Gangtok, Sep 19 (PTI) The Sikkim government has allowed hotels, homestays and other tourism-related services to restart operations from October 10, officials said on Saturday.

The Himalayan state has also decided to open its border with West Bengal for unrestricted movement of vehicles from October 1, they said.

Also Read | Toll Plaza on Indore-Ahmedabad Highway Vandalised in Betma Area, Shows Video; Policeman Blames ‘Angry Farmers’.

A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the hotels and the tourism sector is expected soon, they added.

Bookings for hotels and homestays will start from September 27, officials said.

Also Read | India's First CRISPR COVID-19 Test, Developed by Tata Group and CSIR-IGIB, Approved for Use in The Country.

While the odd-even road rationing rule for public vehicles will be lifted from October 1, it may continue for private vehicles, they said.

The odd-even rule, which was first implemented in Delhi to tackle air pollution by limiting the number of cars as per the last digit of their registration number, was also imposed in Sikkim to reduce movement amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

However, a complete lockdown will be imposed in the Gangtok Municipal Corporation area from September 21 to 27 as part of "special measures" to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Vehicles will not be allowed to ply except those authorised or engaged in essential services, as per a state Home Department order.

State government offices will operate with 30 per cent staff, and all shops, except those selling essential items, will remain closed, it said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)