For a ‘change’, Chandni Chowk craved for a crowd

NEWDELHI:Anita Kapoor’s (name changed) daughter is set to get married this weekend. But she will have to wait longer for the dress as the Chandni Chowk shop from where she bought it refused to deliver it on Tuesday.

“We have been receiving calls since morning that they have cash and are coming to take the delivery. But we have refused as they would bring ₹500 and ₹1000 notes which have no value. Of course, they are in a fix but we can’t do anything,” said Vikas, owner of the shop.

The famous Paranthe Wali Gali of Old Delhi was also deserted look as customers carrying ₹500 or ₹1000 were turned away.

“On a normal day, there is no space to stand here. But today we haven’t served a single parantha. We are serving only those customers who have enough ₹100 notes,” said Neeraj Sharma, owner of a parantha shop.

The famous Chandni Chowk crowd was also thin on Wednesday. Several shops in the market reported steep decline in sales.

“We don’t understand how this decision was taken. Many of us depend on our daily sales to make ends meet. The impact on small businesses should have been taken into account,” said Nikesh Jain, who has a cloth shop in the Chandni Chowk.

Foreign tourists, visiting Old Delhi, also faced problem as money changers refused to take ₹500 and ₹1000 notes. “What’s the point of exchanging money if it has no value. The foreigners have no money to eat but we are helpless. We will have to wait for the banks to reopen,” said Raj Kumar, who runs an exchange shop in the area.