MUMBAI: On Saturday, Day Two of ‘Mission Begin Again’, more customers started emerging to make purchases. Shops operated the odd-even scheme in an improved, systematic manner. Traders have sought permission from the state to operate normal business hours till 8-9pm rather than close at 5pm.
Viren Shah, president of the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association, wrote to tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray with a request to change the current timings. “All shopkeepers have started requesting that the present hours of 9am to 5pm be changed to 11am to 8pm so that more business can be achieved. This will yield more taxes to the government and businessmen will be able to pay their staff. Even customers can make purchases in an easy manner.” He said the GNorth Ward (Dadar, Mahim) has relaxed timings till 8pm.
In Worli Koliwada, which has witnessed a high number of Covid-19 cases, several shoppers streamed into the streets until police cracked the whip and enforced social distancing among them.
Mulund retailers received permission to open shops a day late—they were forced to remain closed on Friday. MLA Mihir Kotecha said, “Three to four hours were spent in cleaning the shops and setting things in order.”
Shopkeepers took precautions like wearing masks and gloves, and kept sanitizers at the doorstep,” said Ramesh Jain, owner of a jewellery store on J N Road. Here, too, traders clamoured for permission to work until late evening instead of closing at 5pm. At Hiranandani Meadows, Thane, a clothing boutique was the only additional store to open since Friday. In general, there were many more people on the roads than on Day 1.
In Thane, traders were unable to observe social distancing norms to the fullest. The wholesale market in Jambhli Naka opened on one side, but certain businessmen opposite the road too tried to operate at half-shutter. An average of 40% shops opened in Navi Mumbai and Panvel.
Viren Shah, president of the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association, wrote to tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray with a request to change the current timings. “All shopkeepers have started requesting that the present hours of 9am to 5pm be changed to 11am to 8pm so that more business can be achieved. This will yield more taxes to the government and businessmen will be able to pay their staff. Even customers can make purchases in an easy manner.” He said the GNorth Ward (Dadar, Mahim) has relaxed timings till 8pm.
In Worli Koliwada, which has witnessed a high number of Covid-19 cases, several shoppers streamed into the streets until police cracked the whip and enforced social distancing among them.
Mulund retailers received permission to open shops a day late—they were forced to remain closed on Friday. MLA Mihir Kotecha said, “Three to four hours were spent in cleaning the shops and setting things in order.”
Shopkeepers took precautions like wearing masks and gloves, and kept sanitizers at the doorstep,” said Ramesh Jain, owner of a jewellery store on J N Road. Here, too, traders clamoured for permission to work until late evening instead of closing at 5pm. At Hiranandani Meadows, Thane, a clothing boutique was the only additional store to open since Friday. In general, there were many more people on the roads than on Day 1.
In Thane, traders were unable to observe social distancing norms to the fullest. The wholesale market in Jambhli Naka opened on one side, but certain businessmen opposite the road too tried to operate at half-shutter. An average of 40% shops opened in Navi Mumbai and Panvel.
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