Navneet Varmani, CEO, Shivalik Stationary Chandigarh,27 Sep :What mall road is to Simla, what MG Road is to Banglore, Chaupati Is to Mumbai , Such was the name synonym to Chandigarh ,, Sector 17. ! Remember? Yes dear ones , Sector 17 used to be a hub at one time , which has lost it’s identity , and charm what it used to be at one time . Courtsey ,, ::: so many reasons, The major reason is the MC’s development policy.
To improve thethings time and again , one has to looks for all the sides instead of the ROUTINE Development, It keeps on working on the areas where routine work is going on for years , where as MC should look up to other areas also. While recarpeting , our officers only look at the particular areas like 17/E where people have been roaming like photostat , from Neelam theatre parking to Piazza fountain or say From to Neelam theatre both the ends, same old track. Besides this area , sector 17 is so widely spread, but no body knows, because the development was not (never) done on such areas, ever since the sector developed, Say the area behind the bridge near the GPO . It seems as if it is the long lost cosion of the developed area. So deserted.( It’s seems as if it is not even under the Master Plan )
See the area in sector 17/C . The parking area is so haphazard, that you cant see the scope for a new business on that side, even if new companies are coming here and taking showrooms on hefty rents. Yes, for the last two-three years, there has been a trend that showroom owners are giving there areas on rent ( MNC’s ), only because they are not getting the good returns. As the customer has vanishing from the sector. The other Major reason of less customer is shifting of the Bus station . Maximum percentage of the customer which used to visit sector 17 was that it was near to them. As Chandigarh being the Capitol of two states, people have to come here for the work and they used to buy the required things from here while on their way back ,as Chandigarh stills caters the needs of vicinity areas . But as the Bus Stand is shifted to other (dead) area , where sector 17, no where near to them . There may be n number of reason that the sector is not so appealing to the customers ,the fact is, it is a loss to Chandigarh’s identity Please, my fellow citizens , think over it and suggest some good ideas to retain the charm of the once a happening sector. Please !
Finally somebody tries to wake up the sleeping Administration. Good effort, hope it gets noticed by the administration and it stops treating the portiion starting Plaza stairs till GPO as step children of 17.
Nice thought. Hope Administration looks into this.