Possibility of increase in spread of infection due to resumption of flight services cannot be denied : CM Baghel

Domestic flights should be started with effective measures and guidelines

Chief Minister writes letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister of State Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri

States should be informed about each flight and details of the passengers

14-day quarantine only in state government-run centers or paid quarantine should be made compulsory

Raipur, 23 May 2020/ Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has written letter to Union Minister of Civil Aviation of State (Independent Charge) Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri about the Union Civil Aviation Ministry’s decision of resuming domestic flights from May 25. Mr. Baghel has stated in the letter that the possibility of increase in number of COVID-19 patients after resumption of domestic flight services cannot be denied. He insisted that for prevention and containment of COVID-19 infection, Union Ministry of Civil Aviation should resume flight services only with effective preventive measures and strict guidelines. States should be informed about each and every flight along with detailed information about the passengers. 14-day quarantine in government-run centers or in paid quarantine should be made compulsory for the passengers traveling via flights. They should be informed about the mandatory quarantine rule at the time of book tickets. Chief Minister Mr. Baghel stated in the letter to Union Minister Mr. Puri that he has received information about Government of India’s decision to resume domestic flight services from 25/5/2020 from various print, electronic and social media platforms. I have also been informed that Civil Aviation Ministry has not issued any standard operating procedure for movement of passengers, stated Chief Minister in the letter.
Mr. Baghel stated that as per the guidelines issued by Government of India’s Home Ministry, all the flights have been restricted under lockdown phase-4 from 18/05/2020. In past few days, steep rise in number of COVID infected people across the country has been noticed. In this situation, the possibility of further rise in this number cannot be denied. For prevention of COVID-19 infection, Civil Aviation Ministry should resume operation of flights with proper preventive measures and guidelines.
Mr. Baghel requested Union Minister of State that States should be informed about each flight, along with the detailed information about the passengers arriving in the state. 14-day quarantine (only in centers run by state government or paid quarantine) should be made compulsory for all the passengers travelling through airways. Information about Mandatory Quarantine related rules and regulations should be given to the passengers at the time of booking air tickets. Resumption of flight services with aforementioned effective guidelines will help state governments in prevention and containment of the pandemic. Chief Minister has expressed hope that you would deliberate upon aforementioned suggestions on a serious not and resume flights only with strict and effective guidelines.