Pune: Fierce e-commerce competition and the mall culture have made the members of Laxmi Road Traders' Association draw up an elaborate plan to revive the city's oldest shopping area.
It covers a revamp of Laxmi Road, Kumthekar Road and Kelkar Road which used to be the core market areas in the city.
Members of the association said any market place requires basic amenities and infrastructure to attract and retain customers, which is missing in these areas.
"We have a master plan which we will present to Pune Municipal Corporation. It includes beautification of the market place and infrastructural needs like parking, ample walking space and areas to sit. We are looking at working closely with PMC to implement the changes and develop this market into a modern avatar," Rahul Bora, president of Laxmi Road Traders' Association, said.
If their plan is implemented, the shopping experience at Laxmi Road will never be the same again, he added.
"A shopping experience starts with reaching the market place but at Laxmi Road, the traffic and the difficulty to find a parking space deter people from coming here. We have proposed parking along the riverside road for customers. Free shuttles will be made available from the parking space to Laxmi Road and back. Next, we aim to provide ample walking space with better pavements. The plan proposes adding of uniform signages and LED lighting to beautify the streets. We plan to add sit outs where shoppers can relax during their shopping excursions. We also want to add food arenas to provide for a complete shopping experience," he said.
The revamp of the market place will also attract tourists. "For decades, anyone coming to Pune makes it a point to visit Laxmi Road and the surrounding areas to imbibe the city's culture and purchase local specialities. Through this plan, the core city would become a more attractive for visitors," Bora said.
