As Delhi Malls Prep Up to Reopen Today, Here's What's Changed Since Pre-Coronavirus Days

As malls and shopping centres in the national capital re-open on Monday after more than two months, they will be focussing on hourly disinfection of the common areas, contactless shopping and physical distancing to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

There are around 100 big and small shopping malls in the national capital, the source of around Rs 500 crore revenue for the Delhi government, according to Brijesh Goyal, the convenor of the traders' wing of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

"Business activity in malls is carried out in a much more organised way as compared to the shops in markets," he said.

The managements of the malls and shopping complexes have issued detailed guidelines to shops, offices and restaurants to keep the infection at bay. Several malls have set up UV sterilisation chambers for people to disinfect their belongings.

"We have asked our staff to report an hour before the malls are opened for the public. After the mandatory screening, the employees will be given face-shields, gloves and sanitiser," Harsh Vardhan Bansal, the director of Vegas Mall in Dwarka, said.

Shops, restaurants and offices have been asked to keep their doors open as common surfaces like doorknobs or handles can spread the infection, he added.

The carrying capacity of elevators has been reduced by 25 per cent. Visitors will have to maintain a gap on escalators too, Bansal, who is also the director of Unity 1 malls, said.

Those visiting the mall should wear masks and have the Aarogya Setu application installed on their mobile phones. Pregnant women, children aged below 10 years and persons aged above 65 years will not be allowed entry, he said.

"Contact-less sanitiser dispensers have been placed in every corner of the mall. The entire complex will be sanitised twice a day. The common areas will be disinfected on an hourly basis," Bansal said.

In clothing stores, dummy shirts will be made available for a trial and sanitised after every use, he added.

Manmohan Garg, the director of D Mall in Pitampura, said the metal surfaces and common areas of the complex will be disinfected regularly.

"Thermal scanners and sanitiser dispensers have been placed at the entry gates and the visitors with COVID-19 symptoms will be asked to return," he said.

All government guidelines will be strictly followed. Pregnant women and those aged below 10 years and above 65 years will not be allowed entry, Garg added.

Offices will be responsible for a regular disinfection of their premises, he said.

Garg also appealed to the people to avoid stepping out of their houses unnecessarily.

A spokesperson for Select City Walk, Saket, said there will be temperature checks at entry points, with visitors passing through disinfectant tunnels for additional safety.

"The shopping centre has introduced subtle changes in design and layout across entrances, public spaces. Crowd control and footfalls will be kept as outlined by the government across the premises, public spaces and retail outlets to ensure that social distancing norms can be followed correctly," the spokesperson said.

A visitor registration book will be maintained for records, and all visitors will be advised to have the Aarogya Setu app on their phones, she said.

Tweaks in design and markings will help visitors and retail outlets maintain the necessary social distancing of 6 feet, the spokesperson said.

All staff will have to wear facemasks, and sanitizers will be placed at the entry of each store. Air conditioning will be maintained as per the government norms for malls.

Arjun Kumar, the chairman of PP Tower in Netaji Subhash Place district centre, said elevators will be sanitised every hour and not more than four persons will be allowed in them at any given time.

The visitors will be encouraged not to touch the common surface areas and to open the doors with their elbows, he said.

Surendra Gupta, the director of the Kings Mall in Rohini Sector 10, said there will be only one entry and exit point so that the visitors can be screened thoroughly.

Not more than two persons will be allowed in an elevator at a time, he added.

"All government guidelines will be strictly adhered to," Gupta said.