With Bengaluru’s lockdown inching towards a phased exit, Bangaloreans are bracing for a gradual return to normalcy amid the coronavirus pandemic. As an entertainment and lifestyle hub, malls will also have to adapt the new normal, change its ways of customer engagement, digitalisation besides ensuring safety and sanitization.
Physical distancing, frequent sanitising, masks, will have to be the new normal. Since Malls operate in a controlled environment they can be governed with stringent SOPs with measurable accountability. Allowing organised retail industry to open will save hardship of livelihood to 100 mn household in a cascading economic crisis. At Phoenix Marketcity, health, hygiene, and safety will be given utmost priority. Global best-practices and precautionary measures have been put in place to ensure every visitor feels safe and secure.
For instance, Malls will allow only a limited number of customers inside the mall at a time. All customers and staff will be checked for temperature before entering. In accordance with global guidelines, social distancing will be mandatory, as will be wearing of masks by both customers and staff. Customers will be encouraged to use sanitizers regularly which will be placed at multiple locations at the mall and our staff too has been trained in enforcing these safety guidelines. In addition to their own safety, they will be ensuring that the guidelines are being followed across the mall.
Cinemas may be allowed to book 50% of the seats to ensure no person sits in close proximity to the other, likewise eateries and retailers may also to be advised to ensure limited number of people inside the store at a given time. We will encourage use of technology like contactless payments to curtail contamination risk. Brand outlets which have high-contact services like customer make-overs, product testers may be advised to discontinue these services temporarily. Fitting rooms may not be operational. These measures will enhance awareness and instil confidence in our customers to embrace the new normal and continue to do the things they love.
With these precautionary measures in place, where customers are assured of their safety, we are hopeful for better days for people of Bengaluru.
- By Gajendra Singh Rathore, Sr. Centre Director, Phoenix Marketcity Bangalore, Chennai, Palladium Chennai.
