Jalandhar mall opens to warm response on Day 1

Ajay Joshi

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 8

Amid a daily spike in the number of Covid cases, shopping malls and religious institutions were reopened today after a gap of over 70 days as part of the first phase of ‘Unlock 1’ (the first stage of the three-phased lockdown exit plan).

Elaborate arrangements were put in place to ensure safety of visitors in the wake of Covid spread. Visitors at these places were greeted with hand sanitisers and thermal scanners. Strict norms on social distancing and sanitisation were also followed. Malls and religious places were kept open for the public till 8 pm. While worship started at as early as 5 am in most of the temples, gurdwaras and mosques, malls were opened after 10 am.

Ravinder Sharma, supervisor at Devi Talab Mandir, said around 1,500 devotees entered the temple and offered prayers today.

“Devotees were under observation of volunteers and guards inside the temple complex and nobody was allowed to violate the social distancing norms,” he said.

Similar was the view at MBD Neopolis Mall, located in the heart of the city. A visit to shopping malls will no longer be the same like before the lockdown was imposed in March. The entry would be granted only after strict adherence to guidelines to contain the spread of the virus.

Kamaluddin, a security supervisor at the MBD mall, said the entry was only allowed to those who were wearing masks and having COVA application in their mobile phones. Besides, not over 50 visitors were allowed to enter the mall premises at one time. Over 350 persons today visited the mall. Those who didn’t have COVA application, downloaded it at the entrance to ensure their entry. Name, address and contact number of visitors were also noted down at the entrance.

Meanwhile, the authorities apparently forgot to deny entry to elderly persons as two-three persons aged over 70 entered the mall for shopping. Triptam Mahendru (72), who had come with her husband from Lohian Khas, said they were waiting for malls to open to purchase summer wear.

While the sales in most of the malls remained minimal, sports lovers took the benefit of opening of their favourite brand stores and purchased sports gears and fitness equipment. Jatinder Singh, Decathlon store manager at the MBD mall, said they managed to have 20-30 per cent sale as people in a large number purchased sports and fitness equipment. People also showed interest in purchasing bicycles as the lockdown motivated them to go green.