Chennaiites lock themselves indoors day after creating chaos to stock up

Chennaiites lock themselves indoors day after creating chaos to stock up

Only Govt Staff, Those Exempted Are Allowed

TIMES-NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25.05.2021 

Residents seemed to have finally learned to stay indoors. Most arterial roads in the city and its surrounding areas wore a deserted look for a major part of Monday, in contrast to the chaos on Sunday as people crowded shops to stock up for a week.

Vehicular traffic was witnessed on some roads up to 10am with government staff and those working in other fields exempted from the complete lockdown going to work.

As the day progressed, vehicle movement fell and Anna Salai, Poonamalee High Road, GST Road, GNT Road, Kamarajar Salai, Koyambedu flyover were empty.

On Sunday, Covid-19 response teams of the government were seen in all neighbourhoods warning public that even walkers would be fined. So, on Monday, most residents were holed up in their homes as no shops barring pharmacies and restaurants were kept open in the city. Banks worked with one third of employees.

“There were minor incidents in some neighbourhoods where public moved about casually on interior streets in Royapettah, Mannady, Velachery, to name a few. Our personnel told them politely to stay inside their homes and they obliged,” a police official said.

Apart from law enforcement, civic body teams, food delivery agents and sanitary workers, only a few vehicles were seen on Chennai city roads. Police set up check points along arterial roads like the Anna Salai, Kamarajar Salai to verify if motorists had valid credentials. “The e-registration mechanism should be even more stringent as every other motorist we detained seemed to have availed one. Except for really essential requirements, public should not be allowed epass,” a police official said.

Police warned that those travelling without e-registration or without valid reasons would be fined and their vehicles would be seized. To cater to the needs of public, the civic body has also arranged for mobile vegetable carts. E-commerce firms such as Big Basket, Sunny Bee, Reliance, and Pazhamudir could deliver from 8am to 6pm, the Chennai Corporation said.

STREETS LIE SILENT: A view of Poonamalee High Road near Anna Arch and GST Road near Chromepet on Monday