BMC Marks Slots, Issues SOP For Social Distancing At Markets In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has marked slots at two-metre distance from each other with chalk at markets, where people congregate to buy essential commodities, for effective social distancing to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The civic body has also issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the markets in the Odisha capital as preventive measures in these desperate hours amid nationwide lockdown.

— Marking in circle or square outside essential commodity establishments at about 2 metre distance  from each other either in a straight line or as per space availability which will be used as a queue line for the customers

— Vendors have been asked to sit at least 10 mts apart to ensure that sufficient space is available for the customers. If the existing vendors are not being accommodated in the existing space with 10 metre distance then the Zonal DCs should identify a nearby vacant place and accommodate the extra vendors in consultation with the market association.

— 50 per cent shops in a market to be opened on each day. The shops should be opened on any day in such a way that at least one shop between two opened shops must be closed.

— Shopkeepers should also maintain distancing while giving articles to the customers. The goods should be packed in the bag of the customer and kept at a reasonable distance, allowing them to pick it without coming closer to the shopkeeper. The monetary transaction should also be done in a similar manner.

— As the orders relating to regulating the markets from 6 am to 6 pm is not in force, the market associations are to be sensitized to operate them as usual.

— The market associations have been directed to clean the entire market at least two days in a week