To ensure the smooth supply of essential commodities including fruits, vegetables, milk, groceries and medicines amid the lock-down, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has set up a control room to monitor, in real-time, the status of manufacturing, transport and delivery of such goods. The control room will also monitor difficulties being faced by various stakeholders during the lockdown period from March 25 to April 14.
DPIIT has already asked state governments to facilitate the functioning of food processing units to maintain uninterrupted supply of essential items as the government enforces the 21-day nation-wide lockdown.
Transporter, distributor, wholesaler, manufacturing or e-commerce companies facing ground level difficulties in transport and distribution of goods or mobilisation of resources can reach out to the department through telephone (011-23062487) and email id (controlroom-dpiit@gov.in), which will remain functional from 8 am to 6 pm.
The issues reported by various stakeholders through this control room would be taken up with the concerned state government, district, police authorities, and other agencies.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held discussion, through video conference, with stakeholders from e-commerce and logistics industry on Thursday on the issues faced by them due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) lockdown and measures to resolve them.
The meeting was attended by representatives of Snapdeal, Shopclues, Flipkart, Grofers, NetMeds, PharmEasy, 1MG Tech, Udaan, Amazon India, Big Basket, Zomato. Large retail operators were represented by Metro Cash & Carry, Walmart, Delihivery, Safexpress, Paytm, and Swiggy, the commerce ministry said in a statement.
