Police personnel are finding it difficult to execute the market time restrictions in the city as buyers appear reluctant to leave even if the shops are trying to close down following the government order.

The cancellation of local train services has reduced the number of hawkers in the markets but the police still feel the need for discipline in buyers. “We are using loudhailers to make announcements and make people aware about the market timings. Many are still reluctant to leave making pleas for their last minute shopping,” said an officer of Maniktala police station.

The state government has restricted the market timings between 7am and 10am in the morning and 5pm and 7pm in the evening.

A deserted Burrabazar at 11.50am. Pradip Sanyal

On Thursday, police officers were seen making announcements at Gariahat market around 10am asking shopkeepers to close their shops.

“We are ready to close out shops, but sometimes people who come to buy do not care about the time. If someone is at our shop, it is difficult to say that we are closing,” said a shopkeeper, who runs a grocery store inside Gariahat market.

The average footfall at Maniktala, Gariahat, Jadu Babu’s Bazar, Lake Market and Burrabazar has decreased but it is still taking the shops a little more than the restricted timings to wrap up because buyers are crowding the markets.

“The number of customers has decreased drastically in the morning. In the evening, it is even less,” said a vegetable seller in Manicktala market.

Buyers at the Gariahat market after it opened at 5pm on Thursday. Pradip Sanyal

Guardrails cordoning the market space were seen outside Jadu Babu Bazar to stop buyers from crossing over.

Several police officers said there have been instances where people have argued that the market timings were too less and should be extended.

“We are trying to make people understand that they should not loiter around in the market place unnecessarily. Elderly persons are most vulnerable,” said an officer of Gariahat police station.

The guardrails outside Jadu Babu Bazar. Pradip Sanyal

A senior bureaucrat said the idea behind staggered timings was to reduce the crowd at the markets and to discourage people from stepping out of their homes for things that could be obtained online as well.

Unlike last year, when there was lockdown and people were allowed to step out of their homes only to refill their essentials, this year, there is no restriction on the free movement of the citizens in the city. Nobody can be stopped from coming to the market without any urgent need.

“Last year, there were instances where people were caught carrying bags meant for vegetable as an excuse to step out of their homes. This time as there is no restriction on their movement, it is our appeal to all the citizens to strictly follow the government rules and step out of the market places once it is closed,” said a senior officer in Lalbazar.