By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter


Ongoing infrastructure development works across the city and its immediate suburbs are disrupting the weekend shopping plans of residents, it is learnt.
Many of the roads leading to or around key shopping and commercial destinations remain clogged with traffic on weekends as some infrastructure-related work is being carried out in the vicinity, say residents, who also refer to difficulties faced in finding parking space in such areas for similar reasons.
One of the commercial areas in question is Najma, where a major work is already under way and more is being planned for the coming days.
“The works being undertaken now will definitely benefit people living in the area when they are completed. But, for now, they are forcing many commuters, including office-goers as well as shoppers, to change their plans and look for alternative options, as driving through or visiting an eatery or shop can be quite a task in Najma, which is even otherwise a busy and congested area,” said a resident.
It is understood that many residents these days restrict their shopping visits to locations close to their residence due to the ongoing road works. “We do not want to spend the weekend stuck in traffic while trying to reach our favoured shopping destination. Rather, we’d go to some nearby place to buy the stuff we need,” added another resident.
Another problem encountered by residents is difficulty in getting suitable parking space in the immediate surroundings of major shopping destinations.
“It is often seen now that the place where we used to park our car earlier is blocked on account of some infrastructure work being undertaken there. And this applies to more than one location in the city,” said a long-time city resident, recalling his recent experience at a place along Airport Road.
Some shopkeepers and residents also point out that while work on the Metro does not affect traffic as such, it does lead to the use of open spaces – where people used to park their vehicles earlier - for project-related activities.
Though more establishments are coming up at Barwa Commercial Avenue on Industrial Road, shoppers have apparently not started flocking to the place in large numbers. Some residents have attributed this to the movement of heavy vehicles on the road, which acts as a deterrent for owners of private vehicles.
Some tenants, however, expressed hope that once a massive shopping centre owned by a prominent regional retailer starts functioning at the place, their fortunes would also improve.
It is understood that some of these tenants have sought bus services at regular intervals through the area.