am. Don’t step out unless there is a medical emergency. Multiple police teams will be deployed through the night across the city to keep a check on violators, said a senior officer at Lalbazar. 

“Any car out after 9pm would be stopped. If found guilty, the occupants will be prosecuted under the Disaster Management Act,” he said. Even if you take your car out for a spin in the night and manage to escape being spotted by the cops, there is every chance a CCTV camera will spot the car. You will get an e-challan the next day.