Bengaluru:  Forum Malls, the retail arm of Prestige Group, has unveiled plans to nearly double its presence in India by opening 14 new shopping centres by 2029, bringing its total to 25. The move underscores the company’s confidence in the country’s urban retail market and the spending power of metro cities.

The expansion will focus on major urban hubs including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

Among the projects, a landmark development near Bengaluru Airport has been announced as India’s first athleisure-focused mall. Spanning 800,000 square feet, it is expected to open by 2027 and will feature global sportswear brands, yoga studios, fitness centres, and lifestyle outlets.

Forum Malls expects a 15 percent rise in revenue and customer footfall during October, the start of India’s festive season. Traditionally, the October to December period accounts for up to 40 percent of the company’s annual sales, making it a critical driver of growth. The company believes recent tax cuts on consumer products could further boost shopping sentiment, though its current projections exclude that factor.

CEO Muhammad Ali highlighted that metro cities remain the core focus for expansion, citing their greater propensity for premium retail consumption. While tier-II cities offer lower operating costs, the company sees limited potential for high-end retail growth outside larger urban markets.

The expansion comes at a time of intense competition in India’s retail sector, with other major developers like Phoenix Mills and Nexus Malls also scaling up. Forum Malls’ decision to move away from traditional department-store anchors in its new projects signals a shift towards specialised, experience-driven retail formats.

Industry observers note that the heavy dependence on festive sales and rising online shopping trends pose risks, but Forum Malls is betting on differentiated experiences and urban spending resilience to sustain growth.