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Maharashtra May Lift Saturday Curbs, Allow Train Travel for Fully Vaccinated People

he Maharashtra government is likely to lift COVID restrictions in the state on Saturdays, with certain limitations in place, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Thursday. However, the weekend restrictions, earlier imposed, will continue on Sundays. Further, the state may allow fully vaccinated people to travel in local trains in Mumbai. The timings for shops, hotels and gyms may be increased from 4 pm to 8-9 pm on the condition that they ensure the staff is fully vaccinated. They will only be allowed to function at 50 per cent capacity. The Uddhav Thackeray government may further allow opening of cinema halls. These relaxations will be introduced in 25 districts of Maharashtra. A detailed guideline will be issued in the next 2-3 days, Tope said. The Maharashtra government is looking at relaxing the restrictions in the state as the COVID-19 cases decline. The state may allow businesses to open and fully vaccinated people to travel. The Maharashtra disaster management department is also in favour of allowing fully vaccinated people to travel in local trains in Mumbai, Tope had said earlier on Thursday. Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and Guardian Minister of Mumbai, Aslam Shaikh, said the COVID-19 task force has submitted its recommendations over relaxations in the state to Thackeray. Those who have taken both doses of COVID vaccine should be allowed to travel and open their businesses, he said. The Cabinet held a detailed discussion took place over the opening of Mumbai local train and Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses for fully vaccinated individuals, Shaikh said. “As a Minister, I am also of the view that person whose two doses are completed should be allowed to travel in Mumbai local, we have also informed Chief Minister about this. After studying the report by the task force, a decision on Mumbai local will be taken in next two to three days," said Shaikh. “Timings in restaurants also must be increased. A decision will be taken soon," he added. So far, only people engaged in essential and emergency services, as categorised by the government, are allowed to travel in local trains as part of the state’s efforts to check the spread of COVID-19. “To keep the wheels of the economy moving in Mumbai, the state disaster management has expressed its opinion in favour of allowing people who have taken both the doses of vaccine to board local trains. Some experts have also suggested increasing the timings of shops and other services beyond 4 pm (the current restriction time)," Tope said.

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Lok Sabha passes bill to amend Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Act

The Lok Sabha on Thursday, through a voice vote, passed the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which was tabled in Parliament by the newly inducted Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiradtiya Scindia for passing. The bill was earlier brought to Parliament in March this year and was referred for a review by the standing committee on transport, tourism, and culture. The bill seeks to amend the 2008 Act by modifying the definition of “major airport” as under the current law, tariffs for the aeronautical services of a group of airports together cannot be determined. The amendment will now insert a provision in the original Act for tariff determination of a “group of airports.” Presenting the bill, Scindia said that under this new clubbing, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) will give priority to airports in smaller cities while newer airports will also be inaugurated. He also listed various areas which have been the beneficiaries of the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) regional connectivity scheme of the government. Apart from newer airports in Assam, Punjab, Karnataka, Scindia specifically spoke about Darbhanga Airport in Bihar which, he said, was “missing” from the map of civil aviation and had now witnessed 110 flight movements from there to various parts of India since last one and a half year. “We have identified five zones for this clubbing which include north, south, east, west, and northeast zone. Based on this clubbing... the Airport Authority of India will be giving priority to airports in smaller cities and newer airports will also be inaugurated…,” he said, adding that the government has the vision to make new airports and also lend a “cross-subsidy” towards the smaller airports. “While today we have 128 airports and 713 airplanes, we are aimed to lead... the aviation sector globally in coming future,” he said. Following Scindia’s speech, the bill was passed in Lok Sabha through a voice vote.

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To attract tourists, Rajasthan to open two safari routes at Nahargarh Sanctuary

Tourists visiting Pink city will have an added destination for leopard safari as the forest department plans to open two routes in Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary (NWS). The routes earmarked are between Papad Ke Hanuman Ji -Mayala Bagh and Biological Park - Odiram Sagar. DFO Ajay Chittora said, “We have received approval to open these routes. The work to develop the grassland and tracks will be started as soon as budget is sanctioned.” As per the wildlife estimation 2020, there are five leopard cubs and 10 adult leopards, including three females and seven males, in the sanctuary encompassing an area of about 52sqkm. Other than the leopards, the department recorded porcupine (35), hyena (30), fox (5), blue bull (248), peacocks (1,440) and mongoose (50) at Nahargarh. Environmentalists have appreciated the move as it will conserve the forest and wildlife. Dhirendra Godha, member of State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) said, “Rajasthan was the first state in the country to initiate ‘Project Leopard’ and started effective monitoring at Jhalana . The move is commendable as it would make Nahargarh flourish like Jhalana. The forest department should also develop Galta in next step as it would give more space for wildlife to breathe.” Hope and Beyond’s chairman Joy Gardner, who is running a campaign ‘Nahargarh Matters’ said, “ Due to shortage of staff , encroachment in the sanctuary is rapidly increasingly. Also, people visiting Nahargarh do not consider it as forest and throw litter and alcohol bottles. In our campaign, we have collected 5.5 tonne garbage so far.” Buoyed by the success of Jhalana, which was introduced two years ago, the department is confident the safari in NWS will attract tourists. A forest officer at Jhalana said, “Jhalana is a shining example of how wildlife tourism can thrive in the middle of a crowded city. On an average, 100 tourists come for safari daily round the year. There are many big hotels in the catchment area of NWS. Eco-tourism will make the sanctuary self- sustained.” Plea for lightning arrester As many celebrities and thousands of tourists visit Shikar Audhi, the erstwhile hunting place, SBWL member Dhirendra Godha has put forward the proposal to install lighnting arrester at the structure. The place stands testimony to all the hunts that were carried out in Jhalana . He said, “This structure has historical relevance and lighting strike threat prevails on it. The forest department should not neglect it and arrester should be installed.”

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IRCTC Mahalaya Pind Daan Tarpan: Visit Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gaya at affordable price

IRCTC Mahalaya Pind Daan Tarpan Tour Package: The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is operating “Pilgrimage Special Tourist Train” for devotees who plan to visit holy cities of India. Under Mahalaya Pind Daan Tarpan Tour Package, the Pilgrimage Special Tourist Train will cover all the important tourist places across India. The special tourist train will depart from Secunderabad railway station on 25 September 2021 at 12:05 AM. Those who wish to avail this tour package can book their tickets online on the IRCTC website. Besides, tickets are also available at Tourist Facilitation Center, Zonal as well as Regional Offices of IRCTC. The IRCTC Mahalaya Pind Daan Tarpan Tour Package is for six nights/seven days. It will cover the holy cities of Varanasi, Prayagraj and Gaya. The boarding and de-boarding points of this tour package include Kazipet, Secunderabad, Khammam, Eluru, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Tuni, Samalkot, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Brahmapur, Khurda Road, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Jajpur Keonjhar Road, Bhadrak, Hijli, Balasore, Tatanagar as well as Bokaro Steel City. The IRCTC Mahalaya Pind Daan Tarpan Tour Package offers two categories to travel. The Standard category will cost Rs 6,620 per person, while the Comfort category will cost Rs 11,030 per person. The Standard category will include train journey by SL class and accommodation in Hall/Dormitories on multi-sharing basis. On the other hand, the Comfort category will include train journey by 3AC class and accommodation in Hotels on the basis of Twin and Triple sharing at places of night stay as well as Quadruple room sharing basis for morning freshening up. Besides, both the categories of this travel package will also include morning Tea or Coffee, one litre drinking water per person daily, pure vegetarian meals (including Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner), tour escorts, an IRCTC Official on train as train Superintendent, non AC road transfers on SIC basis, security arrangements for each train coach (without arms) as well as travel insurance of passengers.

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Vythiri in Wayanad becomes Kerala's first fully vaccinated tourism destination

Vythiri in Wayanad district has become the first fully vaccinated tourism destination in Kerala as part of the State's Covid-19 vaccination campaign to turn all tourism destinations completely risk-free for visitors, the government said on Thursday. It became the first holiday hub to cover the entire population including tourism sector stakeholders under the initiative,according to a release. "In the post-pandemic phase visitors will be looking for safe and hospitable places to spend time.The Government considers it as vitally important to administer Covid-19 vaccine to the entire stakeholders in all the destinations across the state," Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas said in the release. Rolled out on mission-mode to keep the whole of Kerala ready to receive visitors when the pandemic recedes, the inoculation drive has picked up momentum in all destinations including hill stations, backwater hubs, seaside holiday spots and heritage and cultural tourism centres across the state. The Tourism minister had earlier this month announced the initiative. An eco-tourism hotspot located 700 metres above sea level and 60 km from Kozhikode, Vythiri had its entire population, including tourism service providers, vaccinated during an intensive inoculation drive held from July 13-17. Wayanad, sharing borders with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, is a major tourist haven in South India, known for its stunning scenic appeal and congenial ambience. "Blessed with unsurpassed natural beauty, Wayanad has immense tourism potential. We have major plans to develop the area as a hub for a rich mix of holiday and leisure activities including adventure tourism," the minister said.

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Travel restrictions being eased for Indian students by several countries

The government on Thursday said travel restrictions are being eased for Indian students by several countries including the US, Canada, the UK, and Germany and that more nations are expected to do the same when the coronavirus situation improves. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said in the Rajya Sabha that the government has been making efforts for easing travel restrictions for Indian students enrolled in foreign universities. A number of countries imposed travel restrictions for Indians after India was hit by a devastating second wave of the pandemic. The government on Thursday said travel restrictions are being eased for Indian students by several countries including the US, Canada, the UK, and Germany and that more nations are expected to do the same when the coronavirus situation improves. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said in the Rajya Sabha that the government has been making efforts for easing travel restrictions for Indian students enrolled in foreign universities. A number of countries imposed travel restrictions for Indians after India was hit by a devastating second wave of the pandemic. "Our missions abroad have been actively taking up these issues with the respective governments and have been impressing upon those governments to ease the travel restrictions," the minister said. He said the issue of travel restrictions has been taken up at the ministerial level with several countries.

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