Shopping complex developed by AIT lies neglected

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 22

The condition of the first and the largest shopping complex, the Nehru Shopping Complex, developed by the Amritsar Improvement Trust, on Lawrence Road here is in a clear state of neglect as the lift installed at its entrance is lying dysfunctional for the past almost 10 years.

Shopkeepers complained that they were now regretting their decision to purchase showrooms in the complex, as none of the authorities concerned were ready to address the grievances of the shopkeepers.

The walls of the staircase leading to shops on upper floors of the four-storied complex facing the Company Bagh side were stained with spitting of the ‘paan’ residue. “We had got a large picture of Golden Temple on the stairs, hoping that ‘paan’ spitting would be stopped. We have got the walls of the staircase white washed many times and even complained to caretakers from the Improvement Trust. The elite customers are not accustomed to using stairs which look more like those of a railway station. It has affected our businesses,” said a shopkeeper, dealing in diamond jewels.

A look at the staircase revealed that the portion leading to the basement has been used to store goodies by a junk dealer. Even the junk dealers conduct their business from the footpaths outside the shopping complex.

“At the time of selling the shops, the AIT had painted a very rosy picture. Now the complex does not have washrooms. The lift is lying inoperative for almost 10 years and the junk dealers, who did not pay a penny, are reaping more benefits than the shopkeepers,” said another shopkeeper.

They stated that with the new government in office, they hoped that the condition of the shopping complex would improve. The shopping complex on prime land where Lawrence Road intersects Mall Road has failed to see much growth of business of shopkeepers here due to problems which include traffic and parking woes.

Instead, the shopping complexes developed much later in the Ranjit Avenue area have managed to prosper, as the customers prefer to visit there.