Low footfall at malls in Pune on first day of reopening

PUNE On the first day of restrictions being eased in Pune, all 10 major malls in Pune and Pimpri- Chinchwad resumed operations on Monday

PUNE On the first day of restrictions being eased in Pune, all 10 major malls in Pune and Pimpri- Chinchwad resumed operations on Monday. As per strict Covid protocols, only citizens with both Covid vaccine doses are allowed inside the malls. As most of the public does not have both doses completed yet, several were denied entry.

Mall security check vaccination certificates of the customers before they are allowed to enter Central Mall at Erandwane on Monday. Malls in Pune saw low footfalls on first day of reopening. (KALPESH NUKTE/HT)

“We are happy that state government has allowed malls to reopen in Pune city, but as there as a gap of four months it will take some time to gain momentum. On the first day, it was a slow start. There are several protocols that need to be followed, of which the most important is to have both Covid vaccine doses completed. Many customers were sent back as most had only completed a first dose. We are hopeful in the coming days we will have more footfall,” said Mukesh Kumar, chairman, Shopping Centres Association of India (SCAI) and CEO of Infiniti Malls.

Customers enjoy dinner after 8 pm at a restaurant on J M road in Pune on Monday. (HT)

Surjit Singh Rajpurohit, committee member-(SCAI) and COO, Amanora Mall said, “It was a good start but most of the youngsters coming to the mall didn’t have both doses completed. We have written to the district authorities to change this rule and allow people even if they have the first Covid dose. Most of our staffers have only one dose, so there is a shortage of staff too due to the incomplete vaccination.”