Traders self impose lockdown in markets

Visakhapatnam: Businessmen and traders in Visakhapatnam are going for a self-imposed lockdown owing to the spike in the number of Covid-19 cases. The district currently has 963 active cases and has seen 46 deaths.

The Sardar Vallabhai Patel wholesale market, popularly known as Poorna Market— one of the biggest and oldest markets in Visakhapatnam— has already restricted business hours.

Retailers at Poorna Market and wholesalers with shops at Bowdara Road, Spring Road, Dyes Tank Road and Alluri Sitharamaraju Statue Road have decided to keep shops open only from 9am to 2pm.

Now, traders in Narsipatnam have also decided to impose a lockdown till the end of August. Representatives of the Narsipatnam merchants and businessmen association announced that the market will be open from 6am to 2pm and one more hour for hotels and restaurants, that too only for takeaway services.

The decision was taken at a meeting convened by Narsipatnam RDO KL Siva Jyoti. The decision will come into effect from Friday. The traders also decided that the market will be shut completely on Sundays.