Malls, eateries, shrines all set to reopen in Chandigarh today : The Tribune India

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Malls, eateries, shrines all set to reopen in Chandigarh today

Workers spray a disinfectant at a restaurant in Sector 22, Chandigarh, on Sunday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 7

Malls, hotels, restaurants and religious places in the city are all set to reopen tomorrow. In line with the Central Government guidelines, sanitisation of premises was done on the eve of their reopening.

Few shops to open at Elante

Restaurants at Elante mall will not be reopening on Monday. “We all have decided not to open restaurants. We have a rent issue with the mall management,” said Vipul Dua, director, Peddlers. Many retail outlets at the mall will be closed too. Akshay Kapoor, who runs an apparel store at the mall, said, “There are several issues. I think only 10-15 per cent shops will open on Monday.”

At many hotels, sanitiser dispensers have been kept at the entrance. Masks have also been kept for customers, in case they are not carrying one.

“We have got sanitisation of hotels done. We are going to ensure social distancing and offer masks and sanitisers to the visitors,” said Arvinder Pal Singh, president, Hotel and Restaurant Association, Chandigarh.

However, some hotels like Taj in Sector 17 are not opening tomorrow. “We will take 10 to 15 days more to get back to business,” said Rehman, a duty manager at the hotel.

As far as malls are concerned, some have devised a plan under which limited number of visitors will be allowed entry. At Elante, some shops may not open over rent dispute with the mall management.

About half of the restaurants in the city are said to be not opening tomorrow. However, those resuming service have made seating arrangements in a way that social distancing is maintained. Some may encourage takeaways.

“We earned 70 to 80 per cent of our revenues at night. Due to the 9 pm closing time and serving of liquor not being allowed, 50 per cent of restaurants are not reopening as of now,” said Ankit Gupta, president, Chandigarh Hospitality Association.

Some temples have made elaborate arrangements before opening doors to devotees. “We got the whole temple sanitised today. We are putting up a sanitiser dispensers outside. We have removed some bells and covered others with cloth so that devotees don’t touch these. Touching idols is barred too. Circles have been marked to maintain distance between two devotees,” said Brahmjit Kalia, president, Sanatan Dharam Mandir, Sector 38-C.

Some temples like ISKCON in Sector 36 are not opening tomorrow. “We need time to make arrangements,” said Amrit Chaitnaya Das from the temple.