Pune: From Today Restaurants, Shops To Close At 8 pm, PMC Releases Guidelines For Night Curfew

Sumit Singh

Pune, 28 March 2021: In order to control the rising cases of Coronavirus disease (COVID19) cases in Maharashtra, the state government has declared a night curfew from 8 pm to 7 am across the state till April 15. Accordingly, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has released a fresh list of guidelines.

As per the order issued by PMC, it will be mandatory to follow all the instructions issued by the Pune Municipal Corporation:

• More than 5 people are prohibited from gathering in the Pune Municipal Corporation area from 8 pm to 7 am from March 27. Violation of this order will result in penal action of Rs 1000 per person.

• All public places will be closed from 8 pm to 7 am. Each person will be fined Rs 1000 for violating the order.

• Except for essential commodities shops like a medical store, milk shops etc, all other shops, hotel, restaurant, bar, food court, cinema (single screen, multiplex), theatre/auditorium, etc. will be closed from 8 pm to 7 am. However, food parcel service/home delivery service will continue through the hotel. In case of violation of rules, the concerned establishments will be closed till the day the Central Government declares that the Covid-19 disaster is over. Also, action will be taken against the owners of the establishments under the Disaster Management Act.

• All kinds of social, political, religious, cultural, programs, meetings and conventions will be completely banned in the Pune Municipal Corporation area. All events such as Bhumi Pujan, inauguration ceremonies and similar large gatherings will be completely banned. It will also be prohibited to hold the event at the theatre/auditorium. In case of violation of rules, the concerned establishments will be closed till the day the Central Government declares that the Covid-19 disaster is over. Also, action will be taken against the owners of the establishments under the Disaster Management Act.

• Wedding ceremonies will be allowed in the presence of a maximum of 50 people. In case of violation of these rules, the concerned establishments will be closed till the day when the Central Government does not declare the Covid-19 disaster completely over. Also, action will be taken against the owners of the establishments under the Disaster Management Act.

• Funerals, Dashakriya and related programs will be allowed in the presence of a maximum of 20 people.

• All the parks in the Pune Municipal Corporation area will be open from 7 am to 10 am.

Home isolation guidelines: 

• It is mandatory for the citizens to provide complete information about the Home Isolation to Assistant Commissioner, Incident Commander. It is also necessary to inform the concerned field office about the medical treatment to be taken on the spot.

• Incident Commander has to put a sticker/panel on the door or front facade of the patient’s house for 14 days of home isolation.

• Incident Commander has to ensure that the hands of COVID positive are stamped.

• Family members of Covid positive patients should not go out of the house. If necessary, wear a mask and then only go out of the house.

• If there is a violation of the home isolation rule by the COVID positive patients, the incident commander should immediately refer the patient to Covid Care Center.

Private Companies: All private offices in the Pune Municipal Corporation area (excluding health and essential services) can be allowed to operate with 50% manpower.

Government Offices: In the case of government/semi-government offices, their office heads should decide on the presence of officers/staff in the office. However, they should follow the guidelines regarding Covid-19.

Manufacturing Companies: Production areas can be maintained at full capacity. However, they should plan the attendance of the employees as per the social distance in the workplace. Strict regulations on the use of masks by workers and maintenance of social distance by the concerned establishments.

Work should be planned in different shifts (morning, noon, night shift) for compliance.

The above establishments will be bound to follow the following guidelines/conditions:

• Citizens/employees should not be allowed to enter without a mask.
• At the entrance, they should be checked by a thermometer, thermal gun/scanner, oximeter.
• Only those without any symptoms should be allowed entry. Those who have symptoms like fever, cold, cough.
• Hand Sanitizer for citizens/employees should be made available by concerned establishment operators.
• Relevant establishments should appoint adequate staff to ensure that citizens/employees wear a mask and observe the social distance.
• In case of violation of these rules, the establishment will be closed till the time the COVID pandemic is over. Also, the owners of the establishments will be prosecuted under the Disaster Management Act.

In order to avoid congestion in government offices, citizens (excluding elected members, office bearers) are being prohibited from coming to all government offices except for urgent work. However, the concerned department/office head should arrange for the admission of the citizens based on invitation only.

Religious Place: The management/trust should decide the number of citizens who can be admitted to all the religious places by observing the social distance as well as the availability of space. And online passes should be arranged if necessary.

Public Transport System (PMPML) will start at 50% capacity. In case of violation of these rules, a fine of Rs 500 should be imposed.

The orders/guidelines issued earlier by Pune Municipal Corporation will be applicable till further orders.