On Friday, the state government announced that all non-essential services, including private offices and stores in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur would remain shut till March 31
While the number of confirmed cases in Delhi stand at 27, including a death, Maharashtra reported highest cases in the country at 64
In a statement, he said steps needed to be taken for daily wagers at a time when major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Nagpur etc are under lockdown
Talking to reporters, Tope said the number of coronavirus positive patients in the state has increased to 63 with 11 new cases
\All government offices will function with 25 per cent attendance and local trains and buses will continue to operate as usual in Mumbai to allow for smooth functioning of essential services
On Friday, most shops were shut and the narrow streets empty.
After chairing a review meeting here in the evening, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said half of the staff in government offices will work in rotation and come to work on alternate days
Public transport in Mumbai and government offices will continue, said Thackeray, according to news agency PTI
State governments are also taking proactive measures. Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have all moved closer to imposing a lockdown
He, however, has ordered the closing of all schools and colleges in the state
The laboratory capacity to test samples of suspected novel coronavirus will be expanded to 350 per day from the present 100 per day
The rivalry between Raj and Uddhav was part of the state's political grapevine when the former was with the Sena, and out in the open when he walked to form the MNS on March 9, 2006
The BJP asked why he and his party were silent on certain issues such as comments of Congress leaders berating Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
The Sena said Thackeray's visit to the temple town is out of devotion for Lord Shriram
Instructions to the effect have been issued by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to the concerned departments
Thackeray's remarks came days after Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik informed the Legislative Council that the state government will provide five per cent quota to Muslims in education
The Congress and the NCP are reportedly miffed over the chief minister's stand on NPR and CAA
Thackeray is also scheduled to meet Sonia Gandhi, Amit Shah and L K Advani during the visit
Thackeray assured that he will "personally check the columns" in the NPR, adding there shouldn't be any problem with the exercise in Maharashtra
Uddhav Thackeray also said the BJP was not the 'flag bearer' of Hindutva