Maharashtra is experiencing a massive number of Covid-19 infections at present. So, the Maharashtra state government, along with the Central Government of India, has imposed strict regulations on intra-state travel as well as domestic and international travel to the state.

Guidelines for Domestic Visitors by Air
• At present, only six airports in Maharashtra are accepting domestic visitors- Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Kolhapur and Shirdi airports
• All visitors arriving at Maharashtra’s airports will be thermally screened to test their temperature
• If they are found showing symptoms of Covid-19 infection, they will have to get tested (out of their own pocket) and then quarantine for the necessary 14 days
• It is mandatory for all passengers travelling to Maharashtra to have the Arogya Setu app downloaded on their phone
• All domestic passengers arriving in Maharashtra will be required to home quarantine for 14 days even if they are asymptomatic
• Passengers who are travelling from states with high Covid-19 infection rates like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal and Goa need to carry a negative RT-PCR report with them at the time of travelling. (If they cannot provide the report, they will have to get tested at the airport at their own expense. They will also have to provide their contact information, so the state government can inform them if their report is positive).

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Guidelines for International Visitors by Air
• At present international flights are only operating through the Mumbai airport (CSMIA)
• International travellers will have to first submit a self deceleration regarding Covid-19 on the Air Suvidha portal of India before they can be scheduled to travel
• Next, international visitors will have to upload a negative RT-PCR report on the portal www.newdelhiairport.in. This test should be conducted within 72 hours from the departure time of the flight. Only those passengers who are travelling to Maharashtra due to the death of a family member can apply for an exemption from this rule. They will have to apply for the exemption on the online portal at least 72 hours before their flight.
• All passengers will have to undergo thermal screening at their departure location, and only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board flights to Maharashtra.
• All international passengers will be asked to self-monitor for 14 days. If they show any symptoms, they will be asked to home quarantine for 14 days as well.
• All travellers from UK, Europe or the Middle East will have to provide test samples at the airport. Even if they are asymptomatic, they will all have to undergo mandatory institutional quarantine for 14 days in Maharashtra at their own cost. They can choose to get an RT-PCR test on their 5th or 7th day of the quarantine at their own expense. If they test negative, they will be allowed to complete the rest of their quarantine at home.

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Guidelines for Transit Passengers by Air
• Passengers who arrive in Mumbai and want to take flights to other cities of Maharashtra will have to quarantine in Mumbai for 14 days mandatorily.
• Transit passengers who arrive in Mumbai and are travelling to out of state cities or international destinations will not have to quarantine in the city provided they can furnish a negative RT-PCR test conducted within 72 hours before their arriving flight. But these passengers will also have to give samples and wait 6 hours at the airport for another negative RT-PCR report before they can proceed to their next destination.
Guidelines for Passengers Arriving by Train
• All passengers arriving by train to Maharashtra will have to undergo mandatory 15-day home quarantine. Even passengers with negative RT-PCR tests or negative Rapid Antigen Test results will be required to quarantine.
• All passengers arriving will be stamped on their hands to denote the 15 days mandatory quarantine period.
• Passengers arriving by train from Covid-19 hotspot states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal -Kolkata and Goa will have to carry a negative RT-PCR test report with them issued within 48 hours before travel. If they cannot provide the report, passengers will have to undergo a Rapid Antigen Test at the station.
Guidelines for Passengers Arriving by Road
• A negative RT-PCR test report issued within 48 hours will be checked at state and district borders. Those who cannot provide a report will not be allowed to enter.

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Guidelines for Travel Within Maharashtra
• Maharashtra is under lockdown till June 1st to control the rise of Covid-19 cases in the state, and rickshaws, cabs, and private vehicles will only be allowed on the streets in case of emergencies
• At present intra-state travel is only allowed for essential service providers, local public authorities in case of death of a first relative, marriage or a medical emergency
• All those who need to travel inter-district or intra-state in Maharashtra at present have to apply for a Maharashtra government e-pass

The Covid-19 pandemic is taking many innocent lives all across the country. But following a few simple rules can keep us as well as our community safe during this global crisis.

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