Bangalore shops may shut down on Mondays

Bangalore shops may shut down on Mondays
R Jayaprakash | TNN

Bangalore: If you have set aside Mondays for shopping, you might have to rethink soon. The BBMP has mooted pulling the shutters down on all big shops and commercial establishments on Mondays — a la Delhi — to reduce traffic. It also proposes to extend shopping time on Sundays in the hope that more shoppers will choose this day when traffic is considerably low.
The BBMP has decided to press for such a provision under Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, which states that all commercial establishments should be closed for at least a day in a week. Delhi has introduced this shopping holiday for major areas like Palika Bazaar, Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Chandini Chowk and Sarojini Nagar, which remain closed on different days of the week.
BBMP commissioner S Subramanya told The Times of India that the philosophy has worked well for Delhi and replicating it in Bangalore would help reduce traffic on at least one day. “Since there is a provision in the Act, we thought it might hold good if practised here, especially with traffic growing in the city on a phenomenal scale. We will encourage Sunday as the shopping day and direct major shopping areas to close on manic Mondays. This will bring down traffic burden on roads by a considerable extent,’’ he said.
The BBMP wants to take traders into confidence before bringing the new law into force. With Bangalore turning into a shopping paradise, complete with international brands, whether this scheme will become a reality needs to the seen. If it does, perhaps it will be Manic Monday no more.
SUNDAY FOR SHOPPING
BBMP mandarins think shoppers’ bumper-to-bumper traffic further worsen Monday blues; moot Monday shopping ban Compulsive shoppers can rejoice still; they can stretch their splurging spree on Sunday by a few hours, perhaps, into late night Traders may oppose ‘close day’ proposal
Bangalore: The BBMP has mooted the idea of keeping major shops and commercial establishments closed on Mondays.
If the move comes into effect, shopping malls on Commercial Street, Brigade Road, Avenue Road, KG Road, MG Road and Marathahalli, among others, will fall silent for a day. Traders may not agree to this proposal and might protest. Though the law specifies that shops and commercial establishments must remain closed on one day of the week, it is not practised. Employees work on all the 365 days on rota and in shifts.
“We are exploring all options possible in the existing framework and will discuss the issue with FKCCI, traders associations and various forums representing the business fraternity. They are very well aware of the traffic situation and I am hopeful of convincing them on the issue,’’ BBMP commissioner S Subramanya said.
“We have sought a directive and are hopeful of getting approval. It would be considered since Bangalore is plagued by high-density bumper-to-bumper traffic,” he added.