A pensioners’ paradise half a century back, Mysore is witnessing a marked change in the recent times On Thursday, the city is bursting with activities, both commercial and academic. The typical country-tiled houses in the city have more or less disappeared,making way for modern structures.
Old Mysoreans, who happily lived in these small houses, gifted by the rulers of Mysore or built by local bodies like the City Improvement Trust Board or the Housing Board, have sold their houses finding attractive returns for the paltry investments made either by them or their forefathers. They have moved to new extensions to lead a calm and leisurely life.
The old houses have been pulled down to make way for modern structures with shops and commercial and office complexes by investors. The city is witnessing a growth of Supermarkets, bazaars, shopping malls and showrooms in areas were it was filled with small shopping areas, making the places busy with commercial activity and heavy traffic. The number of street vendors, who offer variety of food, have multiplied in and around the busy streets to draw the evening crowd.
Sarees once a symbol of style and fashion is slowly moving away and are becoming less fashionable, new fashion attires are attracting women and girls. A large number of apparel shops and showrooms have come up in the city. So also, branded and exclusive textile, electronic and other shops are spread across the city.
Malls, supermarkets and big bazaars are making a big impact on the commercial activity in the city and changed the nature of the business activity of the Mysoreans.
These supermarkets and malls have wetted consumerism in the old royal town, now expanded on all four sides and heading towards becoming a big city. They have become convenient one stop place where they can find all their requirements. These are generally crowded in the evenings, when people find it convenient to visit to shop and spend their evenings.
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Once a sleepy old town has now turned into a city as if in a hurry to grow.
The old business centres have become the hotspots for outside business communities. The old business families of Mysore have dwindled in numbers in these areas, having passed on their ancestral business to others. It is not a surprise, therefore, if a NRI visiting Mysore says that he can find almost every item he needs in Mysore on Thursday.