NDTV : May 24, 2020, 04:42 PM
Mumbai: Maharashtra today said it is anticipating more coronavirus cases and needs "time to prepare" for the opening of the aviation sector. The lockdown, cannot be lifted even by May 31 -- the deadline for lockdown4, said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, whose state has 47,190 out of 1,31,868 coronavirus cases in the country."I spoke to the Aviation minister (Hardeep Singh Puri) . I understand the need for opening up air travel, but we need more time to prepare," Uddhav Thackeray said during an address to the people of the state. For now, the state will just continue to operate special flights including international transfer passengers, medical emergencies, for students, and others on compassionate grounds.The next 15 days would be crucial, the Chief Minister said. "A lot of movement of people is expected, anticipating more cases as well. So things can open up only gradually. We won't lift lockdown now. We can't say that lockdown will be over by May 31... Need to be extra cautious during monsoon," he added.The resumption of domestic flights -- announced by the Centre earlier this week -- became a matter of uncertainty as Maharashtra indicated its unwillingness to go with the Centre's plan. Though states cannot veto Centre's plan to run open aviation, they can stop passengers from getting off aircraft.Besides Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu -- home to the busy Kolkata and Chennai airports -- objected to the Centre's plan to restart passenger flights from today.Tamil Nadu, which has the second-highest number of cases, too has raised similar concerns as Maharashtra. Bengal, battered by the cyclone Amphan, requested for relief till May 30.Mr Thackeray said as and when Maharashtra lifts the lockdown, it will be done in a phased manner. "We are having a gradual opening of economy... must stop virus first. Will announce packages later," he added, apparently addressing his predecessor, BJP's Devendra Fadnavis' query on why the state is not announcing packages.