Srinagar, Nov 23: The vice-chairperson Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) Dilshad Khan Wednesday said that the Sangarmaal shopping plaza at MA Road would be made functional immediately. 
 Dilshad, alongwith a team of SDA officials, visited the shopping plaza today to review its present status and the progress of work.
 During her visit, she issued on the spot instructions for speedy completion of the ongoing minor works on the interiors of the plaza and asked the Land Management wing of the SDA to ensure that all the shops and commercial spaces which already stand leased out are made functional without any further delay. She said the leftover shops and office spaces would be auctioned soon so that the plaza becomes fully operational this summer.
 Pertinently, Sangarmaal was inaugurated by the chief minister, Omar Abdullah on June 5 last year. However, it could not be made operational because of the summer unrest that followed its inauguration. 
 During its inauguration, Omar had described Sangarmaal as “the most beautiful mall in the summer capital” and asked the aspiring builders to take some lesson from its design as most of the malls in Srinagar, he said, were “very ugly”.
 Designed and developed by SDA with the idea of “Shopping-in-Leisure”, Sangarmaal shopping plaza, besides having lush green patches, has sufficient space for restaurants, food courts, kiosks, water bodies, fountains, children’s play area, retail outlets, craft bazaar, amphitheater and office spaces.
 The most striking feature of the Sangarmaal shopping complex is that it has been designed in tune with the distinct Kashmir heritage and architecture.  The doors, windows, ventilator frames and the roof flooring are done in teakwood with ornamental wood-work like Khatamband and Jali to renew the traditional Kashmiri architecture. Spread over 20 kanals of land, Sangarmaal has a built-up area of 101000 sft.
 In the first phase 62 shops, 11 office spaces, one restaurant, two food courts and 11 kiosks with  parking facility for around 350 vehicles including basement parking for 100 vehicles has been provided. In addition, the craft bazaar has 38 shops with a distinct Kashmir heritage touch.
 During her visit to the plaza today, Dilshad, who took over as the vice-chairperson of the SDA recently appreciated the team of engineers associated with the construction of Sangarmaal. She also thanked the Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand for his unflinching support in the execution of the landmark project.
 She was accompanied by Secretary SDA, Mathura Masoom and other senior officers.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST