Most retail businesses reopen in TN after 47 days, road traffic up

Vehicular traffic and movement of people on roads saw a consequential increase in most parts of the State including rural regions, the State capital and key cities like Coimbatore, Madurai, and Tiruchy. The tea stalls, which are ubiquitous in the State, opened at 6 am with several performing pujas before starting business. However, only takeaway services are allowed. Two-wheeler and car sales and service showrooms also resumed work. Retail outlets engaged in sales and service of a range of items like motors, mixie, grinder and television also started functioning again.

Private sector firms could be seen functioning with reduced workforce across the State. On May 9, the government had said that in Chennai city and suburbs, all private sector companies can operate between 10.30 am and 6 pm and in the rest of Tamil Nadu, firms can work from 10 am to 7 pm. However, the workforce shall be confined to 33 per cent of the strength, the government had said.

Following the closure of the Koyambedu market, after it emerged as a hotspot recently, the makeshift vegetable market became functional at Tirumazhisai near Poonamallee here with over 300 trucks delivering veggies to the wholesale market. Traders, vendors and truck drivers were screened by health workers before they entered into the new market place.

Dry cleaners, lorry parcel booking service firms, photocopying shops, courier service companies, plywood shops, sawmills, paint stores also reopened.

Also, the government extended the timings for groceries and vegetable shops from the present 5 pm till 7 pm effective Monday throughout Tamil Nadu and these outlets started work from 6 am as usual. Extended timings for standalone shops also came into force on Monday. In Chennai, they can function from 10.30 am till 6 pm as against the previous cut off time of 5 pm.

Though more business establishments — from tea shops to car showrooms — swung into action on Monday, the day one after a 47-day lockdown saw only limited customers. The shop owners also have new guidelines to follow with thrust on social distancing.

“We were open only till noon. The showroom will function full-fledged from Tuesday. There were not many visitors though online enquiry and booking have increased. Also, hereafter meetings will only be through video conference,” said Magesh P, sales manager of Maruti Suzuki showroom at Teynampet.

The showroom has come up with new guidelines that customers and staff should follow. It has removed magazines from the visitors’ room, and is checking the temperature of those entering the shop.

“For a test drive, we have deployed ‘use and throw covers’ in the seat. We have limited the number of staff in the showroom. For the staff, it is compulsory to wear masks and gloves,” he said.

Though the shops were closed for more than 50 days, the shopkeepers have ensured that shops are maintained. “We received only a few customers compared to pre-lockdown days. Till lockdown ends, we would receive only limited customers in tune with social distancing norms,” said a staffer with Instore in Pondy Bazaar.

“Since shops were shut for over two months, people have started shopping online. The staff are staying in the same locality so that they design dresses as and when orders arrive. Also, the delivery is done in sanitised packs,” said Sinthiya Anand, who runs Amor designs at Perambur. She said online orders are up as most of the shops couldn’t function due to lockdown.

However, many tea stalls are yet to open since shop owners and workers got stuck in their hometown. “We didn’t expect this relaxation this soon. But even when the shops are functioning, we are stuck for want of transport,” said Ganesh R, who owns a tea stall at Villivakkam.