There was enthusiasm in the city's markets on Monday having fully opened after almost 55 days of the Covid-19 lockdown. While business owners went about busily disinfecting their premises and polishing their wares, buyers weren't if the low footfall in a majority of the commercial hubs was an indication. However, Connaught Place, Sarojini Nagar, Khan Market and Sadar Bazar enjoyed asemblance of normality with a fair number of shoppers. "I am sure that from Tuesday, we will get more people, said Ashwani Marwah, general secretary, Traders' Association of Lajpat Nagar. "Now that the markets are permited open for full-fledged activities, we will request the district authority to deploy volunteers empowered to take appropriate action against those not wearing masks or maintaining social distancing. If required, we will engage our own guards to educate, guide and alert customers. This would be a prudent measure given that people could be seen ignoring anti-Covid requirements. A vendor at Pushpa Market, unmasked, cheekily said he would wear one once of the Civil Defence personnel started patrolling the market. "We don't work in air-conditioned outlets and in this humid weather, a mask is uncomfortable, "he pleaded. The eateries and the stores in Khan Market were geared up for action on Monday. "Unlike in congested wholesale markets, we have open areas and maintaining physcial distances is not difficult. Also customers coming here belong to a social class that is aware and alert and will enter the stores only if they are satisfied with the anti-Covid arrangements, asserted Sanjeev Mehra, president, Khan Market Traders' Assoication. In Connaught Place, in a departure from the ban on trial rooms in apparel stores, customers were allowed their use but with certain restrictions.
