MUMBAI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- India's western state of Maharashtra has sought more time to open up the airports from the country's federal government as the novel coronavirus cases continue to surge in the state.

A migrant laborer walks to a railway station to take a special train for migrant laborers during the lockdown in New Delhi, India, May 7, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)

Addressing the citizens of the most industrialised state of the country with Mumbai as its political capital, Maharashtra, Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray said, "I understand the need for opening up air travel, but we need more time to prepare."

India's federal government has allowed domestic flights to resume from Monday but Maharashtra government is against allowing significant staff at airport as also plying of buses and cabs as the state accounts for one-third of the COVID-19 cases in the country.

"It's extremely ill-advised to reopen airports in red zone. Mere thermal scanning of passengers' is inadequate without swabs. Impossible to have autos/cabs/buses ply in current circumstances. Adding positive passenger will add Covid stress to red zone," said Anil Deshmukh, Home Minister, Maharashtra state.

So far Maharashtra has allowed special flight including international transfer passengers, medical emergencies, students among several others on compassionate grounds.

While aviation is a federal subject, the support in terms of public transport to ferry passengers from and to their last mile destination lies with the state.