Traders in Mechua, Calcutta’s wholesale fruit market, said they have been asked to collect consignments coming from other states at the Kona truck terminal in Howrah as inter-state trucks will not be allowed to enter Mechua.

Trucks coming from other parts of Bengal would be allowed, said the traders, who met senior police officers and civil administration officials at Kona on Monday.

“Senior police officers and a senior official of the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) wanted the shift immediately, but we pointed out there was no basic infrastructure in place. They promised to make arrangements by the end of the week,” said Mohammad Iftakhar Alam, secretary of Calcutta Fruit Merchants’ Association.

Firhad Hakim, the chairman of the board of administrators of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation (CMC), also said on Monday that the police have been asked to look into why Raja Katra in Burrabazar was open despite it falling in a containment zone. The market could be shut down from Tuesday.

Hakim met CMC officials and ward coordinators (former councillors) at Girish Park on Monday. Several councillors complained that physical distancing was not being observed in markets.

Elora Saha, the former councillor of Ward 24 where multiple Covid-19 cases have been reported, said a milk market on Rabindra Sarani, near the Ganesh Talkies crossing, and Nutanbazar near Rabindra Kanan were concerns in her area.

Hakim met senior CMC officials and police officers at the civic headquarters. “Raja Katra is still open though it is in a containment zone. I have asked the police to look into the matter. Also, I have asked police to see if the milk market can be shifted ” he said.