Shopping malls ready for re-opening on Monday

New Delhi: As malls and shopping centres in the several part of the country will re-open on Monday after a gap of more than two months, they will be focussing on hourly disinfection of the common areas, contact-less shopping and physical distancing to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Talking about Delhi region there are around 100 big and small shopping malls, this is the source of around Rs 500 crore in revenue for the Delhi government, according to Brijesh Goyal, the convenor of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) trader’s wing.

“Business activity in malls is carried out in a much more organised way as compared to the shops in markets,” he said, adding that the shopping malls in Delhi employ about 10,000 people.

The managements of the malls and shopping complexes have issued detailed guidelines to shop, office and restaurant owners to keep the infection at bay.

Several malls have set up UV sterilisation chambers for people to disinfect their belongings.

“We have asked our staff to report an hour before the malls are opened for the public. After the mandatory screening, the employees will be given face-shields, gloves and sanitiser,” Harsh Vardhan Bansal, the director of Vegas Mall in Dwarka, said.

Shops, restaurants and offices have been asked to keep their doors open as common surfaces like doorknobs or handles can spread the infection, he added.

The carrying capacity of elevators has been reduced by 25 per cent. Visitors will have to maintain a gap on escalators too, Bansal, who is also the director of Unity 1 malls, said.

As per the Govt guidelines those visiting the mall should wear masks and have the Aarogya Setu application installed on their mobile phones. Pregnant women, children aged below 10 years and persons aged above 65 years will not be allowed entry.