As COVID-19 curbs ease, Mumbai Metro to resume from Monday
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday issued fresh guidelines to gradually reopen from the coronavirus lockdown under its 'Mission Begin Again'. Significantly, the guidelines allow the graded resumption of Mumbai Metro rail services from October 15. However, Mumbai Metro has announced that it will resume operations from October 19. Government and private libraries are also allowed to reopen from Thursday in adherence to COVID-19 protocols.
Department of Urban Development to issue SOPs for Metro resumption
According to the government order, Metro services are allowed to resume from Thursday and relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) would be issued by the Urban Development department. Metro services were halted when the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 had come into force in late-March. In a tweet, Mumbai Metro announced its decision to resume operations from 8:30 am on Monday.
Mumbai Metro decides to resume services from 8:30 am (Monday)
In October, inter-district train travel was allowed to resume
In October, the resumption of inter-district train travel had been allowed. Regular operations of Mumbai's suburban train system, however, remain prohibited. In August earlier this year, the state government had allowed the resumption of inter-district travel by buses operated by Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation.
Markets, shops to stay open till 9 pm
Further, the government has allowed business-to-business exhibitions and local weekly bazaars outside containment zones. Markets and shops have been allowed to remain open for two additional hours till 9 pm from October 15 to reduce crowding. Domestic passengers arriving at airports will no longer be stamped after COVID-19 testing. Health check-up and stamping of passengers at railway stations will also be stopped.
With over 15 lakh infections, Maharashtra is India's worst-hit state
Maharashtra has reported a total of 15,43,837 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday, including 40,701 deaths and 12,97,252 recoveries. The state had reported 8,522 fresh infections on Tuesday, the second consecutive day that daily new cases remained below 10,000. Maharashtra is India's worst-hit state in the outbreak. The nationwide tally stands at 72,39,389 total infections, including 1,10,586 deaths and 63,01,927 recoveries.
