Lockdown in Maharashtra's red zones to be extended till May 31

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, May 15

The Maharashtra government has decided to extend the lockdown in the Mumbai and Pune metropolitan regions, Aurangabad, Malegaon and Solapur

till May 31, according to officials here.

The decision has been taken in view of the surging number of Covid-19 positive cases in these cities.

While sale of essentials like groceries are already allowed in these towns except in containment zones, shops selling other items like clothes, stationary, electric and electronic equipment and hardware will also open in phases from Monday, said the officials.

The Uddhav Thackeray government, however, has decided not to allow public transport in the state's red zones till the month-end.

Mumbai's local train services - the city's lifeline - is unlikely to start from Monday even if the Central government permits resumption of train services across the country, according to officials.

"The Chief Minister wants local train services only for those providing essential

services," said a Home Department official.

The city's BEST buses are already ferrying commuters providing essential services and several of its drivers and conductors have tested positive for the virus.

Leaders of the Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress, which are part of the

coalition government, at a meeting on Thursday decided to extend the lockdown till the month-end in order to beef up healthcare infrastructure in these towns, said officials.

The death toll from the virus has crossed 1,000 in Maharashtra. More than 600 people have lost their lives in Mumbai alone, according to data put out by the state's Health Department.