Centre Advises Maharashtra Government Against Arbitrary Air Travel Restrictions

New Delhi, 2nd December 2021: Central government has issued an advisory to align its Coronavirus disease (COVID19) measures in line with the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan yesterday wrote to Dr Pradeep Kumar Vyas, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) of Maharashtra.

The Maharashtra government has issued the following restrictions:

i. Mandatory RTPCR testing of all international travellers at the Mumbai airport, irrespective of country of origin

ii. Mandatory 14-day home quarantine for all international passengers, despite being tested RTPCR Negative upon arrival

iii. Mandatory RTPCR test for passengers planning to undertake connecting flights after disembarking at Mumbai and further travel subject to a negative RTPCR result

iv. Requirement of negative RTPCR test 48 hours prior to date of journey, for domestic passengers travelling from other States to Maharashtra

“This is in divergence with the SoPs & Guidelines issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India. I would, therefore, urge you to align the Orders issued by the State with the Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, so that uniform implementation of the guidelines may be ensured across all States/UTs. I would also advise that such modified orders of the State Government are given wide publicity to obviate any inconvenience to travellers”, the letter states.

The Maharashtra government is yet to modify its order regarding travel restrictions.

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