Big Bazaar on its inaugural day at Patliputra Colony in Patna on Thursday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, April 14: Residents of the capital are surely spoilt for choice now. Reason: Its mall culture is surely and steadily catching up with that in the metros and bigger cities.

The first Big Bazaar store in Bihar, spreading across 2,25,000sqm, today opened its doors at Patliputra Colony in a six-storeyed building housing a multiplex, shops selling fresh fruits, vegetables and readymade garments, restaurants, a live kitchen and a bakery.

At the launch of the hypermarket, film director and co-owner of the store Prakash Jha said: “It’s a big thing that we finally have the Big Bazaar in Bihar. It will provide convenience plus a rich shopping experience to the people of Patna. It will provide the right ambience and platform to add to customer delight. It’s a dream come true that the trend of malls is catching up in the state.”

Asked about the kind of change in shopping culture he was seeing in the state, Jha said: “I don’t think that such a thing was prevalent earlier. That is the reason why I have stopped making films like Apharan and Gangajal, relevant to earlier times in the state. I have chosen another state to direct such films. I think the minds of people in Bihar are changing slowly and gradually. I don’t want to take the credit of the change in the state, it all goes to chief minister Nitish Kumar. There is no fear anymore and everyone wants to come to the state.”

The four-screen multiplex theatre on the fifth floor now provides moviegoers with a better option to watch films. Jha also announced that the premiere of his next film, Aarakshan, would be held in the mall on August 12.

A wide range of products, including fruits and vegetables, a live kitchen and a bakery shop have been set up. Personal care and home care products are also available.

The ground floor of the mall houses shops selling wedding garments and formal wear, the first floor is dedicated to men’s wear, whereas the third caters to women and kids’ wear. The third floor of the store has entertainment facilities and a Chinese food joint. The fourth floor has a wedding 1,000-seater banquet hall and on the sixth floor, a speciality restaurant that offers a spectacular view of the Ganga. Ten escalators would take visitors up and down the different levels.

Manish Agarwal, the head, east zone, Big Bazaar, said: “Patna has grown from a historical city to a major business hub of the country.”

Talking of expansion plans, Sunil Biyani, the director of Future Group which owns the Big Bazaar chain, said: “We plan to open at least 10 more Big Bazaar outlets in Bihar in four years. Strict security measures have been adopted on the premises.”