A biker and his family ride past an advertisement on Covid awareness at Panjagutta Metro Station
in Hyderabad on Sunday.— Photo:Anand Dharmana
Hyderabad: After being cooped up at home for a good two months due to the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19, Hyderabadis got a chance to step outside, and they grabbed it with both hands. On Sunday, activity picked up at commercial hubs, eateries, malls, and other public places as the city ushered in the ‘unlock’.
Apart from Sunday, it being Father’s Day, added to the reason why many went out for a good lunch or dinner with their family. Several shopping places including Koti, General Bazaar and Laad Bazaar were seen buzzing with enthusiastic shopaholics. After a lull of two months, all the shops were reopened, with several street vendors setting up their outlet on the roadside for business.
However, the public did not forget that the pandemic is still ongoing. Citizens were seen sporting a mask, some even face shield, while the mall and restaurant workers made sure that social distancing was followed. The eateries also recorded huge footfalls. Taking every precaution against the coronavirus, the restauranters welcomed customers.
AVV Prasad, Managing Director of the famous south Indian restaurant chain, Chutneys, shares that it was a delight to see so many people. “Most restaurants did not have walk-ins for a long time. But Sunday was quite busy for us. As it was a weekend, and Father’s Day, several people came to the restaurants. We took all the precautions for the safety of our customers as well as our staff,” he says.
Giving an insight about the business, Tummala Srinivas Sampath, the owner of The Spicy Venue in Jubilee Hills, who is also the Joint Secretary of Telangana State Hotel Association, says, “Only those restaurants and hotels which are completely Covid prepared will be able to do decent business, as customers are very particular about that. My restaurant also saw a huge crowd after a long time, and it was good to see so many people.”
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