Bhubaneswar: A week ago, Odisha capital had its largest mall – Esplanade One – inaugurated at Rasulgarh. Spread over a whopping 4.5 lakh square feet, it makes a statement with 100 top international and national shopping brands.
Anurag Aditya, a student, recently visited the mall and made a video giving you a tour of the entire mall.
Anurag said it took him two days to compile the shots. “Video recording is not allowed inside the mall, which is why I couldn’t cover a lot of areas. However, I did all that I could and it is one amazing place,” he added.
Many other visitors too, appreciated the architecture. “It is definitely an upgrade for the twin cities, primarily because it is the first proper mall in the right sense. With a number of premium brands like Lifestyle and Kazo, it is certainly not only a go-to place for shopping but also for mere window shopping,” said Sohini Mahapatra, a faculty at NLUO.
A huge food court with a seating capacity of 750 is the other attraction here. While Chilli’s already has a counter, international fast-food restaurant chain Burger King will soon be opening shop.
“I liked the fact that there is ample parking space with adequate facility for charging electric vehicles. I think it will do very well in a developing city like Bhubaneswar,” said Anubhuti Mishra, an advocate.
However, security concerns are increasing with the footfall. To tackle the same, plans are afoot to employ dog squad and have a firearms chest.
It is an all-in-one mall, said another visitor Amisha Das. “For people who love movies, this is going to be the place with Mexican multiplex chain Cinepolis coming up with seven screens,” she added.
The approach to the mall, however, might be a disadvantage considering the congested road and heavy traffic flow, visitors complained.
Civic experts too are wary of the congestion. “Parking area can accommodate around 600 vehicles at a time but the road in front of the mall is narrow, increasing the possibility of accidents,” said urban planner Amit Jena.
“The mall is aesthetically pleasing and has a modern architecture, but the exit for vehicles is poor. The road is filled with uneven surfaces and potholes,” said Sankalp Dubey, who loved every aspect of the mall but this.
The mall is an addition to the likes of Forum Mart, Pal Heights and BMC Bhawani Mall in the city. A few more, including Symphony Mall on Bhubaneswar-Cuttack NH, Bhubaneswar One near Sainik School and Utkal Kanika Galleria near Kalpana Square, will soon grace the skyline.
