Even as a section of traders have opposed the proposed ‘walking mall’ project on M.G. Road, two prominent trade bodies in the district say that it will be a win-win proposition for city residents and traders.
The Kerala Merchants Chamber of Commerce (KMCC) and Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samity (KVVES) have sought speedy completion of the project and construction of similar walkways in other areas of the city.
“It will increase footfall in shops, prevent encroachments and encourage people to walk,” said P.A.M. Ibrahim, district president of KVVES, which has 55,000 members in the district.
“Availability of wide and tastefully done up walkways will encourage people to stay much longer in shopping arcades. This will ultimately promote night shopping, since the walkways will be lively, well-lit and have food kiosks,” he said.
Citing the example of how parking curbs brought in more shoppers to Broadway Market, KMCC president Mohammed Ashraf said most traders had welcomed the project mooted by the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) since there was no land acquisition involved. Reacting to a section of traders opposing the project even as the project is ready to be tendered, he reminded that roads, footpaths and public spaces belonged to the commoners and not to any section of society.
Parking spaces
Public spaces are not meant exclusively for vehicles and parking. Our only demand is that the KMRL ready half a dozen multi-tier pay and park lots for cars on government and ‘poramboke’ land on M.G. Road and its link roads. This will help shoppers, metro commuters and small and medium traders who do not have dedicated parking space.”
Mr. Ashraf added that such walkways would help revive shopping in areas where business suffered following the opening of several shopping malls in different parts of the city.
KMRL sources said the junctions on Chitoor Road would be widened and bus bays built to ensure smooth flow of vehicles that would be diverted when one side of M.G. Road would be set apart for pedestrians under the walking mall project, conceived by French urban planners.
“It was the merchants themselves who wanted us to come up with a project that would revive shopping on M.G. Road once the metro is commissioned. Urban planners advised us that clearing encroachments and hewing out more space for pedestrians is the best way for this,” they said.
KMCC vice president G. Karthikeyan said the walkway project would help in reconstructing drains, while also relocating electric posts and transformers that obstruct smooth movement of pedestrians.
A section of traders under the banner of M.G. Road Merchants’ Association (MGRMA) had opposed the project.
They said many traders would be affected if the project was implemented in its present form.
