Transit-One' to set the stage for new era of mall culture in Mangaluru

Their new project Transit-One' has taken more than a 100 dreamers and about 2 years of hard working days and sleepless nights. With the launch of their first independent project, the creative masterminds in the world of sustainable infrastructure, ECOLOGIC HABITATS LLP. have redefined the idea of development and have set the bars sky high for everybody else in the construction zone.

The Managing Director of Ecologic Habitats LLP. Mr. P.S Mohammed talks about the immense efforts and unparalleled thrill of bringing to reality their dream project Transit One in Thokkotu, which is only a kickstart to the Transit series.

Transit One is going to be the first ever highway mall in India, having been designed by a team of India's leading architects and engineers to match upto the needs of the people and the surroundings. The tagline "STOP. RECHARGE. RESTART." screams out the objectives of this smartly designed infrastructure.

With all amenities and facilities to meet the needs of all people, ecologic habitats is all set to leave the Mangalurean suburbs in a feeling of awe and a sense of having been touched by real development. Following are excerpts of an interview with Mr Mohammed.

Q: With the launch of Transit One, it's evident that the prime focus of your developmental plan is on the suburbs rather than the hubs of the city. In today's highly commercial world, does Thokkotu seem like an ideal choice?

Mr. Mohammed: In Mangaluru, development has taken place vertically and not horizontally. Hubs in the city are all saturated and there is no much need for further commercial development in these areas. Suburbs cry out for development. Highways need a spot to recharge. The suburbs have no source of leisure. Development of under developed areas will help us lead in this field. Profits are important but there is no use of making profits if we can't match up to the needs of the people. Profit with satisfaction is always better. Therefore, we believe we have made an ideal choice by selecting the suburbs.

Q: The concept of a Transit mall is a brilliant idea. What was the driving force behind this concept?

Mr. Mohammed: The core of it was all a result of personal travelling experience. We realised there was a need for a recharge spot on the highways. It took us almost 2 years of research on the subject to implement this project. The concept is derived from the highway malls in the U.S that started in the early 1930s.

Q: Most malls are a luxury for the common people, do you think Transit One is going to break the exclusive crowd factor of mall culture?

Mr. Mohammed: Yes, Indeed. It is a mall designed to meet requirements of all people belonging to all social groups. We have all ranges of investors ranging from 10 lakhs to 10 crores. There are branded stores, semi branded and local stores within the mall infrastructure. There is a social club for the youth, considering the fact that Deralakatte is a hub of education in Mangalore. There is a major need for leisure for the hardworking youth. It is not a class based mall but a theme based mall, where people of all economic backgrounds can enjoy its facilities. We aim to provide people with their requirements. They name it, we have it. We aim at creating a one stop destination for all crowds.

Q: With lots of malls coming up, the local bazaars have faced a major hit in the economy. Does Transit One have any difference in this area?

Mr. Mohammed: Yes. The 3rd floor is an exclusive modern local bazaar with non branded shops of local retailers.

Q: Since there are not many shopping complexes in Thokkotu, strolling around while shopping under the scorching heat is a tedious task, does Transit One provide an easy solution to the exhausting shopping?

Mr. Mohammed: We have an innovative drive in supermarket which offers the customer the convinience of parking the car at the supermarket level where they dont have to come out all the way to the parking level to dispose their bags in the vehicle or carry their shopping bags all the way while strolling around the mall. The car parking also has a special exhaust system that exhausts carbon dioxide and pollution for better breathing.

Q: How is the Transit project any different from other construction projects? Do you have any special implementations for the construction?

Mr. Mohammed: We have an eco friendly construction site. We have a landscape design for which we have imported plants from various countries. We have solar panels for efficient supply of electricity. tested water for all uses and all products used for construction are tested for quality. We are also proud to have a safely guarded construction site making it safe for the workers.

Q: To most real estate developers, development is mere urbanisation. What is development to you?

Mr. Mohammed: At Ecologic Habitats, we believe that development comes with comfort. It's not mere urbanization but about making people feel comfortable while bringing about a better change in their surroundings. To us development is a progress with comfort. Our vision is to touch lives through developmental progress. We can proudly boast that our entire project is landscaped by India's leading landscape planner, Mr. Rohith Marole. We intend to breathe an air of green into our projects.

Q: What are your plans for the other series of Transit? Could you give us a sneak peek on the other selected locations?

Mr. Mohammed: We have selected a few more locations in Dakshina Kannada district like Surathkal, Puttur, Sullia and B.C road. We are also looking at Udupi district. But we wish to extend throughout the country with an intention of innovative development.