Former chief minister Omar Abdullah said that permitting inter-state and intra-state travel without any special passes, besides reopening of hospitability and mall sectors, are big changes announced in by centre for lockdown 5.0.

Mr Abdullah, who is the Vice President of National Conference (NC), was reacting to new guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday to be implemented during the lockdown, which has been extended till June 30.         

“Inter-state & intra-state travel now permitted without the need for any special permission or e-pass. This & the reopening of the hospitality & mall sectors are the big changes announced in the new MHA order,” Mr Abdullah wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

According to the MHA order, the nationwide lockdown has been extended till June 30 in the containment zones, but all activities outside containment zones will be re-opened in a phased manner.

The first phase will come into effect from June 8. However, there are some activities, including opening of neighbourhood shops and free movement of people and goods, that will be allowed from June 1 onwards.

“There shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods. No separate permission, approval or e-permit will be required for such movements,” the order said.

It said if a state or Union Territory proposed to regulate the movement of persons, it will give wide publicity in advance regarding the restrictions. “Movement by passengers trains, domestic air travel, movement of Indian nationals stranded abroad will continue to be regulated as per SOPs issued. No state or Union Territory shall stop the movement of any type of goods/cargo for cross land-border trade under Treaties with neighbouring nations,” it added.

The MHA order further said that night curfew will continue to remain in effect until further orders. “The movement of individuals shall remain strictly prohibited between 2100 hrs and 0500 hrs throughout the country,” it said.