Mumbai petrol pumps to operate for only 12 hours till March 31 over Coronavirus outbreak

In wake of dreaded Coronavirus Pandemic, Petrol Dealers Association (PDA) in Mumbai has decided to operate Mumbai's petrol pumps from 7 am to 7 pm starting from Monday, March 23 to March 31 adding that situation will be reviewed and revised at end of month.

PDA's former president Ravi Shinde has asserted that curtailed working hours of petrol pumps is an attempt to reduce risk of exposure to pump attendants and yet keep essential service open to public albeit in limited hours. He added that salaries of pump attendants will t be deducted in wake of testing times. 

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While Mumbai petrol pumps will be working for 12 hours, Pune Petrol Dealers Association has decided to operate petrol pumps in city from 8 am to 4 pm from March 22 to March 31. Mumbai's PDA has added that petrol pumps in Mumbai will have skeleton staff on March 22, Sunday to support prime minister's clarion call of Janata Curfew to contain spread of virus.

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Janata Curfew on March 22

In a bid to contain spread of deadly virus in country, PM Modi has called for a Janata Curfew on March 22. While addressing nation on March 19  prime minister appealed to all citizens to go under self-quarantine and t to step out of ir homes on Sunday from 7 am to 9 pm on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked extensively about challenges caused due to COVID-19 pandemic. He stressed that “resolve” and “restraint” were two most important things to be followed.

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PM Modi also appealed to every to pay tribute to all essential officials like doctors, government officials, journalists, etc who were working. A day after his address to nation, PM Modi also chaired a video conferencing with chief ministers of various states to fight pandemic.  total number of Coronavirus cases in India has risen to 298 in country with four deaths, while 22 cases have fully recovered and discharged.

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