MUMBAI: The city’s workforce, small businesses as well as corporate India have welcomed the state government’s proposal to resume local train services for all Mumbaikars. They note that staggered timings and crowd dispersal is necessary, given that the reopening could coincide with a possible second wave of Covid-19 during winter.
Dabbawalas, who were permitted on locals at the end of last month, are anxious for their clients to return to work so that business could limp back to normal. “Our delivery boys have yet to return from their villages because offices were near empty during the lockdown. Even now, staggered office timings may affect our business since many clients may eat lunch at home before leaving for work or after returning. But we can at least recover part of the volume,” said a dabbawala union leader, Sambhaji Medge, though Subhash Talekar, of another association, warned that Mumbaikars would need to wear masks and travel safely to ensure “we are not doomed under a second Covid wave”.
The restaurant industry is looking to recover losses caused by prolonged closure. A supervisor at Aditi Fast Food near Andheri station said, “We have two branches. The larger had to be closed because our employees live in Nalasopara and Virar and were unable to arrive for work. If they are allowed on trains, they will regain their jobs and help eateries get back to business.”
Viren Shah, president, Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA), had long been seeking a resumption of train travel for ordinary commuters. “We welcome the government’s proposal as it will ease the burden on road traffic and BEST buses. But staggered timing will not help salespersons or office goers as they will still have to depend on road transport. Shop timings cannot be changed; it is not practical,” he said on Wednesday.
Small and big corporate firms that function as veins and arteries of the country’s financial capital are partially relieved. Equally, though, Covid fears are not lost on them either. Employees of most large corporates like the Tata Group continue to work from home. Tata will review its current work from home policy after the festive season. Sudhir Dhar, executive director and HR head of Motilal Oswal Financial Services, said they would review their advisory after a decision by the railways.
A few have had enough of the lockdown. Tax and corporate law advocate Mohamed Nawaz Haindaday said reopening trains would restore public confidence. “The pandemic had warranted a lockdown… However, overdoing the act gives a sense of paranoia rather than concern,” he said.
Dabbawalas, who were permitted on locals at the end of last month, are anxious for their clients to return to work so that business could limp back to normal. “Our delivery boys have yet to return from their villages because offices were near empty during the lockdown. Even now, staggered office timings may affect our business since many clients may eat lunch at home before leaving for work or after returning. But we can at least recover part of the volume,” said a dabbawala union leader, Sambhaji Medge, though Subhash Talekar, of another association, warned that Mumbaikars would need to wear masks and travel safely to ensure “we are not doomed under a second Covid wave”.
The restaurant industry is looking to recover losses caused by prolonged closure. A supervisor at Aditi Fast Food near Andheri station said, “We have two branches. The larger had to be closed because our employees live in Nalasopara and Virar and were unable to arrive for work. If they are allowed on trains, they will regain their jobs and help eateries get back to business.”
Viren Shah, president, Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA), had long been seeking a resumption of train travel for ordinary commuters. “We welcome the government’s proposal as it will ease the burden on road traffic and BEST buses. But staggered timing will not help salespersons or office goers as they will still have to depend on road transport. Shop timings cannot be changed; it is not practical,” he said on Wednesday.
Small and big corporate firms that function as veins and arteries of the country’s financial capital are partially relieved. Equally, though, Covid fears are not lost on them either. Employees of most large corporates like the Tata Group continue to work from home. Tata will review its current work from home policy after the festive season. Sudhir Dhar, executive director and HR head of Motilal Oswal Financial Services, said they would review their advisory after a decision by the railways.
A few have had enough of the lockdown. Tax and corporate law advocate Mohamed Nawaz Haindaday said reopening trains would restore public confidence. “The pandemic had warranted a lockdown… However, overdoing the act gives a sense of paranoia rather than concern,” he said.
