The Hindu Business Line : City of joyful shoppers

Kolkata is changing at a fast pace; the familiar landmarks still stand and daily life has the same hitches or joys as it always did. Yet the city has acquired an ambience that is utterly new and indicative of an energetic movement towards growth in every sphere. The transformation makes one associate the city with a lot more than just culture and never-ending traffic jams.

Towards redefinition

Shaking off the old, staid image, the city has put on a more consumer-driven air. Till recently, the average shopper in Kolkata treated New Market on Lindsay Street as an all-in-one supermarket of sorts. Accessed through small bylanes and crowded main roads, it was a one-stop shop. From leather accessories to suitcases, flowers, jewellery, vegetables, clothes, cosmetics, toys and the most amazing eats (flaky mutton patties, Rallies kulfies and, of course, the mandatory pani puri). From supplying intricate wedding paraphernalia to monthly groceries, New Market even today has it all. `Modern' touches such as Treasure Island and Shreeram Arcade have been added to the gigantic market.

While Treasure Island still is popular with the crowd that has resisted the charms of recently launched lifestyle stores such as Westside and Shoppers Stop, Shreeram Arcade functions as a hangout for college students and cinemagoers.

While shoppers still hunt here for bargains, New Market is nevertheless reduced to a shadow of its glorious past.

The Gariahat market sells crockery, clothes, durable bags and other utilities to a crowd less sophisticated but as enthusiastic as the one that throngs New Market. Some customers do alight from cars, but most are on foot and this is the place where people shop, talk and bargain and argue endlessly, generating an interesting atmosphere!

Latest trends

The buzzwords in Kolkata shopping now appear to be specialisation and exclusivity. Shagun, a 20,000 sq ft, five-level, exclusive wedding mall on Shakespeare Sarani, strives to meet every requirement for the occasion. Done up in the auspicious red colour, the mall has besides the mandatory saris, dress materials and nightwear, gift items for the entire baraat... ranging from handbags and watches to cosmetics. Following closely behind Shagun and other focussed retails like Homeland are the Ambuja and Sharachi groups with plans to set up malls in New Town Rajarhat.

Hiland Park is going to see serious action in April with the launch of Metropolis, the mega mall. Its anchor, Big Bazaar, is already flourishing in Kakurgachi, promising big bargains.

Fort Knox, the city's first dedicated jewellery mall, will soon weave a golden spell on Camac Street. Established jewellers like P.C. Chandra feel this would add to their business, as malls mean more footfalls and serious buyers. Businesses in Kolkata, like everywhere else, have realised that the average shopper has come of age and needs more choices. The consumer has also understood that `big' doesn't necessarily mean expensive and local vendors and airconditioned malls might have similar price tags.

Says Bani Basu, a working mother, "My regular supplier often cheated on the weights. When Food Bazaar came up, I thought prices would be high; I'd be paying for the ambience too. A single visit proved me wrong, and organised parking is a boon, as I don't have to wade through the slush. Home delivery is another bonus." Customer service executives handling complaints are another advantage. As more women are employed, malls remaining open till 9 p.m. promise a less-hassled existence. "I can now pick up fresh veggies in the evenings from air conditioned outlets," says a teacher.

New business

With the general economy on the upswing, the profile of Kolkatans is changing too. With plans to put Kolkata on the business map of the country, the government is confident that IT giants like GE Capital, Satyam, HSBC and ITC Infotech will set up shop here. To keep pace with the expansion, infrastructure such as DLF's IT habitation has been commissioned in Rajarhat, while another township is also in the offing.

The IT industry is bound to bring in younger people with deeper pockets. Among existing businesses, especially in the manufacturing sector, the steel and iron industry is likely to take the lead. A textile boom already sees the Government firm up plans to set up textile and apparel parks.

Healthcare is also on the agenda, with focus on oncology. Earlier, many Kolkatans were forced to travel South or abroad for specialised healthcare. But AMRI Hospitals, Apollo Gleneagles and Ruby General Hospital are all set to expand and upgrade facilities, besides adding new oncology units.

And as the city expands towards the suburbs, areas like the Batanagar Township are in for a makeover. The third phase of Hiland Park, on the Bypass, is ready to be commissioned, complete with a 956-apartment high-rise complex and Kolkata's tallest tower of 30 floors. High-profile condominiums like Silver Spring, with 500 apartments, will be ready next year.

Welcome progress

So, are the distinctive odours, the chaotic crowds and the mad traffic giving way to chic and well structured shopping arcades? A cursory glance will certainly make it appear so. Forum — with a Shoppers Stop outlet, Inox theatres, the 'Oh Calcutta Restaurant and the Dockers showrooms — is buzzing with teenagers and college-goers. Biscotti, a refreshment counter, offers coffee and cakes; the Food Court on the terrace has mouth-watering chaats and other short eats. Yet, certain traditions remain unchanged, unchallenged.

"Nothing beats the puchkas (pani puris) near the Dakshinapan Market at Dhakuria," enthuses a college-goer. "And what about the ones you get near the Maidan and the Katti rolls at Nizams," adds his bespectacled friend. While Café Coffee Day might be the latest teen hangout, the historical Coffee House on College Street hasn't lost its customers either. "I feel out of place at Coffee Day. Everyone there is so young. I was a regular at the Coffee House during my college days 20 years ago, and it is still the same," muses Ruma, a working woman.

Kolkata is a city with a wonderful sense of balance. There was always Park Street with its Flury's and Trinca's, yet Dilkush's koberaji patrons always included the elite. The bookstores of College Street aren't affected by Crossword or Landmark. "No one can come even remotely close to the kind of stocks we have," says one old-timer near Presidency College. He is probably right.

Old favourites

This isn't a case of clear divides, just undying loyalty that might be willing to experiment occasionally, but knows when to return to the familiar.

Consumerism in the land of the Left? Yes, most have embraced it whole-heartedly. "These malls are certainly an improvement. Areas near the airport were considered villages earlier. Today we have malls here as big and well stocked as those in the city. I'm sold on the unbeatable convenience," says a local near Nicco Park.

Development and beautification are moving hand in hand. That's good news for South Kolkata. Calcutta Municipal Corporation's first ever collaboration with a private partner, the Venkatesh Foundation, will give the shabby and dilapidated Lake Market a complete makeover. The swanky Lake Mall — a Rs 40 crore and 20,000 sq ft project — is expected to be ready by 2006. The existing 350-odd shops will be relocated inside the mall. An exclusive walk-in from Rashbehari Avenue and separate entry and exit points for cars will take care of traffic snags. Swabhumi is another case in point. This lovely culture park is today an island of serenity far removed from the time when the area was known as `Kadapara', a rubbish dump.

While it's true that many old buildings are torn down to make way for new complexes, it cannot be denied that many of them have outlived their safety. Finally, competition and tradition in a friendly medley promises to turn Kolkata into a trendy metro.

Pictures by Parth Sanyal

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