Residents get only few hours to shop

Sumayyah Qureshi

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 11

In Srinagar city, many markets come alive as early as 6 am and remain open till 10 am. The timing to close the markets, however, varies from area to area. Some markets close at 9 am, some at 10 and a few others at 11 am. The shops remain open only for four to five hours daily and the schedule is being followed by all shopkeepers without fail.

The schedule to open the shops early came into effect almost a month after the clampdown in the Valley on August 5. Shopkeepers are, however, unsure about the normal functioning of business in Kashmir.

During this time, the markets are bustling, giving residents a short window to do their shopping. As the residents try to make the most of the shopping hours, the markets also see traffic jams.

Except on Friday, the markets in the city centre, Lal Chowk, close at 11 am. A shopkeeper selling eatables at Lal Chowk said the shops closed early today as people had to offer the Friday congregational prayers. A hawker at Lal Chowk said: “The shops closed a little early today as there were rumours that a few shopkeepers had received threat not to operate.”

In Srinagar, smaller markets in some inner areas remain permanently shut since the lockdown. The major markets in old Srinagar city open for a few hours in the morning, but shut at 9 am sharp. “At 9 am sharp, everybody shuts his shop and goes home. It happens in a jiffy. It seems the shops had never opened,” said a resident who passes through the old city daily.