Malls to double up as biz points

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Respite from long lines at shady authority buildings could well be a thing of the past, instead malls could double up as passport and transport offices, if mall developers initiative materialises.
On the lines of a few trials in different parts of the country where public utilities inside malls have been successful, city malls and developers too are looking for a futuristic plan to have public amenities inside shopping malls.
If the concept works it could bolster footfall and benefit business at shopping arcades and customers too would breathe a sigh of relief.
Visiting a mall to get postage and revenue stamp, file documents for a passport could soon be possible at swanky shopping malls, who aren’t stopping at anything to increase footfall. After starting non-retail initiatives like art and craft, music, gaming, some developers are thinking a step ahead to bolster footfall and sales and plan to bring in public utilities to their shopping arcades.
Malls aren’t just air-conditioned retail havens, says Yogesh Singh, Manager Sales at Supertech Limited, and believes the idea definitely would hold good. Singh explains, “It is a good concept. Firstly, it was banks that began utilising mall space and after multi-national banks, the trend spread even to nationalised banks. And of late there is also a demand for office space in malls.” And the entry of public amenities would bring in people, he adds.
Zohaib Arif, a retailer at an upscale mall in the city, says, “No matter what the reason may be a good footfall is always good from the sales point of view. There is no logistic hindrance to the option of having public utilities, and it can help bring in those, who would have otherwise gone to the authorities and public offices.”
Most regular mall visitors think people would prefer air-conditioned confines of a mall over having to brave the sun in summers and the chill during winter.
Randhir Chaudhary, a software engineer, believes it would be also be favoured by women. Randhir says, “Women will, especially those who are otherwise deterred by the thought of going and standing in line at most public utility places, be it at post offices, RTO or the passport office.” And as more allied services like cinemas, airline ticketing counters, car showrooms, ATMs opening up in malls, people will also go there to get other work done.