Imphal, March 05: While the construction of Bir Tikendrajit Fly-over would certainly ease traffic congestion and beautify the capital city in the coming years, currently store owners are scratching their heads as only a few number of shoppers are willing to trudge through the congested area to shop.

Compounding the shop keeper's woes is the financial crisis faced by the State Government with its resultant effect severely crippling buying power of the consumers.

Adding to the misery are erection of fences around the construction sites thereby affecting entry and exit points to the main marketing centres.

Compared to previous year's festival buying spree that left little room for relaxation to the salesman, this season most of the shop owners and salesman are forced to while away their time waiting for the odd customer to show up.

During a random survey conducted by this reporter during the past few days, the most affected sellers are those displaying their wares at Luxmi Bazar and New Market with few buyers visible.

The two markets specialize in cloth items like phaneks for small girls and locally churned scarves used during the festival period.

In contrast to brisk business on previous occasions tin sheet barricades put up on both side of the road from BT Road till Uripok approach road has severely crippled business activity as customers prefer to buy goods from shops located at the periphery of Khwairamband Bazar.

Most sellers are pinning their hope on the last day of shopping tomorrow before downing shutters for the five day festival recess even as daily sales have come to a grinding halt.

According to salesman of Sunrise Foot Ware, Kh Kala trading goods worth Rs 2000 is an uphill task in the current year compared to daily collection of around Rs 4000-5000 last year.

Similar trends prevailed at stalls located opposite the Sunrise Footware whose sale proceeds exceeded Rs 10,000 per day last year.

With several shops located along the barricaded stretch faring poorly, salesmen are forced to 'advertise' their goods to any prospective customer, said a salesman at the Gambhir Singh shopping arcade.

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