Amritsar streets bustle again

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 11

For the first time since the imposition of the nationwide lockdown, movement of people was seen on roads on Monday as the district administration permitted wholesale traders, godowns warehouses and transporters to open their shops for restricted hours.

Rickshaw-pullers were seen carrying merchandise. Rahul Mahajan, a wholesale textile merchant, said many shopkeepers could not deliver orders and have left material packed in their shops. There are fear that the products might be damaged by termite and rats, he said.

The district administration has prohibited the wholesale shops to entertain customers, as this may lead to congestion. The shops can be opened from 6 am to 10 am and those who do not have curfew passes have been advised to down shutters at 9:30 am to return their houses without difficulty.

Piara Lal Seth, the president of the Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal (PPBM), said the relaxations had been given following their request and also the intervention of Cabinet Minister OP Soni. He reasoned that all rural areas had been opened but the supply chain of various products remained snapped due to the curfew in the city.