Weekend Shutdown In Odisha: No Pass Needed For Those In The Exempted Categories, Says CP

Bhubaneswar: Twin City Commissioner of Police (CP) Saumendra Priyadarshi on Friday reiterated that no pass would be required for persons engaged in emergency services and exempted categories during the weekend shutdown, beginning Saturday.

The restrictions will continue till 5 am on Monday.

The CP further said that 25 checkpoints would be put up in Cuttack and 43 in Bhubaneswar.

“Twelve and 20 platoons of the police force will be deployed in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar respectively. Violators will face strong action and will be slapped with a hefty penalty,” he added.

The weekend shutdown is being enforced in all urban areas of the state to break the COVID-19 infection chain by restricting the movement of people.

Also Read: Weekend Shutdown Returns To All Urban Areas In Odisha

Earlier in the day, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhury had appealed to the city denizens to follow the guidelines of the state government during the shutdown, which is practically coming into effect from 9 pm on Friday.

He added that the BMC can be contacted on helpline number 1929 to sort out any COVID-19 related issues like shifting the patients, arranging ambulance or taxis during this period. 

During the weekend shutdown, all medical establishments including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and medicine stores, will remain open and movement of ambulances and all medical personnel will be allowed.

The other exemptions are as follows:

• Movement of the district and municipal administration/police/fire services

• Central and state government officials on emergency duty

• Telecom services

• Petrol pumps

• LPG distribution, home delivery of cooking gas and associated facilities, associated personnel and vehicular movement

• Print and Electronic Media identified by Commissionerate/District Police

• Water Supply, sanitation and sewerage workers

• Electricity supply and distribution

• Movement of goods and goods carriers, whether loaded or unloaded

• Industrial establishments, factories and construction activities

• Agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry, veterinary services and allied activities, including procurement at mandis.

• Service sector including IT/ITes, Hotel and Hospitality units, including the movement of staff and associated personnel.

• Movement of rail and air traffic

• Road transport on highways, road movement of transiting vehicles

• Movement of public transport, private vehicles and taxis to and from airports, railway stations and bus terminal/stops/stands for facilitating the movement of passengers by air, rail and road.

• Marriages and funerals with permission of the local authority

• ATMs and critical financial institutions like RBI, Clearing Houses

• Operations of airports, railways stations, bus terminals and their associated movement of personnel and activities

• Home delivery of food, groceries, vegetables, and essential items, restaurants through aggregators like Zomato and Swiggy.

• Dhabas along national and state highways/major roads for takeaway only

• Milk boot. and related activities

• Food and grocery stores such as Reliance Fresh, Big Bazaar, Chilika Fresh, and others for home delivery only

• Newspaper hawkers between 5 am and 8 am only.

In a video message, Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Jena on Friday said that one-hour relaxation from 5 am to 6 am will be allowed for fitness activities like morning walk, jogging, and cycling.

Also Read: Odisha Govt Allows One-Hour Relaxation During Weekend Shutdown