The Singapore government on Monday announced crowd control measures in Little India, a popular locality here, in the lead up to Diwali to prevent overcrowding amid rising cases of Covid-19. The Straits Times quoted Singapore Tourism Board (STB) as saying on managing the flow of human traffic in Little India, “This will ensure that congestion is spread across the campus and prevent choke points during peak hours.”
Little India is filled with shops and eateries offering a range of Indian-origin products where the festive mood is set with decorative street lighting. Diwali, the festival of light that celebrates the victory of good over evil, is falling on November 4 this year.
The report said some businesses will also increase their operating hours to allow shoppers to spread out their visits during the Diwali week. This is the second year the major Hindu festival is being celebrated amid the pandemic.
While the night market remains suspended this year, visitors can enjoy food trails, heritage tours, cooking demonstrations, treasure hunts and competitions such as a TikTok dance challenge being organized within the premises, In which there is also mixed accommodation of residences, apartments and hotels. stated in the report. Last year, markets or festival villages were not allowed, although some stalls were allowed to increase their footprint on the streets to accommodate the crowd.
The STB had also deployed a contingent of enforcement officers and ambassadors from a safe distance during the peak hours till Diwali to help with crowd management. The report said a combination fine of SGD300 was issued to eight people in late October and early November last year for failing to comply with safe management measures in Little India.
The health ministry on Sunday reported 3,058 new COVID-19 cases and nine deaths linked to the virus, taking the death toll from last year to 233.
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