KOCHI: The 24-hour nation-wide strike called by the trade unions on Monday virtually paralysed the state's business sector, with trading establishments ranging from shopping malls to brick- and-mortar shops remaining closed.
At LuLu mall, where the average footfall this season is 80,000, suffered an estimated loss in business of `10 crore on account of the shutdown. " We have 250 stores here including LuLu's own hypermarket. It is the festival season with Vishu coming up and the beginning of the summer vacation. A single day 's shutdown during a period like this will affect our balance sheet," said Shibu Philip, Business Head, Lulu International Shopping Mall.The Special Cochin Economic Zone saw 95 per cent of the establishments downing their shutters.
One of a kind
The Infopark remained a lone exception, with the hartal hardly affecting the attendance. "Infopark registered an attendance of 60-65 per cent .We were unaffected by the strike. Majority of the staff can also work from home," said Hrishikesh Nair, CEO Infopark.