Passengers arriving at Mumbai airport who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are no longer required to carry negative RT-PCR test reports for coronavirus, the Maharashtra government said on Tuesday evening.

The state government had, in May, made it mandatory for domestic air passengers arriving at Mumbai to carry a negative RT-PCR test report for coronavirus conducted 48 hours prior to their journey as the ferocious second wave of Covid-19 was sweeping across the country. 

However, as coronavirus cases continue to decline, Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai Iqbal Singh Chahal on Tuesday issued a directive exempting fully vaccinated people arriving at Mumbai airport.

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In a letter to Maharashtra chief secretary, Mr Chahal said: "There are many passengers who are taking up journey to Delhi or other business places in the morning and they are returning back on the same day in the evening or next day morning, in such case conducting the RT-PCR test and getting the report becomes impossible."

He said since the vaccination drive started across the country, many vaccinated people have been requesting to waive the condition of carrying the negative Covid report.

Taking this into consideration, “domestic passengers who are fully vaccinated may be exempted from carrying a negative RT-PCR test report while arriving in Mumbai," the official added.

Meanwhile, the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has now shot past the 38.50 crore mark.