Mumbai Local Train Services To Resume From Aug 15 For Fully Vaccinated Citizens: CM Uddhav Thackeray

The state government has been mulling over resuming the "lifeline of Mumbai" for quite some time. Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray has finally made an announcement over the resumption of local trains.

Mumbai: Mumbai local train services will resume from August 15 for people who have taken both doses of COVID-19 vaccine, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced on Sunday.

Passengers can download (local) train passes through the mobile app. Those who do not have smartphones can take photo passes from municipal ward offices in the city as well as suburban railway stations, he informed.

The state government has been mulling over resuming the "lifeline of Mumbai" for quite some time.

During his virtual address, the Maharashtra Chief Minister also said that his government was considering to grant relaxations to shops, malls, restaurants, and places of religious worship.

It was informed that a decision over the same would be taken following a meeting of the coronavirus task force on Monday.

The suburban train services in Mumbai were suspended for the general public in April when the second COVID wave was at its peak in the state. Currently, only government employees and essential services staffers are allowed to travel on local trains.

"Fully vaccinated people will be allowed to travel on local trains from August 15. Those who have completed 14 days after their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine can apply on a specially-created app to get a special railway pass and they can collect it from the local ward offices," he said

Those who do not have smartphones can obtain the pass offline, Thackeray added.

The Maharashtra CM informed that as of now, 19 lakh people in Mumbai are fully vaccinated.

Several organisations and political parties have been demanding that common people, who are fully vaccinated against Coronavirus, be allowed to board the local trains.

CM Thackeray emphasised that stopping the third wave of Coronavirus was in the hands of people who have to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour.

"The virus is still lurking around us and we should not be complacent. I understand that your patience is wearing off. But please don't lose patience," he said.

We need to ascertain how many fully vaccinated citizens are there and how much relaxation can be given to them, the Chief Minister said.

He added that 'work from home' should continue wherever possible and those who cannot follow it, should have staggered work hours to prevent crowding in offices.

It was informed that places, where COVID-19 numbers continue to show a spike, will have to remain under restrictions.

CM Thackeray also termed the situation in Pune, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Beed districts as a cause of concern.

He asserted that the responsibility of the local administration in these districts was huge.

(With Agency Inputs)