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Updated May 26th, 2020 at 17:40 IST

South India's biggest electronic market, Ritchie Street in Chennai reopens amid lockdown

Chennai corporation and police have permitted to open up Ritchie market in the city after multiple demands from the shop associations

Reported by: Sanjeevee Sadagopan
South India
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Chennai's Ritchie Street is one of Asia's largest markets and is the second largest market in India after the Delhi Nehru market which supplies electronic components, computer peripherals, laptops, computer, video games and other electronic devices to the entire state and also to the neighbouring states of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

The entire market has over 2,000 shops where around 8,000 depend upon it directly while around 10,000 rely on it indirectly for their livelihood. The market is always a crowded place from customers across the state and hence one of the worst affected due to the COVID19 lockdown.

All the shops were shut and the entire market stood still for the last two months. The Chennai corporation and police have finally permitted to open up the market after multiple demands from the shop associations.

READ | Tamil Nadu Government Allows Industrial Estates In Chennai To Resume Work

Odd-Even formula

"The shops will be opened up in alternative odd and even number formula to control the crowd, no vehicles will be allowed, all the government protocols will be followed from sanitising the place to wearing masks," said R.Chandalia, Secretary of the Chennai electronics and infotech traders association."Shops were shut for two months, we can only estimate the market condition only after next two months on how it's going to pick up. It has taken a big toll even for the govt since we couldn't pay the GST" added Mr Chandalia.

There are shop owners, workers, suppliers, labourers and even rickshaw pullers who are relying upon the business in the multi-crore market.

READ | Chennai, Indore Among Four 'role Models' Cities Identified By Centre In Handling COVID

Sunil, owner of a computer chip and components shop says "I have been paying 30,000 rent for my shop and godown even during the lockdown, I also paid salary to my employees, we don't know how the market is going to be up as electronic goods are not as much important as food or medicine during COVID-19, it will take another 6 months for the market to pick up."

Almost 80% of the market depends on the Chinese goods, which is another major challenge keeping the COVID crisis in mind. They have opened up the market to run the business with the goods which they've stocked, which will be enough for the next 2-3 months. They are hoping that the situation will get back to normal soon.

READ | No Domestic Flights In West Bengal And Andhra On Monday; Mumbai, Hyd & Chennai To See Reduced Ops

READ | Flight Services Resume From Chennai; 116 Passengers Leave For Delhi

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Published May 26th, 2020 at 17:40 IST

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