All shops, including four canteens, on the campus of IIEST Shibpur will be allowed to reopen in phases from November 1 as the institute is preparing to recall PhD and postgraduate students after October 15.

An order signed by IIEST registrar Biman Banerjee says the owner of the canteens will be responsible for enforcement of the Covid-19 protocol on the premises once they reopen.

The departments have been asked to sanitise their laboratories and equipment, including computers and printers repeatedly before the students arrive.

The Centre in its Unlock-V directive has said higher education institutions can reopen from October 15 for research scholars and postgraduate students in technology and science streams requiring laboratory/experimental work.

“We have to ensure that the students get to eat something as they arrive on the campus.

Therefore the shops and the canteens have been asked to reopen from November 1,” said an official of the institute.

“The research scholars and postgraduate students will stay in the hostels meant for them and also in the hostels vacated by graduating students. We want to lodge them in a scattered manner to avoid gatherings”.