Delhi govt relaxes curbs: Some shops open but footfall a trickle, barely any business

After the Union Home Ministry’s advisory, the Delhi government Saturday allowed the opening of standalone shops as well as those in neighbourhoods and residential areas, selling both essential and non-essential items.

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On Sunday, many shops in the city opened early morning and in the evening and saw but a trickle of customers. (Express Photo By Amit Mehra)

A packet of carrom board coins, dice, and five pens — the bill of sale at Vinod Kumar Goyal’s stationery shop in East Delhi’s Mayur Vihar Phase-1 shows that this is what the 60-year-old was able to sell, a month after he opened his shop, on Sunday.

Goyal spent Rs 1.5 lakh procuring books for the current academic year and was distraught at not being able to sell a single one. “Shops are finally open and people are buying board games from my store. My entire year is ruined because of the lockdown,” he said.

The Delhi government Saturday allowed the opening of standalone shops as well as those in neighbourhoods and residential areas, selling both essential and non-essential items, after the Union Home Ministry’s advisory relaxing curbs to allow functioning of select shops.

On Sunday, many shops in the city opened early morning and in the evening and saw but a trickle of customers. They welcomed the relaxation, but feared it will take at least six months to a year attain some form of normalcy.

Sources in the Delhi government said it was not in favour of lifting restrictions but their hand was forced when, on Saturday, several traders opened their shops citing the MHA order.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Sunday said, “The Centre has decided to open a few neighbourhood shops, we will follow the MHA order in Delhi as well. Essential services will remain open, but markets, complexes, and shopping malls will be shut… We have worked hard to ensure stability and strength in our battle against Corona, we should not let anything push us back.”

In Jangpura’s H block, the only shop open on Sunday evening, apart from grocery stores, was a hole-in-the wall electric repair shop. Kumar, who runs the shop, has had a busy day.

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“People have been frustrated for the last month because they have appliances which stopped working and couldn’t get it fixed. Even while my shop was closed, I would get calls from people calling me to their homes to fix something or the other,” he said.

Elsewhere in Jangpura, the government’s order has translated to little on the ground, with the only shops open being grocery, fruit, vegetable and milk stores, and pharmacies which had already been open.

At Chilla Village in Mayur Vihar, a tea shop was the first to open at 6 am. Lata Devi (63) has been running the stall for the past 25 years. After six hours, not a single customer visited. She spent Rs 600 to buy three litres of milk and some rusks. “I have to sell at least 10 cups of tea to survive. From tomorrow, we will not be able to open shop as we have run out of money to buy milk,” she said.

A few metres away is Tilak Dev Thakur’s home as well as his shop. He lives with five members of his family and sells undergarments. He saw only two customers till noon: “I need Rs 15,000 to buy stock from Gandhi Nagar once the cloth market opens. It will take me at least six months to earn that kind of money again.”

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In upscale Nizamuddin East on Sunday evening, the only shop open was a stationery store — Prem Prakash store. “I only opened at 5 pm, I don’t know what kind of footfall I’ll see here,” said Sunny, at the store. The other stores which surround his are a beauty salon, a dry-cleaning store and an eatery, all of which are closed. A few stores down is a grocery store which has been operating throughout.

Police are also keeping an eye to make sure no one violates the guidelines. “We have briefed personnel to keep a check near residential areas, wholesale markets. In South and East Delhi, shops with essential goods were the only ones open. In other areas, only a few people opened their shops. We have not received any case of violation. Maybe this is because today is Sunday and many shops are shut anyway,” said a Delhi Police spokesperson.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

Sukrita Baruah

Sukrita Baruah is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Guwahati. From this strategic hub, she provides comprehensive, ground-level coverage of India's North East, a region characterized by its complex ethnic diversity, geopolitical significance, and unique developmental challenges. Expertise and Experience Ethnic & Social Dynamics: Deep-dive coverage of regional conflicts (such as the crisis in Manipur) and peace-building efforts. Border & Geopolitics: Tracking developments along India’s international borders and their impact on local communities. Governance & Policy: Reporting on state elections, tribal council decisions, and the implementation of central schemes in the North East. Specialized Education Background: Prior to her current role, Sukrita was a dedicated Education Correspondent for The Indian Express in Delhi. This experience provided her with a sharp analytical lens for: Policy Analysis: Evaluating the National Education Policy (NEP) and university-level reforms. Student Affairs: Covering high-stakes stories regarding campus politics, national entrance exams, and the challenges within the primary and secondary education sectors. ... Read More

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