First Published : 10 Aug 2010
The number of IT parks is usually directly proportional to the number of shopping malls. This theory is applicable to all other Indian states except Thiruvananthapuram. Though the city is blessed with the country’s first IT park, it was lagging all these years in new-age culture.
But a major shift is on the cards with a rapid expansion of IT parks in the district. More and more MNCs are now evincing interest in setting up shop, right from coffee spots to multiplexes. The government too has decided to hop on the bandwagon.
The Bypass road, which houses the country’s first IT park; Technopark,is all set to get the first ultra-modern shopping mall. If everything goes well, the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) will be the first to set up a hi-tech mall on this stretch, which no MNC has explored till now.
The Supplyco is on the hunt for one acre of land near the Technopark to start this new venture. Already, the Supplyco has opened hyper markets at Kottayam and Kochi. This will be the first time that the Supplyco will be venturing into the most modern concept of shopping malls.
‘’The Supplyco supermarket will be the hallmark of the mall. There will be shops of various departments like poultry and handicrafts. The mall will also have medical shops, restaurants, snack bars and other food stalls,” said Yogesh Gupta, Managing Director, Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation.
But the Supplyco shopping mall will have a difference of its own, when compared to other malls run by the MNCs. The main idea behind the setting up of a mall by the government is to sell the products at the most affordable prices to the common man.
Regarding the private participation in the mall, Gupta said, “Private companies too can run shops on rent. These will be allotted on a tender-basis. The only condition will be that the private companies must ensure minimum price for products.”
“We have written to the government for one acre of land. Further plans will be laid out after getting the land. As of now, we are planning to have a building with minimum 10,000 sq ft,” Gupta said.
At last, a mall for the city, that too offering low prices for products.
jisha@expressbuzz.com
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