Sep 02, 2008 03:22 PM
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Friends, I have to choose the title as "Reliance Mart - Ahmedabad" with out which I was not allowed to write the review. And for the information of all, the second retail store of Reliance Mart in the country is opened in "Kharadi" - Pune. I am a bit excited as it is only 2 minutes drive from my home.
Before going into the details, I would like to pen down some thing about the place "Kharadi". I was staying in Kalyani Nagar and shifting to Kharadi was due to the appreciation of property price in Kalyani Nagar. When I came to Kalayani Nagar during 2004 beginning - The Kalyani Nagar - Koregaon Park bridge was not completed and hence we have to take a longer route via bund garden to reach Koregaon Park. Bishops school foundation was laid. No Adlabs, Fortaleza and all the associated stores / malls - - -- . The biggest company in the locality was Mphasis and Cybage. And the biggest restaruents were Shuze - Jade (which is closed as they find it difficult to compete) and Bounty Sizzlers. We always used to wonder - when the bridge will be completed so that we can explore the adventures of Koregaon Park. Soon, Bishops school opened. And side by side a big Pub ( I really forgot the name). I think, Soho were already there. And then we saw the development of Mariplex with the big building of E2E Serwizsol (Now Tata Business Support services) and now numerous other offices. I think, PTC was there previously too. And vowwww - the multi plex Gold Adlabs and Macdonalds + the first KFC of Pune - -- Finally, Life Style and Hotel Royal Orchid Inn - - I have seen the sleepy Kalyani Nagar wake up in front of my eyes in just 3 years. Well - the bridge was built but Koregaon Park dwellers started coming to Kalyani Nagar.
Finally - I have to go in search of cheaper home in Kharadi - Which is more sleepy that Kalyani Nagar before a year. The big wonder in the village was "Zensar". Mr. Ganesh Natrajan was kind enough to shift the office from Viman Nagar to Kharadi but I salute his far sightendnees. And the SEZ EON was 1 KM away from my home and a good vegetarian restaruent Chillies. Thats all - We always used to go to Kalyani Nagar in search of Mall and crowd. And then came the big wonder - "MORE" which is 1 minute walk from my home. Myself and my wife were in 9th cloud to see something coming near our home. And we were always wondering the big glass building of Vascon in the junction. Some one told, it was some IT Park but the red buidling adjacent to it look very different. And finally before a month, I saw the reliance logo on it. And on 29th August, 2008, country's second reliance mart opened in Kharadi. And very near to this, another big building is coming up which is the Radisson Business Hotels. So, I am staying in the middle of a triangle where I can direct anyone like "Come to Radisson, dont go up to reliance mart, take first left, reach up to More and dont go up to Zensar of EON IT Park, Take left and there you can see me".
Well - enough of boasting about Kharadi and I have shifted from the topic. I am the first privlleged one to write about Reliance Mart in Pune in MS. But, I feel it is necessary to inform the readers about the development happening in the Nagar Road side of Pune. And my prediction is destination next would be Wagholi and Chakan!
Reliance Mart in one word I can say - it is one of the finest mall in the country of its type. I appreciate the mall for the variery and that too with lots of choice. I was amazed to see many Kalyani Nagar guys around Kharadi in Reliance Mart who always used to go back after coming to House Full (the first mall in Kharadi). And more than that, the villagers of Kharadi used to bring their family and they enjoy a lot. Price wise, it is cheaper (no competition with Lakshmi Road and Tulsi Baug) and hence they find it more attractive. And the staff donot treat them like how "Irfaan Khan's" character is treated in "Mumbai Meri Jaan".
In the ground floor, you have lots of men's top (good quality and variety if you like shirt with stripes) available for Rs.199/-. It is value for money. And moving ahead - you have all the rice, daal, subji varieties. A good bakery is also coming up and an expat guy is training the local on making bakery products. They also have got dry fruit stall and small bakery where you get Chiwda, Shev, Khakera, Laddu, Milk Cake, Burfi -----. And if you want to do puja at home, you will find all the "Diya BAtti", "Sandal" -----. Hats off to the variety. And the second floor got leather items, Apparal for ladies , gents and kids ( I found even sari for Rs.99/-), Shoes -----. Also they have a small book shop, CDs etc. on one corner. And the third floor has got car accessoriies, GSM Mobile Shop, Lap Top, Camers etc.
And outside the mall, their is a pop corn centre.
And not enough ---- my favourite place is outside the reliance mart - an independant profit centre attached to reliance mart - "Delight" where you will find frozen meat, Chicken Pickle and Fish! I am a fish lover and believe me you will get cheap fish from this place. You wont believ - "Kari Meen" is one of the exotic fresh water fish available in Kerala and I found this for the first time in Pune in Delight. They also call it as "Kari Meen" and it is available for Rs.149/- per KG. In Kerala, I am sure, it is expensive.
So - You will find Lap Top to Fish in Reliance Mart.
And what is not so good - in the mall is ---- They did not staff the place properly. Also, you have to spend lots of time in billing and the staff is not equipped to hanlde the customer queries. Might be teething problems and with time this might improve.
And the design on entry and exit is also quite confusing and with the crowd I have seen for past three days, this arrangement need to change.
In total - it is a place worth visiting! Happy shopping. Welcome to Kharadi!
