As the process of unlock has started, many markets have started opening again in the national capital. The businesses were affected a lot during the lockdown. Now, it is expected that shopkeepers will again be at ease and get their businesses back on track.
CitySpidey talked to shopkeepers at Palika Bazar and tried to find out about the present situation of market.
Ashok Kumar, owner of Silver Moon Jewellery shop said, “The situation of the market is not good. There are a lot of tourists who visit Palika Bazar. As the international flights are not operating as usual, the tourists are not coming. We are hoping that the bad time will pass soon and our work will come back on track.”
Ajay Singh, shopkeeper of Garden Shoes said, “This is a tourist place and since the end of the first lockdown, I haven’t seen any tourist in this market. The sales for a day has decreased by 80 per cent. The market situation is very bad and even we are not able to pay the rents of our shops. The markets used to have a lot of customers on Saturdays but the situation is not same anymore. We get only 4-5 customers in a day.”
Himanshu Grover, owner the shop no 21, Grover said, “The market opened on June 7 and still the condition of the market is very bad. Only 4-5 customers come in a day. Most of the days, I don't earn a single penny. Before Covid, we used to have a good sales but now we are not able to pay the rent of our shops. We all are hoping for the better situation ahead.”
Sahil, owner of a garment shop said, “The sales have dropped significantly. It has become very difficult to pay the rent of the shops. Here, 80 per cent of the shops are on rent. It is getting tougher as the owner of the shops always ask us for rent. My shop is in losses. I also have few helpers at the shop. They are also asking for money. It is very tough to sustain. At present, the market is totally dependent on local customers.”
