NAGPUR: The first day of weeklong restrictions was hardly like the experience last year. However, it did indicate that the purpose could be achieved, as the city spent its first day with most shops and establishments shut.
Life did not come to a standstill, yet there was no crowding. Nor was there a curfew, where daunting cops stop people at every step.
District guardian minister Nitin Raut thanked the public for the support, and also said more restrictions will have to be imposed if cases rise further. “It is a very difficult time for businesses, but we are helpless before safety of lives,” he said in a statement.
Monday traffic was only slightly less than normal times, though vehicles drove past streets of closed shops and empty inner lanes.
The police deployment was minimal, with checkposts every 4-5 km. Commuters were stopped at random, and cops only asked for the purpose of stepping out of homes. Only those flouting distancing norms were fined. For two-wheelers, pillion riding was not allowed, and in cars people were not allowed to sit next to the driver. The police were lenient about distancing norms for people entering the city in their vehicles. By afternoon, even these cops had retreated to the shadows, only keeping a watch.
Despite this, crowding was prevented as majority of establishments and markets were shut. NMC did find defaulters, though, and a fine of Rs1 lakh was levied on 10 establishments. These included a jeweller and a haircutting saloon, apart from other businesses.
Police allowed parents to carry wards on two-wheelers for examinations, or if they needed to go out to prepare for exams, said a press release by NMC, noting that mayor Dayashankar Tiwari requested commissioner of police to allow such cases.
Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B, who also moved around to check enforcement, stopped some vehicles and asked for reasons for stepping out of homes and directed action for violations.
Businesses were also hit on Monday due to the two-day strike by PSU banks. Private banks were working, as were stock market brokers. “The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) is open as agents continued to offer services at client’s doorsteps due to the year ending. We preferred to keep our office shut,” said Bharat Parekh, an insurance advisor.
Some financial advisers dealing in mediclaim were shut as those in investment advisory business remained open. Third party administrators, which facilitate mediclaim payment, have shut offices as staffers are working from home.
The agriculture produce market and related businesses like dal mills remained open. “Arrivals were down to 10%, as the farmers are wary of coming to Nagpur, though there is no restriction on them,” said Atul Senad of adatiya (brokers) association. Metro has been running at half capacity. Chartered accountants remained opened and later in the day NMC issued an order exempting all CAs and their offices, said CA Julfesh Shah.
NMC deputy commissioner Nirbhay Jain said, “Chartered accountants can be open for accounting subject to Covid-19 guidelines.”
Wholesalers Sunil Bhatia and Vikrant Bhargava said, “We were not allowed to open shops today. We are the only channel between manufacturing company and retail kirana, grocery, daily needs and also medical shops for supply of daily use products like soap, toothpaste, grocery etc. Retail shops have stock for a week, which will be exhausted in three days due to panic buying, if we cannot resupply them or other areas of the district and even other districts of Vidarbha.”
The many exempted services have already left the cops befuddled, as most commuters show IDs of various offices. At Variety Square, cops had a tough time managing the crowd and also asking commuters their whereabouts.
Cops seemed to have withdrawn post noon under the scorching sun, with more people going around citing exemption norms.
There was minimum intervention by cops in Central and South Nagpur, with only main corridors like Central Avenue having police pickets, barricades and static vehicles. There was minimum checking at places like Chitnis Park, Badkas Chowk, Wardhaman Nagar Chowk, Ambedkar Chowk, Pardi and Kalamna market.
A senior police officer said he detained around 500 vehicles but 90% had to be released as they were plying under some or the other exempted clauses.
There was around 40% of the usual crowd at Ganeshpeth bus stop, though there were no restrictions on inter-district travel. “We helped commuters from other districts get autorickshaws, but we could not ask family members to go separately even if it meant crowding,” said a traffic constable at Ganeshpeth.
Cops also did not intervene actively in most places in North Nagpur like Kamal Chowk, Indora and Jaripatka. “Everyone had some or the other ID cards, and could not be detained or asked to go back,” said a senior cop supervising bandobast in North Nagpur.
The mayor made appeals on social media to follow the guidelines. “Lockdown is not in larger interest of the public. The situation arose as we do not follow the guidelines. We are responsible for this situation. At least now people should follow guidelines,” he said.