Vijayawada: Scorching heat, lockdown curbs hit traders badly

Vijayawada: The easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions is not visible in the city due to the scorching heat and lack of public transport facility. Though Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation resumed bus services in the state, but it did not permit the city bus services in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam city.

Citizens are not able to bear the exorbitant charges being demanded by the auto rikshaw drivers and not willing to travel in share autos. Consequently, most roads particularly in the busy commercial areas also wear a deserted look as trading activity yet to be restored in the city.

The city solely depends on the trade and is well known for wholesale business of clothes, electrical goods, home appliances, furniture business and drugs. Due to ongoing lockdown for more than two months, the trading activity was crippled. With government easing restrictions, the traders hoped that the business activities will be resumed. As the government gave permission to run the businesses from 7 am to 7 pm and due to scorching heat, people are reluctant to come out of homes till evening. Moreover, the city bus service facility is not available as RTC has not restored it.

On the other hand, the auto-rikshaw drivers are demanding exorbitant charges as they too lost income for two months and they have to pay the EMIs on bank loans and to meet other expenses.

Traders in the Beasant Road, which is the commercial hub of the city, are disappointed due to lukewarm response from the customers on lifting of lockdown curbs. M Rambabu, a textile showroom owner in Beasant road, said less than 20 customers are coming to shop for shopping. He said usually people come out of homes after 6 pm only in summer. But the shops are closed between 6.30 pm to 7pm due to lockdown restrictions. He said each trader has to pay rent between Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000 per month and meet other expenses like wages to salesmen and power bills. He suggested the government to relax the lockdown restrictions and give permission to open shops till 8 pm so that the trading activity increase and more people can buy the necessary goods.

R Prasad, a watch showroom owner in Beasant road, said that there is no response from the customers. He said due to high temperatures and lack of public transport facility, all roads wear a deserted look. He said the government should give permission till atleast 8 or 8.30 pm for the closure of shops.

The police are keeping strict vigil on the main roads and alerting the traders from 6 pm onwards to close the shops by 7 pm at any cost. Thousands of petty traders, hawkers and roadside vendors in the city lost their livelihood and living miserable life since lockdown begun in the last week of March.

These traders earn between Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per day are losing their bread and now been eagerly waiting for the increasing in the trading activity. Drop in temperature levels and giving some relaxation to traders will help them to get livelihood. Rich traders and corporate showrooms can manage their activities, but the petty traders and roadside hawkers are facing many hardships to earn at least Rs 300 per day. Families of these traders are suffering hardships for last two months. Relaxations in lockdown timings will also help the autorikshaw drivers to get livelihood. If more vehicles hit the road, the charges may come down because of competition and it is applicable for the local transportation also.