Shopping fix for Commercial Street

In one month, if all goes well, Commerical Street’s makeover will be complete with concrete pavers in the Pantone colours of the year, footpaths, and maybe a buggy service too

In a month, when you go to ‘Comms’ or ‘Commercials’, you won’t be going there just to shop at your favourite chaatwala, or to the shop with no name that dyes dupattas just the way you like it. If you’re a Bengalurean, you’ll be happy to note that the City’s favourite high-street shopping destination is all set to unveil its new look in a month’s time.

The carriageway looks different. There are footpaths, which this stretch never had. Colourful concrete pavers in yellow, magenta, grey and brown give the stretch a new look (two of them are Pantone colours of 2021).

According to Raja MR, Team Leader for Smart City Project from Infrastructure Development Corporation (Karnataka) Limited, “ The design with concrete pavers in different colours will continue from one footpath to the other, through the carriageway.’’

The Bengaluru Smart City Project has been developing Commercial Street on the lines of Church Street for over a year now. Work on this busy stretch began in May 2020 and was expected to be completed by the end of December 2020 but there were delays due to the covid-19 pandemic. The project is expected to cost Bengaluru Smart City Limited more than Rs 2 crore.

“Earlier there were no footpaths on both sides of Commercial Street. But now we have provided them for pedestrians. We have taken the traders and shop owners into confidence while preparing the plan for the development of footpaths on Commercial Street,’’ said Rajendra Cholan P, Managing Director, Bengaluru Smart City Limited.

The difference between the footpaths on Church Street and the footpaths on Commercial Street is that the former has granite cobblestones while the latter has concrete paver blocks. According to an architect not associated with the Commercial Street makeover, granite cobblestones have more durability than concrete pavers.

According to reliable sources, the design of the makeover was suggested and executed by the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) and IDCKL. “There is no special reason for selecting these colours. Similar footpaths are found in Europe. We wanted to introduce such footpaths in Bengaluru. This is a pilot project,” said an architect from IDCKL.

Bengaluru Smart City Limited Chief Engineer BS Prahlad said that the objective of developing Commercial Street was to improve the shopping experience and enthusiasm of shoppers. “Most of the shoppers have lost enthusiasm due to covid-19 pandemic. We want to bring back the enthusiasm among the shoppers,’’ Prahlad said.

The width of the carriageway on Commercial Street is 5.5 metres while the width of each footpath is 2.5 metres. “We are using 100 mm interlock concrete pavers for the carriageway. The road will have informative boards for the benefit of shoppers. We are contemplating a buggy service for the benefit of senior citizens. Around 30 per cent of the work is pending and it is expected to be completed in a month,’’ said Anand Pramod, a contractor.

Most of the traders and shoppers on Commercial Street are happy with the new look of the street but want the work to be completed as soon as possible since it has been delayed by six months.

“We are happy with the development of Commercial Street which is known as a one-stop shopping destination. We want to bring back all our customers as soon as possible,’’ said Farhan of Western Stores.

Meanwhile, Cholan said that discussions are being held to fix parking issues on Commercial Street. “There are a few issues relating to the parking of vehicles. We will fix these issues shortly,” said Cholan.

Pavan Padaki, branding coach and consultant, says the colours used in the pavers on Commercial Street, are the declared Pantone colour shades of the year, 2021. The Ultimate Gray+ and Illuminating (yellow), conveys a message of strength and hopefulness that is enduring and uplifting. “This couldn’t be more appropriate and timely for the brand Commercial Street. Using the Pantone shades of the year has two implications. One, it will mark the year in which the street transformed itself with a new beginning. The other is a self-motivating statement for all the shop owners and customers, with a message of strength, hope, and a spirit that is uplifting and enduring. This transformation is a great opportunity to campaign and express the renewed and refreshed brand, Commercial Street,” said Padaki.