Parking woes contine on CMH Rd

Indiranagar’s Chinmaya Mission Hospital (CMH) Road is now finally re-open to traffic after being blocked for several months, due to Metro construction.

Even though traffic movement on the road has been restored, businesses that had taken a drubbing during that hiatus are yet to recover.

Two years ago when the Metro work began, one could see a lot of ‘We have shifted’ signboards.  However, many continued to operate from the spot in the hope of better times post Metro construction.

Shopkeepers in the area said that many of those who had moved may not return, even after the street is reopened to traffic.

Shop owners on CMH Road said although vehicles now ply on the road, no provision has been made for parking. “We have customers coming back, but due to lack of parking arrangements on the road, not many people want to venture here,” said Sameer Pasha, manager of Waves Telecom.

Earlier, shopkeepers were told that parking space would be provided near the Metro station. That has not happened, and now the shopkeepers worry about the parking space for their customers.

“We thought that sales would pick up once the road re-opened to traffic, but the spurt in sales has not been so substantial. If business does not improve, many of us will be forced to move out or shut down,” said Pasha.

“We faced a lot of lean time after the Metro work started. Profits dropped drastically. The re-opening of the road has given us some hope. But business is yet to pick up,” said Suresh A, branch manager, Vivek’s Electronics.

Vivek Bajaj, manager of an apparel store, said, “Earlier, even people taking a casual stroll on the street would stop by and often make a purchase. But with the road in such a mess, there were no casual strollers left.”

Small stationery and petty shops have seen increase in sales after the road re-opened to traffic. “Sales have gone up for cigarettes, cold drinks, and biscuits,” said Rasheed, a bakery owner.

Traffic police too have a reason to heave a sigh of relief. Deputy commissioner of police, traffic, (east) BA Muthanna, said, “Traffic on Old Madras Road has eased. With commuters taking the CMH Road route again, Old Madras Road is comparatively traffic-free, especially near the BDA Complex,” said Muthanna.