For the first time in recent history, Chennai has become out of bounds for people from other districts in Tamil Nadu. Similarly, every Chennaite desiring to go out of city limits to other districts in the State should undergo tests for coronavirus, according to the guidelines formulated by Department of Health.
Though autorickshaws are plying in the city, only two passengers could travel at a time making the common man’s vehicle literally out of his rich. The auto drivers are fleecing the passengers due to a host of reasons which include restrictions in travel.Chennai and the three neighbouring districts are devoid of public transport. This has made life difficult for employees in government and corporate offices who do not have their own vehicles for commuting.
Travellers who are planning to come to Tamil Nadu have been asked to collect e-passes from the portal tnepass.tnega.org. Both air and train passengers coming to Tamil Nadu have to get e-pass from the Government portal, said the department of health.
Eateries and restaurants are the establishments which have been hit hard by the coronavirus and the resultant lockdown. Most of these restaurants had employed migrant labourers as tea makers, cooks and suppliers. Since they have gone back to their villages in Assam, Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the proprietors are struggling to get workers.
“The local people would not agree to work on the salary which we pay to the migrant labourers and hence it is not viable to open the shops,” said the owner of a popular eatery. Most of the tea and coffee shops in Chennai were owned and operated by Keralites.
With the advent of coronavirus, they returned to their native places in Kerala, which has dampened the spirit of the population in the Metro, because the Malayali coffee and tea were an essential ingredient in the lives of Chennaites.