thiruvananthapuram from monday onwards a semblance of normalcy will return to at least seven of keralas 14 districts as restaurants will open and a limited number of private vehicles under the oddeven scheme be allowed to plyas the 21day national lockdown was drawing to a close the state government had submitted a proposal to the centre that divided kerala into four zones red orange a orange b and green and restrictions eased in three of these zones in a phased manner there will be no easing up in the red zone the centre accepted keralas proposal on friday for the past seven days the number of positive cases in the state was confined to single digit and the recovery rate has climbed steadily advt from monday nearnormal life will be back in two districts kottayam and idukki classified as green zones because they currently have no active cases several restrictions will be lifted in orange b zone districts thiruvananthapuram alappuzha thrissur palakkad and wayanad too from monday dinein restaurants can function during normal hours in kottayam and idukki while in orange b districts restaurants can function from 7 am to 7 pm but they have to ensure social distancing norms and hand sanitisers all those who step out of their homes have been advised to wear masksvehicles with odd numbers will be permitted on mondays wednesdays and fridays whereas vehicles with even numbers will be allowed on tuesdays thursdays and saturdays only critical services and emergency operations would be exempt women drivers travelling solo or with dependents are exempted from this restriction two passengers can travel in the back seat while for two wheelers pillionriding is allowed only for a family memberin ernakulam kollam and pathanamthitta districts classified as orange a zones relaxation for restaurants will come into effect from april 24 restaurant takeaways will be available till 8 pm in the green zone districts other commercial establishments like textile shops will be allowed to functionsome of the other relaxations include grocery shops opening daily from 7 am to 5 pm and registered plumbers and electricians being allowed to work insurance companies cooperative credit societies and recognised nonbanking finance corporations will also be allowed to function with limited staff while banks and government offices will work normal hours some businesses like opticians mobile phone shops computers and accessories auto workshops barbershops and bookstores will be permitted to open twice a week the dates for these too will be april 20 or april 24 depending on the colour zone advt state chief secretary tom jose said the state had discussed the zonewise lockout plan with the union home and health ministries we could convince them that minor modifications in the relaxations granted by the centre within the broad guideline are required considering the peculiar demography and situation here our request had force because of our proper implementation of all earlier guidelines which yielded good results tom jose told toiall places of worship and schools colleges