BMC lets shops stay open till 9pm, when 8-hour curfew begins

MUMBAI: The BMC has lifted time restrictions on shops and markets with an amendment in the circular on phase-wise relaxation of the Covid-19 lockdown on Tuesday. However, as the curfew from 9pm to 5am remains, shops will in effect have to close by 9pm.
Till date, the BMC had allowed shops to remain open from 9am to 5pm. Malls have not been allowed to open at all.
As before, shops on each side of a road will remain open for business on alternate days. All shops must remain closed every Sunday.
Viren Shah, president of the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association, welcomed the move and said he had informed members that the ideal time to shut would be 7.30pm to 8pm so that staff going back home were not caught on the wrong side of the 9pm curfew.
“Shopkeepers have been asked to ensure that they maintain social distance from customers, wear masks at all times and make use of sanitisers,” Shah said.
The Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017, allows establishments to stay open all night, but a circular issued by the BMC on Tuesday last week prohibits the movement of individuals from 9pm to 5am except for essential activities.
Bandra corporator Asif Zakeria said the circular in H-West ward allows shops on the two sides of a road to go for an odd-even date scheme.
“It would be better if the civic ward-level circular mentions shops on which side shall remain open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and which side on the rest of the days,” he said. “When BMC says odd and even, a shop meant to operate on odd dates will remain open on June 13, which is Saturday, and can again be open on June 15, Monday, as it is also an odd date. While the shop allowed to operate on an even date will be open on June 12, Friday, and then be continuously shut from Saturday to Monday, starting business again only on June 16, Tuesday.”
In another amendment, the BMC prohibited the use of parks and garden equipment like open air gym and play area equipment like swings while pursuing health-related outdoor physical activities, which are now allowed.
Signed by municipal commissioner I S Chahal, the circular says that printing and distribution of newspapers, including home delivery, is allowed.
“It shall be with the knowledge of the receiver and for the delivery of the newspaper. Personnel shall wear mask, use hand sanitiser and maintain social distancing,” the circular said.
The circular allowed office staff of educational institutions like schools, colleges and universities to operate only for non-teaching purposes, such as development of e-content, evaluation of answer sheets and declaration of results.