India mall tills silent despite festive season

[MUMBAI] The Centre One shopping mall on the outskirts of Mumbai is gloomy and bereft of customers, even during India's annual festive and wedding season when retailers traditionally cash in.

"Business is dull, usually weak," said one bored-looking fashion salesman.

The shopping centre's empty look is no exception. In the past decade, supermarkets and malls have spread across India's large cities and towns, fuelled by fast economic growth and excitement about middle-class buying power.

A Malls in India report released by Images Research last month found 470 shopping centres were operational this year, up from just 50 malls in 2005, and expected to soar to 720 by 2016.

"But over 90 per cent of India's malls are struggling," said Susil Dungarwal, founder of Beyond Squarefeet, a mall management and advisory firm based in Mumbai. "Just 15 of these can be counte…