the goan I network
MARGAO
Margao’s New Market area, considered to be the commercial capital’s nerve centre, is bracing up to resume business activities, which remained disrupted for close to a month due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
Home to around 500 small-time traders, wholesalers, vendors et al, selling right from groceries to footwear, sausages and pork to garments, business in the New Market had been hit hard since the lockdown disrupted normal life in the commercial capital.
Most of the gates of this Margao-owned municipal market have been under lock and key ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the 21-day lockdown last month.
Only a lone gate or two were being opened in the New Market during the lockdown period, to facilitate shoppers and citizens to buy the groceries and food items.
Goa government’s decision to ease restrictions on business activities in the state, with the Covid situation well within manageable limits, traders in the New Market have now pinned their hopes on the authorities for the resumption of activities in the mega business hub.
President of the Margao New Market Traders Association Vinod Shirodkar has exuded confidence that the government authorities will not stop the traders from resuming the business activities. He said it’s close to a month now since the shops have remained shut, affecting the traders adversely. “We would like to open our stalls and shops from April 20 to undertake the clean-up operation and to brace up for business activities,” Vinod said.
He pointed out that with groceries available to the people at large, visitors to the New Market area has come down drastically in the last few days. Pointing out that it may take some time for life and business to return to normal, Vinod said with buses still off the road and restrictions not lifted, coupled with the fact that the lockdown has hit the economy, it will indeed take some time for business to gain momentum.
