The financial capital of India, Mumbai, has been reeling in the effects of the coronavirus for months now. While economists have been pondering about the possible effects the coronavirus scare could cause the economy, it is only now that in its effects an apparent slowdown is witnessed to be manifesting in businesses run in Mumbai.
Many small to middle size corporations have been on a virtual standstill since the first day of lockdown due to inadequate infrastructure. Small firms are unable to bear the costs. Moreover, since the local train is not being used by the citizens of Mumbai as a consequence of the lockdown, travelling from one place to another has become impossible. To be able to work from home, additional infrastructure like computers and hardware are needed, in most cases, the employers are unable to provide the employees with the required machines to be able to work.
Small businesses across Mumbai are bearing the crippling impact of the lockdown as the city continues to report cases with the residents being forced to stay indoors due to the rising number of cases of coronavirus. However, with the state government’s initiative “Mission Begin Again” to get the city back on track, traffic jams dotted the streets of Mumbai just like before. As local trains remained shut, thousands of commuters used their own vehicles or line up for limited modes of public transportation. Autos and taxis were also back on roads, however, operated with reduced capacities. On the other hand, shopping malls, restaurants and salons are to remain shut till the end of June.
Although the service industry, which includes the home delivery of food and beverage, has started operating in Mumbai with certain restrictions, industry watchers said the city is yet to adapt fully to the changed normal with the coronavirus and the fear of rising infections. However, despite the relaxing of the lockdown measures, some large corporates from the city have still remained cautious, asking employees to avoid travelling.
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