MARGAO
As the men-in-uniform took up positions to enforce the lockdown, which began Thursday evening, the vadda-pao and omelette-pao business became the first casualty in the commercial capital.
In fact, the hustle and bustle went missing at Margao’s Old Bus stand where over half-a-dozen mobile eateries are run by Niz Goemkars.
Even before the lockdown could come into force at 7 pm on Thursday, the omelette-pao kiosks remained shut at the old bus stand. Crowds swarming the bus stand to have a bite of popular item wadda-pao and omelet-pao went missing on Thursday.
In fact, while only wadda-pao kiosk near the adjoining Gomant Vidya Niketan building did a brisk business, most of the gaddas dealing in the fast food business remained shut at the bus stand.
These gaddas, which have witnessed a reduced demand for the much-sought after omelette-pao and wadda-pao in the last couple of days following the imposition of night curfew, wherein they had to wind up business before 10 pm, the kiosk operators seemed to have decided to keep the shut as Covid-related lockdown was scheduled to come into force from 7 pm on Thursday.
“Our business activity was hit hard in the last few days since the night curfew imposed every night from 10. We had to wind up our operations before 10 pm every day. With the city witnessing a surge in Covid cases, business activity has not been good”, remarked a gadda owner.
A famous ras-omelette-pao gadda doing business outside the old bus stand near the State Bank of India was also found shut on Thursday.
While the gadda traders pointed out that they have to now sit at home for the next three days and wait for Monday when the lockdown is expected to be lifted, people had to go without a bite of the ras-omelette and wadda-pao on Thursday.
