With the State Government’s directive of closing educational institutions, movie theatres and parks till April 14, the malls and parks of the State capital wore a deserted look on Tuesday.
Instead of spending the last weekend with friends and family at the city malls or eateries, people preferred staying cooped up at home to avoid any mass contact. Employees at various multiplexes and supermarkets have claimed that the footfall since the extended Holi weekend has come down to half.
“On any weekend, it would be quite difficult to manage the crowd especially once the school exams are over in March. But this time people are not spending much time window shopping and are just dropping in to buy the essentials. While on one hand, it is a good sign that everyone is conscious, on the downside it has adversely affected the business,” said an employee at Reliance Mart.
“Sections of the mart like electronics and apparels hardly have any visitors. Since the time malls in New Delhi have been closed, people are here mostly to buy groceries, ready to make food and toiletries. Hand sanitizers have been flying off the shelves,” he added.
Malls too are taking necessary precautions and trying to create as much public awareness as possible. All employees at the Reliance Mart were seen wearing gloves and face masks.
“In this time of crises, it is a very good directive to shut down the movie theatres.
This will undoubtedly hamper the business of the various shops and eating joints but it is also required. At Nucleus Mall, we have been conducting sanitation drives since March 13 and all the staff members have been provided with gloves and masks.
Surfaces like hand rails, glasses, reception desks are being sanitized on a regular basis,” said Bishnu Agarwal, owner of Nucleus Mall.
“Closing of multiplexes is a good move but it has also affected the business to a great extent. Cinema is a major footfall creator for the mall and closing it down will affect the shopping as well as the gaming zone. At JD Hi Street, we are taking as many preventive measures as possible. At the entry point to the mall, visitors are been given hand sanitizers. The staff is also being very vigilant and anyone seen coughing is being asked to stay home,” said the owner of JD Hi Street, Anurag Sarawgi.
“There is no doubt that the shopkeepers and retailers will incur huge loss but this decision has been taken as per the need of the hour.
All business houses support the government with this move taken in the interest of the public at large,” said Immediate past President, Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Deepak Maroo.