Lucknow begins to unlock cautiously
Aminabad, Chowk and other markets reopen after about 70 days, traffic back on roads
LUCKNOW: The state capital began its journey on the road to normalcy, with caution, as markets in Aminabad, Chowk and other areas reopened on Monday after about 70 days of lockdown. The district administration followed the odd-even scheme to open the shops.
Normal traffic also returned to the roads in Charbagh and Aminabad. With auto-rickshaws and some cabs back, vehicles moved at snail’s pace at a number of crossings in the city.
Sanjay Gupta, president of the UP Adarsh Vyapar Mandal, said: “Traders hope to get back their normal business, but this may take six months or so. Before the lockdown, Lucknow saw a trade volume of around Rs 4,500 crore daily.”
SALONS, BARBER SHOPS
A good number of people visited barber shops in the city, carrying their own towels with them.
Anuj, owner of a beauty and hair cutting salon in Alambagh and Aminabad, said: “We are using one towel for one customer. But this has increased our expenses. We are also taking precautions while cutting people’s hair. Customers are sanitised properly on entry.”
Salman of Diamond Hair Cutting Saloon said, “People are coming in large numbers, but we are not allowing them to sit inside because our shop is not that big. We cannot compromise on social distancing.”
President of UP Adarsh Vyapar Mandal Sanjay Gupta said, “Those markets, which reopened a week, back are having only 10% of sale which they used to have in the past. The oddeven formula of opening shops is also hurting business, but something is better than nothing.”
Markets in Alambagh, Krishna Nagar, LDA Colony Kanpur road, Ashiana, Natkhera and Rajajipuram also saw a good flow of customers.
ACs, FRIDGES IN DEMAND
Showrooms of air-conditioners saw good sale on Monday. Anand Rastogi, owner of an electronics showroom in Patrakarpuram (Gomti Nagar) said, “Yes, air-conditioners and refrigerators are selling, but we have already lost half of the season.”
“Many shops have reopened after two months and most of the traders are setting things in order. Customers are missing in the market,” said Suresh Chablani, a trader in Aminabad.
He said, “As a precautionary measure, customers will have to remain behind the rope, which has been tied near the counter, to avoid direct touch and maintain social distancing.”
SANITISING CONSUMERS
Sanjay Rastogi, a showroom owner in Chowk, said, “We will allow only two customers at a time to come inside our shops while others can stand outside on the marked circles to ensure social distancing. Only a few customers came to our shop today.”
Traders kept sanitiser bottles and sanitised every customer.
POLICE ALERT
In Aminabad, policemen were seen making announcements urging shopkeepers not to encroach roads and ensure that there was no crowding outside their shops. Meanwhile, Naka Hindola saw chock-a-block traffic despite shops being open on one side of the road only.