Chandigarh: Few run back into Sector 17 arms

CHANDIGARH: Months after a deadly virus reordered daily life in the city, Sector 17 on Tuesday reopened to a wary public that did not rush out to embrace one of its favourite destinations.
Shopkeepers opened their shutters after almost two months, cleaned the surroundings, set things in order and waited. “Till afternoon, there was not even a single customer. Later, some came.The footfall was almost 5% as compared to normal days before the coronavirus pandemic,” said cloth merchant Sanjiv Mahajan, hopeful of business picking up in the coming days.
Like Sector 17, many other markets too opened for the first time since the lockdown came into force in the last week of March. There too, the same story was repeated.
Rajesh Kumar, a shopkeeper in Sector 22 Shastri Market, said there were no customers, with the business being only 4% to 5%.” Congested markets like Shastri Market and others are following the odd-even policy for reopening. The mobile market in Sector 22 bucked the trend. People were standing in queues outside shops to get their phones fixed or buy a new one. At the basement of the mobile market, social distancing went for a toss.
Public dealing began at government offices, but in a very restricted manner. The Registration and Licensing Authority (RLA), Sector 17, reduced online appointments for licences and RCs by 50%. Only 300 appointments were given against the practice of 600 in a day. Similarly, 50-60 appointments were given for driving licence test at Traffic Park, Sector 23. It was over 100 earlier. The RLA even set up a counter outside office, allowing entry to only those who have an appointment.
E-sampark centres too opened.