Economic and Social Impact of Modernisation on a Local Marketplace: Case Study Appa Balwant Chowk, Pune, India

Traditional marketplaces have a very important role to play in establishing the character of a city. They are centres for commerce as well as sociability and highlight the culture and heritage of a locality. This study explores the economic and social impact of modernisation on these old local marketplaces and if and how it has impacted urban development of the area. It focuses on a local book market in the Indian city of Pune, called Appa Balwant Chowk. Its correlation with the heritage and educational legacy of Pune has contributed to its proliferation and popularity over the last 60 years. It is vital to study the tendencies of these marketplaces and the relevance of such a model in current times, while ensuring that they continue to be resilient and socially sustainable. In this case, sustainability is the ability for the marketplace to be maintained at a certain rate or level, in an environment characterised by change and uncertainty. This study assesses the opinions of residents of Pune on the viability of this marketplace in terms of certain factors such as environment, convenience, accessibility through purposive sampling via a questionnaire. It further assesses issues faced by local shop owners and their awareness about changing societal needs and adapting to those in order to survive, via interviews and observations. Overcrowding, aged unsafe facilities, and a lack of parking space are some of the major issues of the marketplace today. However, in many cases, the positive aspects of such a marketplace seem to trump the negative ones, allowing it to be relevant even today. Making sure that this marketplace is revived and thrives in the future is imperative, not only to ensure that the city remains in touch with its heritage, but also since it is the need of local sellers for whom this is the only means of livelihood. Along with shedding light on the current issues, this study also enumerates pertinent solutions and developments for such a revival to take place.