Daman cheers by lifting entry ban

Surat: Ending the thirst for the past five months, Daman administration sent ripples of cheer not only among parched tipplers but also hoteliers by throwing open its watering hole from Tuesday.
In a ‘no holds barred entry’ order, the first since the lockdown was announced, the union territory (UT) will fully open up for visitors and transport vehicles, following the order from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
In a notification, the administrator of Daman, Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli (DNH), Praful Patel stated that there will be no restrictions on inter and intra-state movement of persons and goods. Order for e-permits and e-passes for visitors and vehicles has been rescinded from Tuesday onwards, it added.
Earlier, after TOI had highlighted the plight of the restrictions-hit hospitality sector in the UT, followed by a strong representation by Daman Hotel and Restaurant Association (DHRA), the administration had started issuing e-passes for single-day visitors in the territory during Covid times.
Harish Thangal, secretary DHRA told TOI, “Daman’s hotels and restaurants business got a fresh breath of life from Tuesday. We suffered huge losses since March owing to the lockdown restrictions. With schools and colleges shut in Gujarat, we are expecting good business in the coming days.”
A senior officer in Daman administration told TOI, that while restrictions on people and transport vehicles entering the territory has been lifted, police will increase strict monitoring on violation of safety norms including social distancing and wearing of masks. Flouters will be penalized, he added.
President of DHRA Gopal Tandel said tha it has advised all its hotel and restaurant owners to strictly implement rules set by the government. “People visiting Daman will have to strictly follow norms to contain spread of coronavirus. We want to do business with utmost care for the safety of people in Daman,” he told TOI.