SHILLONG: Embracing the new normal, Shillong is stumbling back to life with vehicles hitting the streets, shops returning to business, and a general awareness amongst the citizens about the fact that the fight against COVID-19 is to be fought at individual levels with adherence to protocols.
After a long-stretched lockdown of more than two months, the city is finally moving towards normalcy as large number of shops opened in the city on Wednesday amidst hoards of vehicles which hit the roads.
Taking cue from Centre’s ‘Unlock 1.0’, the state government, earlier this week, announced a series of relaxation which included 50 per cent private and public vehicles plying, opening of all shops barring saloons, malls, etc. The city had a renewed look as people finally started coming out to buy things other than the essential commodities.
Areas of the city like Police Bazar and Laitumkhrah saw good movement of people as well as vehicles.
Nonetheless, crowds were very less in areas like Motphran, Jeep Stand and nearby areas and even many of the shops were closed.
Some of the citizens, who were out buying non-essentials in Police Bazar, said after relaxations it depends on the people to keep themselves safe while they are in the market.
A woman, who was also in Police Bazar, said that opening of some shops in the city will not entirely solve their (citizens) problems and that more shops will have to be functional.
Prohibitions withdrawn
The Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills has ordered withdrawal prohibitions on inter-district movement, opening of shops selling non-essential items and tent houses, and operation of public and private transport in Shillong Urban Agglomeration including areas falling under Umshyrpi Bridge till 7th Mile, Upper Shillong, besides areas under Mawlai and Mawpat C&RD blocks.
Vehicles in Shillong Urban Agglomeration and its adjoining areas will move as per arrangements made, the DC said.
Shops marked
Meanwhile, in areas like Lumdiengri and Motphran, police personnel were seen marking the shops with numbers.
When contacted, the Deputy Commissioner, Matsiewdor War Nongbri, said that marking of shops are being done in Police Bazar and Motphran as these areas remain relatively more congested during normal days.
“This is an effort to gradually open the city. We are marking shops to indicate which numbers will open on which particular days of the week,” the DC said.
She said that starting next week, 50 per cent of the shops in the city will open and each shop will get to open for three days a week.
The DC has laid down a directive for shopkeepers in Police Bazar, GS Road, Keating Road, Jail Road, Cantonment area and Motphran.
Shops, which have been marked with serial numbers from 1 to 4, will open on indicated dates till June 20, as per the DC’s order.
On June 4, shops with serial number 2 will open. Serial numbers 3 and 4 will open on June 5 and 6, respectively.
Shops with serial numbers 1 and 3 will open on June 8, 10, 12, 16, 18 and 20, numbers 2 and 4 will open on June 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19.
The arrangement, however, is not applicable to shopping complexes, malls, barber shops, beauty parlours, salons, cyber cafe, gaming parlours, jackpot parlours, teer and lottery counter, which will remain closed till further orders.
Pharmacies and clinics, petrol pumps, eateries (for takeaways), automobile showrooms, wine stores, and mobile and vehicle repairing shops will remain open daily, the DC said.
