Covid19 National Telangana

Charminar wakes up early for customers

Hyderabad: By imposing night time curfews to prevent the second wave of the covid-19 epidemic, traders have to close their shutters much earlier than normal shopping hours.

Especially during Ramadan shopping continues till late at night and at the end of the month till the early hours of the next day.

“We now have to close our shops by 8 pm, which is usually when the business picks up.In view of the night curfew, we have been setting up our shops since 9 am, ”said Aftab Alam, a footwear vendor from Charminar.

Market traders are opening most shops at 10 am. Another seller, Shaik Salman, said, “After Sehri, we are going for morning prayer and then arrive at the market. It takes us an hour to set up shop and by 10 am we are ready for shoppers”.

Since Wednesday, shoppers have also started venturing into the market in the morning. Salman said, “By the time of Iftar, shoppers leave the market. People are getting accustomed to the new timings.”

There are around 2,500 small time sellers who earn their livelihood by selling footwear, bangles, imitation jewelery, handbags, perfumes, apparel and other items. One of the largest markets in the state and 6,000 odd traders do business from the permanent shops between the Madina Building and Shahlibanda Junction.

Abid Mohiuddin, general secretary of the Old City Traders Association, said that there was little business in the market after the night curfew was imposed for the last two days.

He said, “Shops are being opened in the morning, so that the establishments are not crowded. People will have enough time to shop and go out safely.Gradually customers are understanding the situation and accordingly doing their shopping”.

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