Kolkata: Shoppers came out in streams on Sunday, capping a week of frenzied buying with markets and malls clocking record footfall . The favourable weather did its bit to help the cause. With rain forecast in the week ahead, many who had plans to indulge in last-minute shopping advanced their plans to this weekend.
However, shopkeepers are still hopeful that with payday lined up on Tuesday, buyers will brave the rains to go shopping around Mahalaya . But, there is also a wariness about a spike in street protests with doctors set to go on a cease-work again from Monday evening, following the incident at College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Hospital. On Sunday, all shopping hubs in the city were chock-a-block with shoppers as shopkeepers reported great business.
From south to north Kolkata, shopping areas like Gariahat , Lindsay Street, Bertram Street, Hatibagan, and Shyambazar were packed. Shopkeepers reported a steady stream of customers since Sunday morning and it helped in compensating for the loss of business earlier in the week when constant showers had a played spoilsport. “Gariahat is brimming over after a long time.
We are glad things have finally turned around. Had the weather been more favourable these past couple of weeks, the situation would have been way better,” said Debraj Ghosh, a garment seller in Gariahat. Sellers in Hatibagan and Shyambazar market reported a significant influx of customers on Saturday and Sunday, allowing them to recover much of the losses.