The decision to open on alternate days acquires significance because this is for the first time such a move has been proposed by the business community, anxious after portions of some markets had to be shut last week when some traders were detected Covid-19 positive. Earlier, the government appealed to business community<\/a> several times not to ignore safety measures<\/a> for the virus but there was hardly any reciprocation. <\/p>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMarkets that will follow the alternate day arrangement \u2014 two shops located side by side will open on alternate days \u2014 includes Bagri Market, Nanadaram Market, Sadasukh Katra on MG Road, electrical goods markets on Ezra Street and Rajakatra in Burrabazar. <\/p>\n
The rules must be followed scrupulously. A spread in the business district may be difficult to control.<\/p>\n
\u201cBusiness is important but so is the safety of shop owners, employees and customers,\u201d said Asutosh Singh, president of the Bagri Market Central Kolkata Traders\u2019 Welfare Association. This market has close to 950 shops.
Last week, parts of New Market, College Street and Nandaram Market had to be sealed after traders tested positive.
\u201cSocial distancing and other precautionary measures are a must if we are serious about safeguarding ourselves and our businesses,\u201d said Chandresh Meghani, president of the Calcutta Electric Dealers\u2019 Association in Ezra Street and Pollock Street.
As soon as the markets reopened two weeks ago there was surge of customers. The administration blamed a section of the traders for prioritising business over safety.
At Nandaram Market and Sadasukh Katra, too, the shops will follow odd-even formula. \u201cOur markets are our responsibility, so it\u2019s up to us to take steps to safeguard our businesses,\u201d said Purushottam Agarwal, president of Nandaram Market Traders\u2019 Welfare Association. <\/div>\n