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Lockdown 3.0 begins with long queues outside liquor shops in Pune
While both the cities are under the red zone, the government notification said standalone liquor shops and those selling non-essential items would be allowed.
PUNE: Large crowds gathered outside liquor shops across the city on Monday morning, a day after the Maharashtra government allowed the functioning of standalone liquor shops in coronavirus disease (Covid-19)-affected Mumbai and Pune on Sunday.
While both the cities are under the red zone, the government notification said standalone liquor shops and those selling non-essential items would be allowed.
Long queues outside liquor shops were seen in areas such as Deccan Gymkhana, Aundh, Bhandarkar road, Wanawdi, Salunke Vihar, NIBM road and Nigdi with residents thronging the shops to buy alcohol. Liquor shops have been shut since the lockdown began more than a month ago in the last week of March.
Excise superintendent Santosh Zagade said the government had permitted shops to open. “Even on normal days and Sundays, the liquor shops are crowded. It was natural that there were long queues outside liquor shops as they had opened after a very long time ,” he said.
Long queues were seen at two of the four wine shops in Aundh near Bremen chowk and Parihar chowk. The police were called in just after the shutters opened and within half an hour one shop closed it shutters while the other was managing the crowds. At one of the shops, the owner had put up a bamboo barrier for queuing up buyers, and had put four bouncers on duty to maintain social distancing.
“I set up the barriers in the morning to maintain social distancing. Everyone has been patient and co-operative and there has been no fuss or pushing to get in front. People are buying enough to last for two to three days,” said Raju Bagiya, the shop owner at Aundh.
At Deccan Gymkhana, a wine shop had to close shutters when the crowds became unmanageable. Mahendra Ghule, the shop owner said, “We had to shut down as the crowds did not observe social distancing.”
Amol Ghule, who has a shop at Bavdhan decided to shut his shop 4 pm, when he saw the crowd growing big. “We got the orders at 2 pm to open our shop, but by the time we could reach the shop, there was already a big queue. We had to take a decision to shut down to avoid any problems,” he said.
In Salunke Vihar, around 300 persons, including women, were seen outside a prominent liquor shop since early morning .However at around 10.30 am, they were dispersed by a group of stick-wielding volunteers who said that social distancing had been completely ignored by the throng of eager shoppers.
Madhumita Khanna, who had queued since morning said police presence should have been ensured at the liquor shops to ensure that social distancing was maintained.
Wine shops at Nigdi chowk opened in the afternoon at around 3 pm and there too, people were waiting in long queues. “It does not matter how long I have to wait as I am getting to buy drinks after a long time. The government has taken a good decision as people will at least sit at home now,” said Yogesh Bhagat, a resident of Nigdi.
There was not much of rush at liquor shops in the Katraj area. Liquor shops and other shops were also closed on Aundh-Khadki road although medical shops were open.
(with inputs from Prachi Bari and Jigar Hindocha)
