Authorities take strict precautions as malls open after 70 days

NEW DELHI: Malls and religious places in the Capital reopened on Monday after Centre’s order which was followed by the Aap-led state government.

Authorities in malls were seen taking strict precautions as malls opened after 70 days. Proper arrangement for social distancing were made at the entrance by the management of Select Citywalk Mall to curb the spread of the disease. However, very few shoppers could be seen inside the mall.

Meanwhile, worshippers wore masks and lined up outside the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place.

Prasad was not distributed and people were not allowed to touch the idol and maintain social distancing both inside and outside the temple.

Thermal screening was done at the entrance. There was music and dhol beats to celebrate the reopening of the temple after 70 days.

Worshippers were not allowed to enter without hand sanitisation and masks and walk in through a tunnel which sprayed sanitiser on the people.

Inside the temple, bells were covered to dissuade worshippers from touching it, tilak was also not allowed by the temple priest.

A similar pattern was observed at the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, Sai Baba Temple, and Jama Masjid. However Langar was distributed at the Gurudwara and some temples offered packed prasads.

Shrine of Vailankanni in

Khan Market did not allow more than 10 people to enter at a time.

However, the Haryana government did not allow opening of malls in Gurugram. But it allowed restaurants and food and beverage outlets to operate temporarily on Monday.

Taking a guarded approach most of the fine dining restaurants are still focusing on home deliveries and takeaway. Most of the fine dining restaurants however on Monday began the preparations to sanitise the premises of the restaurant and also devising ways by which they can operate with 50 percent capacity.

Known for its restaurants, pubs and fine dining experience, some of the food and beverage outlets began their operation temporarily. Restaurants also began operations in other areas of the city like Sector-29, Galleria and Sector-14. The district administration has given strict directives to the restaurants in the city to begin functioning again.

“To begin with, the situation is not going to be normal. We have however taken a step to ensure that at least people stop fearing and begin to come out. There are substantial numbers of customers who have visited the restaurant,” said Raghav Malik, a restaurant employee at Sector-29.

Meanwhile, despite the Noida district administration giving go-ahead to malls to start operation from Monday, none of the bigger malls in the district opened. Only two malls — Gaur Mall in Greater Noida west and centre stage mall by wave group in sector 18 of Noida, opened up but that too with compliance of the guidelines of social distancing and at both these malls deep cleaning work and sanitisation was seen to be in progress.

As per the statement given by the management of Mall of India by DLF group, it will take some more time to streamline all the shop and outlets. Similar statement was given by GIP and Noida Central mall.