Marketers rejoice Delhi Govt decision to lift 8 PM ban

New Delhi: With ease of restrictions setting in the National Capital from Monday onwards, Delhities are gearing up to revisit their favorites shopping destinations. The Delhi government on Saturday announced that the markets may operate as per normal timing following adherence to strict Covid guidelines.

After the outbreak of Covid-19 second wave from March 25th onwards, Delhi went under several phases of lockdown to control the outbreak of the virus. BizzBuzz, over several months, spoke with different market associations and vendors on the loss of business and livelihood. As of now, associations are rejoiced with the latest decision to ease all restriction with many marketers hoping to operate for 12-13 hours to cover-up loss of revenues incurred in the past several months.

Rakesh Kumar Yadav, president, Federation of Sadar Bazar Trades' Association (FESTA), welcomes the decision by the Kejriwal government, but cautions that the threat by Covid virus may not be completely over yet. He says that Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) should ensure that threat against Covid is still very much plausible and strict adherence to protocols must be followed by the visitors as well as businesses.

"I welcome this decision by Delhi government to ease restrictions, but there shouldn't be a perception that Covid is over. I will be submitting letter to Kejriwal on behalf of FESTA to speak with Home Ministry and deploy paramilitary forces here at Sadar Bazar to control the crowd," Yadav told BizzBuzz.

Sadar Bazar, one of the largest shopping spaces in Delhi, is a major attraction due to its varied offerings for festive occasions and wedding requirements. According to Yadav, the efforts to vaccinate the workforce needs to be amplified since only 10 per cent of the labourers, in Sadar Bazar, are vaccinated yet.

As per the data shared by the city health department, no death due to Covid-19 was recorded in Delhi on August 20 and 21, while 19 fresh cases were reported on Saturday, the lowest count since April 15 in 2020.

With festive season beginning, market spaces like Sadar Bazar, Chandini Chowk, Chawdi Bazar,

Lajpat Nagar are expectant to see surge of customers. Shopkeepers are expecting an exponential increase of visiting customers to throng the market and make purchases thereby giving a boost to demand of local products. Shivani Sharma, a local businesswoman at Delhi's Dwarka, says that she is optimistic to see an increase of three times in customers since the festive seasons are beginning from Sunday onwards including Rakhi, Teej, Navratri, Diwali, and other joyous festivals stretched out till next year.

"Customers are tired of being indoors and shopping online. With restrictions being lifted, people will not be in rush to go back home. I think everyone has missed the outer world," says Sharma with much optimism.