Ahead of Sunday’s total lockdown, Broadway, Parry’s become crowded

Ahead of Sunday’s total lockdown, Broadway, Parry’s become crowded

Civic Body’s Threat Of Hefty Fines No Deterrent

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25.04.2021 

A day ahead of Sunday’s total lockdown, physical distancing and mask discipline were almost completely absent at Kothaval Chavadi, a busy wholesale market, as well as at Broadway and Parry’s Corner. The city corporation’s warning that hefty fines would be imposed and outlets violating rules would be shut down had little impact.

There was no pandemic protocol in sight as shoppers outnumbered police and corporation officials in places such as Audiappa Naicken Street, Anna Pillai Street, Acharappan Street, Varada Muthiyappan Street, Strotten Mudali Street, Govindappa Naicken Street and Anderson Street.

Several traders in Kothaval Chavadi said most of those on the streets were not regular shoppers but owners of retail outlets out to buy stock. “We cannot possibly turn away our customers. We try our level best to ensure physical distancing in and around our premises, but since the roads are narrow, they get crowded,” said a member of Madras Chillies Merchants Association.

Among the 80-odd market areas in the city, Kothaval Chavadi is one of the earliest and deals mainly in pulses, chillies and similar items. Huge crowds also thronged Badrian Street, Rattan Bazaar Road near George Town and NSC Bose Road, leading to heavy traffic as hawkers occupied pavements and autorickshaws lined up on one side of the road.

“We have taken stock of the issues. Apart from our teams, supervisory teams headed by tahsildars from the Chennai Collectorate will also be monitoring and reporting on violations and deficiencies. We are hoping that all norms will be streamlined in the coming days,” said a senior official with Greater Chennai Corporation.

Police and civic authorities have been conducting regular meetings with all stakeholders to ensure that traders are well prepared this time to ensure that their customers wear masks, follow physical distancing and other conditions that are part of the standard operating procedure.

The Kothaval Chavadi wholesale market falls under Royapuram zone which has 2,608 active Covid-19 cases — the fourth highest among the 15 zones in the city.

NO CARE FOR PROTOCOL: (From top left) Scenes at Badrian Street, Broadway, NSC Bose Road and Vanagaram fish market