It is a one road town. Often this is the quip of first time visitors to this hill station when asked by their relatives or friends to describe the place.
However, the observation is by no means witty, sarcastic or derogatory. On the contrary it is accurate, complimentary and reflective of the important role the road plays as the face of this popular vacation destination.
The reference is to the Commercial Road which slices through the heart of the town while connecting Charing Cross on its threshold with other important thoroughfares like the Main Bazaar and Lower Bazaar roads.
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Coming into being in the late 1800s and slowly developing with old fashioned tiled shops lining it, the road has over the years become one of the main trading areas in the town.
Treated in the same way as Mount Road is treated in Chennai, the hub with a variety of commercial establishments including hotels, fast food and drive-in restaurants, ready made shops, jewellery showrooms, super markets, hardware and electrical goods outlets, drug stores, liquor shops, home-made chocolate kiosks and banks is one of the busiest parts of the town.
While for long it retained a quaint appearance which went with the ethos of this hill station, the last few decades have been witnessing the stretch undergoing jarring changes which of late have become pronounced. Long time residents and regular visitors feel that it is just a matter of time before Commercial Road loses its old identity.
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While conceding that development cannot be put on hold and infrastructure should match the growing requirements, some of them expressed the hope that at least conditions can be imposed on the design and colour of the buildings being put up on the road.
Geetha Srinivasan, convener, Indian National Trust for Art, Culture and Heritage (INTACH), The Nilgiris chapter opined while speaking to The Hindu that such measure will not only enhance the prestige of the hill station but also do a world of good to the members of the mercantile community.
In turn the economy of the town will improve.
Others hoped that the Commercial Road will not be allowed to go the way of the Government Botanical Garden Road, the Hobart Road, the Central Bus Stand road, Etienne’s Road etc vis a vis encroachments.
Motorist-friendlyIn view of its importance the Commercial Road should remain pleasing to the eye and be both pedestrian and motorist-friendly.
Regretting that encroachments have converted various parts of the town into eyesores, they said that milk booths of Aavin which sold anything but milk topped the list. The Commercial Road should be shielded from such activities.