Pune: Shops in Pimpri Chinchwad shut early despite relaxations

PIMPRI CHINCHWAD: Almost all essential shops in Pimpri Chinchwad down their shutters by 2pm, despite relaxations in timings by the authorities. Even fuel stations follow the old timings.
Last week, the Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporation (PCMC) announced a series of measures to kickstart businesses as it sought to tell citizens that "life and the virus have to co-exist".
It said that most shops could remain open from 9am to 5pm, and some others for a longer period of time. However, most shopkeepers have stuck to the 10am to 2pm timing.
"We don’t get enough business in the afternoon and people are now used to buying in bulk," said Kanataben Parmar, a grocer. She said that most people do not want to stay out in the open for long.
Satish Chavan, a fuel refiller, said that there was no staff to keep the station open till 5pm.
"There are five kiosks, but only one is operational. All the workers left for their home village and are unwilling to come back," he said.
PCMC additional commissioner Santosh Patil said that no restriction had been imposed by the civic body. “If they don’t feel comfortable, let them remain open till 2pm, There are challenges like labour shortages, among others," he said.
In the process, however, there is crowding in some shops which patrons feel can be avoided by spacing out the timings.