With Telangana in tune, malls are safe

HYDERABAD--07-09-2009--*FOR: CITY PAGES / XCLUSIVE --NETTED FROM MOBS : Fearing rampaging mobs to go berserk after the death of YSR , the entire glass facade of the GVK One Mall on Banjara Hills Road in Hyderabad has been covered with a net to deflect stones ( if thrown) . After the incident involving the stoning of the Lanco glass house building by Telanga Rashtra Samiti last year in Hyderabad , mall owners , for the first time have taken recourse to full proof safety measures . --PHOTO:P_V_SIVAKUMAR;HYDERABAD--07-09-2009--*FOR: CITY PAGES / XCLUSIVE --NETTED FROM MOBS : Fearing rampaging mobs to go berserk after the death of YSR , the entire glass facade of the GVK One Mall on Banjara Hills Road in Hyderabad has been covered with a net to deflect stones ( if thrown) . After the incident involving the stoning of the Lanco glass house building by Telanga Rashtra Samiti last year in Hyderabad , mall owners , for the first time have taken recourse to full proof safety measures . --PHOTO:P_V_SIVAKUMAR

The untangling of the ‘T’ question has not just come as a breather for political parties. Malls and shopping avenues dotting the cityscape, too, heaved a sigh of relief, with most saying that the clearing of uncertainty is a good sign.

Unlike regular traders and shops, malls and shopping arcades were particularly vulnerable to agitations as they sported swanky glass-based facades to improve atmospherics. The result was that there were possibilities of wayward stones landing on building facades, which in turn would have cost a bomb while restoring, Shekar Mitra, manager of a leading multi-outlet retail chain said.

Ever since the Telangana agitation picked up momentum, most buildings with glass elevations in the city were draped in protective nets, and Mr. Mitra hoped that with the uncertainty gone, these buildings might finally sport their designer elevations without fear of “accidental” damage.

Apart from coming out of their protective shells, mall managers were also happy that there would be no “unproductive” days, too.

“Ever since ‘T’ agitations began there was a possibility of bandhs being imposed, and we lost some valuable days during peak shopping seasons like Dasara and New Year,” Kiran Kumar, owner of a retail outlet in one of the leading shopping centres, said. Merchants can now look forward to a hassle-free retail time, he added.

Customers, however, did not experience any significant change. “Shopping remains the same irrespective of the current developments. The only consolation would be that auto rickshaws will not fleece us in the name of operating during bandhs,” said Richa Sharma, a chartered accountant.