<p>Mandi Market — which was popular among residents of Mandi Mohalla, Tilak Nagar and surrounding areas as ‘Chikka Market’ and abuzz with activity till a couple of years ago — now resembles a ransacked fort.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Bags of commodities and people resting at places, which were once bustling with conversations, activities and transactions, welcome visitors.<br /><br />The market, which has been identified as a heritage structure, once housed several shops and a huge place for selling vegetables, fruits and flowers now look vacant and the number of shoppers too has declined. <br /><br />The market has more than five rows of shops, out of which almost 50 per cent are closed. The huge place, where vegetable and fruit vendors would display their commodities, shouting about the price and freshness, is empty. All the enthusiasm is missing and existing shops too do little business, says a trader Abdullah.<br /><br />Separate places allotted to sell mutton and fish too look abandoned. There is only one vendor selling fish, and few sell meat. The reason, most of the vendors have opted to selling their ware outside the market for reasons best known to them. <br />Now, mangoes, vegetables, bananas, tamarind, everything is sold on the footpath right outside the market. <br /><br />The malls that have mushroomed in almost all localities of the city — attracting people — have become a bane on such markets. When contacted, N Siddaraju, sergeant, Mysore City Corporation, said most of the vendors have shifted to the footpaths near old RMC market on Sayyaji Rao road and MG road. <br /><br />As some persons, who had rented the shops for decades, have passed away the shops remain closed. Allotment of shops to new parties have been temporarily stopped as there are plans to renovate the market under JnNurm project.<br /><br /> There is a plan to give a new look to the market inside, retaining the heritage structure, he said. An estimation is ready and the works would start soon. After the market is ready, steps would be taken to vacate roadside vendors and give them place inside to do business. Each vendor will have to pay a small amount every day and avail a receipt for use of the space, he added.<br /><br />If everything goes well, the market would turn into a much sought after place in a few months, he hoped.</p>
<p>Mandi Market — which was popular among residents of Mandi Mohalla, Tilak Nagar and surrounding areas as ‘Chikka Market’ and abuzz with activity till a couple of years ago — now resembles a ransacked fort.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Bags of commodities and people resting at places, which were once bustling with conversations, activities and transactions, welcome visitors.<br /><br />The market, which has been identified as a heritage structure, once housed several shops and a huge place for selling vegetables, fruits and flowers now look vacant and the number of shoppers too has declined. <br /><br />The market has more than five rows of shops, out of which almost 50 per cent are closed. The huge place, where vegetable and fruit vendors would display their commodities, shouting about the price and freshness, is empty. All the enthusiasm is missing and existing shops too do little business, says a trader Abdullah.<br /><br />Separate places allotted to sell mutton and fish too look abandoned. There is only one vendor selling fish, and few sell meat. The reason, most of the vendors have opted to selling their ware outside the market for reasons best known to them. <br />Now, mangoes, vegetables, bananas, tamarind, everything is sold on the footpath right outside the market. <br /><br />The malls that have mushroomed in almost all localities of the city — attracting people — have become a bane on such markets. When contacted, N Siddaraju, sergeant, Mysore City Corporation, said most of the vendors have shifted to the footpaths near old RMC market on Sayyaji Rao road and MG road. <br /><br />As some persons, who had rented the shops for decades, have passed away the shops remain closed. Allotment of shops to new parties have been temporarily stopped as there are plans to renovate the market under JnNurm project.<br /><br /> There is a plan to give a new look to the market inside, retaining the heritage structure, he said. An estimation is ready and the works would start soon. After the market is ready, steps would be taken to vacate roadside vendors and give them place inside to do business. Each vendor will have to pay a small amount every day and avail a receipt for use of the space, he added.<br /><br />If everything goes well, the market would turn into a much sought after place in a few months, he hoped.</p>
