Amid fears of a second wave of COVID-19 and an increase in new cases after the festivals, the Maharashtra government on Monday issued the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for those visiting the state by air, rail or by
Interestingly, the SoPs come amid reports that the government is considering a proposal to reduce flights, trains from Delhi to Mumbai and vice versa. If you are traveling by plane, a negative RT-PCR report for Covid-19 is essential. For trains originating from or stopping at any station in Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan or Delhi, a Covid-19 report will be needed while getting off in Maharashtra. Even for road trips, a negative Covid report will be sought. The order goes into effect on November 25. Read the detailed travel instructions below:
“In exercise of the powers conferred by virtue of the Disaster Management Act of 2005, the undersigned, in his capacity as President of the State Executive Committee, hereby issues orders to include the attached SOP as ANNEX-A for the people traveling to Maharashtra by Air, rail or road with effect from November 25, 2020, after careful consideration of the planning of containment areas and the availability of health infrastructure, for strict implementation by the competent authorities of all departments in the state of Maharashtra. The aforementioned SOP will be in addition to the SOPs previously issued by the state of Maharashtra, “reads the order signed by Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar.
For domestic air travel
1) All domestic passengers traveling from airports in NCR of DELHI, States of Rajasthan. Gujarat and Goa will carry the RT_PCR negative test report with them before boarding and show it to crews at the arrival airport. The Airports Authority of India is requested to verify the report before allowing passengers to board the
2) Sample collection by RT-PCR should have been done within 72 hours prior to the scheduled landing time at Maharashtra airports.
3) Passengers who do NOT have RT-PCR test reports that meet the above conditions in 1 and 2, must necessarily undergo the RT-PCR test at the corresponding airports, at their own cost. The airport will organize the test centers and charge passengers directly for the tests.
4) Only after testing, the airport operator will allow passengers to return home. Contact information and address will be collected from all passengers who are tested at the airport by the airport operator to facilitate contact, should the test report be positive.
5) Passengers whose report is positive will be contacted and treated according to the existing protocol.
6) The Municipal Commissioners concerned will be their Nodal Officers and will ensure that the above instructions are strictly followed.
Railways
1) All passengers traveling to Maharashtra on trains originating from or stopping / stopping at NCR stations in Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Goa states will need to carry a negative RT-PCR test report before deciding to enter Maharashtra.
2) Sample collection by RT-PCR should have been done within 96 hours prior to scheduled arrival in Maharashtra.
3) Passengers who do not have a negative RT-PCR test report will be tested for symptoms and body temperature at the getting off train stations.
4) Passengers without symptoms could go home.
5) Passengers showing symptoms will be separated and subjected to the Antigen Test. If the antigen test is negative, the passengers can go home.
6) Passengers who have not been tested or who have tested positive for Covid will be referred to the Covid Care Center (CCC) for additional care. The cost of additional care, including CCC, will be borne by the passenger.
7) The Municipal Commissioners / District Collectors concerned will be their Nodal Officers and will ensure that the above instructions are strictly followed.
Road trip
1) The concerned district collectors from the land border districts will make the necessary arrangements to ensure that the passengers come from the Delhi NCR. The states of Rajasthan. Gujarat and Goa should be tested for symptoms, including body temperature.
2) Passengers without symptoms will be allowed to enter. Passengers with symptoms will have the option of returning and going home to recover.
3) Passengers with symptoms will be separated and subjected to the Antigen Test. If the Antigen test is negative, passengers will be able to travel further into Maharashtra.
4) Passengers who have not been tested or who have tested positive for Covid will be referred to the Covid Care Center (CCC) for additional care. The cost of additional care, including CCC, will be borne by the passenger.
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