Traders in Panampilly Nagar never felt the need to be organised.
Even when the plum residential area in the heart of the city turned into a hotbed of commercial operations during the last two decades, they mind their own business and largely went their own way. Neither was the functioning of multiple residents associations for different income groups in the area an inspiration.
But things have changed since the High Court verdict restraining the provision of deemed licence to commercial ventures in the residential colony and the Corporation's move to restrict renewal of licence to shops set up before 2013 during the forthcoming financial year.
Efforts are now on to register Panampilly Nagar Association of Commercial Establishments (PACE).
David Ittycheria, one of the prime movers behind PACE, describes the move as an attempt to give voice to the commercial operators in the area, and more importantly, for the proper upkeep of Panampilly Nagar.
“We admit that the functioning of commercial establishments do pose problems like parking and security to residents. Commercial establishments will have no other alternative but to become part of PACE in its efforts to address these and similar concerns of residents,” he said.
Even as the byelaws of the association are being framed, traders are trying to get an audience with the Chief Minister and the Urban Affairs Minister in their attempt to prevail over them that shutting down 650-odd commercial establishments in the area is not the solution to restore the residential nature of Panampilly Nagar. This would throw out around 5,000-odd employees out of jobs also. They are ready with three separate sets of memorandums by property owners, owners of commercial establishments and their employees to press their case.
The memorandums claim that Panampilly Nagar, Krishna Vihar and Housing Board were notified as residential colonies at a time when there was shortage of residential space.
“Now that is not the case and hence authorities should effect a change converting it into a residential-cum-commercial area.
The Corporation can even implement the pay and park facility here like elsewhere to resolve the parking issue,” Mr. Ittycheria argued.
