Chennai: Electronics hub is flooded with customers, Covid norms flouted – Times of India

CHENNAI: Customers have over the past three days been flocking to the Ritchie Street area, the city’s hub for electronics and electrical goods, flouting all Covid-19 norms. Retailers from across the city, who form a sizeable part of the clientele, and others end up parking their twowheelers along Anna Salai.
Since Monday, when the shops began to function after being closed for more than a month, there has been a mad rush and the association that covers all shop owners directed that no vehicles will be allowed outside shops.
The Ritchie Street hub covers Narasingapuram Street, Wallers Street, Meeran Sahib Street, Mohammed Hussain Sahib Street and Guruappa Road. “All entry to the streets have been barricaded. Frankly speaking, the condition on the first day made me panic. Shop owners have been asked to park their vehicles at a paid parking lot near Gaiety theatre and there is also free parking along Dams Road. The idea is that, if the streets are not crowded with vehicles and there is space to walk, safe distance can be followed,” said a member of the All India Radio and Electronics Association (south zone).
However, this has led to haphazard parking along Anna Salai and in several shops norms such as mandatory temperature checks and sanitising customers are not being followed. Dealers have requested the authorities to consider extending the working timings to up to 5pm, keeping in mind the welfare of staff apart from the fact that it will help revive businesses. “Since, working hours are only up to 2pm, lunch breaks are not allowed and work is being rushed. This can affect staff in the long run,” a dealer said.
There was hectic activity on day one and problems are being ironed out, said traders. “Goods vehicles carrying stocks have to enter the streets and since the time allowed for operation of our shops is 9am to 2pm, shop owners have been told to ensure that all loading and unloading happens before 9am. Dispatches to other centres are allowed after 3 pm,” said Suraj Kankaria, who has a store on Meeran Sahib Street.