More shops set to open in Patna from Monday

PATNA: Shops of different categories in the city, especially those located in commercial complexes, are all set to reopen their establishments on Monday following permission from the district administration.
The district administration had on Friday allowed shops located in shopping and market complexes to operate on odd-even formula from Monday. “For instance, shops dealing with electrical, electronics and automobiles will be opened on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and those dealing with utensils, sports and textile on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays,” DM Kumar Ravi said.
Shops and commercial establishments dealing with essential commodities will remain open on all days.“We have also issued staggered timings and days for shopping establishments,” he said.
With the announcement of relaxations, those running shops at markets and complexes in the city were seen doing cleanliness work in their establishments on Saturday. Kamal Lunia, owner of a shop at Lalji Market, said he has sanitized and painted his shop.
Maurya Lok Shopkeeper Kalyan Samiti president Rajesh Kumar Dabloo said odd-even numbers have been allotted to all shops. “There are nearly 400 shops in Maurya Lok and all of them are being sanitized in order to resume operations from Monday. Since the campus is quite big, social distancing will not be a problem. We have also made it mandatory for every customer to register their contact details,” he added.
Meanwhile, shopkeepers dealing with essential commodities, including groceries, dairy, raw meat and fish as well as automobile service centres are quite elated as they have been allowed to do business on all days. Shashank Saurabh, manager of an automobile service centre, said, “The district administration has taken a right step by allowing us to operate on all days as managing crowds was very difficult with the previous timings.”
Some in the city, however, are not happy with announcement of additional relaxations. “It is true that shopkeepers have to earn a living, but nothing is more important than human life. The relaxations might increase Covid-19 cases in the coming days,” said Hansika, a resident of Kadamkuan.
Nala Road resident Deepa Shree said people have become so relaxed these days that they have forgotten the dangers posed by the pandemic.