Pune retailers seek extension of store timings till 7pm every day

PUNE: City retailers selling essential commodities have asked for the existing 4pm deadline to be pushed by three hours.Retailers said being allowed to open till 7pm would benefit customers and help complete home deliveries of the orders.Sachin Nivangune, president of Pune District Retailers Association, said they will soon make a representation to the divisional commissioner, Pune municipal commissioner and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.“Crowds in the market will reduce if shops can function for three more hours. Private offices can adhere to the 4pm deadline, but there is no point telling shops to shut so early. We will soon submit a memorandum to the authorities,” Nivangune said.Rakesh Shendkar, a grocer from Shaniwar Peth, said the 4pm deadline was unviable. “Many traders and customers are facing problems with home deliveries. The government should not apply the same set of restrictions to everyone. There is rush at the markets as shops are shut on weekends. Also, shopkeepers are following all necessary precautions,” Shendkar said.Suraj Shah, another trader, said shopkeepers were encouraging home deliveries, but with a staff crunch, it was difficult to manage the counters and fulfil orders, all before the 4pm deadline.The Federation of Trade Associations of Pune (FTAP), a body of non-essential shop owners, has also made a similar demand to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.FTAP has claimed that morning hours were not suited to doing business. FTAP said non-essential shops should be allowed to operate from 11am to 8pm.Mahendra Pitaliya, secretary of FTAP, said most traders have reported a drop in business because of these restricted. “We are losing two entire days in a week due to the weekend closure. Restrictions cannot be long-term solutions for anything,” Pitaliya added.