THANE: The revision in operating schedules for shops and other establishments announced late the previous night led to confusion among residents and traders who were left harried since Tuesday morning even as authorities forced shut facilities other than essential ones that were operating.
Residents were flocking market places and neighbourhood shops to ensure they were well stocked as news of a more stringent lockdown started doing the rounds since Tuesday morning. Traders were equally confused with a revised directive issued by the Thane corporate late Monday evening extending the lockdown till April 30 instead of the weekend shutdown.
“We were unsure about the lockdown schedules and decided to go ahead with our purchases for a week. There was major crowd at most shops as people scrambled to ensure their weekly ration in time,” said a purchaser at a grocer along the Ghodbunder road.
“Traders have suffered massive losses since last one year and many are on the verge of shutting down as business is at an all-time low. Traders are following safety guidelines and are ready to intensify it but lockdown may not be the solution. It will destroy the economy and the local trader who is already running into massive losses,” said a trader who along with few traders assembled together and staged a protest in Naupada, Tuesday morning.
The turnout in public transport was frugal and income was badly hit due to the restrictions, said a transport officer at Thane while the traffic department also cracked down on errant motorists and auto drivers flouting norms by plying excess passengers.
“As many as 544 motorists were booked for flouting safety norms including autos carrying more than two passengers including those travelling seated along the drivers in cars among others till Tuesday evening,” said Balasaheb Patil, deputy police commissioner, traffic, Thane.