Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has clarified on Friday (January 22) that citizens do not need to wear masks inside private vehicles while commuting in the city. Mayor Murlidhar Mohol informed about this decision taken by the PMC and Pune Police after a meeting with the Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar. However, those travelling in public transport such as cabs or rickshaws will be penalised if they are caught without a mask.
Mohol said, “Citizens have been exempted from the rule of wearing face masks while commuting in their privately owned vehicles. The decision was taken during a meeting with the Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar along with Pune Police Commissioner, PMC Commissioner on Friday.”
“There were discussions from past few days to give some relaxation on this rule. However, this is strictly for privately-owned cars only. Those who are travelling in public transport vehicles are required to wear face masks hereafter too,” he added.
From May last year, 6,520 people were booked in the city for not wearing face masks. A fine of Rs 32,55,600 has already been recovered till date from the violators. Meanwhile, the number of violators came down as only 192 people were booked and a fine of Rs 96,000 was recovered.