Govt nod for interstate travel but flights, trains, Metros still halted

BACK ON THE ROAD Movement between states to be allowed only with the mutual consent of govts concerned

nNEWDELHI: Lifting the prohibition on interstate movement of cars and buses after nearly two months, the Centre on Sunday said their movement will now be allowed, as it eased restrictions for the next phase of the lockdown.

However, all domestic and international passenger flights, regular passenger trains and Metro services will remain suspended till May 31.

Thehomeministry,initsguidelines for Lockdown 4.0, added that the interstate movement of vehicles will be allowed with the mutual consent of the states and union territories concerned. The interstate movement of all vehicles, except those transporting essential services and goods, had been suspended since March 25 when the lockdown was first imposed.

“The interstate movement of vehicles and buses has been allowed with the mutual consent of the States/ UTS concerned,” the guidelines said.

A standard operating procedure(sop)forbusoperationsmay also be issued by the Centre, a senior official of the home ministry said.

Cycle rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, taxis and cab aggregators such as Ola and Uber can also begin to operate, provided the states concerned permit them to do so.

While the prohibition on air travel continues, there will be exemptions for air transport for domestic medical services, domestic air ambulances, security purposes or purposes as permitted by the home ministry and cargo transport. The directorgeneral of civil aviation (DGCA) also said that foreign and domestic airlines will be “suitably informed about the opening of their operations, whether international to/from India or domestic respectively in due course”.

National carrier Air India on Sunday also reiterated that flight bookings for domestic travel will resume only after proper instructions from the Union government. “Keeping in mind the prevailing situation due to Covid-19, it is informed that all domestic scheduled flights stand cancelled till 31st May 2020 excepting the flights operating as Charter and Evacuation Flights [sic],” it said in an internal communication.

The railways ministry also clarified there will be no change in railway services from that of the third lockdown. “There is no change in rail service. It will be the same as in Lockdown 3.0, only

Madhya Pradesh

4,977 187 2,403

Chhattisgarh

86

Maharashtra

33,053

Telangana

1,551

Goa

19 29 10 7

Karnataka

2,347 42 1,147 55 509