It’s a fortnight since the heart-wrenching death of Ahan Bhandari at Garuda Mall, after he fell off the mall’s fourth floor. But the incident has pushed the mall owners and police to spruce up safety and security at malls across the City.

Garuda Mall Managing Director B G Uday says, as a safety measure, he has raised the height of the railings by one foot, that is, from 1.05 meters to 1.45 meters.

“Raising the height of railings will definitely spoil the aesthetics of the mall but we have decided to do it for safety. We will rope in some interior designers to alter the interiors,” says Uday. 

The management has erected close to 50 boards, stating that children be accompanied by their parents or guardians, along escalators, in elevators and at several locations inside the mall. The number of security guards have been stepped up from 120 to 136.

Guarded

“There’ll be 136 guards in three shifts. They have been deployed at escalators and by the railings and elevators.  

Garuda Mall has already pulled a safety net covering the entire central atrium. This safety net, priced at Rs 20 lakhs, can withstand weight up to 300 kg.

But the present safety net will surely block the view of the promotions that happen at the central atrium. “For a better view of the promotions on the ground floor, I will soon fly in a transparent Kevlar net from the US. This will cost me nothing less than Rs 25 lakhs. But it’s worth the money,” reasons Uday.

Speaking for promotions, Uday adds, “Malls without product promotions are reduced to mere shopping complexes. They cease to be shopping malls. We have the maximum footfalls when we have promos.”
Police have suggested certain safety measures to all malls.

“We have suggested that malls have safety nets over the central atrium and that cautionary and sign boards be put up at strategic locations in the malls,” says DCP Central BNS Reddy.