Maharashtra extends lockdown, but resumes intra-state train services with immediate effect; hotels to reopen from Monday

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Wednesday extended coronavirus-induced lockdown till 31 October, but also said that hotels, restaurants and bars will be allowed to operate from 5 October with restricted capacity. All the trains originating and ending the journey within the state will be restarted with immediate effect subject to health protocols for COVID-19, the latest guidelines said. Hotels, food courts, restaurants and bars can operate from October 5 with capacity not exceeding 50 percent or as prescribed by local authorities. A separate Standard Operating Procedure will be issued by the tourism department for precautions to be taken while operating these establishments, an official release said. All industrial and manufacturing units producing non- essential items will be allowed to operate in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The Railways will increase the frequency of local trains in the MMR. Local trains in Pune region will restart with protocols and procedures adopted in the MMR. Dabbawallahs of tiffin carriers in MMR will be allowed to travel by local trains after procuring QR code passes from the Mumbai police commissioner’s office. There shall be free movement of oxygen-carrying vehicles within and out of the state without any restrictions of time. Schools, colleges and other educational and coaching institutions will remain closed. Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres in malls and market places, auditoriums, assembly halls will continue to remain closed. Social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural and religious events and other large congregations will remain prohibited, the guidelines said.