Date:17/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/17/stories/2006121714590200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Ampa mall to be opened next year

Staff Reporter

It covers 6.5 lakh square feet of built-up area over three acres

CHENNAI: Ampa Center One, a new mall by Ampa Housing Development Private Limited, will be inaugurated on April 14, 2007.

At a press conference on Thursday, managing director of the company Ampa Palaniappan announced that Ampa Center One would be launched in two phases. By April, the food court, hyper market (by Spencer), retail section and parking would be in operation. In June, a 20-room hotel, fine-dining restaurants, the PVR Cinemas multiplex would be unveiled.

The mall covered 6.5 lakh square feet of built-up area over three acres. Three lakh square feet was devoted to retail space. Fast food chain McDonald's would open a 5,000 square feet outlet at the mall. Over 90 brands would be operating out of Ampa Center One.

Mr. Palaniappan said that although the mall was situated at a location infamous for traffic bottlenecks (Nelson Manickam Road- PH Road junction), he guaranteed that once visitors hit the gates of the mall, "moving around will be a pleasure". There would be entries and exits into the complex from both roads, and covered parking would be available for 850 cars, while 200 more would be accommodated at nearby properties through valet parking.

The mall, costing about Rs.72 crore, had been designed by Cheralathan Associatesm, Mr. Palaniappan said.

His company would be starting work on Ampa Infospace for IT companies on Nelson Manickam Road by January.