What works, what doesn’t this Sunday – Times of India – Chennai Telegram

CHENNAI: When people across the country join Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for ‘janta curfew’ on Sunday, there will be a temporary halt in almost all public services, except hospitals.
No buses, metros, inter-state trains will ply. Suburban services will be limited. Large malls and large textile and jewellery showrooms will continue to be closed along with large temples. Tasmac outlets are likely to remain open.
The number of Covid-19 cases is steadily increasing across the country. Tamil Nadu reported three confirmed cases till Friday. Two patients are under treatment at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital while one person has been discharged. At least 32 people with symptoms have been admitted to various hospitals. More than 4,000 people are on home quarantine and 45 others are at the government quarantine facility near the airport.
On Friday, the state transport department announced that no government buses will be operated on Sunday from 7 am to 5 pm. However, cabs and autorickshaw will ply. Uber, for instance, has advised drivers to observe the curfew. But it will offer services to meet urgent travel needs of communities served. Ola has suspended share rides but all other options will be available. R Anbalagan of Chennai Share Auto Drivers’ Association said autos will ply only if there is a demand.
Chennai Metro Rail Ltd said it will suspend train services to encourage people to stay indoors. But from March 23 to 31, the peak hour frequency will be reduced from five minutes to seven minutes, as all trains on the mainline will be disinfected after every trip. “We require at least three to four minutes for disinfecting a train after every trip,” an official said. Trains will be disinfected at originating and terminating stations — Chennai Central and Airport. This means trains will run every seven minutes between Washemenpet and Airport via Anna Salai and from Chennai Central to St Thomas Mount via Koyambedu. Trains will be available every 14 minutes between Chennai Central and Airport via Koyambedu.
Southern Railway will not operate passenger trains and will cancel many of the express trains departing between 4am and 10pm on Sunday. Suburban train services in Chennai will be reduced to bare minimum to cater to essential travel needs. All passenger trains originating between midnight March 21 and 10pm of March 22 will not be operated. “There will be large scale cancellation of long distance express trains and intercity trains departing between 4am and 10pm on Sunday”, said a press release.
The state owned TASMAC is yet to take a call on whether wine shops would be closed for a day.