PATNA: The Bihar government has urged the Centre to extend the nationwide lockdown till the end of this month besides keeping rail and air traffic, other than the Shramik Specials and general passenger flights, suspended during the period, sources said here on Friday.
The suggestions were made in response to the Centre inviting feedback from the states for framing guidelines for the fourth phase of the lockdown which shall come into force from May 18, they said.
In his address to the nation on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hinted that the lockdown which is to end on May 17, would be extended but with revised guidelines to enable resumption of economic activities for which his government has announced Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package.
"The state governments communication is broadly on the lines of the views expressed by chief minister Nitish Kumar in the video conference meeting with the Prime Minister a day prior to the nationwide address," a source said.
They said the state government has sought extension of lockdown and suspension of movement of trains other than the Shramik Specials and general passenger flights in view of the situation that has emerged following the return of migrants to Bihar from across the country on a large scale.
"The state government said it has been scrupulously adhering to the lockdown guidelines and, as stated by the chief minister, will continue to do so. Nonetheless, the aforementioned restrictions ought to remain in place till the end of this month by when the dust is expected to settle on the (migrant) influx," a source said.
Bihar is making efforts to ensure that the process of return of migrants is over within a week and chief minister Nitish Kumar has requested the Centre to run additional train rakes to Bihar for the purpose, besides directing offiRead More – Source
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