05 April,2011 08:25 AM IST | | Priyanjali Ghose
People's interest in the partially constructed Metro station rakes in business for traders at MG Road
Mahatma Gandhi Road seems to have regained its glory as a shopper's paradise with sales at shops along the stretch shooting up by 30 per cent as compared to last Ugadi. This it seems is all thanks to people's interest in the partially constructed Metro station.
Happy shopping: Sales at shops along the stretch shot up by 30 percent
as compared to last Ugadi. Pic/Vaishali Deepak
On the eve of Ugadi and with the belief that the Metro would run from April 4 onwards, Bangalore Trader's Association organised the 10-day MG Road Bazar from April 2 onwards. Bhoopalam P Srinath, secretary of the association informed that the 10-day long shopping festival has been organised for the first time to lure shoppers back to the oldest shopping hub in the city.
Around 45 shops on the stretch between Anil Kumble Junction and Trinity Circle are offering discounts and attractive deals throughout the festival. Shops with branches across the city are offering discounts only at MG Road branches.u00a0
"Unlike the last few years, Ugadi has been good for us this time. Sales have increased by 30 per cent and people coming here out of curiosity to see how the station looks," said Faisal Sait, managing partner, Aanchal Sarees.
"We timed the festival purposely to coincide with the inauguration of the Metro and Ugadi and it appears to have been successful," said Srinath. He added that the Metro construction resulted in a drop of 50 per cent business over the last four years along the MG Road.
C Pramila, business head at Deepam, agreed that though sales have decreased over the last few years, the original charm of MG Road and the attraction of the Metro station are bringing people back.
"This Ugadi, traders are praying that the completion of the metro brings us better times," she said. Visitors on the other hand said that MG Road Bazaar could not have been held at a better time.
The view of the Metro station and the attractive discounts seem to be reason enough for people to visit MG Road on Ugadi.
"We thought we could shop and see the Metro at the same time. Sadly, the Metro is not opening said Shabnam Shetty, a resident of JP Nagar.
