Traders shut shop early over safety concerns

The usually bustling NSC Bose Road, one of the key trading centers in the city, saw traders shutting down by 5 pm. Ramesh B, who runs a 125-year-old establishment, said shops had started winding down as early as 4.30 pm. 

“Usually, shops in this locality stay open till 9 pm. But on Monday, there were hardly any crowd. With the uncertainty of the CM’s condition, there were fewer people came out. The shops too, fearing for their safety, started closing early. We were one of the last ones to shut shop at 5.30 pm,” said the trader.

In Broadway, too, the situation was similar. Kalam G, an employee at a trading unit said they decided to close early. “The traders in this area were not sure what to expect and there were so many rumours. We decided to close early, as some of the staff stayed in the suburbs and may face difficulty in getting back home,” he added. 

The impact was also felt by traders in other parts of the city. Akash P, an entrepreneur Arumbakkam, said he decided to shut early after the other shops started doing so. “Some of the people had warned us that it was unsafe to stay, considering the situation. Along with others, I too decided to call it a day and head back home early,” he concluded. 

The traders said that they expected the situation to return to normal on Wednesday.