diff --git a/run_azcopy-multi-dir-multi-container.sh b/run_azcopy-multi-dir-multi-container.sh
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 64bbe6e..c2ff94e
--- a/run_azcopy-multi-dir-multi-container.sh
+++ b/run_azcopy-multi-dir-multi-container.sh
@@ -27,6 +27,43 @@ if [[ -z "$SOURCE_LIST_FILE" || ! -f "$SOURCE_LIST_FILE" ]]; then
 fi
 
 # Lock file to prevent multiple instances
+if [[ -f "$LOCK_FILE" ]]; then
+    PID=$(cat "$LOCK_FILE")
+    if kill -0 "$PID" 2>/dev/null; then
+        echo "Another instance (PID $PID) is already running. Exiting..."
+        exit 1
+    else
+        echo "Stale lock file found. Removing..."
+        rm -f "$LOCK_FILE"
+    fi
+fi
+echo $$ > "$LOCK_FILE"
+
+# Function to check business hours
+is_business_hours() {
+    HOUR=$(printf "%d" "$(date +%H)")  # Convert to decimal safely
+    [[ $HOUR -ge $BUSINESS_HOURS_START && $HOUR -lt $BUSINESS_HOURS_END ]]
+}
+
+# Stop if running during business hours
+if is_business_hours; then
+    echo "Business hours detected ($BUSINESS_HOURS_START:00 - $BUSINESS_HOURS_END:00). Exiting..."
+    rm -f "$LOCK_FILE"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "Starting sync job at $(date)" | tee -a "$LOG_FILE"
+
+# Read the directory list file into an array
+mapfile -t SYNC_JOBS < "$SOURCE_LIST_FILE"
+
+# Loop through the array and process each entry
+for LINE in "${SYNC_JOBS[@]}"; do
+    IFS=">" read -r SOURCE_DIR DEST_CONTAINER <<< "$LINE"
+    SOURCE_DIR=$(echo "$SOURCE_DIR" | xargs)   # Trim spaces
+    DEST_CONTAINER=$(echo "$DEST_CONTAINER" | xargs)  # Trim spaces
+
+    if [[ -z "$SOURCE_DIR" || ! -d "$SOURCE_DIR" ]]; then
         echo "ERROR: Invalid directory: $SOURCE_DIR. Exiting." | tee -a "$LOG_FILE"
         rm -f "$LOCK_FILE"
         exit 1
@@ -92,3 +129,4 @@ echo "All directories listed in $SOURCE_LIST_FILE have been synced." >> "$COMPLE
 echo "Completion report generated: $COMPLETION_REPORT"
 rm -f "$LOCK_FILE"
 exit 0
+