Shops in city open up to very few customers

Hawkers are not allowed to carry out their business on roadside

Shops in several markets in the old city opened on Tuesday after two months of lockdown.

However, customers did not step out of houses for shopping even though only five days are left for Id.

Shops in the Pathargatti and Patel market area opened alternatively on the first day of lockdown4. GHMC officials have marked the shops with odd and even numbers to differentiate the shops. On the first day, the shops which were marked as even have opened, while odd numbered ones will open tomorrow. Hawkers were not allowed to do business on the roadside.

Mohammed Arif of Khatoon sarees said since many shops have opened after a gap of almost two months. We spent the whole first day cleaning and setting things in order. Only five days are left for Id, instead of doing business in oddeven scheme and restrictions on working hours, it seems better to stay at home. It is not feasible to do business on an alternate day full of

overheads.

He requested the government to reconsider the odd-even plan and allow traders to do business in

night hours considering the Ramzan season. People will not step out of homes on hot days while fasting. He also demanded

● GHMC OFFICIALS have marked the shops with odd and even numbers to differentiate the shops. On the first day, the shops which were marked as even have opened, while odd numbered ones will open tomorrow.

to waive electricity bills and reduces taxes for the current financial year.

Another cloth merchant revealed that they were unable to introduce new trends as we could not purchase new stock for Id this time due to the lockdown. “Every year, we purchase new stock 20-30 days before the commencement of Ramzan, but this time we could not go anywhere for purchasing as the lockdown was in force,” he said.

He said people are not zealous about shopping this time due to the lockdown as the campaign ‘Say No to Id shopping this year to help the needy’ gained momentum with backing from a cross-section of the Muslim community.