12 July,2021 07:40 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
People shop at a market in SV Road, Borivli, where some stores had their shutters partially open on Sunday. Pic/Satej Shinde
As another week starts with no Covid-19 relaxations from the civic body and the state government, city traders have threatened a protest and to vote out the Shiv Sena in the municipal elections to be held early next year. Sources from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, however, indicated that there may be some relaxation in timings next week.
The Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA) has claimed that 25 per cent of the shops are closed because of impractical business hours that do not facilitate paying huge overheads such as salaries and rent. In addition, local trains being off-limits means staff cannot travel to work. Customers, traders say, do not shop much in the morning or afternoon, affecting business.
A shop in a Kandivli market seen operating after 4 pm last week. File pic
Traders claim that Level 1 or 2 restrictions are likely to be brought in only if cases reduce to 200 per day, which seems to be highly difficult. They argued that such restrictions should not be in place. They are also concerned about vaccines often being unavailable and the target of vaccinating 80 per cent to 100 per cent of the population not being achieved. As such, they argue that the city can't be kept closed for months together.
Also read: Mumbai: Private sector jabbed 80,000, public centres shut
"The FRTWA has sent several emails and reminders to the government and all ruling political parties to relax shops timings, but the government has not taken our request seriously. Maharashtra traders are restless, annoyed and upset. This will hamper their business. We will also vote out such a government in elections. If we are not allowed to operate for longer hours and on weekends, there will be a large-scale protest," said Viren Shah, president, FRTWA.
Meanwhile, the BMC is planning to bring in some relaxation and extend timings, but the decision is likely to be formulated only towards the end of this week. Sources said that the fully vaccinated may see some freedom of movement from current restrictions. A civic official said, "We understand that revenue generation is important for the business community. We will look at relaxing timings by next week."
