The mall mile needs tweaking to enhance users’ experience

Numerous malls, restaurants and offices draw thousands to the MG Road and people mostly use the metro to reach the mall mile. However, the comfort of the journey has declined over the years and so has the experience on the mall mile.

Commuters say though the metro ensures that they reach the MG Road, the environment around the two metro stations on this road – MG Road and Guru Dronacharya -- needs to be improved.

The MG Road offers little space to visitors. The area has a mixed land use pattern with commercial and residential complexes.

Rakesh Sharma, who often visits the MGF Mall, said it is difficult to cross the MG Road. “Cars are parked on both sides of the road while the parking in the mall is empty,” Sharma said.

Also, the crash barrier on the central verge forces people to jump over it to reach the other side.

A Delhi resident, who loves shopping at the MG Road malls, also said crossing the road was tough. “Though the malls are a great attraction, there should be pelican signals or zebra crossings to help us cross the road,” Mehwish from Chhatarpur said.

Commuters also want better lighting around the stations and more police presence. “We often come here to watch movies but the environment is not comfortable for families once it’s late,” Devika Gupta, a frequent visitor, said. She cites the numerous brawls and harassment incidents that are reported on this road to drive home her point.

A number of commuters said there should be feeder bus services to the Ambience Mall and other parts of the road. Apart from improving quality of service inside the metro stations, there is a need to renovate footpaths and cover open manholes. Alternative arrangements have to be made for vendors, who have encroached upon footpaths, and also for haphazardly parked autorickshaws, commuters said.

The shopping malls can offer free parking to the metro users and other shoppers, a commuter suggested. Although the work prior to the Happening Haryana Global Investors’ Summit improved the conditions, a lot more needs to be done, many said.