Bone of contention: Merchants on S.M. Street claim that there is a steady fall in their business because of the vehicle ban on the street. more-in The Calicut Chamber of Commerce and Industry has come down heavily on the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation’s decision to conduct a survey among the public in connection with the ‘walking street’ status of S.M. Street, saying that the survey should be held among merchants who are suffering because of the traffic ban on the street. Chamber secretary Rajesh Kunhappan said that more than 70% of the merchants on the street are suffering huge losses, some not even able to pay their rent, as customer turnout has dwindled post the renovation of the street. “They are in dire straits. Customers are reluctant to visit S.M. Street because of lack of parking facility,” he said. No parking space The chamber clarified that it was not against walking street concept, but the lack of parking space was taking a toll on the merchants, many of whom have already wound up their business on the street. As for the proposed parking plaza at Kidson corner, which is being delayed, Mr. Kunhappan said: “By the time the parking plaza is completed, there will not be any more business on S.M. Street, if the present situation continues.” He also suggested that the Corporation at least make some temporary parking arrangements. “There were no issues earlier when autorikshaws used to take customers to shops. There are also private parking spaces in some of the shopping complexes on the street,” he said. Mr. Kunhappan said that the unexpected setback suffered because of the Nipah outbreak and the recent floods, spoiling two major shopping seasons of the year, Ramzan and Onam, had also added to the woes of merchants. The Chamber in a release said the public would always want the street to be free of vehicles and any survey conducted among the public would be one-sided, and hence meaningless. On the other hand, the Chamber is planning a survey among the merchants to collect data on the fluctuation in business and the loss incurred.

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