City Centre Set to Enter Mangalorean Territory with Global Brands
by Walter Nandalike
Editor-in-chief
Daijiworld.com
Mangalore, Aug 20: Global brands' entry into the Mangalorean market is gaining momentum with many leading brands announcing their entry into the city. In Karnataka, after Bangalore , Mangalore is already being reckoned as the second most developing city as far as economic growth is concerned.
Ever since the international flights began operating to Mangalore airport, the movement of national and International products started flowing here. The property values have hit the skies. Hundreds of new projects are coming up and many are in the pipeline.
If the progress takes place in such a pace, Will the market remain for Mangalore?
Only time will answer this billion-dollar question.
But this question does not seem to haunt city's leading investors. 'City Centre' is all set to open in Mangalore within the next 12 months.
Those who are well-versed with the geography of Mangalore cannot forget the famous Hotel Woodside. Today this hotel no longer exists. It has been demolished and it has made a way for the proposed 'City Centre' where more than 100 of world's leading brands are set to occupy the space.
Reliance Hypermarket is also a new key Indian brand to set up its operation in this City Centre.
Daijiworld.com editor-in-chief Walter Nandalike met the brain behind this multi-crore project S M Arshad, managing director of Mohtisham, city's leading builders, to learn more about this ambitious as well as prestigious project, one which is undoubtedly is going to change the face of Mangalore city.
"City Centre - a 7-floor retail shopping centre will cover parking space for 850 four-wheelers and about 1000 two-wheelers spread over 5 levels. The mall will be occupied by most of the global brands like Kiplin, Bossini, UCB, Lech, Adidas, Provogue, Lee, Wrangler, Oxemberg, Levis..etc you name the brand, they are here! " says Arshad.
"Also there are indications from Macdonald, KFC and other fast food franchises to open their branches in the mall"
"The mall will be covered with 25 escalators, eight automatic lifts, and travelotor from Reliance hyper market to the parking area."
"Also on the fourth floor there will be 5-screen multiplex, a huge food court, Entertainment Zone for children, about 4-5 ATM centres from different banks, common areas covered by CC TV and security"
"In all, the built-up area of the mall will be about 8,00,000 sq ft.(including parking area)"
Arshad gives the narration of the dream project.
When asked as to what inspired him to go for such a huge project at a place like Mangalore, he says: "When we launched our project 'Empire Mall' near the PVS circle, the response was overwhelming. The project was well booked and well accepted, specially by multinational brands. That time we thought Mangalore needed a much more spacious and top-notch shopping mall. That was the basic point that motivated another major project by Mohtisham group"
"City Centre is going to be one of the best in entire Karnataka and almost 80% of the space was booked even before construction was begun. Currently the fourth floor construction is in progress. The City Centre is set to be ready by September 2008."
Though Arshad expresses his concern over the current infrastructure of Mangalore city, he is confident that Mangalore roads will soon be totally concreted and many more new projects will enter Mangalore.
"Mohtisham has a few more exciting projects in the cards; we will announce them one by one very soon. We want to contribute towards the growth of Mangalore through commercial projects," he says.
No doubt, not only Mohtisham's, but others' projects too are lined up to contribute to Mangalore's progress. Leading hospitality brands like Hilton, Intercontinental and Leela have already acquired space around Mangalore for five-star hotels.
If the trend continues like this, Mangalore will be the premium commercial hub of the nation.
To know more about Mohtisham's City Centre project please contact : info@mohtisham.com
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