As part of 'Unlock 2.0', malls in NCR cities of Faridabad and Gurgaon opened to lukewarm response, after four months of shutdown owing to COVID-19 lockdown.
Given the high number of coronavirus cases in both the districts, the malls were opened with stringent measures to maintain social distancing and ensure screening of people before they entered the malls. Faridabad and Gurgaon account for 60 per cent of Haryana's active cases.
“Malls faced the worst financial setback during the COVID lockdown, and we have spent huge amounts to resume (operations) with standard operating procedures; but hardly anybody turned up. The stores plan attractive offers to get people back. If we get such a (poor) response we will have no option but to shut again," said owner of a mall on Gurgaon MG Road.
Many mall owners in Faridabad did not open as they expected little to no footfall.
“The infectivity rate of our district is high, so either people won't come, and if they do we will be at high COVID-19 transmission risk. Currently, the cost to get staff back, sanitisation and other measures are too high. Opening will lead to more losses”, said Sanjeev Yadav, a mall owner from Faridabad. One of the key reasons cited behind poor response is closure of cinema halls, gaming arcades, pubs and food courts.
“We have made detailed standard operating procedures for risk-free opening of malls which requires stringent sanitization and social distancing. The arrangements are being reviewed," said Faridabad DC Yashpal Yadav.
It may be noted that Gurgaon has banned entry of people above 65 years of age, children below 10 and pregnant women in malls. All the visitors will have to download the Aarogya Setu app and submit themselves to thermal screening. The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has formed a special task force to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures.
The malls were opened with stringent measures to maintain social distancing | Aayush Goel
“The malls have been guided with measures to effectively maintain physical distance and sanitization modules. The visitors are being screened for symptoms. We are making hourly inspections to ensure things are under control. People are apparently avoiding visit to malls as a precaution,” said Hari Om Attri, joint commissioner, MCG.
Meanwhile, as part of 'Unlock 2.0', Gurgaon has also resumed its public transport system with GMCBL (Gurugram Metropolitan City Bus Limited) buses hitting the roads.
The local administration has also issued guidelines through resident welfare associations to ensure there is no restriction or hindrance in compliance with MHA directives for the second phase of unlock. This includes permission to all workers like maids to resume work with sufficient precautions.
