March 13, 2007

City Centre, the prefect blend of shopping and fun


Kolkata got a unique Landmark called City Centre at the Salt Lake in the eastern part of the city on the 5th of June 2004. City centre has emerged as a single preferred destination addressing multifarious needs for the entire family. The City Centre was conceived not only as a shopping mall but also as an office complex, a residential area and a lot more. A confluence as it was, of all needs and also a solution to it.

City Centre Kolkata's first integrated multi–utility facility that is located at Salt Lake has been promoted by Bengal Ambuja Metropolitan Development Authority, a venture between Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority.

Confluence, is the essence of the City Centre a confluence to functionality and aesthetics. Though it looks very compact it houses an 1100 seater multiplex and an assortment of around 250 establishment’s offerings a wide range of products and services attempting to meet all needs of customer of all age groups.

City Center, designed by Charles Correa, is spread over six acre and is built in 22 months at an estimated cost of Rs 120 Crores. City Center represents a unique confluence of shopping malls, cineplexes, entertainment areas, food courts, offices, feet of land and residences amidst open spaces, lush green and contours over a sprawling space of half a million square feet of and much more. City Centre has seven buildings for retail and commercial outlets and structure housing the Inox multiplex each of its seven buildings is inter connected. Elaborate seating arrangements have been made in a large expanse of open space, christened Kund, plus there is a fountain and a 19th century tram in the exhibition area. There is parking space for 800 cars: 14 entry and exit points and large spaces to amble around.

There are several aspects to City Centre. Its inclusiveness for one. With no boundaries to separate it from the street, it is open to everyone all income and age groups. The architecture of the complex embodies the spirit of Kolkata. The central kund and numerous nooks and corners are created to fuel the city’s best know passion – adda. Add to that the Kalighat paintings and the art wall to complement the cities artistic heritage.

There’s a Raj touch in the restored horse drawn tramcar from where the visitors can collect city memorabilia. Apart from outlets of various branded wears, jewellery shops , coffee shops , departmental stores and a multiplex theatre it also has care and compassion, in the store Akriti where NGOs showcase products, made by the less privileged showcase products.

City centre tries to cater to every segment of society. Branded stores rub shoulders with their unbranded cousins, the ubiquitous muri – wala and chayer dokan (Tea Junction) reach out to visitors along with café coffee day, pizza hut and their ilk. Heritage, culture and indomitable kolkata spirit are not trampled over by rampant commercialism as a vintage tram; an innetant art wall and an NGO pavilion stake their claim with gentle persuasiveness.

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