In Delhi air, a shopping bug

Worried sick that the swine flu is going to get you soon? Get a life. Most of the people who are turning up at the test centres — with mask and all — are just being part of the herd.

Worried sick that the swine flu is going to get you soon? Get a life.

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Most of the people who are turning up at the test centres — with mask and all — are just being part of the herd.

Even parents, who are happy to keep their children home from school to ‘protect’ them from H1N1 infection, are not thinking twice before going out to malls and multiplexes.

Connaught Place was bustling with activity on Thursday afternoon, with only a handful of masks in sight.

Despite fears across the country, big retail stores, malls and multiplexes in the Capital saw no reduction in footfalls.

“I don’t see any panic. There is no extraordinary rush, as it is a Thursday but I am sure we will receive people in big numbers over the weekend,” said a floor manager at Westside Mall in Lajpat Nagar, central market. He refused to be quoted as he is unauthorised to speak to the media.

The Sahara Mall on MG Road in Gurgaon is getting 25, 000-30, 000 footfalls daily and on weekends, it is higher.

“We are also not putting up unnecessary banners or distributing masks in our malls to create panic,” said J.K. Gupta, regional head, Sahara group.

An MGF Mall staff who was not authorised to speak to the media said there has been no drop in footfalls. “Metropolitan is receiving 42, 000 footfalls, Mega city is getting around 20,000 footfalls and Plaza around 10,000.”

With a long weekend ahead and several new films releasing, most multiplex owners are gearing up for a big rush despite the Delhi government's warning to stay away from crowded places.
footfalls everyday and hasn't seen any drop in commuters.

Anuj Dayal, spokesperson for Delhi metro, said it was business as usual. “The number of commuter has only gone up in the last one month,” he said.

“Can’t stay home for fear of catching the flu. Life has to go on,” said Rohit Kumar, 24, software professional in Delhi who is using the public transport.