New Delhi:Even though it has been three weeks since the shopping malls across Delhi were allowed to reopen in the wake of the nationwide lockdown, prospective customers are yet to return to do shopping, with customer footfall as low as 25 per cent of the normal.
Delhi malls were allowed to reopen from June 8 after following all health protocols.
Lalita Sharma, who runs a women's garments shop in an East Delhi mall, said that only very few customers were visiting the shopping complex. "We earlier had five sales persons, but now have only two. They too idle away their time," she rued.
She said that it was quite difficult to pay the rent of the premises in present situation. Half of our earnings will now go into paying rent, Sharma added.
Rajesh Kashyap, who owns a shop selling digital cameras at a south Delhi mall, said: "A large number of Delhi residents have been affected by coronavirus, and hence many people are still not coming out to shop. We get the whole area sanitised daily before opening our shops. In the present, circumstances, it is very difficult even to pay showroom rent. We have demanded a reduction in the rent amount, but in case that does not happen, we will have no option but to vacate the premises."