Hotels, theatres, gyms hit by uncertainty seek relief from govt.

Owners say that any extension in restrictions will spell doom for business

Many parts of Bengaluru, which would have otherwise been packed, were noticeably empty on Wednesday, a day after the government introduced restrictions and shut down theatres, hotels, malls, and gyms for two weeks. People whose livelihoods are dependent on these sectors fear that the “semi-lockdown” will be extended beyond the two weeks. Any such extension will “ruin our business irrevocably”, said proprietors who are still to recover from last year’s lockdown. Chandrashekhar Hebbar, president, Karnataka Regional Hotels’ and Restaurants’ Association, argued that opening only for takeaways was not viable. Most hotels will shut shop, he predicted. “Already hit from the restrictions last year, nearly 3,000 hotels wound up business. This year too, we may see a repeat of the situation,” he said.