Bengal govt extends existing restrictions till July 15

State green-lights all modes of road transport at 50% passenger capacity, widens working hours of shops and other establishments from July 1

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses at a press conference: PTI

Pranesh Sarkar   |   TT  |  Calcutta   |  29.06.21: The Bengal government on Monday extended the existing stricter restrictions till July 15 but green-lighted all modes of road transport at 50 per cent passenger capacity and widened the working hours of shops and other establishments from July 1.

Suburban local trains and Metro rail services, however, will remain suspended for now.

“The stricter restrictions are being extended till July 15. We will also allow some more activities and see whether Covid-19 cases are rising,” chief minister Mamata Banerjee said at Nabanna on Monday after holding a review meeting.

An official said later: “The idea is that we should know whether we can go forward towards restoring near-normality by allowing some more relaxations. We can move forward only when we are sure that the relaxations will not result in another spike in infections.… We can check this by allowing relaxations in a phased manner.”

The official added: “The experience has not been bad, with positive cases in the state declining continuously despite the relaxations given 15 days ago.”

Some of the key relaxations announced on Monday:

⚫ All modes of road transport including state-run and private buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws can operate at 50 per cent passenger capacity.

⚫ Salons and beauty parlours can function between 11am and 6pm at 50 per cent capacity.

⚫ Shops dealing with vegetables, fish, meat, milk and eggs can remain open between 6am and 12 noon.

⚫ All other shops can stay open between 11am and 8pm.

⚫ Private companies and offices can operate with 50 per cent employees.

⚫ Gyms can stay open from 6am to 10am, and from 4pm to 8pm.

The chief minister said that all these facilities would be allowed, subject to vaccination of the employees and compliance with other protocols.

“We came to know that some people are still not wearing masks. We have to ensure that the third phase of the pandemic does not create trouble in the state,” Mamata said.