Mumbai and Nagpur Metro will begin operations starting Thursday, 15 October, in a graded manner with COVID-19 precautions in place, as part of Maharashtra government's fresh 'Begin Again' guidelines.
The services were shut since 23 March, due the lockdown imposed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mumbai Metro took to Twitter to thank the Maharashtra government.
“@MumMetro is thankful to Government of Maharashtra for allowing metro operations. We have already initiated safety inspections and trial runs, and are set to restart passenger operations from Monday, 19 October 2020, 8:30 am,” it tweeted.
Libraries, Weekly Bazaars to Open, Schools to Remain Shut
Government and private libraries will also be allowed to be open from Thursday. Weekly Bazaars have also been permitted to run.
In order to reduce congestion, all shops and markets will be permitted two hours extra and can operate from 9 am to 9 pm, from Thursday.
The government has also allowed B2B exhibitions only outside the containment zones and all types of local weekly markets across the state.
Meanwhile, schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions in the state will remain closed for students and regular class activity suspended till 31 October, the government notified.
Stamping of Passengers at Airports to Discontinue
The government also said that the stamping of air and train passengers arriving in the state will be discontinued.
As per the latest Unlock Rules, all domestic passengers landing at Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Aurangabad airports shall undergo the mandatory COVID-19 checks, but they will no longer be stamped on the hand with indelible ink.
Railway passengers shall not be subjected to COVID checkups or stamping on the hands though they will be required to maintain all COVID protocols.
The raging controversy notwithstanding, there is no mention of reopening any place of worship for the present, though public libraries have been cleared for opening again.
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