Chaos, concrete jungle & distinct — the story of Mall Road

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 30

The Mall Road, a famed British era locality, today dons a completely different look and is enveloped in a rather chaotic atmosphere. Once a popular residential area, especially for gentry, it has now developed into an upscale shopping centre with several malls and leading brands opening their outlets.

Built nearly 130 years ago by the British after the annexation of Punjab, it was known for its shady trees, sylvan natural surroundings and resonates with history as ancestral house of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw is also located here. RL Bhatia, former Governor of Kerala and Bihar, too, resides here.

The British had drafted the rule at the time that no residential unit less than 2,000 sq ft can be constructed on the stretch, dotting with trees on either sides of the road. Its intrinsic beauty lay in incomparable infrastructure provided in shape of wide footpath with slopes at each turn and service lanes.

My family moved here during 1966-67. At that time, the stretch was popular for its green verdant beauty, serene environment, birds chirping and reminding dwellers and passers-by of the replicated calmness of hilly areas. The blemishing of the road’s beauty was deliberate. Blatant violations of the municipal rules and regulations have encouraged residents. —Piara Lal Seth

However, the times have had a dramatic impact turning it into a concrete jungle over the years. Now, only high-rising hotels, hospitals, restaurants, besides commercial complexes and countless kiosks can be spotted.

Piara Lal Seth, a resident and also a leader of the business community, recalls that his family moved here during 1966-67. “At that time the stretch was popular for its green verdant beauty, serene environment, birds singing and reminding dwellers and passers-by of the replicated calmness of hilly areas.”

My late father Gajanand Dalmia had procured 1,650 sq yard plot in 1966 at a price of Rs25 per sq yard. Time never remains the same. So, it is wise to change and adapt to its new necessities. Since a large number of shopping malls and other commercial activities have happened we need to beautify these at the same magnitude as overseas. —Kamal Dalmia, Of Dalmia Charitable Trust

The service lane was gobbled up in the frenzy of commercialisation. Many hospitals were set up followed by a passport office, Suvidha centre and other government offices which added to the traffic and more parking spaces was required. As a result, service lanes were flattened and turned into parking lots.

Interestingly, the fact that mansions of the Police Commissioners and Municipal Corporation’s top brass were on the said road, such activities continued to take place. Seth adds: “The blemishing of the road’s beauty was deliberate. Blatant violations of the municipal rules and regulations have encouraged the residents. Instead of raising voice against such irregularities, more and more people are encroaching upon government land.”

As if this was not enough, a corridor for the BRTS was laid right in the middle ending its heritage character altogether. Kamal Dalmia, who is looking after the Dalmia Charitable Trust, situated here, recounts that his departed father Gajanand Dalmia had procured 1650 sq yard plot in 1966 at a price of Rs25 per sq yard. “Time never remains the same. So, it is wise to change and adapt to its new necessities. Since a large number of shopping malls and other commercial activities have happened we need to beautify these at the same magnitude as overseas.”

‘The British had set up the Mall for their comfort’

Conservationist Balvinder Singh, former head of the GNDU’s Sri Guru Ramdas School of Planning, said the British had set up the Mall for their comfort. Due to the change of land use (conversion of residential to commercial) the Mall Road lost its historic serene character. It used to have service lane on both sides. Another major change came with the introduction of the BRTS. “I had an opportunity to visit the Mall road of Lahore in Pakistan and found that they have not disturbed its character till date. It’s almost same…as was at the time of foreign invaders.” Although the Mall road here has had drastic changes but it is suggested that the change of land use be stopped along with the walled area if we want our city to be among World Heritage List of the UNESCO. Also, the proposal to set up a heritage cell never fructified in the holy city even as umpteen number of heritage structures are housed here. Shimla is the only city in this region having Heritage Advisory Committee (HAC) and Singh is one of its two members.

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