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At 101, Laxmi Road remains Pune’s busiest shopping hub
Laxmi Road in Pune has been decorated with attractive electric lighting to celebrate its 101st anniversary and enhance the Diwali shopping experience. The lighting covers a radius of 3 km, including Laxmi Road, Kumthekar Road, and Bajirao Road. Despite plans for a walking plaza, traders have opposed it due to the presence of jewelry shops and the need for customers to carry cash. The president of the Federation of Trade Association of Pune has called for arrangements for "pay and park" and the convenience of street hawkers.
Situated in the heart of the city, Laxmi Road has been a major shopping attraction for enthusiasts in and across the Pune district since 1922. To celebrate its 101st Anniversary while also increasing the Diwali shopping experience for customers, a radius of 3 km including streets of Laxmi Road, Kumthekar Road and Bajirao Road have been beautified with attractive electric lighting by the Federation of Trade Association of Pune, United Retail Trade and Garment Association, and Pune Saraf Association.
This illumination was formally inaugurated in the presence of Vikram Kumar, IAS, Pune municipal commissioner.
Kumar said, “Laxmi Road is an important shopping centre in Pune city. Customers not just from Pune, but also from different parts of the district come here for shopping. This tradition has been going on since 1922.”
“On completion of 101 years of Laxmi Road, all the businessmen have come together and decorated this place with attractive electric lighting. The celebration of 101 years and the festival of Diwali; both make these lightings an even more special attraction,” he said.
According to Ranka, president of the Federation of Trade Association of Pune, Laxmi Road, was previously called the ‘East-West Road’ during the British era.
“Big and famous shops of cloth merchants and jewellers in Pune are on Laxmi Road. Besides Pune, people from all across Maharashtra come to Laxmi Road for shopping. We couldn’t celebrate the centenary year of Laxmi Road due to Covid-19. But to mark 101 years, we have decorated a radius of 3 km including Laxmi Road, Kumthekar Road and Bajirao Road with attractive electric lighting. I urge Punekars to come and witness these alluring lightings and enjoy their Diwali shopping,” he said.
While Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has proposed a walking plaza on the street here, many traders have opposed it.
“Because there are several jewellery shops on Laxmi Road, a walking plaza is not a good option. Even today, customers carry a large amount of cash when they come for shopping. That’s why people wouldn’t take a risk to come here if a walking plaza is made,” said Ranka.
He further expressed that the PMC should make arrangements for ‘pay and park’ here. Along with this, the street hawkers should also be provided with other conveniences, as the customers can use the footpaths to avoid the traffic jams.
In addition, he also made demands to allow people to reach Laxmi Road from the Deccan area, as they used to until 1992-93 to avoid traffic congestion.
