Chaos in Chennai after police revise guidelines, make e-pass mandatory for travel – India Today

Many were stuck for hours on Chennai roads on Tuesday due to confusion over new regulations announced by Chennai police on May 17 in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

In its guidelines on late Monday night, Chennai police stated that free public movement will only be allowed from 6 am to 10 am, while making e-registration mandatory for travelling from Tuesday. The police divided Chennai into 318 sectors and to travel from one sector to another, e-passes were made mandatory.

So far, this pass is being given to those with a medical emergency and to attend a funeral.

However, there was chaos on Chennai roads, including Anna Salai, on Tuesday after ‘continuous processing unit’ workers claimed that they were not allowed to go to work during the lockdown with police not accepting their ID cards.

Also See: TN Health Minister warns against steam inhalation as Covid cure without doctor’s advice

The government earlier exempted certain categories of industries, having a continuous process to manufacture goods, from the complete lockdown. Meanwhile, officials said they are yet to take a decision on the issue to avoid further confusion.

What are the new rules?

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced last week that effective May 17, e-registration shall be compulsory for inter and intra-district travel and registration will also be mandatory for those arriving from abroad and other states.

Citing data on virus spread, with over 30,000 fresh cases every day and active cases getting close to the two-lakh mark, CM Stalin had said the new restrictions (from 4 am on Saturday till 4 am on May 24) would be implemented due to ”unavoidable reasons.”

Outlets selling vegetables, fish and meat, and provision stores would be allowed to be open only till 10 am as against the current practice of noon, he said, and added no other shops shall be permitted to function.

Online ordering and delivery -e-commerce firms- services can operate between (6 am to 10 am and between 2 pm and 6 pm) to deliver essential commodities including groceries, fish and meat.

The CM appealed to people buy essential items like vegetables only in their neighbourhood and not venture to faraway places. Those who attempt shall be stopped by the authorities, he had said.

Also Read | India’s Covid cases fall significantly but daily deaths reach highest-mark at 4,329

Also Read | The lockdown blues: How the second wave has affected the Indian economy