Somewhere on the eastern fringes of Calcutta is huge highway-like eastern metropolitan bypass.This represents a shortcut to the city’s northern extremes like Saltlake.Bypass moves through all kinds of areas.There are paddy fields, there are garbage dumps.But in parts of the bypass specially those near south Calcutta(where I live) some really fashionable and luxurious buildings have come up.Hiland Park is one such awesome building.And part of Hiland park is occupied by Metroplolis Mall.
Now, this mall is dominated by one store-Big Bazaar.Its always crowded in here and people get into a frenzy about the bargains.Mr Kishore Biyani, the owner of the Future Group has mentioned this store in his widely-read book.But the mall has other tenants too.There is Sriniketan, the locally-owned departmental store.There are other leading brands represented within Metropolis Mall.The Mall has a gigantic food area and also houses Fame, the multiplex.People from south Calcutta flock to this mall because there isn’t any other nearby.For the moment that is.Also, bypass being bypass problems like waterlogging and safety sometimes do get you worried.But the staff here are always courteous and ever helpful.If only it were a little closer to home.