Ludhiana traffic chaos an adverse spinoff of multiplexes

The construction of more than 25 malls and multiplexes in Ludhiana has brought in its wake traffic chaos, which is expected to increase in the future.

Experts feel only the malls that provide easy access and exit points can survive, apart from ample parking area.

"It's not that only parking is important; it should be systematic," said Vivek Srivastava, vice-president (marketing), Aeren R Enterprises, which is coming up with Ludhiana Festival City on the Jalandhar Bypass, GT Road.

"Our Ludhiana Festival City is located a few metres from the main GT Road, which will not lead to traffic chaos on roads," Srivastava said.

In Ludhiana, a majority of shopping malls and multiplexes like Omaxe Shopping Mall, Westend Mall, Ansal Plaza-2 and Ansal Plaza, Subhi Mall, Arean's, and MBD Neopolis are located on the Ludhiana-Ferozepur Road, which is one of the busiest roads of the city.

More than 15 marriage palaces of the city are located on this road, and so during weekends, traffic congestion is heavy. Ludhiana, whose population increases by 800,000-900,000 people every five years, has a population density of 824 per square km""the highest in the state.

Its annual per capita income growth is 6 per cent, while retail spending is expected to increase by Rs 2,077 crore to Rs 5,950 crore by 2010. The retail floor area demand is expected to rise by 3.1 million square feet by 2010.

The city's income to expenditure ratio is expected to increase from 40 per cent to 50 per cent in 2020. 46,031 vehicles were registered in Ludhiana till October last year, of which 71 per cent are two-wheelers, 22 per cent cars and jeeps, 6 per cent light commercial vehicles and 1 per cent heavy commercial vehicles.

Tej Pratap Singh Sandhu, who owns Sandhu Studio on Ferozepur Road, opposite a big shopping mall, says almost everyday evening, a huge rush of cars can be seen opposite the shopping mall.

"Sometimes it's not just the mall owners who are responsible for traffic problem outside their malls, but the people themselves. People should be aware of traffic rules; only then the traffic menace can be checked."