Little India shuttle services for workers resume after one-week suspension
Bus services ferrying workers to and from Little India resumed on Sunday after a one-week suspension, but at half the number of scheduled buses.
The 25 bus services run by private operators were temporarily halted to ease congestion in the area.
The operating hours of the bus services have been shortened by two hours to end at 9pm instead of 11pm.
While LTA said these changes are not permanent, they are meant to reduce traffic congestion and the inconvenience to residents. Fewer foreign workers took the buses - those who did wanted to remit money or meet their friends for a meal.
Business in Little India over the weekend has improved slightly from the previous week's but it remains slow.
Despite the resumption of bus services ferrying migrant workers to the area, restaurant managers said it is still a far cry from weekends before the riot.
"Last weekend was terrible, but we're close to 60 per cent this week. It helps that we're an old restaurant with a mix of local regulars, tourists and foreign workers," said Mr Raj Packirisamy, 36, co-owner of Gandhi Restaurant along Chander Road.
Liquor stores are not hearing the till ring more often, even though the ban on alcohol has been lifted.
"Who comes all the way to Little India to buy soap bars?" said Mr Balan Kabilan, a shop assistant at Moonshine Enterprises.
"Before the riot, the lowest I ever made was $6,000. Today, I only made $400," said Mr Kailasam Sadhasivam, 41, owner of New Arasi Tradi, adding that dismal business over the last two weeks has given him poor appetite.
No comments:
Post a Comment