New Delhi: The fourth iteration of the process to ease COVID-19 induced restrictions on movement and economic activity was put in place by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Saturday.
In the guidelines for ‘phased re-opening (unlock 4)’, the Centre has allowed metro rail services in cities to be re-opened from September 7. The ministry of housing and urban affairs will issue separate guidelines on the procedure involved and the restrictions that will remain in place for metro services to restart.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that he was pleased with the move. “I am glad that metro has been permitted to start its operations from September 7 in a phased manner,” he tweeted. At 389 kilometres of operational length, Delhi is by far India’s longest and busiest metro line.
While metro services will re-start, educational institutions will remain closed for students till at least September 30. States and union territories, however, can allow 50% of the teaching and non-teaching staff to be called for online classes and other work in areas outside containment zones. The Centre has also said that students in classes 9 to 12 may visit their schools, outside containment zones, to seek guidance from teachers, if they so wish and if the states permit. These changes will come into effect on September 21.
There will be no more any restrictions on movement of persons and goods between states and districts. The Centre has said that no separate permissions or permits will be needed for this purpose.
The Centre has also permitted, with effect from September 21, congregations of various kinds – social, academic, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious and political functions – with a maximum ceiling of 100 persons per event. Measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 such as physical distancing, wearing of masks, washing of hands, will be required to be implemented.
Also read: Unlock 3: Schools to Remain Closed Till Aug 31, Independence Day Functions Allowed
Consequently, there will be a relaxation on the number of people permitted in marriages and funeral rites. Currently a maximum of 50 persons are allowed for a marriage and 20 people for a funeral. Those ceiling limits will remain in place till September 20, after which 100 people will be allowed for marriages and funerals too.
Open air theatres will be allowed to open starting September 21. But, cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks and theatres will remain closed till at least September 30.
Movement of passenger trains will remain restricted and international air travel will remain open only for certain countries and categories of visas as the ministry of civil aviation has earlier notified.
The ‘unlock 4’ guidelines will remain in place between September 1 and September 30.