Lockdown like curfew in Maharashtra from TODAY: Check timings, what will remain open and closed - Check all details here

Maharashtra: After witnessing a huge rise of COVID-19 cases in the state, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday announced a 15-day long 'lockdown' style restrictions starting 8 pm onwards on April 14 till April 30 in a bid to break the chain of the coronavirus.

The curfew, which excludes essential services, will come into effect from 8 pm on Wednesday (TODAY), Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said in his address via social media to people of the state. Section 144 (prohibitory orders) of the Criminal Procedure Code will be in force till the "lockdown-like" restrictions are in place, the Zee Media Bureau reported.

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Section 144 will remain imposed on the state. All establishments, public places, activities, services shall remain suspended. However, services and activities mentioned in the 'essential category' have been exempted from the restrictions and their operations will remain unrestricted.

Essential services include Hospital, diagnostic centres, clinics, vaccinations, medical insurance offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, other medical and health services including supporting the manufacturing and distributing units along with their dealers, transport and supply chain. Manufacturing and distribution of vaccines, sanitisers, masks medical equipment, their ancillaries, raw material units and support services.

Veterinary services, animal care shelters and pet food shops, Groceries, vegetable shops, fruits vendors, diaries, bakeries, confectionaries, all type of food shops, Cold storage and warehousing services. Public Transport: Airplanes, trains, taxis, autos and public buses. Services related to the functioning of offices of Diplomats of various countries

Pre-monsoon activities by local authorities, all public services by local authorities, Reserve Bank of India and services designated by RBI as essential. All offices of SEBI recognised market infrastructure institutions such as Stock Exchange, depositories, clearing corporations etc and other intermediaries registered with SEBI, Service required for restoration/maintenance of telecom services, transport of Goods, water supply services, agriculture-related activities, export-Import of all commodities.

E-Commerce (For essential goods and services), Media, Petrol Pumps and Petroleum related products, including offshore/onshore production, All cargo services Data centres / Cloud Services / IT Services supporting critical infrastructure and services.

Restrictions: According to the report, Mumbai's suburban trains and city buses will continue to run, but commutes will be permitted for those in the designated 'essential services'. All film shootings remain banned until April 30, religious places of worship will remain shut across the state, barbershops and salons to remain shut.

Weddings will be allowed with only 25 guests and funerals with the earlier norm of 20 mourners, private vehicles can ply for the purpose of emergency and essential services if they meet the criteria, all restaurants, bars, street food sellers, except that in-house on-premises of hotels and other designated locations, will remain closed, though home delivery shall be permitted.

Food markets and retail outlets shall be allowed with staggered working hours, while clubs, gyms, amusement/water parks, swimming pools, beaches, gardens, and other public places, salons, barbershops, etc shall be closed for the public.

All shops, malls and complexes to remain shut. Public places like beaches, gardens and parks remain closed. Autorickshaws and taxis can ply with driver plus only two passengers, private vehicles shall be allowed for only emergency/essential purposes, while all manufacturing, trade, banking, commercial, e-commerce, marketing and related activities shall continue, all state/Central government and essential private offices including law firms, shall work but with only 50 per cent capacity.

In all categories, the government has mandated adherence to strict Covid Appropriate Behaviour and violators would be slapped with hefty fines/penalties and termination of their services till the end of the Centre`s pandemic orders, the report said.