KOZHIKODE: The shopping for Bakrid and Onam falling on Monday and Wednesday respectively has picked up momentum with the city witnessing huge crowds at all shopping centres. City folks are buying everything they can before the weekend availing of attractive baits like free gold coins, discounts, special gifts, combo offers, extended warranties and even trips to foreign countries offered by shops. SM Street, Focus Mall, Big Bazar, HiLite Mall and other shopping centres are packed with customers who are willing to splurge on their fancies.
The festival shopping will reach a peak on Saturday and Sunday. Roadside vendors selling dress materials and flowers are doing business at every available place in the town. The handloom Khadi fair at Comtrust ground, Khadi emporium and IRDP Mela at Kandamkulam jubilee hall and the North- Indian fair at Jaya complex are also attracting a large number of customers. Saleem Nazir, a vendor at SM Street, said, “the business was dull last year, but now since both the festivals are near, we are having brisk sales.”
City faces traffic chaos
Parking is going to be the biggest headache for police and shoppers during Onam season, as Bakrid also falls just ahead of Thiruvonam. Traffic AC A.K. Babu said on Friday that the city drivers were cooperating with the car pooling system introduced in the city limits, aimed at Onam-Bakrid shopping rush. “Drivers are ready to cooperate, when we stop them in the city limits and ask to include more passengers in the driver-only cars. This reduces rush to a certain limit. However, lack of proper parking space is a real headache to the shoppers as well as to the traffic police,” said Mr Babu.
Traffic police has restricted the entry of vehicles to SM Street, one of the most prominent shopping areas in the city. Heavy vehicles including long-route buses are also diverted in the city. Those going to Kannur side will have to take a turn from Gandhi Road junction and those towards Palakkad side will have to deviate from Thondayad. Arayidathupalam and Vaikom Mohammed Basheer road are two key areas where commuters are facing issues due to irregular parking on road sides. Road leading to the beach is also experiencing heavy traffic in the
last few days.
