Pune: The city which had come to a standstill for over 50 days is limping back to normalcy during the coronavirus lockdown 4.0. However, many traders and shopkeepers are still unsure about priorities and have preferred to shut their shops and businesses. The Maharashtra State government clamped the lockdown on March 23.
Markets, except essential commodity shops and medical stores, were closed. The state government announced some relaxations during the lockdown 4.0. It issued the guidelines for the same on Tuesday. Following the norms, the civic body allowed shops to re-open in the non-containment areas. As a result, some activity could be seen in the city in the morning on Wednesday. However, shops remained closed in the Peth areas and on Shivaji Road.
The state government has declared that the guidelines during the lockdown 4.0 would be implemented from May 22. Hence, traders were confused. Moreover, many roads in the city are still sealed, which made it difficult for traders to re-open their shops.
Some jewellery, clothes, footwear and electronic shops were open on Laxmi Road, Bajirao Road, Fergusson College Road, JM Raod, Kumthekar Road, Kelkar Road, Sinhagad Road, Ahmednagar Road, Solapur Road, in Deccan Gymkhana area and Karvenagar.
Many restaurants and hotels resumed only the parcel service. There was more crowd on roads in suburban areas. However, shopkeepers had fewer customers. Some shopkeepers were busy cleaning their shops. Thus life in the city is gradually coming back to normal.
WHOLESALE MARKETS STILL CLOSED
All trade activities, except essential and medicine shops, in the red zones will be closed during the lockdown 4.0 as per the government order. The areas under the Bhavani Peth, Kasba-Vishrambaugwada ward offices are still in the red zone. The Timber Market, electronic, electrical and cellphone, plastic, iron, automobile spare parts, leather, jewellery, edible oils, fish, milk, bamboo markets and goods transport offices fall within the limits of these two ward offices. These items are distributed in the city from these markets. This has impacted trade activities in other areas of the city.
