Amid the surge in coronavirus cases, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday imposed stricter restrictions for the third time in a week. The state government however, has ruled out the possibility of imposing lockdown in the state.  

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Tightening the noose, the state government has allowed 15 per cent attendance in government and private offices, it capped the wedding guests count to only 25 people and reserved the use of public transport for government personnel, medical professionals, or those in need of medical treatment. 

In the last 24 hours, Maharashtra reported 568 covid deaths and 67,468 new cases. These new restrictions are to be implemented from 8:00 pm on April 22 till 7:00 am on May 1, 2021, across the state. 

Maharashtra has become the second state to impose such restrictions after the Delhi government. Unlike last year, the state government deferred to go for complete lockdown and has been tightening the noose after every couple of days amid the exponential surge in the covid cases. 

Here are the list of restrictions on public and private transport: 

1) Private passenger transport excluding buses allowed only for emergency or essential services or valid reasons with driver plus 50 per cent of the seating capacity. 

2) Inter-district or inter-city travel is allowed only for essential service or in case of medical emergencies or attending unavoidable events like funerals or severe sickness of family. People found flouting the order norms shall be punished by a fine of Rs 10,000/-. 

3) The bus service operator, as per the SOPs, must restrict the stoppages to a maximum of two in a city and shall inform the local DMA about the same and the schedule. Local DMA may ask to change these if so desired. 

4) Thermal scanners should be used and anyone with symptoms shall be moved to corona care centers or to a hospital. 

5) Only selected categories of people will be allowed to use local trains, metro and monorail services (excepting long distance trains). As per the order, all government personnel (State/ Central/ Local), Tickets/ passes to be issued to the above category of personnel on the basis of a Government-issued identity card only. 

6) Local Railway officers/ MSRTC officers shall provide all the information that local DMA may require for screening the people travelling by these trains and alighting in their jurisdictions. 

7) At the stoppages where passengers are getting down, all passengers shall be stamped on the hand for 14-day home quarantine. Thermal scanners shall be used and anyone with symptoms shall be moved to corona care centers or to a hospital.