Jaipur: Around 430 traders at Crystal Court Mall in Malviya Nagar shut down their shops and launched an indefinite protest Monday, alleging that the mall management failed to provide basic facilities despite repeated complaints over the past month. They said the absence of working escalators and inadequate air conditioning severely affected both customer footfall and their business.According to the traders, all escalators in the mall have been out of service for nearly a month, leading to a sharp fall in visitors to the first and second floors. They estimate that businesses on these floors suffered a nearly 40% drop in sales as customers are reluctant to climb upstairs.The traders also claimed that the mall’s cooling system is inadequate for the peak summer season. They said the building requires a 400-500 TR air-conditioning plant but is currently operating with only a 250 TR system, making conditions uncomfortable for both shop owners and the customers.Atul Ahuja, secretary of the Crystal Court Traders’ Association, said, “We have been asking the management since the beginning of June to restore these basic facilities, but nothing has been done. With business continuing to suffer, we had no option but to shut the mall and protest.”Association member Ashok Gurjar said, “We first submitted a complaint on June 7. Initially, we were given assurances, but by the end of the month, the management refused to repair the escalators. That left traders with no choice but to protest.”Trader Asha Sanjay Gurbani said, “We are here to earn our livelihood. If customers cannot reach our shops, how are we expected to run our businesses and support our families?”Later in the day, representatives of the traders’ association met Malviya Nagar MLA Kalicharan Saraf, who assured them that efforts would be made to resolve the issue at the earliest.The traders said their protest would continue until the escalators are repaired and the air-conditioning system is upgraded. According to the association, the mall normally records daily business of over Rs 1 crore, which has now come to a standstill because of the shutdown.Repeated attempts to contact Crystal Court Mall management representative Rajendra Singh for a response were unsuccessful.
