Mumbai:
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CHAOS: The rule came into force after a bomb threat at his office | Shop owners opposite the police chief's office near Crawford Market are an unhappy lot. The Lokmanya Tilak Marg Dealers Association has protested the no parking move on the LT Marg stretch opposite Hasan Gafoor's office. The no parking diktat that began on July 18 came after the same association wrote a letter on June 24 requesting not to make this a no-parking area as it affected businesses adversely. According to sources, the rule has come into force, after reports of a bomb threat at the police chief's office. Says Mukesh Nishar, part of the association that has 84 shops underneath its umbrella, most as old as 40 years, "This is a shopping area and converting the road to a no-parking area means customers cannot bring their cars here. This is a huge business blow. Where will our customers park?" An angry shop owner simply said, "If the commissioner is so scared of the bomb threat tell him to stay at home. At least let us carry on as usual." A Lords shoe shop spokesperson said yesterday afternoon, "My shop has a 40 per cent sale on. I have had just four customers since morning because of the parking problem. At this rate, we will have to close our shops." His feelings were echoed by Jiten Shah of Roopam. "All through the day, the few customers who came into the store complained that there was no place to park," he said. The Association is planning a protest mid-week where they say they will down shutters and set up shop at the commissioner's office door. Gafoor did not return calls or messages seeking comment on the issue.
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