Noida, May 21 (IANS): The Gautam Buddh Nagar district administration here has said that shops will be allowed to open in the district on an odd-even basis with strict social distancing norms.

However, shops in rural areas do not have to follow any odd-even formula as these will be allowed to operate daily.

Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Suhas L.Y. said, "All shopkeepers will have to strictly abide by the rules and regulations. Strict action will be taken against the lawbreakers for not adhering to the order."

The district officials also held a meeting with the trade organisations in Noida.

The District Magistrate added, "After discussion, different parameters have been set for the urban and rural areas in view of the local situation in Noida. According to the new rule, every shop outside the containment zone will be allowed to operate on its scheduled day, with a weekly holiday on Sunday."

Local markets in Dadri, Bilaspur, Jahangirpur, Jewar, Dankore, Rabupura Bhangel, Salarpur, Chijarasi, Mamura, Naya Bamboo, Kulesra Habibpur, Kasan, Shahberry, Chhapraula, Haldoni, Tigri Rampur and Echhar and all the shops in other rural areas will be operational everyday with social distancing.

Apart from the rural areas, other shops will open on odd-even basis. For this the market associations will number the shops and the shopkeepers assigned a number can open their establishments on that day. That is, shops with numbers 1,3,5,7 and 9 will be opened on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while shops with numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, 0 can be opened on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The district administration said that the shopkeepers can operate their shops from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and get their shops sanitized regularly. Besides, they will be encouraged to use the Arogya Setu App.