Following the orders issued by Nagpur Municipal Commissioner and District Collector, the hotels, restaurants, markets in Nagpur remained closed on Saturday. Nagpur streets wore almost a deserted look. The order is to be followed on Sunday too. It is a kind of mini lockdown. The first major lockdown was relaxed in the month of June, 2020 and people started enjoying freedom. People took too much liberty out of the freedom resulting in rise of number of COVID-19 cases. Confusion regarding the order in the people’s minds was visible. Some people did their usual morning walk but the number was relatively small, as most felt there was restrictions on the movements outside. The order said the kitchens of restaurants, hotels would remain open as people can buy it on-line.

 

There was no clarity about ordering food. Some people felt the order was to be booked through on-line food service providers. Some felt the facility of takeaway was available. Some small eating joints kept their establishments closed as according to them there was ambiguity whether they would be able to sell food items or not. Almost all the markets remained closed as per the order. People were seen visiting small hotels to get the food parcel, of course, sans the usual crowding at those spot. The road-side eating joints, tea-vendors were absent everywhere. Tukadoji Putala, Bidipeth, Wanjari Nagar, Medical square, Hanuman Nagar, Siraspeth, Dighori, Sakkardara square, Reshimbag square, Mahal main road, Tilak Putla, Zenda chowk, Garoba Maidan, Wardhman Nagar, Lakadganj, Satranjipura, Shanti Nagar, Gandhibag, Itwari, Khamla, Shankar Nagar, Dharampeth West High Court road, Ram Nagar, Gokulpeth, Ganeshpeth, Badkas chowk, Ayachit Mandir, Nandanvan square, Jagnade square, Telephone Exchange square, Kelibag road, Pachpaoli, Kamal Chowk, Jaripatka, Indora, Kadbi Chowk, Sadar, Residency road, Anjuman Complex, Bajaj Nagar, Abhyankar Nagar, Ajni, Sitabuldi Main road, Dhantoli, Yashwant Stadium, Motibag, Railway Station road, Jhansi Rani Square, Panchsheel Square, Variety square, Chhatrapati square, Deonagar, Pratap Nagar, Mominpura, Bajeria, Fawara chowk, Agrasen Chowk, Trimurti Nagar, Jaitala, Swawlambi Nagar, Gopal Nagar, Gandhi Nagar and other localities of Nagpur witnessed emptiness all over.

 

Guardian Minister of Nagpur Dr Nitin Raut, Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari, Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar have visited some places to take the stock of situation. No untoward incident took place and everybody responded to the orders issued by the authorities. People followed the rules scrupulously and the establishments mentioned in the order remained closed. Some people while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ expressed unhappiness over the decision taken by the authorities for this mini lockdown. Most people felt the economy is already in deep trouble, against that backdrop, bringing down the shutters on the prime days of week is not a wise decision. The medicine shops, small grocery shops, hospitals, small dispensaries, clinics and other essential services were allowed to operate.

 

There was not very strict policing. In fact police were seen behaving in a soft manner. No forcible action was taken on anybody. Mayor, Guardian Minister, Amitesh Kumar and other officials expressed satisfaction over the people’s response. Though the hotels, restaurants, markets were closed, the order has exempted liquor shops. Though there was not too much crowd at liquor shops, people in moderate number were seen visiting the shops, buying their stock for the holiday. The traffic was drastically reduced, but the public transport system including Metro, city buses was very much in operation. Meanwhile, City Police on Saturday booked 112 persons for not wearing face masks and 43 others for not maintaining social distancing at public places. Cops collected a total fine of Rs 36,000 from persons violating the COVID-19 health and safety protocol.