The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ordered the closure of all shops except groceries and medicine shops on alternate days of the week to reduce crowding.
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The order comes in the wake of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday declaring a staggered closure of shops among a number of measures after a rise in COVID-19 cases in the State.
On Thursday, assistant commissioners notified important roads in their areas where all shops, except grocery shops, pharmacies and those selling other essentials, will remain shut. These include JSS Road, Walkeshwar Road, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Dr. B Ambedkar Road, Sion Station Road, Bhandarkar Road, Veer Nariman Road, areas around Crawford Market, G.D. Somani Marg, D.N. Road, Dr. Annie Besant Marg, E. Moses Road, Tilak Road, M.G. Road, Vidyavihar Station Road and Gaondevi Road.
The Dadar Vyapari Sangh, which represents 900 shops including 600 in Dadar, declared that its shops will be shut till Tuesday, after which it will review the move. The Dadar Imitation and Cutlery Welfare Association has supported the closure of shops, while the Akhil Ghatkopar Vyapari Mandal has asked all its members to shut their shops till Sunday, following which they will be open on alternate days.
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With every ward notifying such roads, Mumbaikars expressed anxiety about not being able to buy goods.
Smita Jekate, a Matunga resident working from home, said, “We are a little worried that everything is going to be shut on certain days of the week. Right now, we have enough stock of household items, but it is only when we will start running out of things that we will face an issue. Hopefully, nobody will feel the pinch.”
Shop owners agree that this is a necessary measure, but fear that they are staring at heavy losses.
“Business had anyway been slow for several months due to the economic slowdown. And now, we will only be able to operate a few days a week,” said Dhanesh Valechha, who runs a stationery shop in Malad. “People are so scared they are not even stepping out. Schools and colleges are shut. This is going to hit us heavily,” he said.
KDMC orders closure too
The Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation, too, on Thursday ordered all commercial establishments barring essential services to stay shut from 11 a.m. on Friday till March 31. “Establishments selling essential goods, like bakeries, dairies and pharmacies, are exempt from the order. Others found in violation will be liable for action under the Indian Penal Code,” the order said.