Maharashtra Favours Allowing Those Vaccinated On Local Trains: Minister

However, a final decision regarding local train would be taken by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, State Health Minister Rajesh Tope said.

The Maharashtra disaster management department is in favour of allowing people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to travel in local trains in Mumbai, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Thursday. However, a final decision would be taken by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Mr Tope told a TV channel before a meeting called by the Chief Minister with the state COVID-19 task force. So far, only people engaged in essential and emergency services, as categorised by the government, are allowed to travel in local trains as part of the state's efforts to check the spread of COVID-19. "To keep the wheels of the economy moving in Mumbai, the state disaster management has expressed its opinion in favour of allowing people who have taken both the doses of vaccine to board local trains. Some experts have also suggested increasing the timings of shops and other services beyond 4 pm (the current restriction time),” Mr Tope said. "It is a bit difficult to verify whether people travelling in local trains have actually received both the doses or not," he pointed out.