Sector 17, other markets open to poor response
CHANDIGARH: The markets in Chandigarh’s Sector 17 and those on the Madhya Marg and in Sector 35 opened up for business on Tuesday for the first time since the lockdown, but the response remained lukewarm.
Some shopkeepers even complained that their goods had gotten damaged while the shops were shut during the lockdown. The owner of Chandigarh Sports in Sector 17, Harkesh Kathuria, said, “The shop was covered in cobwebs and dust.”
Proprietor of Sindhi Sweets in Sector 17, Neeraj Bajaj, said, “We are using UV light to sanitise our sweets but sales remained below 10% of those on an average day.”
Some shopkeepers complained that the wiring in their shops had been gnawed off by rodents. Sanjeev Chaddha, who sells leather products, said, “We left the exhaust fans running during the lockdown, otherwise rats and fungus would have eaten into our products.”
Ajay Gulati, co-owner of Empire Stores, a grocery outlet, was greeted by expired stock of exotic fruits and veggies when he reopened. But footfall had increased on Tuesday, he said.
FOOTFALL MISSING IN CONGESTED MARKETS
Though the city’s congested markets like Shastri Market in Sector 22, Sadar Bazaar in Sector 19 and the motor markets of Sector 48 and Manimajra also opened for business on Tuesday, there was barely any footfall.
President of Sadar Bazaar, Narinder Singh, said, “Shopkeepers opened the booths as per the odd-even norm, but there was no customer the whole day.” President of the Sector 48 motor market, Kamal Suri, said the shopkeepers used the free time to repair wiring that rats had eaten into.
NOT A ROSY START FOR FOOD DELIVERY EITHER
When the UT administration, on Monday, permitted the home delivery of cooked food, it was anticipated to be a moment of cheer for restaurateurs, dhaba owners as well as those who have been craving their pizzas, burgers and kebabs. However, sales on Tuesday were paltry.
Barely a few riders of appbased food delivery companies were spotted on the roads. FMCG outlets like KFC and Domino’s were closed to entry. Ashish, the manager of KFC’s Sector-35 outlet, said only three orders had been delivered by late noon. A Domino’s employee, on the condition of anonymity, said their sales were meagre compared to an average day before the lockdown.
Several dine-in restaurants like Indian Coffee House in Sector 17 and Nik Bakers have begun home delivery of cooked items. Meanwhile, some eateries such as Oven Fresh preferred to stay closed, because “food without the particular ambiance is not the same”.
We are using ultraviolet light to sanitise our sweets but sales remained below 10% of those on an average day. NEERAJ BAJAJ, proprietor, Sindhi Sweets, Sector 17, Chandigarh