The Daily Brief Why are so many malls in India so empty?
Dec 12, 2025
Explore the phenomenon of ghost malls in India, where poor locations and design flaws have left many spaces empty. Discover contrasting shopping habits, with some cities favoring malls as safe havens while others cling to vibrant high streets. Shift gears to the commercial vehicle sector, highlighting the rebound of major players like Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland as they embrace electric innovation. Join in as insights on the economy and market dynamics unfold in this captivating discussion.
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Ghost Mall Problem Is Quantifiable
- Knight Frank finds India has 15.5 million sq ft of ghost mall space concentrated in big metros and satellite cities.
- Many malls failed due to poor location, design, fragmented ownership, competition, and overcapacity.
Malls Dominate Space, Not Always Behavior
- Malls dominate built retail footprint but high streets, airports and hotels capture daily shopping behavior.
- People use malls for controlled experiences while everyday purchases stay mixed across cities.
Anchor Tenants Can Make Or Break A Mall
- Akshara describes once-lively malls that lost anchors like cinemas and supermarkets and then emptied out.
- After anchors left, smaller shops followed and the building stopped functioning like a mall.