Amidst protest, Gujarat’s biggest mall partially opens today


A banner on Vaishnavite Kalyan Pusthi haveli opposing Alpha One mall

Ahmedabad, 15 October, 2011

Even amidst protest of locals, Vastrapur based Alpha One mall is going to open partially today with non-veg giant KFC(Kentucky Fried Chicken) outlet as its part.

The mall – biggest in Gujarat is constructed by Gurgaon based Alpha G Corp and it is located just next to Vastrapur lake. It has come up with more than Rs 360 crore of investment in an area of 7.04 lakh square feet. Today’s partial opening will cover 2.34 lakh square feet area. This initial launching includes about 40 outlets offering 80 brands.

The mall has yet not received no objection certificate(NOC) for opening of Mexican Cinepolis multiplex from Ahmedabad Collector.

Locals are protesting against Cinepolis multiplex and KFC outlet.

Cinepolis, a multiplex which is one of the attractions of this mall is being opposed because mall developer has placed its air-conditioning plant and generator sets facing residential societies that create noise pollution.

Locals claim that three years ago in public hearing they had raised objections against the mall. Locals also say that there’s a change in the construction design than what they were told at the time of public hearing years ago.

They claim that needed distance between Kalyan Pushti havili of Vaishnavites and the mall is not proper and less than 200 meters. They claim that the distance measured by authority which is said to be around 250 meters is not correct and factual.

The mall officials hope that opposition to KFC and Cinepolis will die natural death. They believe that they can’t be stopped technically and legally. About Cinepolis, they are confident that they would get NOC by Diwali. About KFC they believe that there have been others too in this area selling non-veg food.

Locals say the construction group is from outside the Gujarat, if it was Gujarati owned group, they would not have allowed non-veg giant KFC to set the shop. Locals also say that in the case of KFC, social concerns should also be considered and the things can not be decided purely because they are legally correct.

Meanwhile, American non-veg giant KFC has attempted some face-saving measures. For the first time, its waiters will wear different-colored uniforms while serving vegetarian and non-vegetarian customers to placate protests. There will be also separate counters for veg and non-veg orders, different coking areas with marking on the wall.

KFC is likely to open by the end of this month in this mall.