Coronavirus: Section 144 imposed in cities, Lockdown in Maharashtra from today midnight till March 31: Chief Minister Udhav Thackeray

Mumbai, March 22, 2020: As the number of Coronavirus patients reached 75 in the state, Chief Minister Udhav Thackeray today ordered Maharashtra lockdown till March 31.

There will be no trains, buses (except city buses for essential services). Only offices, shops engaged in essential services like milk, vegetable, Kirana, medicine, will remain open. Banks and share market will also function. All religious places have asked to close down.

CM Thackeray also asked people coming from abroad to remain in quarantine. Only five percent government employees are working.

In all urban areas, section 144 which prohibits the gathering of more than four persons, will be imposed from today midnight. Therefore, people should not come out of their homes unnecessarily.

Earlier today in New Delhi, a high-level meeting was held with Chief Secretaries of all the States by the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. All the Chief Secretaries informed that there is an overwhelming and spontaneous response to the call for Janta Curfew given by the Prime Minister.

Given the need to contain the spread of COVID 19, it was agreed that there is urgent need to extend the restrictions on the movement of non-essential passenger transport including inter-state transport buses till 31 March 2020.

Following detailed discussions, the State Governments were advised to issue appropriate orders to allow only essential services to operate in the 75 districts which have reported confirmed cases or casualties relating to COVID 19. The State Governments may expand the list depending on their assessment of the situation. It was noted that several State Governments have already issued orders in this regard.

Decisions:

• All train services suspended fill 31 March 2020 including sub-urban rail services. However, goods trains are exempted.

• All metro rail services suspended till 31 March 2020. State Governments to issue orders allowing only essential services to operate in about 75 districts with confirmed COVID 19 cases.

• Inter State passenger transport also to be suspended till 31 March 2020.

Railways decision to cancell all trains

In continuation of the measures taken in the wake of COVID-19, it has been decided that all passenger train services on Indian Railways including Premium trains, Mail/Express trains, Passenger trains, Suburban Trains, Kolkata Metro Rail, Konkan Railway etc shall be cancelled till the 2400hrs of 31.03.2020. However, bare minimum level of services of suburban trains and Kolkata Metro Rail shall continue upto 2400hrs of 22.03.2020.

Trains which had already commenced their journey, prior to 0400 hrs of 22.03.2020, will run up to their destinations. Adequate arrangements shall be made for the passengers, who have commenced their journey during the travel and at their destinations.

To ensure the essential supplies in various parts of the country, movement of goods trains will continue.

To make it more convenient for passengers, full refund for all cancelled trains may be taken till 21.06.2020. Adequate arrangements shall be made to facilitate hassle-free refund to passengers affected by train cancellations.