Ludhiana: With the district administration imposing a strict lockdown in Urban Estate phases 1 and 2 of Dugri due to rising cases of coronavirus, movement of residents has been restricted. The businessmen living in these containment zones now cannot go to their factories until the restrictions are lifted.
Offering a solution, father-son businessmen duo of Rajnish Ahuja and Rahul Ahuja of Rajnish Industries has offered the factory owners living in these containment zones a complimentary stay in their four-star hotel till the restrictions are lifted. About 20 rooms of their hotel have been earmarked for the purpose and Ahujas have broadcast the message in WhatsApp groups, drawing a huge response.
Rahul, who is the former president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Punjab, said, “As curfew-like situation prevails in Dugri, businessmen are restricted to their homes and unable to visit their factories, which cannot be run without their presence. Ever since Sunday when these areas were declared containment zones, there was panic among industrialists living there. My father and I thought of doing something for them. Industrialists living in these areas can take care of their businesses only if they move outside the containment zone. So, we decided to offer a complimentary stay in our hotel, Aagaaz, on Pakhowal Road. We have set aside 20 rooms that will be given on a first-come-first-serve basis. The only condition required for availing the stay is a corona negative report.”
Rahul’s father Rajnish said, “As businessmen ourselves, we can understand their problems. Absence of the owner even for one day can take the business back by several weeks. They can make hotel rooms as their temporary homes from where they can go to their factories. Ever since we floated the message, we have got more queries than the number of rooms. As of now interested businessmen are also in touch with the authorities, seeking permission to move to the hotel. They can get approval and move in here any time.”
Businessmen are hailing the gesture. Kulpreet Malhotra, a bicycle manufacturer and exporter, said, “The Ahuja family’s gesture is a great service to the business community. Allowing people to stay in their hotel will cost them a good deal of money, but they still extended a helping hand to the affected businessmen.”