NewsGate Press Network

At 10 AM on Tuesday, 14 April 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation setting the ball into motion for Lockdown 2.0.

There are strong indications suggesting ‘traffic lights’ like life in India from 15 April 2020 onwards when the country may move into a crucial phase of resuming activity during the next edition of lockdown.

As per news coming out of the Raisina Hill, activity across the nation will be compartmentalised as per three coloured zones, just like the composition of a traffic signal, i.e., Red, Orange and Green Zones.

These zones will be categorised by the number of Covid19 cases reported.

Red Zone will probably have a curfew like enforcement till 30 April 2020.

In the other two safe zones, the Government of India might allow limited number of services to function.

In the orange zones – where only a few cases were found in the past with no increase in the number of positive cases – few activities akin to opening of limited public transport, harvesting of farm products, etc., will be allowed.

Districts where no COVID-19 cases have been reported will be categorized as Green.

Officials privy to the discussions convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi held during the four-hour-long conference with various Chief Ministers last weekend stated that schools and colleges would remain shut but a few small scale industries and liquor shops may be allowed to function.
There was near unanimity among the Chief Ministers for extending the lockdown till 30 April 2020.

Many Chief Ministers had already announced their decisions to extend the lockdown in their states till the end of the month. These states include Odisha, Punjab, Delhi, Maharashtra and West Bengal, etc.

All Chief Ministers, however added that they would abide by the final decision taken by the Prime Minister when he addresses the nation on Tuesday.

It was earlier reported that the Chief Ministers were against large scale inter-state movement of people suggesting that if allowed, it would offset the gains made during the lockdown phase.

Liquor shops are likely to be allowed to open as many Chief Ministers strongly pitched for it arguing that it is a major revenue generator, adding restaurants and malls won’t be allowed to open.

However, some MSME industries falling under the Green Zone – in the districts where there is no COVID-19 case – will be allowed to function with in-house lodging facilities for employees with proper maintenance of social distancing.
Agricultural activities are also set to be allowed in Green and Orange Zones with strict maintenance of social distancing.

One news agency reports that limited domestic air and train services may be allowed in select sectors with 30 per cent or less passengers while limited metro services may also be started in cities like Delhi with 30 per cent passengers.