Level 2 relaxations announced for Mumbai, Thane; no decision on opening local trains for all groups

Police patrol Nehru Nagar, Kurla East, and ask people to not crowd on the road amid COVID-19 curbs on July 28. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Mumbai and Thane are among 25 districts given some relaxations in the Covid-19 curbs. Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Thursday that these places will go to Level 2. Eleven districts, including Palghar, Raigad, Ahmednagar and Pune, which are part of MMR or share borders with it, will remain in Level 3 because of their higher test positivity rate and caseload. The exact date when relaxations become applicable is yet to be decided.

However, there was no unanimity on allowing all commuters on the suburban train network of the MMR at Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's meeting with the State Covid Task Force on Thursday. Tope said after the meeting that the issue would be decided by the CM in consultation with the railway authorities in the next two to three days.

Rajesh Tope, health minister on resuming trains for all

Tope said multiple views were expressed over unlocking local trains for all in MMR, especially the fully vaccinated people. "A concern was raised whether we have a mechanism to check a large number of eligible commuters. The CM has told us that he would consult with railways before deciding it," Tope added.

According to him, the guidelines to be made available in two to three days will allow hotels and shops to remain open till 8-9 pm with 50 per cent capacity. The weekend restrictions will ease on Saturdays but will remain on Sundays. The rules for gatherings and weddings will not be relaxed. He did not say whether the 25 districts would have the same Level 2 guidelines that were issued early this month.

Visitors outside the Asiatic library in south Mumbai on July 25. Pic/Bipin Kokate

What was allowed earlier

Before the entire state was placed in Level 3, Level 2 guidelines allowed regular timings for essential and non-essential shops. Parks, private and government offices were allowed to operate as per pre-lockdown times. Malls, theatres, single-screens and restaurants could take in limited guests. Indoor games were allowed between 5 am and 9 pm and outdoor sports for the entire day.

It allowed film shooting at regular timings with a 50 per cent cap on crew capacity. There was no cap on the number of people attending funerals. Society meetings and elections were allowed at 50 per cent capacity. Construction, agriculture, e-commerce had no bar. Gyms and salons operated at 50 per cent capacity with prior appointments. City buses plied without standing passengers. Inter-district travel was allowed and there was no bar on manufacturing.

Devotees outside Siddhivinayak temple in Prabhadevi on July 27. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

The 11 districts that will be under Level 3 restrictions are: Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Solapur, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Ahmednagar and Beed. Some of these districts have had their problems compounded because of heavy rains, flooding and landslides. The relief and rehabilitation work has been taken up on war-footing. Tope said the 11 districts might have curbs tightened further if needed.

11 - Districts kept under Level 3 curbs

9 pm - Approximate time at which restaurants and shops may be allowed to operate on all days of the week