The Mamata Banerjee administration has decided to run government offices in two shifts from Thursday as overcrowding in public transport and at workplaces have been coming in the way of social distancing norms.

“We have decided to introduce two shifts — one from 9.30am to 2.30pm and another from 12.30pm to 5pm — for the officers and staff up to the level of deputy secretaries,” the chief minister said at Nabanna on Wednesday.

Mamata explained that people were forced to travel in crowded buses and social distancing norms could not be maintained during office hours in the absence of metro and local trains.

“As metro and local train services are yet to start, people are facing problems (to reach offices). We are running 5,000 buses. But still, people are facing troubles. There should be no overcrowding in the buses,” she added.

Sources at Nabanna said it was observed that maintaining social distancing became a problem since 70 per cent attendance had been made mandatory since Monday. “We tried for seating arrangements in all departments by maintaining a minimum distance of two meters between desks. But it appeared to be tough because of lack of space in offices,” said an official.

The official explained that dividing the employees in two shifts would help the departments to some extent.

“If we can plan in a way that two different wings of a department would work in two different shifts, maintaining the distance of two meters between two desks could be achieved,” added the official.

The government also allowed the departments to lower the attendance percentage in case maintaining social distancing remained a problem in offices because of paucity of space.

A senior official has said it is expected that two different shifts in offices will ease the pressure on the buses.

“The departments would inform staff in advance in which shifts they will have to work.”

The sources also said the government was worried over the way Covid-19 was spreading in Bengal and might introduce more measures to maintain social distancing in public transport and offices.

The chief minister also urged the private companies to encourage their employees to work from home.

“I appeal to the private sector to allow work from home. (It would be good) if you can ensure staggered attendance in offices. I leave it on you… The way corona is spreading, it is a matter of concern,” said the chief minister.