No Further Relaxations in November from Centre, Mumbai May Allow Public to Board Local Trains in Non-Peak Hours

NEW DELHI, Oct 31: Despite the COVID-19 cases in the country has registered a sharp dip and the recovery rate climbing to 91.34 per cent, the union home ministry has not issued any fresh guidelines of relaxations for the unlock-6 for the month of November coming into effect from Sunday. The centre had earlier declared that the guidelines issued progressively till unlock-5 would remain in force in the next month also.

Several states, particularly the non-BJP ruled states, however, have granted further relaxations in the restrictions outside the containment zones including partial opening of schools.

Since the ‘Unlock’ process started in the country from June 1, activities such as opening of restaurants, cinema halls, gyms, malls, schools, swimming pools, religious places and metro rail services have been allowed in a calibrated manner with strict SOPs in place.

Maharashtra

The Uddhav Thackeray government is planning to allow general public to board local trains in non-peak hours from the next week and has sought permission from the Railways Ministry regarding the matter. According to the proposal, any person holding a valid ticket or pass will be allowed to board local trains till 7.30 am, then between 11 am to 4.30 pm and after 8 pm till the end of the services.

The development comes on the heels of the government allowing women to travel in local trains from October 18 between 11 am and 3 pm and from 7 pm till the end of services. Besides women, those involved in essential services and dabbawalas have been allowed to travel by local trains.

DELHI:

In Delhi, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority has allowed public buses in the national capital to run at full seating capacity. So far, ever since services resumed on May 19 after a two-month lockdown, buses were allowed to seat only up to 20 passengers. Once approved, AC buses will be able to carry 35 passengers while non-AC buses have a seating capacity of 41.

Plans are also afoot to reopen the Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBT) located at Anand Vihar, Kashmere Gate and Sarai Kale Khan and a standard operating procedure is being prepared for resumption. The ISBTs, which witness a footfall of over 2.5 lakh daily, have been shut since March 21.

Meanwhile, with Delhi witnessing a sharp spike in the city’s daily Covid-19 case count, touching an average of 5,000 cases daily, schools will continue to remain close in the national capital.

Odisha:

The Odisha government has announced partial reopening of schools for students of classes 9-12 from November 16 and places of worship with appropriate restrictions and safety protocols.

Higher education institutions will be permitted to open only for research scholars (PhD) and postgraduate students in science and technology streams requiring laboratory work, the order said. However, authorities have been permitted to conduct examinations (academic, competitive and entrance tests), evaluation and other administrative activities.

Marriage-related gatherings have been capped at 200 persons, and not more than 50 persons are allowed at funerals even though cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment complexes, theatres, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will continue to remain shut.

Andhra Pradesh

Extending the academic year 2020-21 up to April 30, the AP government has announced graded re-opening of the schools with students of classes 9-10 set to rejoin from November 2, classes 6-8 from November 23, and class 1-5 from December 14. From November 2, students of classes 9 and 10 will be attending school every alternate day and classes will be held till noon. Each classroom will be limited to only 16 students.

Moreover, the state government has decided to open all higher educational institutions, including university colleges and its affiliated colleges across the state from November 2 and classes will take place on all six days of a week.

 Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu government has allowed schools, colleges, cinemas, zoos and amusement parks to reopen from November in adherence to Standard Operating Procedures. Suburban train services, as per the Central government’s decision, are “allowed” to resume. Schools, all colleges, research and other educational institutions, and hostels would be allowed to open from November 16. However, only classes for standards 9-12 will be conducted.

(Manas Dasgupta)