Tag: City Police Commissioner

In a significant move, the Bengaluru police, led by City Police Commissioner B Dayananda, have mandated the closure of the recently inaugurated Phoenix Mall of Asia for the next 15 days, from December 31 to January 15. The decision was made in response to mounting concerns over the mall's role in exacerbating traffic congestion in North Bengaluru.Bengaluru Police Directs Closure of Phoenix Mall of Asia for 15 Days Due to Traffic Chaos Bengaluru's City Police Commissioner, B Dayananda, has issued a directive ordering the closure of Phoenix Mall of Asia for the next 15 days, from December 31 to January 15. The decision was made in response to the mall's alleged role in exacerbating traffic congestion and causing inconvenience to the public in North Bengaluru. The police highlighted the mall's insufficient parking facilities as a primary cause of severe traffic jams, particularly in the Hebbal area, known for frequent traffic snarls. Commissioner Dayananda, following a personal inspection of the mall, emphasized the disparity between the mall's massive size and its parking capacity. He noted, "Despite spanning 12 floors, including 2 basement levels, with a total area of 86,421 square meters up to the third floor, the mall has only two basements to accommodate 2,324 cars and two-wheelers." This parking insufficiency has resulted in long queues of vehicles awaiting entry at the mall's entrance, leading to congestion on the service road alongside the main highway and halting vehicular traffic for prolonged periods on both sides of the highway's primary carriageway. Besides parking issues, the mall's exhaust blowers have contributed to high noise pollution levels, triggering numerous complaints from residents about disturbances in sleep patterns and hindrances in students' studies. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board reportedly highlighted the mall's repeated failure to curb noise pollution, breaching prescribed limits. Phoenix Mall of Asia, a high-profile establishment that opened in late October amid significant anticipation and touted as one of the country's largest malls, has drawn considerable footfall from North Bengaluru residents. However, recent traffic congestion during a long weekend has led to public questioning of the police and civic authorities for permitting its operations. The closure directive issued by Bengaluru police reflects growing concerns over the mall's impact on traffic management and public inconvenience due to parking constraints and noise pollution.