Monday blues: Expect larger crowds

Many More Commuters Likely As Central Govt Offices Open

Srikkanth D & Sindhu Kannan TNN

Chennai:20.04.2020

Crowd control and ensuring physical distancing will remain a challenge to the authorities as more people are likely report to work on Monday, with the Centre relaxing its lockdown rules.

Employees of Central government offices will be reporting for work on Monday, meaning more traffic on the streets and crowding in addition to people who will be out to buy essentials. Postal department, airport and offices in Shastri Bhavan and Rajaji Bhavan will function. Railways has decided not to open its offices and workshops except for the staff needed to run parcel trains and to work on making masks and overalls.

From full on aggression, beating up violators to literally falling at the feet and pleading with the public, artwork on roads, coronavirus shaped helmets, police and the civic body authorities have exhausted all tricks in their arsenal to control the crowd.

The civic body shut down makeshift markets, sealed meat stalls for three months and even announced seizure of two-wheelers. Sunday still saw rush at vegetable and meat markets across the city, throwing physical distancing norms to a complete toss.

A circular in the Central government offices instructed officers or section head to call in 30% of their staff for work. In some cases, however, almost all of the non-officer level staff have been told to come. Duraipandi M of Central Government Employees Union said people would be attending office on weekly rotation. “Employees have been told to come to work if they have their own vehicles. Some departments are also looking at arranging buses for the staff,” he added.

The city police, however, said they have not made any special arrangements though more vehicles are expected to ply on the roads.

“We have not received any specific instructions regarding this till Sunday evening. Messages will be sent on Monday morning and we will follow the guidelines issued by our higherups,” said an inspector from Koyambedu.

Police will be checking identity cards of the Central government employees. For others, they would check for the passes issued by the corporation. Till date, the city corporation has issued 652 vehicle passes, with their validity extended up to May 3.

Meanwhile, a day after a SI tested positive for Covid-19, police personnel have been asked to be careful while out on the roads. They were asked to wear necessary protection gears and not get too close to the motorists while checking documents.

To boost the morale of cops, deputy commissioner, traffic (west), M M Ashok Kumar, gave a motivational speech to the traffic police personnel manning a stretch at Anna Nagar. “Keep your minds free from fear of coronavirus. Continue focusing on creating awareness among the motorists,” the deputy commissioner told his personnel.

RELAXED RULES: Employees of Central government offices will be reporting for work on Monday