Bengaluru: Although shopkeepers and their employees are predictably unhappy with the closure of Mantri Square Mall while the BBMP checks it for structural defects following the recent collapse of a wall in its grounds, the people of Malleswaram seem largely relieved. Reason? There is less traffic congestion in the area now.
“Till the launch of the mall, Malleswaram was known for its smooth traffic. But with the mall coming up here our traffic troubles began. Sadly, it was allowed to come up without taking the inconvenience it would cause the locals into account. The Mantri group should have made some arrangements to deal with the traffic,” said Mr. Sheshuachar, a resident of Malleswaram.
Also, observed Mrs. Nirmala Rani, a resident of Seshadripuram, “Malleswaram is a residential area and known for its narrow roads. As they have big trees on both sides, it is impossible to expand them. So everyone was aware that this area cannot house any big commercial complex. By allowing a mall to come up here, the BBMP created a lot of problems for the locals.”
Other residents too complained that since the mall came up in the area it took them at least 30 minutes to reach Malleswaram Circle from Anand Rao Circle due to the traffic bottlenecks caused by the many cars queuing up to enter it.
They are a relieved lot now as since the mall’s closure on the BBMP orders, the traffic has been flowing a lot smoother.
But their relief is not shared by the many employees of the various commercial establishments at the mall, who are at a loose end since its closure. “The mall’s commercial establishments were a source of livelihood for their staff. They are having a tough time since its closure,” said an employee of a showroom in the mall.
