BMC’s new orders: Non-essential shops in Mumbai to operate from 7 am to 2 pm on alternate days

Closed shops seen outside Dadar station on the western side in April. File pics

In a circular issued on Monday, Mumbai's civic chief Iqbal Singh Chahal allowed shops selling non-essential goods to function on alternate days based on the side of the road they are on - left or right. All non-essential shops will have to be shut on weekends. The order, however, has irked shopkeepers who claimed that it is impractical and would only benefit e-commerce players who have been allowed to operate throughout the week.

Police in plainclothes ensure shops remain closed in Nehru Nagar, Kurla, in April

The state government had empowered local Disaster Management Units concerned to take a call on allowing non-essential services based on individual situations. Following this, the BMC allowed shops to operate on alternate days and for e-commerce platforms to deliver non-essential products on all days.

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While the essential services can operate from 7 am to 2 pm on all days, shops with non-essential products on the left side of the road will be allowed to operate on Tuesday and Thursday, while those on the right will be allowed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The following week will see those on the left side opening on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while the others will operate on Tuesday and Thursday. The timings shall be the same as those of shops selling essentials.

Traders of non-essentials put up posters in protest against the restrictions in Crawford Market

Trade associations, however, slammed the order. The Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA) president, Viren Shah, said, "Opening shops on alternate days for a few hours is not acceptable to FRTWA members. It's not practical. When Mumbai's cases are lowest and the test positivity rate is also low, why the step-motherly treatment? This will give complete benefit to e-commerce platforms while shops will be closed for good. Shopkeepers are not at all happy with the half-day arrangement."