Bhubaneswar: Subroto Bagchi, Chief Spokesperson of Govt. of Odisha on COVID-19 briefed the Press about steps taken by Government of India and Government of Odisha in light of prevention of COVID-19.
Chief Minister Sri Naveen Patnaik has expressed his gratitude to the people of Odisha for giving wholehearted support to ‘Janata Curfew’ and has appealed for similar cooperation from the people of Odisha for the ‘Lock Down’.
- He informed that Railway Board has declared closure of all Passenger Trains with immediate effect and up to midnight of 31st March. The trains enroute shall be allowed to reach their destination.
- He further informed that all interstate bus operation to and from Odisha will remain suspended till further orders. Inter-state buses coming from other states will not be allowed to reach their destination in Odisha after 11AM on 23/03/2020. Similarly no inter-state bus will be allowed to operate to other state from Odisha after 11AM on 23/03/2020.
- Government of Odisha has constituted a State level Monitoring Unit on Goods & Services. The Committee shall assess requirements and monitor flow of goods and take actions to remove bottlenecks if any. It shall also create a platform to facilitate traders and transporters to air their issues and resolve the same.
- There shall be no restriction on movement of Permitted Goods including coal and other minerals to ensure smooth supply chain. All Permitted Goods vehicle shall be allowed to move unhindered.
- Wholesale markets shall function 24X7 on rotation basis with timeØ slotting for different wholesalers to operate to avoid over-crowding in the market.
- Field functionaries of Food Supply & Consumer Welfare department, Police and Transport department have been instructed to ensure smooth movement of vehicles carrying permitted goods as per the Lockdown order no. 8709 dated 21.03.2020 of Health & Family Welfare Department.
- SANJOG Help-line Toll Free number (155335) shall be utilised for registering and addressing all grievances by traders / Shopkeepers / Wholesalers who face any problem relating to smooth supply / movement of Permitted Goods traffic. This shall function from morning to night in two shifts
