Shoppers stay off shopping hub

CHENNAI: Call it a new-look T Nagar. The otherwise busy Ranganathan Street and Usman Road wore a deserted look on Tuesday, a day after authorities sealed many prominent shops operating from illegal structures.As the big showrooms were shut, regular customers stayed away from the two major streets in the shopping hub. According to traders association sources, about 2,000-odd employees working with well-known showrooms like Saravana Stores, Jeyachandran Textiles, The Chennai Silks and Textile India are on a paid holiday and have been looked after by their managements.“We are passing through a period of uncertainty due to the sudden action by the authorities and most of us spend time at the godowns,” a worker told Express.However, there were some customers who came to the shopping hub unaware of the lock and seal drive and had to return disappointed.“We landed in the city this morning and came to Ranganathan Street to buy some cheap clothes. But we were disappointed to see big shops closed,” said Kalyan Charan, a tourist from West Bengal.Traders May Move HCMeanwhile, a group of affected shop owners — who are having their shops at sealed complexes other than big showrooms — had a closed-door meeting to chalk out strategy to deal with the situation.According to traders’ association sources, they are likely to move a petition in the Madras HC seeking permission to open their shops contending that their livelihood has been affected.Officials said the lock and seal drive would continue with regard to those buildings that were served notices.