Two months on, Mumbaiites throng markets on first day of unlockdown
Markets across the city were crowded as Mumbaiites stepped out to make purchases on Friday, the first day when shops were allowed to open as part of the state government’s ‘Mission Begin Again’.
Following the state’s announcement on May 31 to start ‘Mission Begin Again’ in three phases from June 3, June 5 and June 8, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation chief IS Chahal on June 2 issued a circular chalking out the ‘unlock plan’ for the city.
As per this circular, from June 3, shops and markets have been allowed to remain open between 9am and 5pm. Trial rooms and exchange or return policies in stores will not be allowed. Malls and shopping complexes have not been allowed to open.
“It is upto the wards to ensure social-distancing rules are followed, and to shut the shop if these rules are violated. Together with shop owners’ associations, wards have to draft a plan to implement the alternate (roads only on one side of the road to open) rule,” said Sunita Joshi, chief facilitator of BMC’S shops and establishments department.
Viren Shah, president of the Federation of Retail Traders’ Welfare Association, said, “We have strictly asked shops to follow social-distancing rules, use sanitisers and masks. Individual shopkeepers, as well as area-wise associations, will monitor the situation.”
Shopkeepers said customers who visited his garment store on Friday were even shopping for small celebrations.
“There is no concept of essential or non-essential items anymore. After 70 days of lockdown, everything becomes essential because people have run out of things. But this odd-even concept can cause further losses to businessmen, who are already suffering from the past two months,” said Haren Mehta, a member of traders’ body Akhil Ghatkopar Vyapari Mandal.