In a big relief to Mumbaikars, the Maharashtra Government on Sunday announced that fully vaccinated people could travel by suburban local trains in Mumbai from August 15, with a rider that a gap of 14 days was mandatory after taking the second dose of vaccine to the board train.
After weeks of speculation, the Maharashtra Government relaxed the norms to allow Mumbaikars and their counterparts in the satellite towns in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) – who have taken two doses of vaccine --to travel by suburban trains on a condition that the 14 days’ gap was mandatory for the people to board trains after taking the second dose of vaccine.
Interacting with the people across the state through a webcast, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said: “From August 15, people who have taken two doses of vaccine can travel by suburban local trains. But, the people will have to wait for 14 days after taking the second dose of vaccine to board the train”.
The chief minister said that the fully vaccinated people could get their train passes that will be available on smart phones, ward offices and suburban railway stations. "Passengers can download train passes through the mobile app. Those who do not have smart phones can take photo passes from municipal ward offices in the city as well as suburban railway stations,” Uddhav said.
The chief minister said that the state government might announce more relaxations for shops, malls, restaurants and places of religious worship after the state disaster management task force reviews the situation on Monday.
The chief minister said that the second wave of Covid-19 was still not over. “If we have to arrest the spread of virus, then the people will have to follow the pandemic protocols strictly. Though the pace of vaccination has increased, but it is not sufficient.