As the CoronaVirus cases are continuing to rise in Hyderabad city, Business and market associations are imposing self-curfew in the markets.
Several businessmen and business associations in the city have decided to keep their establishment closed for a period between seven to ten days as a precautionary measure following the rise in CoronaVirus positive cases.
Lad Bazar
The Lad Bazaar Bangle Market Association also decided to close their shops for a week from Friday onwards. “All the shops in the market will be closed from Friday for next week. The decision is taken collectively by all the shopkeepers,” said the association members.
Pathergatti
Many shops at the Pathergatti were closed as the local traders decided not to open their shops for the next few days.
“As a precautionary measure, we decided to close down the shops from Thursday. Already few shopkeepers did not open the shops today and more will follow from Friday as orders placed by customers are to be handed over by them,” said Abid Moinuddin, president, Pathergatti Traders Association.
Troop Bazar
The city’s famous sanitation market Troop Bazar which packed with vendors and shoppers, but unfortunately not anymore. The Sanitary Goods and Association advertised on Thursday it will be shut down all the shops from this upcoming Friday to July 5.
The association took this decision after the rapid growth in CoronaVirus cases in Hyderabad limits.
The Association’s joint secretary said that business was cut short this year since, CoronaVirus affected the Bazaar.
“It was a hard call to close the market,” said a shop owner.
Due to the CoronaVirus, the Troop Bazaar market only has one entrance and one exit. This made trips to the market difficult.
“It meant more of a wait for customers who came here in that they had to stand outside,” explained shopkeeper.
Begum Bazar
Hyderabad’s Begum Bazar to remain under voluntary lockdown
The Hyderabad Kirana Merchants Association has voluntarily declared the lockdown of shops at Begum Bazar from June 28 to July 5.
Laxmi Narayan Rathi, President, Hyderabad Kirana Merchant Association, said, “Hyderabad Kirana Merchants Association has decided that from June 28 to July 5, it will voluntarily implement a complete lockdown of the commercial market at Begum Bazar.”
“In the meeting conducted today, all the merchants have supported this decision,” Rathi said.
Rathi added that the decision was taken for the safety of all the merchants, customers, staff, and residents staying in the commercial market zone because of the CoronaVirus situation.
“We have voluntarily decided to close all the shops in the commercial market at Begum Bazar. After observing the effect of the lockdown of Kirana shops, we shall extend the lockdown of Kirana shops in the commercial market at Begum Bazar,” said Mahesh Kumar Gupta, General Secretary, Hyderabad Kirana Merchants Association.
Hyderabad MP Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi
Hyderabad MP Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi appreciates the decision of shop owners’ associations by tweeting “This is a proper decision by traders of Lad Bazaar & other areas in Hyderabad. There is a total of 5883 cases in GHMC. My appeal to you is to: -Ensure social distancing -Avoid large gatherings/crowding -Wear masks -Not step out unless it’s essential “
NGOs wants lockdown to reimpose
There has been a rapid increase of COVID-19 cases and fatalities in the GHMC limits, particularly in the South Zone and western parts of the city post unlock 1.0. Hence, the city-based NGO Helping Hand Foundation (HHF), a public health NGO and advocacy group, appealed to KCR to impose an immediate curfew in Old City and the west zone for a minimum of three to four weeks.
The NGO further appealed to the state government to ramp up beds with central line oxygen supplies in government hospitals and capacity mainly in the Old City area to impose a 24-hour curfew in those zones.
HHF sent a repression letter to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary and requested those with authority and influence to get the government to take notice of this.