Once a hub of busy city centre, it is losing its charm and customers
By : Jasir Qadri
Every major city of any country has its own famous markets which come with ups and downs of that particular city. Whether it is Connaught place in New Delhi, Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, Sarojini Nagar New Delhi, Hazratganj in Lucknow, Mall Road in Shimla, Raghunath Bazar in Jammu, each of these markets of particular city have their shine and charm in their own basket of particular city.
Lal Chowk would be one of the particular examples of such market in Srinagar city. Lal Chowk is a city square (literally Red Square) in Srinagar in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Lal Chowk was named so by Left-wing activists inspired by the Russian Revolution as they fought Maharaja Hari Singh.
Lal Chowk has lived up to its name with the highest political shows thronging here in the past (including PMs), holding of processions, dharnas and Ghanta Ghar dramas in its lap, been the entertainment capital of the city, seat of high level offices and also seen many debacles in last 3 decades. Lal Chowk is spread over two miles has two famous parallel roads (Residency Road & Maulana Azad Road) that meets at Jehangir Chowk at one end and other side of road end at poloview.
It has various sub markets, poloview, kokar bazar, lambert lane, abi guzar, forest lane, maisuma, Jehangir Chowk , hari singh high street and gonkhan with many more. Lal Chowk is mainly famous for clock tower which was built by bajaj electricals in 1980 and got many renovation several times with four clocks hanging on wall with no time at all. Lal Chowk is only known by its clock tower resemblance and famous political history of dranas, spontaneous shutdown, protests and other processions.
Keeping in sovereignty and Law & Order situation of Kashmir, Lal Chowk is usually bounded by government forces to protect its identity and keep it’s reach from politicians fall. Lal Chowk Market is famous due to clock tower identity and pre-historic era but due to urbanization and modernization of Srinagar under smart city project, Lal Chowk was never renovated back to feed our customers back like in pre-historic times.
Few Years back lower court was shifted from court road to tengpora bypass as government planned to move in open and sophisticated place for court premises. After this step, Lal Chowk lost its most customers due to unprecedented rush of people which usually use to visit Lal Chowk for court cases and other proceedings. In while it would increase the charm of market but it is now lost. People use to come from other districts and visit Lal Chowk for shopping & other market stuffs.In my Opinion,old lower court building should be converted into city centre hospital which will be beneficial for the society.
Currently due to Covid-19 shutdowns and lockdowns, Lal Chowk market is losing its charm and its customers. People and industry have moved to digital world (Online Shopping, Online orders etc) due to renovation of business industry. Under Srinagar Smart City Project, Lal Chowk seems to be missed by government and is not doing anything on ground to bring back charm of city centre back.
Kara Nagar, seems to be now new front coming city centre for Srinagar market. Lal Chowk Market may turn into ghost town of city if any systematic approach and planning is not done by government and stakeholders as as soon. Government should collectively with stakeholders, traders association bring customer oriented plan which is beneficial for the Lal Chowk Traders and business community of Lal Chowk.
