M Block Market of Greater Kailash-1, was once upon a time, the most prestigious market of South Delhi. Traders aspired to open shop in this market and visitors took pride in narrating their visit to friends and family members. During the last decade the market has lost its sheen and attraction. Many brands like McDonald, Big Burger and Chayos etc. opened outlets in the market and left soon.
There are many reasons for this state of affairs of the market.
One of the major reasons is that the market no more gives customer/ visitor a good experience. Visiting M block market is more of a pain than pleasure. The customers do not have comfortable walking space in the corridor. The corridors are occupied by unauthorized vendors of ladies garments, mobile accessories and artificial jewelry. Each vendor shop in the corridor has 2/3 attendants/ sales boys occupying the corridor besides the goods, leaving no space for customers to walk. The market gives look and feel of Sarojini Nagar/ Lajpat Nagar markets as against High Street Market like South Extension and Khan Market, which it used to be couple of years back.
Second reason for the state of affairs of the market is the cleanliness of the area. Starting from entry to the market and the entire area is badly maintained. There are a number of garbage collectors, who collect garbage from the shops and during the day use the park in the middle of the market and vacant areas in and around the market to segregate garbage. Shopkeepers are using the central park for dumping construction waste, old sign boards, ladders and other materials. This gives appalling view to visitors and is unhygienic. Visitors who would prefer to relax in the park after window shopping avoid going to the park as it is occupied by either garbage segregators or vagabonds and is badly maintained.
Third reason is the traffic management. The entry and exit to the market are taken over by a number of unauthorized Tea/ Fruit Juice/ vendors. Taking over of foot path by shopkeeper by blocking the passage with planters and seating of staff, self-claimed three wheeler auto stand / cycle rikshaw stand, vendor booths and illegal parking of cars on both sides of road by parking contractor near market exit point causes traffic jams and leads to long ques resulting in long time for visitors to move out of the market, particularly during weekends.
M block market Traders Association, MCD and Delhi Police need to take appropriate actions to help the shop keepers get more customers and sustain their business and flourish like traders of other High Street Markets and give customers great experience of a world class market where visiting the market is a pleasure and fun.
