In a bid to be well-prepared to fight a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maharashtra government has issued a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for air, train and road travel from, to and across the state. The rules will come into force from November 25. The government has made a COVID-19 negative report mandatory for those arriving in the state by all the three modes of travel from the NCR of Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Goa.

An order issued on Monday asked domestic passengers to carry RT-PCR negative test reports with them, sample collection for which should have been done within 72 hours of the scheduled landing time at airports in the state. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been requested to check the reports before allowing passengers to board flights. Those not carrying the test reports would have to undergo RT-PCR tests at the airport at their own cost. Testing facilities would be made available at the airports. Only after undertaking the tests, the passengers would be allowed to go home from the airport. Passengers who test positive would be contacted and treated.