Shops reopened in Tirupati after 54 days of lockdown

Tirupati: After 54 days of lockdown and following relaxation by the government, shops were reopened at various places in pilgrim city on Friday. But shops were not opened in the containment zones.

Similarly, cloth, jewelry, footwear, malls and saloons remained closed as relaxation norms are not applicable to these shops.

In bazaars like Nehru Street, Theerthakatta Street, Tilak Road and Gandhi Road, shops selling fancy, cosmetics, utensils, stationery, cement, steel etc. have become busy on Friday as people flocked the shops for purchase of the items.

The shops keepers on their part keen on regulating the purchases and asking the people to maintain social distance. Some shop owners supplied sanitisers to customers and asked them to wear masks.

Following the relaxation of lockdown rules by the government, the Municipal Corporation of Tirupati permitted the shops to open from 10 am to 5 pm.

With the increase of people's movement, police stepped up their vigil and at many places they were seen counselling the people who were not wearing masks and pillion riders on two wheelers.

Senior officials were seen going round in the city announcing the public strictly adhere to safety norms. They also warned that they would impose penalties on those who violate rules.

It is needless to say that the business community heaved a sigh relief with opening of shops and also wanted to extend the exemption to other categories of shops to revive the economy which is in doldrums due to the prolonged lock down.