Jaipur
Initially, mobile internet services were to be suspended from 8 am to 5 pm, but on Saturday, services only resumed by 6 pm in many cities.
Updated : Jul 15, 2018, 05:20 AM IST
Digital economy worth crores of rupees was disrupted on Saturday while thousands of people in the city were hassled by the curfew imposed on mobile Internet services to curb cheating while police constable exams are underway in the state. The curfew will continue on Sunday as well.
Initially, mobile internet services were to be suspended from 8 am to 5 pm, but on Saturday, services only resumed by 6 pm in many cities.
Transport was the worst hit as those tanking up at petrol pumps could not be use their debit or credit cards. Cab aggregators such as Uber and Ola, and mobile food delivery apps experienced a huge drop in business as well.
"The exam is taking place in four shifts, two shifts today and as many tomorrow, during which mobile Internet services will be blocked. Nearly 15 lakh candidates have applied for the exam, for which as many as 664 exam centres, including 209 in Jaipur district," said Inspector General recruitment Prashakha Mathur said.
People travelling by airplanes had to carry printouts of their tickets as they were unable to show digital copies on their phones to enter airports and check in.
Patients who had given blood samples at various private laboratories had to wait till 6 pm to see their reports online.
Weekend movie plans, for those celebrating the second Saturday of the month, were also halted by the inability to book tickets online through mobile applications.
And those who planned ahead and booked tickets in advance had trouble showing the e-ticket at the gates of multiplexes.
Mobile Net services were halted to curb cheating during police constable exams. They were to resume at 5 pm, but began at 6 pm on Saturday. Curfew on Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm.