The number of novel coronavirus cases in the country rose to 110 on Sunday, with Maharashtra reporting the highest followed by Kerala, while over 450 stranded Indians were flown back from Italy and Iran, the two worst-affected countries after China, and quarantined.

Extending the border restrictions in view of the coronavirus outbreak, the government has suspended travel and registration of pilgrims to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara through the corridor from Sunday midnight, besides movement of all types of passengers to Pakistan through international border points.

All types of passenger movement were suspended on Saturday night through the Indo-Bangla, Indo-Nepal, Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Myanmar borders, barring a few specified border checkposts.

In a video-conference of SAARC members, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed setting up a COVID-19 emergency fund with India committing USD 10 million initially for it, and asserted that the best way to deal with the pandemic, which has now reportedly killed more than 6,000 people across the world, was by coming together and not growing apart.

Apart from Modi, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, Bhutanese premier Lotay Tshering, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Health Zafar Mirza participated in the video-conference.

According to the Union Health Ministry, there are 110 cases in India so far, including the two persons who died in Delhi and Karnataka and 17 foreigners. Ten patients have been discharged.

As a precautionary measure, more states ordered closure of public places, including schools, cinema halls and malls, till month-end, courts were restricting their sittings, companies introducing the work-from-home option for employees and film bodies putting off shootings of films and shows.

Among the fresh cases, 13 were reported in Maharashtra, taking the count to 32, the Union health ministry said.

Delhi has so far reported seven positive cases, Kerala 22 and Uttar Pradesh 12. Karnataka has six coronavirus patients while Ladakh three and Jammu and Kashmir has two. Telangana reported three cases. Rajasthan also reported two cases. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab have reported one case each.

Uttarakhand reported its first coronavirus case on Sunday.

In Kerala, 20 Dubai-bound passengers were detained at the Kochi airport after a UK national, who was under surveillance but sneaked out and joined the group, tested positive for novel coronavirus, official sources said.

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The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has sought a response from Noida  Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) for establishing a cheaper transit rail system in Gautam Budh Nagar area.

According to NMRC officials, Metrolite will target remote areas in Noida. “We have been asked for feedback for setting up Metrolite in Gautam Budh Nagar. While there is nothing on paper yet, it will be an elaborate tram system which will navigate through the city. We will start estimating the cost of the project soon,” said an NMRC official.

As per ministry specifications, the Metrolite system will comprise three non-separable coaches and trains will run at a speed of 25-60 km/h.

“The specifications for the light rail transport were under discussion for two years… The planning lies with the state government,” said a ministry official.

The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has issued standard specifications of the ‘Metrolite’ system which will be developed on surface and elevated stretches.

According to the ministry, the ‘Metrolite’, which can be developed at a lower cost in comparison with existing metro system, will also act as feeder system to high capacity Metro.

The three-coach train will have capacity of carrying 300 passengers. Sources said the government would provide financial assistance to states to implement the light urban rail transit system.

The ‘Metrolite’ system will have a dedicated path separating the road traffic with it. For segregation with road traffic, fencing can be provided on either side of network.

The ‘Metrolite’ system will have shelter platforms.

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