From UV baggage scanners, installation of plexiglasses, using expensive chemicals to sanitize washrooms, and common areas to maintaining contactless parking and adherence to social distancing norms, malls are circulating measures to gain the trust of shoppers in physical retailing back.
The wait for malls is finally over as the government allows them to resume operation in non-containment zones from June 8, 2020. However, with this opportunity, comes a huge responsibility on the shoulders of the mall owners as they do not want to experience the past again. Therefore, malls are taking every step to ensure the safety of the visitors and the staff.
From UV baggage scanners, installation of plexiglasses, using expensive chemicals to sanitize washrooms, and common areas to maintaining contactless parking and adherence to social distancing norms, malls are circulating measures to gain the trust of shoppers in physical retailing back.
In the National Capital Region, malls have deployed CCTV cameras to supervise the working of the shopping area and keep a count of the total number of visitors at one time. Many malls have marked a three-step gap on the escalators following social distancing.
Moreover, Making the most of the tech-savvy world, DLF Mall of India has launched an app called “Lukout App” for customers to schedule their visits in the mall with the purpose of avoiding overcrowding. “We are in conversation with brand partners and encouraging them to install plexiglass at checkout window of outlets as a best-practice model for safety of our consumers,” said Pushpa Bector, executive director of DLF Shopping Malls.
On the other hand, Brigade Mall in Bengaluru will restrict the number of people allowed inside a washroom and block alternate urinals in men’s washrooms. Select Citywalk in New Delhi has installed fumigation tunnels that require the visitors to go through them before entering the mall but are unsure of getting a go-ahead from the state government.
Restricting the total number of people inside the malls of Noida and Ghaziabad that are operated by Gaurs Group, Manoj Gaur, MD of Gaurs Group said, “We have provisions for thermal checking, sanitizers, social distancing as per prescribed norms, regular sanitization, controlled hours and mandatory masks.”
The fully equipped mall owners and their retail partners are now just waiting for the safety and security guidelines by the government, hoping it to be a little less confusing.
