Allow shops to be open 7 days, chamber tells Delhi govt

Move will generate additional income for traders and revenue for govt: PHDCCI

The Punjab, Haryana and Delhi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) has urged the Delhi government to allow shops and shopping malls in the Capital to remain open up to 10 pm on all seven days of the week.

This was required to beat the competition being posed by the shopping centres in the adjoining areas of the National Capital Region (NCR), which operated till late at night all through the week, the chamber said.

In a representation to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, the chamber pointed out that shopping malls in the National Capital Region were operating on all the seven days of the week and till late in the evening because of which customers were shifting from Delhi to places like Gurgaon and Noida.

"Consequently, commercial centres of Delhi are losing business and the Delhi government too is facing a loss in revenue," the chamber said.

The PHDCCI said opening of shops in the Capital on all the seven days would generate additional income for traders, create more jobs, increase tax revenue for the state government and would also enhance the convenience of general public too.

The chamber pointed out that the state government was empowered to exempt shops from the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act that imposed restrictions on opening and closing hours in the city.

The chamber recommended that the exemption could be granted to all shops in subject to their adhering to the labour laws.