Orissa govt orders demolition of three major malls in city/ The Times of India

Orissa govt orders demolition of three major malls in city
TNN, Apr 9, 2011, 11.20pm IST

BHUBANESWAR: The state government has decided to demolish three shopping malls Pal Heights at Jayadev Vihar, The World at Sastri Nagar and Big Bazaar at Patia in the city on charges of not providing sufficient parking space and violating the planning and building regulations.

Housing and urban development minister Badri Narayan Patra said the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) did not approve the building plan for these shopping malls. "The plans that had got the nod were for commercial and residential buildings. After the violations came to the government's notice, it decided to raze these buildings to the ground," he told TOI.

The approval was given in tune with the rules prevelant before 2008. According to the present norm, the authorities cannot approve Shopping malls and buildings meant for retail business unless they allot 60 per cent of the total built area for parking.

The three buildings were approved in tune with rules in vogue before 2008. Those rules prescribed that development projects, especially shopping malls and office complexes should have provision for adequate parking space, failing which clearance should not be granted. "But due to lack of adequate parking space, people park their vehicles on roads, causing traffic snarls," an officer in BDA said.

A few months ago, BDA had issued showcause notices to these shopping malls. Their hearing had also been held. Finally, the government decided to demolish the buildings.

The minister further said cases were pending against three other shopping malls Forum Mart at Kharvela Nagar, Pantaloons at Saheed Nagar and Vishal Mega Mart at Nayapalli for violating parking norms. "The malls were served showcause notices and the hearing process is on," an officer said.

While malls are mushrooming all over the city, inadequate parking lots and traffic snarls outside these malls have been causing immense inconvenienceg to the public. Residents say weekends are worse when mall managers ask people to park their vehicles outside because their parking lots are full. "Parking has been a major problem near shopping malls. The traffic aspect was possibly not given due thought while giving a nod to these projects," said Prasant Kumar Das, a resident of Satya Nagar.