Lockdown 4.0: West Bengal announces slew of relaxations till May 31

Extending the ongoing lockdown till May 31 in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday (May 18) announced a slew of relaxations and said her government will not impose night curfew in the state as proposed by the Centre.

Banerjee said hawkers, salon and parlour owners will be allowed to reopen the shops from May 27.

She said that apart from 105 trains, which the state has already rquisitioned, her government will request the railways for 120 more Shramik Special trains in the next few days to bring back migrant labourers.

Related news: West Bengal govt to bear train fare of migrants returning home: Mamata

“We won’t officially declare night curfew because people are already under a lot of stress. We don’t want to increase their sufferings. But we will request people not to venture out of their homes between 7 pm and 7 am, or else police would take action,” she said.

Containment zones will be divided into three zones — affected zones, buffer zone, and clean zone, she said.

The lockdown in West Bengal will continue till May 31. But there would be few more relaxations. Hawkers markets would be allowed to reopen from May 27. The inter-district bus service will also start, she said.