Chennai: Brisk business during Diwali washed out by rain

CHENNAI: After months of poor business due to pandemic, the hospitality and retail sector in the city was badly affected by the recent rain.
Footfalls in restaurants and retail shops that had picked up during the festival season, dropped significantly, while the occupancy rate at hotels in Chennai and in the tourist hotspot of Mamallapuram was minimal.
Business establishments in the commercial hub of Pondy Bazaar that was bustling till the Diwali weekend are yet to revive from the impact of rain. An eatery with empty seats has trimmed its menu because of poor footfalls over the past four days.
On Saturday, though parking was full along the 'Pedestrian Plaza', the weekend crowd was missing.
The situation was similar in the wholesale and retail textile market of Washermenpet.
Hotels in the city and Mamallapuram recorded several cancellations of bookings due to heavy rain and some conferences scheduled at five-star facilities were put off this week. For instance, TTDC's Beach Resort Complex at Mamallapuram has only 30% to 40% confirmed reservations, which touched 95% in the past three months.
G Venkat, an employee at an ornaments outlet at Pondy Bazaar said business and walk-ins had dipped. "Our business picked up during Ayudha Puja and peaked during Diwali, but fell flat due to rain. When shops reopened post-Covid lockdown, there was a shortage of products, while customers were available. Now, products are in plenty, but no takers," he said.
A V S Marimuthu, high-level committee member of Washermenpet Cloth Merchants Association said the market records an average sale of 100 crore daily. "Diwali saw brisk business. However, rain cost our business, which is hardly 10% of the normal trade in our market," he said, adding that traders were expecting a revival from Monday.