Tirupati: Officials strive to implement lockdown strictly in pilgrim city

Tirupati: Though the state government declared lockdown, many shops and malls were opened for some time. After the intervention of Municipal, Revenue and Police officials, they were forcefully closed.

Many autos and private cars were seen on roads moving towards their destinations. It was observed that several residents came on to roads to buy essential commodities.

From 10 am, the teams of officials swung into action and gave announcement through public address system that as per the Government special orders, all the shops should be kept closed till March 31.

Municipal and Revenue officials jointly inspected major shopping malls and commercial establishments. During inspection, they noticed a shopping mall at V V Mahal Road and officials imposed a penalty of Rs 30,000 to the owner.

All the shops were closed in TK Street, Chinna Bazar Street and on Gandhi Road. Even all the hotels and fast food centres and other establishments were also closed.

Municipal Commissioner PS Girisha and City MLA Bhumana Karunakar Reddy inspected the Railway Station Road and interacted with taxi owners and hotels owners and advised them to close the shops till this month.

Commissioner PS Girisha monitoring the situation and deployed special teams for implementing lockdown strictly. In the afternoon, MLA Bhumana held a meeting with Municipal officials and the shopping malls owners in the city and appealed to them not to open the shops till month end. Similarly, Tirupati Urban police took up special drive and stopped all the autos and private vehicles.

All the APSRTC buses (about 1,500) in Tirupati region confined to bus depots only. Officials have given permission to open grocery shops, vegetables, medical shops, petrol bunks and milk selling shops.