Shops in Pune city can remain open till 8 pm from August 9 and restaurants with a 50 per cent capacity till 10 pm, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said.

Malls are also allowed to function in Pune and neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad township till 8 pm but only citizens who have received both the doses of Covid-19 vaccines will be allowed entry, he said. Restaurant owners, traders and mall workers associations have been demanding that the timings of their establishments be extended and had also staged a protest.