Mohali, April 21 -- VR Punjab Mall in Sector 118, Mohali, the tricity's largest retail destination, has been shut indefinitely after structural assessments flagged safety concerns following the April 3 earthquake. The decision, announced by VR Malwa Private Limited, comes after expert evaluations deemed the building unsafe for public use, prompting immediate closure to protect visitors, retailers and staff. Immediately after the announcement, several high-profile tenants expressed dismay over what they described as a lack of professional communication and the logistical challenges imposed upon them. Ajay Kumar, store in-charge of Costa Coffee located on the upper ground floor, said, "Sales at our outlet were performing exceptionally well. In such a situation, this sudden decision is fundamentally flawed. The mall management ought to have provided at least a 15-day notice so that we could organise logistics and transitions. Currently, our company's senior officials are in discussions with the management to address this crisis." On Monday, while the mall was closed off from the main entrance, limited access through a rear gate reportedly allowed tenants to visit their stores. Moviegoers with booked tickets were also seen heading to the multiplex before complete closure. The development sparked widespread discussion on social media platform X, where users linked the shutdown not only to structural concerns but also to the mall's declining footfall, changing consumer habits and persistent traffic congestion in the area. While the mall remained a preferred destination for many residents of Kharar, Kurali and Mohali for over a decade, its popularity had been on a gradual decline over the past few years. The construction of a flyover near the mall, along with the exit of several major brands such as Zara, Decathlon, Kazo, Westside, Marks & Spencer and Forever 21, significantly impacted footfall. Many traders noted that while large franchise owners managed to sustain operations, smaller businesses, particularly start-ups in accessories, cosmetics and lifestyle segments, struggled to survive and gradually exited. The Covid-19 pandemic further accelerated this shift, forcing several first-time entrepreneurs to shut shop before incurring heavy losses. Even then, a loyal base of visitors continued to frequent the mall for retail shopping, cinema and family outings. Domestic consumers relied on outlets like Reliance Smart Superstore for groceries, fresh produce, electronics, and other home and personal merchandise, while fashion enthusiasts were drawn to H&M, one of the first stores from the brand in the tricity, along with Lifestyle and Max, and other Reliance retail outlets like Centro and Trends. Buffet dining outlets such as Pirates of Grill continued to attract steady crowds. The mall also continued to serve as an entertainment hub. In recent weeks, when tickets for popular movies such as "Dhurandhar" were not available in other tricity malls like CP67 or Elante, VR Punjab still managed to draw crowds, with shows running to full capacity. Several other outlets including Croma, Lenskart, Numero Uno, Go Colours, Mr DIY, and food chains such as Burger King, KFC, Haldiram's, Costa Coffee, Cafe Coffee Day and Taco Bell were operational prior to closure....