Why you must not queue up at govt offices yet as Delhi starts to unlock

NEW DELHI: After 48 days of lockdown, markets and offices in the city will open once again on Monday with restrictions in place and the capital’s lifeline — Delhi Metro — will again be available to the public with 50% seating capacity. While all government offices will open with limited manpower, public dealing will be kept to a minimum and online services encouraged.
Though the number of Covid-19 cases and fatalities and the positivity rate have dipped significantly from the peaks witnessed during the last week of April and the first week of May, Delhi government is not taking any chances and is going for a gradual unlocking.

According to sources, around 250 enforcement teams will be deployed by district authorities to keep a hawk eye on markets and other public places, apart from stringent measures near liquor shops, which the authorities feel may see overcrowding. “Our enforcement officials would ensure that Covid-appropriate behaviour is strictly followed, especially at public places where there is a chance of crowding,” a district official said.
All shops at malls and markets, including liquor shops in Delhi, will open on the odd-even basis from Monday between 10am and 8pm. Private offices have been permitted to function with a maximum of 50% staff. All essential shops can continue to remain open on all days and neighbourhood shops have been permitted to do business on all days.
Gyms, restaurants, cinema halls, saloons, spas and bars, educational institutions, weekly markets and parks, and gardens will not open and the bar on weddings in public places will continue while takeaways from restaurants will be available. Shops selling essential goods, including educational books and stationery items, fan shops in malls, markets and market complexes, are permitted to open on all days without restriction of timings.
A government official said that at the moment, no public dealing work at offices such as regional transport offices would be allowed. Sources said registration of properties might be allowed soon at sub-registrars’ offices. “Many services of the government are available online and people are encouraged to use these services,” an official said.
Sources in Delhi Development Authority said public dealing at its offices would take some time to start and even then appointments would have to be taken online. The three municipal corporations have issued orders for operations of zonal offices with 50% staff strength. The mayors said most of the municipal services were available online and citizens could reach out to the zonal offices in case of any problem.
North corporation mayor Jai Prakash said a mass disinfection drive was being carried out. East corporation mayor Nirmal Jain said most of the key services like sanitisation, healthcare through dispensaries, certification etc were also being provided during the lockdown but anyone facing any problem in accessing the online portals could visit offices. “People can also call the mayor’s helpline,” he added.
In case of Delhi Jal Board, orders have already been issued to open the cash counters and meter readers have also been asked to start field visits from Monday for billing on actual reading basis. A senior official said that as Delhi government had unlocked the activities with restrictions, field visits would start from Monday for billing.
“Zonal revenue officers, who have been made nodal offices to ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour, have informed all meter readers to start the work,” an official explained. “Roster of staff is being prepared for indoor duties and no more than 50% outdoor staff will be called to the office on one day, but their work will be monitored on all days. Cash counters will open on all working days and people can reach out to zonal offices,” the official said.