Unlock 4: TN scraps e-pass for travel within state

The impact of nationwide Unlock4 will be visible in Tamil Nadu as well as the Palaniswami government readies itself for providing a lot of relaxations across sectors beginning September 1.

Now, people can travel across Tamil Nadu without an e-pass and public and private bus transport within districts shall resume. Places of worship, as well as malls, would be opened and there will be no more intensive Sunday lockdowns, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said.

Prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPc would continue till September 30 which means closure of educational institutions and restrictions in containment zones without any relaxations.

The suburban train service will remain suspended, but the Chennai Metro will resume from September 7. Intra-district bus services (both government and private) and Chennai Metropolitan bus services will be operated from Tuesday (September 1) by following Standard Operating Procedure. Inter-state rail service will be allowed only on select routes and no intra-state services are permitted until September 15.

The e-pass system had come in for a lot of criticism as it restricted people’s inter-district movement. Now there shall be no restriction on people travelling within the state, but an e-pass will still be needed for entry into the state from other parts of the country.

Shopping malls, showrooms and big formal stores can open with 100 per cent staff, but cinema halls remain closed. Complete lockdown on Sundays, which is still in effect, will be withdrawn across Tamil Nadu from September 1.

All places of religious worship will open for public and so will the shooting in film industry be allowed with a maximum of 75 people but with no audience. Banks and government offices will be allowed to use 100 per cent of their staff.  Parks and playgrounds will reopen, but spectators won’t be allowed. All shops will remain open till 8 pm. Hotels, resorts and recreation clubs too can open.

Chennai airport would be allowed to receive 50 flights a day instead of 25 at present.

Schools, colleges, cinema halls, swimming pools, amusement parks, beaches, zoos, museums, tourist spots would not be opened until further orders.

The IT/ITeS sectors can function with 100 per cent employees, but they have been advised to encourage work from home.

The total count of coronavirus cases in Tamil Nadu stands at 4.22 lakh.