The Bengal government has decided to allow shops selling essentials, mainly grocery, to operate three more hours daily, between 12 noon and 3pm, from Tuesday following appeals from across the state after the stricter restrictions were extended till June 15.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Monday that the information technology sector would be allowed to function with 10 per cent of their employee strength.

On the shops, an official said: “Outlets selling essential items were initially allowed to operate between 7am and 10am. Further relaxation has been introduced to give the shop owners reasonable time to refill their stocks and also sell them.”

Book shops will be allowed to operate between 12 noon and 3pm like garment shops and jewellery stores.

“We were receiving requests to allow retail counters and book stores to open for some time. We had earlier allowed jewellery shops and garment shops to stay open between 12 noon and 3 pm. We are allowing these establishments to operate between 12 noon and 3pm,” Mamata said during a meeting with senior officials and district magistrates in Nabanna on Monday.

Some officials said the stricter restrictions imposed by the state government on May 15 had helped the state bring down the daily positive cases.