‘Stay indoors, prevent virus from spreading’
No Metro and monorail services; only 2,500 BEST buses to ply; 120 outstation trains cancelled; fuel stations will be open only from 7am to 7pm
With major cities in Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Thane, shutting down since Saturday, the state administration is preparing to ensure people follow the 14-hour Janta Curfew on Sunday.
The state agencies, including municipal corporations, district collectorate and police department have appealed to the public to stay indoors between 7am and 9pm on Sunday.
With fewer bus, train and state transport services, the state government is looking to ensure fewer people step out of their homes and prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Auto and taxi unions have said only 15% to 20% of autos and black-and-yellow cabs will ply on the roads. Suburban trains are expected to run 25% of its daily services.
Monorail and Metro rail services in Mumbai have been suspended on Sunday. Mobile appbased cab aggregator services such as Uber and Ola are encouraging drivers to stay off road. The app services will, however, be functional for those who need cabs in an emergency.
The Central and Western Railway will operate fewer local train services on Sunday.
On the Central Railway, 1,106 local train services will be operated on its mainline, harbour and trans-harbour railway line — Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Csmt)-kalyan, Csmt-panvel, Panvel-thane and Nerul and Belapur railway stations.
Western Railway will operate 800 local trains between Churchgate and Virar stations. It has cancelled local trains between Virar and Dahanu Road and Dahanu Road and Churchgate railway stations. A total of 120 outstation trains have been cancelled between 4am and 10pm on Sunday.
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) will run 2,500 buses of its 3,500 buses on Sunday. This is around 1,000 less than other days.
A senior state government official in charge of coordination between various agencies said there are no specific orders to enforce the curfew as it is selfimposed. “We will appeal to the public to follow the Prime Minister’s appeal. The state government has already announced a shutdown till March 31,” said a police officer, requesting anonymity. He said beat cops and vans will be doing the rounds during the curfew period. A communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs to chief secretary has requested all state
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agencies to “widely disseminate” the message of the prime minister. It has also requested urban local bodies, fire department, police department, civil defence and industrial establishments to sound a siren at 5pm. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Praveen Pardeshi said, “We are appealing to the people to follow the curfew. This is a voluntary call given by the Prime Minister.”
He added that the 35 fire brigade stations in Mumbai will sound the siren at 5pm.
Some housing societies in Mumbai have decided to keep their main gates shut during the curfew to stop movement of vehicles, except emergency ones. Some housing societies have also issued a circular, appealing to residents to stay indoors.
Municipal authorities in
Mumbai and Nagpur received a lukewarm response on the first of the shutdown announced by the Maharashtra government in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune, and Nagpur. Some shops, which do not sell essential commodities, were open. BMC shut down a salon and spa and a tailoring shop on Saturday at Bangur Nagar in Goregaon.
The state government has already shut schools, colleges, cinema halls, swimming pools, gymnasiums, malls, pubs, parks, and spas. All shops, except those providing essential service such as grocery and medicines, will remain shut till March 31.
The state has also restricted traffic movement around quarantine centres of Kasturba Hospital and KEM Hospital.
Petrol filling stations in Mumbai will be operational with skeletal staff between 7am and 7pm.