Jaipur, May 4 (TIWN) A large number of people were seen queuing up outside liquor shops in different parts of Rajasthan on Monday from early morning as the state excise department announced the opening of liquor and wine shops in all three zones (red, green and orange - except the containment and curfew zones) in the state in lockdown-3.

The long queues started appearing around 8 a.m. although the scheduled time to open these shops was 10 a.m.  At some places, people were seen maintaining social distancing while in other places, social distancing went for a toss with people eagerly jumping the queue.  Liquor shops across the country were shut down with the first lockdown that was announced on March 24. 

However, the state excise department ordered a few relaxations in the lockdown-3 phase starting from Monday and liquor shops have re-opened across the state but with guidelines of social distancing.  Police personnel were deployed at every shop in the urban areas to ensure customers were given sanitisers. Also, the excise department ordered that the mobile numbers of these customers be taken for any future action if required. 

Excise commissioner Bishnu Charan Mallick had said earlier that more than five people are not allowed in the shop at one time. To maintain social distancing, circles need to be marked at every one metre stretch outside the shop.  In many parts of Jaipur, Kota and Ajmer people stood in disciplined queues and stuck to the circles which were made to ensure they maintain social distancing. Police personnel intervened at places where the people tried to break the queues.  Overall, over 6000 country liquor and over 1000 IMFL shops are there in Rajasthan.  Bharat Mittal, standing outside a wine shop, said, "It''s been 42 days we have been seeing dry days. Can''t wait for this shop to open."