Buzz missing from Walled City markets

Jaipur: Traffic jams, shopkeepers screaming and drawing attention of customers, aroma of kebabs and small shops selling kachoris, the Walled City seems to be missing this usual buzz.
Despite the fact that markets in the Walled City, except a few restricted areas, have opened, people are still cautious about venturing out.
TOI on Friday visited the Walled City markets to analyse the ground situation.Be it Johari Bazaar, famous for gems and jewellery, Bapu and Indira Bazaar, known for clothes or Chaura Raasta, known for books, shops in every market were open, but without customers.
“We are only rubbing and washing our hands every now and then. I have never seen such silence in the Walled City,” said Hoshiyar Singh, a shopkeeper at Bapu Bazaar.
At Johari Bazaar, there were hardly any customers. “Logon ke bas phone aa rahey hain log nahin aa rahey (People are calling over phone, but they aren’t coming),” said Risabh Soni, a jeweller at Johari Bazaar
The parking lots only had vehicles owned by the shopkeepers and the famous tea stalls and shops selling snacks were almost empty. “People in the Walled City enjoy coming to the market for buying spices, snacks and to have milk at the halwai shops. But all this is missing,” said a sweet shop owner at Johari Bazaar.
Likewise, people said their priorities have changed for time being. “It’s not just about health, it’s also about the family budget. For our daily puja, we prepare mithai at home rather than visiting a sweet shop. The situation might remain the same till Diwali,” said 76-year-old Durgesh Khandelwal, a retired government employee and a native of Mishra Rajaji Ka Raasta.
A traffic cop at Chandpole Bazar was looking more relaxed. “I have to scream literally on a regular day. There is hardly any traffic. Only traders and locals who have homes here are coming out,” said the traffic constable at Khajane Walon Ka Raasta.