NEW DELHI: The odd-even plan worked out for markets in the second phase of unlocking of the capital left many show owners confused on Monday because either the numbers of the shops were not in sequence or all shops located within a complex which had a designated number decided to stay open.
This defeated the objective of reducing congestion and maintaining social distancing.
Major markets like Central Market in Lajpat Nagar, South Extension, Khan Market and Greater Kailash-I M Block market faced this problem.
Wholesale markets like Sadar Bazar are opposed to the plan because customers won’t want to turn up on multiple days.
As a result, many shops next to each other were found to have opened at many places but footfall was quite low.
Sarojini Nagar market, however, saw about 30% of its usual customers turning up, mostly women who had been postponing essential purchases.
Many shop owners preferred to carry out maintenance work and review their stock position on Monday while some were waiting for their workers who have left the city to return.
Many shops at M Block market in GK-II, however, had the “To-Let” sign displayed outside.
The owners seemed to have thrown in the towel.
Meanwhile, a month after it was shut down and 48 days after its doors were closed for passengers not engaged in essential services, Delhi Metro resumed operations from Monday with restrictions in place.
The day also witnessed the maximum number of buses of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and the cluster scheme hitting the roads.
Delhi Metro, which was allowed to operate with 50% seating capacity and no standing passengers, witnessed around 4.5 lakh “passenger journeys” till around 8.30 pm on Monday.
Before the lockdown was imposed in Delhi on April 19, Metro had witnessed 20 lakh passenger journeys on an average every day.
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