The fear of prosecution and the impact of awareness campaigns seem to have forced the majority of Calcuttans to stay indoors on the days of complete lockdown.
The Telegraph went around the city and here’s what it saw
Gariahat: Unlike the two lockdown days last week, there was not a single morning walker, an officer posted at the Gariahat crossing said.
Howrah Bridge: A cop in civvies, whose scooter had a Calcutta police sticker pasted on it, was stopped on the bridge and asked to explain why he had stepped out. He was allowed to go only after he showed his identity card to prove his claim that he was going to join duty.
Park Street: The police did not need to deflate cycle tyres like they had done on the last lockdown day. Not a single cyclist was spotted on Park Street till around 4pm on Wednesday.
Behala: An app cab driver who took out his vehicle on Tuesday fell asleep in the car after duty and couldn’t return home before the complete lockdown started at 6am on Wednesday. When he was trying to return home in the morning, cops stopped his car near Behala Chowrasta. “He said he fell asleep in the car last night.
He was prosecuted for violation of the lockdown,” said a traffic police officer.
City Centre: Bidhannagar police said that in the morning, mostly doctors’ cars and vehicles with medical staff were seen in front of City Centre.
On the last two lockdown days, cops were seen stopping several vehicles in front of City Centre. Many of the occupants gave false excuses while trying to explain to the police why they had stepped out.
On Wednesday, the police said there were less than six vehicles in front of City Centre at 11.30am.
“Most of them belonged to doctors or others involved in health care. Two belonged to a cooked food delivery service,” an officer said.
Closed playgrounds: Unlike the last two lockdown days, no one was found playing football on the ground near Duttabad on Wednesday. Similarly, several parks in Salt Lake, including one in EE Block — where people go for morning and evening walks — were found locked.