Pune lockdown: Citizens stay put at home on day 1 of shutdown

Akshay Badwe
10.09 PM

On the first day of the shutdown, Punekars followed the strict lockdown as maximum roads in the city were deserted

Pune: A strict shutdown in the wake of the spread of novel coronavirus began on Monday in parts of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The lockdown which will be remain imposed till July 23 has been divided into two phases.

The first phase which started from today will run to July 18 where only dairies, medical shops and hospitals are allowed to operate. The second phase will start from July 19 to July 23 where some relaxations will be given on the lockdown. Only those working in essential staff are allowed to travel during the lockdown.

On the first day of the shutdown, Punekars followed the strict lockdown as maximum roads in the city were deserted as well as traffic was not witnessed on large scale. Also, barricades were erected in the alleys along the main roads.

The police kept a close eye on the lockdown violators. The police officials were stringent as they were questioning people and checking the digital pass.

The city police also booked many people for not following lockdown norms such as not wearing a mask. It was also seen that action was being taken against those who came out of the house without any reason.

Markets, on the other hand in the city, remained closed as vegetable and fruit market are not allowed to operate till July 18.

Meanwhile, the municipal administration clarified that all the systems from 71 hospitals, ambulances, swab collection centres are operating full time.

The main roads were crowded with vehicles in the morning however, the roads in the suburbs, including Peths, were desolate. People in these areas preferred to stay at home as the municipal authorities, as well as the police, intensified the patrolling. Barricades have been set up and police have been deployed to prevent citizens from leaving their homes.

Taking benefit of empty roads amid the lockdown in Pune, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) also started demolishing the two flyovers in Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) junction on Ganeshkhind Road.

The two bridges will be wrecked in three phases to lessen the inconvenience to travellers.

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