PATNA: With many people avoiding going out in markets and shops, home delivery of various items has picked up in the city again.
The merchandise delivery boys, restaurant owners and other doorstep delivery service providers have started preparing to cope with increasing number of orders.
“We are witnessing a spurt in online orders during the last two weeks due to massive jump in the number of Covid cases in the city. Customers prefer buying food items online due to fear of getting infected with the virus,” said Sharique Ahmed, who owns a restaurant at Anisabad.
The shopkeepers and traders are also asking the delivery boys to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. “We have distributed masks and sanitisers among the delivery boys,” said Sharique.
After a brief respite from last year’s sudden rush, many e-delivery entities, food aggregators and restaurant owners have also started employing new people to deliver items as they are witnessing a surge in orders due to Covid curbs.
Shweta Kumari, a resident of Boring Road, said, “I began placing online orders and taking deliveries at home as going out would be risky during Covid time.”
Meanwhile, delivery boys, who brave all odds to serve people, are living in constant fear due to the third wave of the pandemic. During the first and second waves of the pandemic also, they had to deal with long working hours and fear of contracting Covid.
“We are facing a tough situation again,” said Raju Kumar, a delivery boy.
