DELHI UNLOCK: Markets, shops can operate beyond 8 pm from Monday as per their normal time, says CM Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has taken a major decision towards unlocking the national capital. The Chief Minister on Saturday has announced to keep the markets in the national capital open beyond 8 pm from Monday, August 23. The decision of the Delhi government on lifting of restrictions comes in view of a decline in COVID-19 cases in the city. 

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"Markets of Delhi were allowed to function till 8 pm due to COVID-19. In wake of decreasing cases, this restriction will be removed starting Monday. Now the markets can open as per their normal time: CM Arvind Kejriwal," news agency ANI tweeted quoting Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.  

Markets of Delhi were allowed to function till 8 pm due to COVID-19. In wake of decreasing cases, this restriction will be removed starting Monday. Now the markets can open as per their normal time: CM Arvind Kejriwal

(File photo) pic.twitter.com/DXe4d05coi

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2021

The decision from the Delhi government today also find strength from the fact that the national capital did not record any death due to COVID-19 on Saturday, the second consecutive day when the daily fatality count stood nil, as per the data shared by the Delhi health department. This is the twelfth time since the starting of the second wave of the pandemic in the national capital that zero fatality has been logged in a day. 

As per the same data, as many as 19 fresh cases were reported, the lowest since April 15 last year. 

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) on Saturday demanded that the closing time of malls and markets in the national capital should be extended from the present 8 pm to 10 pm. 

Earlier, CTI in its letter to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), has said that the permission to operate shops till 8 pm is proving to be insufficient for most of the retail markets, especially during the festive season, reported PTI 

We are getting suggestions from many markets, including those in Kamla Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Connaught Place, Sarojini Nagar, South Extension, Rajouri Garden, Laxmi Nagar, Rohini, Pitampura, Greater Kailash, and Karolbagh, to increase the closing time, it said.  

"Along with this, the mall owners of Delhi have also requested that their opening time should also be increased," said CTI president Brijesh Goyal in a statement.