RESIDENTS DON’T WANT A MALL TOO!
The local shopkeepers are opposed to the idea of the BDA complex turning into a mall, because they will have to pay a lot more rent, and until the reconstruction happens, they will be without a cheaper venue. If you take them out of the equation, there is still some food for thought. Indiranagar resident and civic activist Sneha Nandihal is facing a similar issue in her locality. What she says resonates with HSR as well. “The BDA complex is supposed to provide all civic amenities to the local population,” she says. “It is meant to reduce traveling. But the proposed expansion will make it a favourite shopping/entertainment destination for outsiders, and promote long-distance traveling. It will also increase the traffic density in the neighborhood. For a residential area, it’s bad news.”
HSR resident Suraj Lulla who runs three branded showrooms in HSR Layout, agreed with Sneha: “It is not right to change every civic amenity to something which becomes commercial and the essence of having all civic facilities under one roof is lost. We should rather look at strengthening the BDA complex to be a one-stop solution to all the civic and government needs of the locality.”
One shopkeeper at the BDA complex was categorical when she said, “The BDA Complex isn’t shutting down too soon. The government itself is undecided on how to proceed with BDA complexes after the resident protests.”