India's quest towards modernity. Review on Sahara Mall, MG Road, Gurgaon

This is more of my reflection on the India's quest towards modernity than specific review of any mall. However, retailing is part of the new parameter that reflects country's economic progress. hence, I chose this category. This review is not just on Sahara Mall, but my general impression after a visit to Atria Mall in Mumbai, Sahara in Gurgaon and Ansal Plaza in New Delhi.

JRD Tata was always optimistic about India’s future. Jack Welsch too had been upbeat on India’s progress. He felt infrastructure in India is the only bottleneck hindering India’s progress but this can be tackled by Indian bureaucrats.

Richard Gere in his recent interview said ‘India is on roll and if the momentum is maintained, India could well be a world power within 200 years’. 200 years ?? I thought it is far too long. Japan had shown country can be transformed in a span of 30 years. China went even further; they changed the economic scenario within 15 years but they are still far away from uniform wealth distribution across the country.

For me, India is placed in precarious position that is very unique. At 8% plus p.a. economic growth, India offers attractive market for many commodities but I feel its being pulled by two opposite forces– one by quest for modernity by educated and vibrant youth and other by deep rooted concepts of antiquated socialist ideas. Chances are that it may not pull either way conclusively.

During my last week’s visit to Mumbai, New Delhi I was keen to observe the perceptible change that media has reported about India’s progress towards modernity. Over last few years, I was impressed by the Immigration efficiency at Mumbai airport.

The manner in which they   manage boisterous Indians by making them stand in a single queue is commendable. This time, travel from Mumbai to Delhi by Kingfisher Airlines brought another example of India’s youthful face. They have surpassed the benchmark of youthfulness and vivaciousness set by Jet Airlines.

New Delhi’s metro rail and string of flyovers along the ring road make capital city look sleek and modern.  But as my trip ended, subjects like Retailing and Real estate pricing heavily weighed on my mind; they kept on questioning me if   India’s is really on correct and righteous path of modernity.

I visited Atria mall in Mumbai and Sahara in Gurgaon.  Atria is a glass facade, sleek mall built right along the major road that leads to downtown but it has no independent access.  So is the case with Sahara and other malls in Gurgaon.

On weekend, when the bulk of middle class in Delhi descends on Gurgaon, with no quick access, one can spend hours just getting an entry in the mall. I wonder why Govt didn’t force the mall owner to build a flyover or pay for separate access. In Dubai, every mall has adjacent parking building with a separate access. I fear Atria may follow the same way as Pyramid – Mumbai‘s first mall that soon became defunct due to parking and traffic chaos.

Retailing in developed countries progressed in gradual progressive manner. Small shops gave way to convenience stores. They in turn led to chain of supermarkets and malls were the latest entry. And this happened, while country’s economic might became stronger. In India, we moved from small grocery shops to swanky mails with very little of supermarkets or convenience stores. Now Reliance is opening a chain of mega malls that would sell fresh vegetables.

Its no surprise that ordinary seller of fruits and vegetable would be crushed under the might of Reliance.   Spencer group a decade ago, launched Foodland’s – chain of supermarket and I feel we need these in every suburb than malls. Shops in Atria Mall, displayed those familiar European brands that are popular in Dubai. I wonder why any rich Indian would buy these when he could take pride in making trips abroad and buying them in Dubai or Singapore.

There is another area that I am sceptical about the success of malls is air conditioning. Electricity cost is high and Air conditioning must be a big burden on sellers. How it is possible for shop owner to sell commonly available Indian brands with high rent and high electricity costs? They have no option but to go for Eldo, Charles & Keith, Mango, Giordano, Nine West, Maxx, Benetton and charge fancy premium prices. But how long this can go?

Till such time, average visitor would bring his family to enjoy air cooled environ and eat McDonalds or Indian equivalent after taking few strolls on escalators. Sahara Mall in Gurgaon has turned into scene straight from railway station. But here, mall management was smart to house Haldiram eating joint with Big Bazaar grocery supermarket.

Rest of the shops sold anything from Indian costumes to bangles.  It was interesting to see Indian woman in tight T shirt and Jeans but with mangal-sutra, bangles and red  bindi   Modernity and tradition co existed at every part of the mall.

Does India really need huge malls? I feel positive despite its economic non-viability. Times of India displayed a picture of   cricket stadium in Thane (close to Mumbai) packed with 60, 000 spectators. But there was neither Cricket match being played nor any Bollywood gyrating dance being performed.

All these 60, 000 people were sitting in disciplined manner. After all, they had come to qualify for 2, 000 new recruits that Police department had advertised. That picture alone summed up India’s un employment situation.  Burgeoning mega malls at least would provide enough jobs to youngsters and in the process it will improve skills and rekindle entrepreneurial spirit.