Hyderabad: Covid second wave adds to woes of traders in Old City

Several traders and shopkeepers complain of ‘zero’ business at their establishments although they are keeping it open during the relaxation hours of the lockdown

Hyderabad: The second wave of Covid-19 and subsequent lockdown has added to the woes of businesses in the old city which have been struggling to emerge from impact of the first wave of the pandemic and lockdown last year.

Several traders and shopkeepers complain of ‘zero’ business at their establishments although they are keeping it open during the relaxation hours of the lockdown.

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“I just come to clean the shop and then roll down the shutters. I am not even earning enough to pay the electricity bill and rent of the shop,” said Syed Mubeen, a trader at Laad Bazaar.

The traders did some business during the Ramzan month but the imposition of lockdown had them struggling to make the ends meet. Usually for two months after Ramzan the markets are crowded as people make purchases for clothes, footwear, bangles and gold.

“Due to the lockdown, either they postponed their purhcase plans or buying on a smaller scale. There is absolutely no business,” said another businessman from Madina Building.

“I asked the salesmen and support personnel not to come to the establishment. I cannot pay them even auto rickshaw fare, as there is no business,” said Mohd Shukhoor, who runs a women’s apparel store at New Lad Bazaar.

There are around 4,000 shops around the stretch between Madina Building and Shahalibanda. This apart there are around 2,000 small traders who do business on the streets in the market.
The traders say that even if the lockdown is lifted, it will take at least a month for the businesses to pick up. “People don’t have money now. It’s only after the situation turns normal we can expect some business,” said a trader at Shahalibanda.

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