Coronavirus Outbreak: Mumbai Local Trains, Buses To Continue Operations For Now, Says Uddhav Thackeray

All local trains, buses, Mumbai metro rail, Monorail and other public modes of transport in the state will continue operations as per schedule.

Maharashtra currently has 38 COVID-19 positive cases, the highest in the country. (File Photo/ Getty)

Mumbai:  In a huge relief to Mumbaikars, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday made it clear that Mumbai's lifeline, the local train services, will not be suspended and run as per schedule. Speaking to reporters after a high-end meeting to decide on measures to prevent the spread of the deadly virus in the state, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that public transport in Mumbai including local trains will remain open and operate as per schedule. "Trains and buses are essential services so we are not stopping them as of now but if people don't listen to our advice and don't avoid unnecessary travel, then we will think about that too. Next 15-20 days are very crucial for us," Thackeray said.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray: Trains and buses are essential services so we are not stopping them as of now but if people don't listen to our advice and don't avoid unnecessary travel, then we will think about that too. Next 15-20 days are very crucial for us. #Coronavirus https://t.co/hXumGcPxq8

— ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2020

The Shiv Sena chief also said that the government would be forced to take the "harsh decision" to stop bus and train services in Mumbai if people don't avoid unnecessary travel. Thackeray also appealed people to avoid unnecessary travel and gathering. He said there would be no holiday for seven days to government offices as was reported in a section of media. Thackeray the administration was working on allowing functioning of government offices with 50 per cent strength. Thackeray also called upon and the private sector should implement 'work-from-home' wherever possible, and the private sector would also attempt to reduce the number of people attending workplaces. Speaking to ABP Majha, Mumbai Guardian Minister Aslam Shaikh informed about the decision taken by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led state government. Shaikh stated that already all private companies, malls etc. have been shut by the administration in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak. However, a formal announcement regarding the decision is yet to be made by the Maharashtra government. Shaikh also said that local trains, buses, Mumbai metro rail, Monorail and other public modes of transport in the state will continue operations as per schedule. Sprawled across the Central Railway and its Harbour Line, plus Western Railway, the suburban trains are the lifeline of Mumbai which ferry over 8.50 million commuters daily serving Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts. Meanwhile, Central Railways has suspended as many as 23 trains coming to Mumbai from other cities including Rajdhani Express and Duronto Express. No decision has been taken to suspend the services of local trains and buses in the city. Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope had said that Thackeray will take a crucial decision on suspending the local train services, for a few days, as one of the measures of 'social distancing' to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The matter was supposed to be discussed at the state cabinet meeting on Tuesday afternoon as the government is firm that the coronavirus must not be allowed to spread from 'Phase II to Phase III' at any cost. Meanwhile, some zonal railway stations in the state have also hiked the platform ticket charges from Rs 10 to Rs 50 in a bid to discourage gathering of large crowds in view of the Coronavirus.  This has been done by six divisions of the Western railway zone -- Mumbai, Vadodra, Ahmedabad, Ratlam, Rajkot, Bhavnagar -- that covers around 250 railway stations. Asserting that platform tickets charges have been increased at number of stations to ensure crowd control in view of the coronavirus problem, a senior official said,"it is being done at the local level". The government has already taken a number of steps to detect and prevent the spread of Coronavirus, which is showing an upward trend in the country and has claimed three lives and infected 126 people so far. Maharashtra currently has 38 COVID-19 positive cases, the highest in the country, with one death of a 63-year-old man with a recent history of travel to Dubai.