The state government's guidelines for gradually unlocking the city almost after two-and-a-half-months have come as a huge relief for retailers and shopkeepers as they will be able to roll up their shutters from June 5 on an odd-even basis in non-containment zones. Viren Shah, president of the Federation of Retail Traders' Welfare Association (FRTWA), said that after the order was issued, he had made some suggestions on how the re-opening could be done to Aaditya Thackeray and Maharashtra Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta. One of the primary suggestions was that travel passes should be issued for staffers, as commute would be a major challenge.

The 16-point suggestions given by Shah include an assurance that shops would allow only one-third of their total staff to work and ensure that they and the customers follow social distancing rules. The staffers would be regularly checked with a digital thermometer to ensure that they don't have fever and they would also have to undergo regular health check-ups.