Bengaluru Mall Faces Backlash Over ₹1,000 Bill Policy for VIP Restroom

A popular mall in Bengaluru is under scrutiny due to a policy that demands a shopping bill of ₹1,000 to use its “VIP” restroom. A Reddit user, DeskKey9633, shared their frustration about being refused access to the ground-floor restroom at Phoenix Marketcity Mall in Whitefield unless they presented a bill of at least ₹1,000. “I had an infuriating experience this weekend at Phoenix Whitefield that I feel needs some attention. I had travelled from Church Street specifically to shop there (which is quite a distance to travel), and before diving into my shopping, I needed to use the restroom,” the user posted.

The Redditor detailed how the restroom, designated as “VIP” and monitored by a security guard, required a substantial shopping bill for entry. They expressed confusion and shock over the need for a bill just to use a restroom, questioning the fairness of such a policy.

The user also described the poor condition of restrooms on other floors, which were poorly maintained and had non-functioning flushes. “Those restrooms were in terrible condition. With so many people being redirected, the toilets were poorly maintained and many flushes weren’t working,” they noted.

The Redditor criticized the policy for creating an unnecessary divide and neglecting other facilities. They highlighted the difficulty of finding a usable restroom in an emergency, saying, “Even if a VIP restroom is a thing, it doesn’t justify neglecting other facilities. I’ve never encountered such a policy in any other mall in Bangalore or in any other city, and if this is a new trend, it’s deeply troubling and contributes to an unnecessary social divide.”

The post has garnered significant attention and comments from others who have had similar experiences. One user wrote, “There is a lady security guard who stops people from entering and asks them to pay and get some kind of pass. Is that a golden toilet washroom or what? To keep it hidden from ordinary poor people like us.” Another commented on the previous policy, saying, “Earlier they used to have a mandatory voluntary donation of 20 rupees for accessing the washroom. I guess they have removed that.”

Additional users shared their thoughts, with one stating, “I visited Phoenix Whitefield and was denied access to the ground-floor VIP restroom without a ₹1,000 shopping bill. The other restrooms were in poor condition, raising concerns about discriminatory policies and neglected facilities. This experience was unacceptable.”