Maharashtra Extends Lockdown Till Oct 31; Allows Hotels, Restaurants to Reopen with Limited Capacity

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday extended the coronavirus-induced lockdown till October 31, but also allowed hotels, restaurants and bars to operate from October 5 with restricted capacity. All trains originating and ending their journey in the state will be allowed to restart with immediate effect subject to coronavirus-related health protocols, said the state government’s latest guidelines.

Hotels, food courts, restaurants and bars can operate from October 5 with capacity not exceeding 50% or as

prescribed by local authorities. A separate Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be issued by the tourism department for precautions to be taken while operating these establishments, said the guidelines.

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 the Pune region will restart with protocols and procedures adopted in the MMR.

Dabbawallahs (tiffin carriers) in MMR will be allowed to travel by local trains after procuring QR code passes from the Mumbai Police Commissioner’s office. Free movement of oxygen-carrying vehicles within and outside of the state will be allowed without any restrictions of time.

Schools, colleges and other educational and coaching institutions will remained 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.

The Centre’s latest guidelines, also released on Wednesday, has allowed cinema halls, multiplexes and swimming pools to partially reopen from October 15.