Mumbai local to allow those fully vaccinated? Minister says decision in 2-3 days

Maharashtra minister Aslam Shaikh said that a detailed discussion took place in one of the cabinet meetings recently about allowing fully vaccinated people to travel in suburban trains and BrihanMumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses.

Maharashtra may soon allow people who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) to travel on its local trains unrestricted. State cabinet minister Aslam Shaik said on Wednesday that a decision can be taken in two or three days.

The local trains in Mumbai currently allow only essential service employees as per Maharashtra government order. (Praful Gangurde/HT Photo)

"As a minister, I am also of the view that person whose two doses are completed should be allowed to travel in Mumbai local, we have also informed Chief Minister about this. After studying the report by the task force, a decision on Mumbai local will be taken in next two to three days," Shaikh, who is the guardian minister of Mumbai, said while speaking to mediapersons.

He added that a detailed discussion took place in one of the cabinet meetings recently about allowing fully vaccinated people to travel in suburban trains and BrihanMumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses.

The Maharashtra government started easing the Covid-19 curbs in the state as cases of the disease showed a decline. But, in view of the second wave of Covid-19 and delta plus variant spreading fast, some of the curbs were brought back. The state imposed stricter norms by reducing the five-level relaxation plan to three after cases of delta plus variants were found last month.

The local trains, considered lifeline of Mumbai, were allowed to run but never completely opened for public. They are currently operational for just essential service employees.

The demand for resumption of suburban train services for the general public has been gaining steam. Many citizen groups and political leaders have urged chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to allow general public to travel on these trains.

To check travellers to board the trains using fake ID cards, the Maharashtra government introduced a QR code based universal travel pass.

The fresh set of instructions to allow local trains to resume service, but only for specific category of people, were issued in June by the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The notification stated that local trains will remain available for "medical, few essentials", and authorised the civic administrations to put additional restrictions they deem fit.