MALL IN THE MAKING

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BHUBANESWAR: To say that the countdown has begun for opening of what is billed as the city’s “largest shopping mall” is not exactly correct. But, the frenetic pace at which work is progressing at Rasulgarh in the city is reassurance that the shopping and office complex — named Esplanade Mall– will be ready for its scheduled launch in a little over six months’ time – that means an impatient wait till March 2018. The outlying, sleepy Rasulgarh with its dust-laden and unkempt streets and shadowy lanes and bylanes is in blissful anticipation of what will change the area’s sleepy look for ever. “The mall on Cuttack-Puri Road will be handed over to Forum by the contractors in four months’ time, by December this year; and it is set for opening by March, 2018,” Forum group’s assistant vice president (sales and marketing) Ranjit Mallick told Orissa POST. Forum is a Kolkata-based real estate developer. The name Esplanade, it would appear, is directly transplanted from Kolkata, whose massively spread central trading hub carries this name. The project involves a budget outlay of `500crore, and it will cover over 6.5 lakh square feet of space. Says Ranjit, “Once we unveil it, this will be the biggest, the best-organised and fully air-conditioned shopping mall in the city. The project is split between a 4.5 lakh square feet shopping mall including a seven-screen multiplex and a 2.5 lakh square feet luxury office space.” Rasulgarh is the gateway to the capital from Cuttack, set on the Kolkata-Chennai highway. The junction and its surroundings are chaos confounded, with their open drains, accumulation of dirt and dust, and the streets riddled with potholes and footpath vendors. The mall is set a distance away from Kochilihat, one of the old-fashioned shopping centres situated close to the junction. The never-ending construction of two flyovers — one at the junction on the highway and the other on the Cuttack-Puri Road — adds to the chaotic situation in what is one of the most neglected areas of the city. Those who are behind the shopping mall endeavour is hoping against hope that the scenario would improve by the time the mall is ready for launch. Ranjit, who yet is upbeat about the success of the project, says the mall will have several national and international brands attracting shopping enthusiasts from across the state and beyond. For those from the commercial city of Cuttack, the approach to the mall is easy. Just exit from the highway and drive somewhat straight into the mall, set at a distance of less than 500 metres from the highway, off the approach to the Rasulgarh Industrial Estate. Vani Vihar Railway Station, where passenger trains stop, is just a short distance away from the upcoming mall. RICH FARE How big can big be? “We will offer a rich fare. Though I can’t disclose brand names right now, some of the top lifestyle brands will find their space in the mall. When we talk about entertain
ment, people of Bhubaneswar are always ahead of others. Large numbers of people here love to watch movies in good theaters. Esplanade Mall will have seven screens in its multiplex. ”We are bringing Cinepolis which is a Mexican brand. The seven screens will entertain the city’s young and hip movie buffs.” At present, INOX at Saheed Nagar
is the biggest multiplex in the city. It has only three screens. KIDS’ CORNER Kids form the backdrop of every shopping experience. Keeping this in mind, Esplanade will have a Kids’ Corner and play area. Ranjit however would not reveal at this stage what will the attractions thereof. That, he says,
“will be a surprise.”
FOOD COURT No mall is complete without a Food Court, which is also where money is sunk by shoppers. “The people are here foodies,” Ranjit says, adding, “Esplanade Mall would have the biggest food court and hypermarket in the city. It will beat all other malls here in terms of the sweep of facilities and brands on offer. The food court will have 15 kiosks. Around 20,000 people can dine at a time.” PARKING SPACE If lack of parking space is a curse to the other shopping malls in the city, Esplanade will spread out three lakh square feet of space for parking with a double-storey basement. Around 630 cars can be parked at a time and 500 bikes. “In addition, we are also arranging an open space for parking in case more vehicles drive in. We will also have facilities for the physically challenged visitors,” adds Ranjit.