No lockdown relaxation likely in major Gujarat's cities

TNN | May 3, 2020, 06:49 IST

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GANDHINAGAR: The state government has decided to continue the strict lockdown in the four major cities of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot, as the third phase of the lockdown begins on May 4. However, a few relaxations are likely to be announced in orange and green zones.
Chief minister Vijay Rupani held an important meeting with ministers and senior officers on Saturday evening to form guidelines on how Lockdown 3.0 will be implemented in the state A senior government source said that after consultation with stakeholders, the government has decided to continue stringent lockdown measures in urban areas of all nine red zone districts of the state, especially Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot. “Urban areas of red zones will continue will the strict lockdown, while municipalities in orange and green zones will see some relaxations,” the source said.
Officials said that a number of relaxations have already been announced for areas outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities. “These relaxations for commercial and industrial activity will continue for a week or so, after which the situation will be reviewed and more relaxations may be given if the situation improves,” the source said.
After the government of India declared nine districts of Gujarat ‘red zones’, 19 ‘orange’ and five ‘green’ and allowed relaxations in orange and green zones, there was a buzz the state government may consider micro zoning of the four major cities and offer some relaxation in areas not badly hit by Covid-19. However, that seems unlikely to happen now.