Pantaloon to build central mall in Ahmedabad

Pantaloon Retail (India), which currently has presence in more than 30 cities in India, will open its fifth 'central mall' in Ahmedabad by 2009.

Sadashiv Nayak, head of operations (west zone), Pantaloon Retail, said, "We will be coming up with a central mall in Ahmedabad and the work will be completed in three years."

He further said the company had identified certain locations for the 'central mall' in Ahmedabad.

"We have not taken a decision on the land," added Nayak.

He further said the company had acquired the land in Ahmedabad which can be utilised for the project. However, the company was also looking at alternative locations in Ahmedabad. The project will come up on approximately 2 lakh sq feet of land.

The Ahmedabad central mall is aimed at making shopping experience a fun as it will bring eateries, shopping and entertainment under one roof. "We might come up with multiplex or pub-based on the catchment of customers," adds Sadashiv.

The central mall will be equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, offering regional and international brands.

The project will be constructed by Kshitij Real Estate Fund - owned by Pantaloon and a foreign private equity fund.

The company operates three central malls in the country - Hyderabad, Pune and Bangalore. The fourth central mall will be opened in next two months in Vadodara.