Curbs will continue till CM makes an announcement

21-member expert committee expected to submit report today

20/04/2020, DENNIS S. JESUDASAN ,CHENNAI

Pin-drop silence: Chennai’s Anna Salai wearing a deserted look on Sunday. M. Karunakaran

All the restrictions being imposed during the COVID-19 lockdown will continue “until an official announcement” (on the relaxation of norms) is made by the Chief Minister, based on the recommendations of the 21-member expert committee, the Tamil Nadu government said on Sunday.

The panel is expected to submit its report to the CM on Monday. “The CM will examine the recommendations and take a decision accordingly,” an official press release said. It also cited the guidelines issued by the Centre on April 15, which had stated that the State governments were to announce which industries, commercial establishments and services would be allowed to function, with conditions, after April 20.

A source in the Directorate of Information and Public Relations said, “There have been reports that some private firms have instructed their employees to report for duty on April 20, since the Centre’s guidelines had recommended a relaxation of lockdown measures after April 20.”

Meanwhile, the Southern Railway has indefinitely postponed the reopening of administrative offices and workshops across the State.

In a circular issued on Sunday, it said a decision on reopening the premises across its four divisions in the State would be taken based on the directives of the State government.

Parcel services

However, the Railway authorities have allowed the remaining two divisions, including Palghat and Thiruvananthapuram, to reopen the offices located in Kerala.

The Southern Railway has launched an exclusive website and a mobile app for booking parcel services during the lockdown.

A senior railway official said the website will provide information on the routes for parcel services from the Chennai Central and Egmore stations, besides the contact numbers of the officials concerned for booking the service.