Several cities across the country saw the lockdown restrictions being eased. Folk artists perform at Jaipur’s iconic Jantar Mantar

everal cities across the country saw the lockdown restrictions being eased with even traffic snarls returning back on roads on day 1 of the government’s Unlock 1 as the nationwide tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases crossed 1.9 lakh.

STREETS COME ALIVE AGAIN IN TAMIL NADU

After a hiatus of 68 days, government-run buses resumed operations in a limited manner in Tamil Nadu on Monday except in Chennai and three nearby districts while autorickshaws, which were already plying in other parts of the state, hit the roads in Chennai.

Also, intra-state passenger train services were back on track in Tamil Nadu

connecting key places for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdown was announced on March 24 and the resumption of public transport, albeit, curtailed, brought cheers to the general public.

NO TAKERS FOR RAJASTHAN MONUMENTS

After over two months of closure due to the coronavirus lockdown, monuments and tourists places in Rajasthan reopened on Monday with cultural events and performances by folk artists, but there was no footfall.

Domestic tourists mostly visit these places during the summer season and they can be expected in the next few days.

Barring the high-risk areas where the authorities have clamped a curfew to check the coronavirus spread, shops reopened in the Jaipur’s walled city after over a gap of two months on Monday.

However, the response from people remained lukewarm as a majority of shops in the main markets of the walled city reopened.

LUCKNOW BOUNCES BACK TO LIFE

In Lucknow, Alambagh, Nahariya Chauraha, VIP Road and Rae Bareli road tri-section, which had virtually turned into zones of silence following the imposition of lockdown, witnessed a flurry of activities and clamorous honking of vehicles.

After relaxing curbs on movement, traffic congestion also witnessed at some places in Lucknow as the government allowed two people (rider and pillion) on two-wheelers and private cabs to ply as well.

Markets opened in the city on the basis of the left-right formula as directed by the district administration.

In Allahabad, shops in Civil Lines opened, and the Hanuman Mandir Chauraha, which wore a deserted look since Holi, witnessed the movement of people and vehicles.

Shops in Banda also opened on Monday and UPSRTC buses to other districts of the state also started plying.

ODISHA ANNOUNCES WEEKEND SHUTDOWN

Amid a spike in Covid-19 cases and reports suggesting that outbreak might peak in June, Odisha on Monday announced weekend shutdown for the month in 11 districts of the state, anticipating that people might venture out in large numbers as the Centre has eased lockdown curbs.

The state government has also prohibited all sorts of public congregations across the state till month-end, Chief Secretary A K Tripathy said.

“Educational institutions, including schools, colleges, coaching centres, will remain closed till the end of July, while places of worship will be shut for devotees up to June 30. Similarly, shopping malls, cinema halls, swimming pools and gyms will also remain closed till June-end, he said.

Hotels, however, will be allowed to reopen with just 30 per cent occupancy, but their restaurants will be operating only for in-house requirements, the chief secretary said.

The two-day shutdown would be implemented in Bolangir, Nayagarh and nine coastal districts, including Khurda, Cuttack, Puri, Kendrapara and Balasore, in view of “high-case load” in these places, he said.

CENTRE GIVES BOOST TO MSMES, FARMERS, STREET VENDORS

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and farm sectors received major boosts on Monday as the Union Cabinet approved relief packages announced earlier by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman along with a few new reliefs.

The Cabinet approved a package worth Rs 20,000 crores which will benefit 2 lakh MSME units, Union minister Prakasha Javadekar said. The government also approved a Rs 50,000 crore package for the street vendors. Under this package, street vendors, including hawkers, cobblers and salons, can get a loan of Rs 10,000. The Union minister said that at least 50 lakh vendors will benefit from this scheme.