Customer is the king, the age-old business mantra is being implemented at Novelty Market on Jail Road. Knowing that customers’ comfort is important, Trade Association of Jail Road has taken an initiative to ease parking arrangement and facilitate people’s movement in the market.
While managing vehicular movement is the responsibility of traffic police, the association took permission from DSP (traffic) SK Upadhyay to take over parking arrangements on Jail Road. Since Jail Road houses largest mobile phone and accessories market, hundreds of customers visit it everyday.
Many people avoid coming to market because of chaotic traffic and lack of parking space. “We sell our products on reasonable rates and offer a wide variety but if customers cannot reach us comfortably, then it is of no use,” shop owner Kailash Talreja said.
Every shopkeeper was of similar view but there seemed no way out. “We had to reach out to customers and ensure that they are the king, otherwise, we would eventually have to pay the price as we will lose business,” president of Trade Association of Jail Road Rajkumar Sharma said.
In an attempt to know customers’ problems, the association found out that the major problem was traffic congestion and parking. The busy Jail Road is narrow, which leaves very little space for parking. Besides, there was no clarity about parking space. “Most customers feared coming to the market, because their vehicles would be towed away by traffic crane,” businessman Bunty Solanki said. “We cannot expect customers to walk for two kilometres and then explore the market as it would be tiring,” shopkeeper Raju Saluja said.
The association then approached corporator Kamlesh Nachan to take over parking system. “We got parking space reserved for shopkeepers and their employees in Maharaja Complex,” association member Rajesh Moryani said. Besides, they got permission from traffic department to manage parking with request to avoid towing vehicles of customers. “To ensure that customers get proper space, we are imposing penalty on those who don’t follow norms. We put stickers on vehicles for identification,” association member Rizwan Khan said.
New rule at Jail Road
All shopkeepers and their employees will park their vehicles in Maharaja Complex where parking is free. Only customers can park in front of shops and in the allotted spaces at Jail Road. No vehicle can be parked for more than an hour in front of any shop. Three guards are available to facilitate parking for customers in allotted spaces.