As COVID-19 cases keep rising in Chennai, reports have emerged that thousands of wholesale and retail shops in congested localities in the city including Sowcarpet, Flower Bazaar, Elephant Gate, Seven Wells and Kotwal Chawadi will voluntarily shut down for a week from Sunday. Essential supplies, however, will not be hit.
At least 15,000 members of the Federation of Madras Merchants and Manufacturers’ Associations (FMMMA) have given their consent for this.
“Divisions 54, 55, 57 and 59 of the Greater Chennai Corporation have witnessed a spike in COVID-19 cases. There is a huge floating population in these areas since Sowcarpet is the hub for wholesale business in food grains, textile, electrical items, dry-fruits, steel, plastics, fancy goods. These will close for a week,” FMMMA general secretary Satish Chavan was quoted as saying by The Hindu.
“All residents and shop keepers of the area have been requested to stay indoors and help in breaking the COVID-19 chain. We will review the situation later,” said V.G. Vishal Raj, an office bearer of the traders’ association.
Members were briefed of the decision by FMMMA president Surendar Vyas and vice president Vinod Nair at a meeting on Saturday.
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