The metamorphosis of Lucknow, from a laidback cultural town to an emerging mini-metro, has been partially helped by the opening of shopping malls and multiplexes in major pockets of the city.
These shopping malls have not only transformed the expansive landscape of the ‘City of Nawabs’ forever, they introduced the denizens to contemporary trends in fashion and lifestyle.
While, it indeed is hunky dory for the modern retail here as elsewhere, the popularity of weekly pavement ‘bazaars’ held in different city points on specific days has not waned in least measure, although held on narrow streets with no parking bays or civic amenities.
Paradoxically, their popularity has only soared in the last couple of years due to rural migration in the city and the unplanned growth on the outskirts.
These weekly marts are held on all days except Monday and Friday in Lucknow and witness swarms of shoppers mainly belonging to the lower and middle class families. Young girls picking up trendy tops and tees, besides middle-aged married women scouring for best deals in kitchenware are spotted.
According to a rough estimate, transactions worth Rs 60 lakh to Rs one crore could be recorded in these marts.
