Earlier this month, the Maharashtra government relaxed COVID-19 restrictions in the state. The curbs have been eased by differentiating between administrative areas.
In List A municipalities that include Mumbai, the state has permitted 100 per cent capacity on shopping complexes, restaurants and bars, sports complexes, gyms, swimming pools, cinema halls, tourist places and entertainment parks.
While the citizens have been pressing for the reopening of services, the timing of the same, however, is questionable since it comes in the backdrop of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.
The MVA government that is the ruling coalition party in Maharashtra, includes Shiv Sena which is in power in the BMC. Therefore, speculations can be made that this is a move to appease the vote bank.
As a local myself who has recently been asked to resume work from the office, I have witnessed a steady increase in the local train rush. Herein the local’s lethargy to wear face masks is also apparent.
This phenomenon makes one apprehensive of whether the city is sitting on a ticking coronavirus timebomb that is waiting to explode once the civic polls end.
A major relief given to Mumbaikars is the full capacity operation of both government and private offices. Those part of the professional circle constitute a significant portion of the electoral.
Therefore, giving them the opportunity to fully resume their operations is a move that the government hopes to work in their favour. Similarly, COVID-19 appropriate behaviour often goes for a toss in such a setting with the absence of social distancing and face masks, amongst others.
Commuting to work has been a bone of contention in the last two years owing to the lockdown induced curbs. The government only in August 2021 allowed all locals to ply by the local trains. The service, however, was limited to those fully vaccinated.
What’s seen now is the complete disregard of these regulations by the railway staff who often issue tickets without checking the travellers' vaccination status. One can even go on to claim that pressure could be put upon these officials to enforce rules once the civic body elections are conducted.
Additionally, as the city that never sleeps, a significant part of its economy operates through the hospitality sector. With no constraints in timings coupled with the opportunity to function at 100 per cent capacity for these establishments now, businesses have been given a major relief.
Speculations can be made that the government hopes, the business community will take this into consideration while casting their votes. On the COVID-19 front, while earlier sanitation norms were adhered to, these have largely gone for a toss now.
Critics may not agree with the above nuance for they may believe that the government’s resolutions to introduce relaxations are solely driven by the reduction in cases. However, several studies such as that of the IIT Kanpur researchers predict a fourth wave of coronavirus in India from June 2022
Thus, it will not come as a surprise that cases catapult and restrictions are reinforced given the current flouting of norms.
Also Read: BMC Claims To Have Filled 51,691 Potholes Since April 2021
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