Here’s a casual survey of how accessible some of the City malls are to people with disability. Arathi Menon and Cheryl D’Souza relook at four big malls in Bangalore’s posh areas with different eyes.

Forum Mall in Koramangala: It is one of the most crowded malls. So, if you are disabled, a great shopping experience is assured only on a weekday. When you are approaching from the front gate of the mall, there are two ramps — from both entrances — that lead up to the front door right from the footpath. There is a ramp at the back gate too, but from there, it’s a steep decline to the door. Inside the mall, you see benches earmarked for the disabled and senior citizens. Moving from one floor to another is easy, as there are elevators big enough to ferry you and your wheel chair. There are spacious toilets for the disabled on every floor, but unfortunately, the interiors are not specially designed.

Garuda Mall on Magrath Road: Wide ramps are built-in at both entrances but the cobbled path makes it difficult for easy movement of a wheelchair. There are lifts connecting all floors of the mall and special restrooms for the differently abled are also available. But according to the staff, not many use these special restrooms and the one on the second floor was found closed. Upon questioning the attendant it was understood that since hardly anyone came asking for it, the restroom was left locked!

Prestige Eva Mall, off Brigade Road has a short and smooth entrance that is easier to navigate on a wheelchair than the entrance at Garuda Mall. There is a special parking space in front reserved for the differently abled; as also ready access to wheelchairs stored behind the help desk. The only glitch is there are no separate restrooms for them in this mall. 

Sigma Mall on Cunningham Road: There’s a ramp for those on a wheelchair who would like to enter the mall through the main entrance. But once in, you have to rely on the lifts that remain crowded during the better part of the day.

There are no separate restrooms for the disabled in this mall. However, a cubicle is provided at the entry level and though it has provisions like wider door and no steps, unfortunately it does not have any support bars.