Branded outfits, tongue tickling food and wholesome filmy fun under one roof made residents of Gaya quench their thirst for a city centre as the concept of hanging out with friends and families is fast picking up.
Residents of the holy town got an extravagant shopping-cum-entertainment centre named APR City Centre, which boasts of a twin-screen multiplex.
The multiplex was opened on March 28 (Saturday) and would become fully operational from May 1.
As of now, the multiplex named APR Cinemas, which is a first for Gaya, has started screening movies from April 3 (Friday), Detective Byomkesh Bakshi starring Patna boy Sushant Singh Rajput and Vin Diesel's Fast & Furious 7.
Anurag Singh, one of the three promoters of the multiplex, said: "We have named it Anangeshwar Parvati Ram Anugrah Projects Pvt. Ltd. They are my father, mother and maternal grandfather respectively. The two other promoters are my elder brothers Avinash and Ramsevak Singh. I have worked for 15 years as senior vice-president at ABN Amro (an international bank with its headquarters in The Netherlands). On the call of my elder brother Avinash, who has been running two theatres (Anand and Kiran) for a long time and a showroom of Mahindra Motors, I have come back home to assist him. The third promoter (Ramsevak Singh) is a reputed physician (MBBS) based in Gaya town."
Located in the heart of the city near Kashinath Mor towards the north of Gandhi Maidan, the mall is spread over 10,000sqft with a total construction area of 42,000sqft, including 18,000sqft for basement parking. On the features of the mall, Anurag said: "It is a ground plus-three (G+3) structure. In the basement, around 18,000sqft area has been earmarked for parking. The Reliance Group is the occupant of the ground and the first floors that include Reliance Trends (clothing), Reliance footprint (footwear) and Reliance Digital (wide range of electronic items)."
On the second floor, there are 12 outlets of brands of national and international repute such as Benetton, Allen Solly, Louis Philippe, Killer, Indian Terrain, Levis, Arrow, Van Heusen and Pepe.
On the third floor, there are two screens and one food court. The theatres have seating capacities of 250 and 175 each with state-of-the-art acoustic system, which one can enjoy in pushback seats.
About the security arrangements, Avinash said: "All visitors have to go through a door-frame metal detector (DFMD) before entering the complex. For security, housekeeping and cleanliness, we have robed in experienced private firms."
"I have had great satisfaction on my homecoming because the multiplex has provided employment to more than 500 local youths (men and women included)."
To name a few, Sanjay Kumar of Nutan Nagar has got the job of a store manager, while Tabrez Alam of White House Compound is employed as customer service associate at Reliance Stores. "There are eight women guards and four for the housekeeping," he said.
"At present, we have three counters for ticket bookings but very soon the online and the tele-booking facilities would also start. We have to tie-up with bookmyshow.com. To run the food court on the third floor, we are looking for a renowned operator so that residents could get a taste of what people in Metros avail.
The multiplex has evoked very good response among residents.
Akash Anand, an associate with a Bodhgaya-based non-government organisation, while coming out of the multiplex, said: "I have watched movies in multiplexes in Kanpur and Patna. In comparison to the two cities, the sound, picture, seating arrangements and air-conditioning is better in APR Cinemas."
