A recent report by the Anarock Group highlights a trend in India's retail sector where high-street rents are outpacing mall leases as brands seek greater visibility and foot traffic. The report notes that while premium malls have stable rental rates, high-street locations are becoming increasingly attractive due to limited availability in malls. Anuj Kejriwal, CEO of retail for EMEA at Anarock, pointed out that many brands in fashion, luxury, and food sectors are turning to high streets for expansion. Despite this shift, Rajneesh Mahajan, CEO of Inorbit Malls, maintains that mall leasing remains healthy, with steady year-on-year rental growth of 8-9% in certain categories. The report anticipates significant new retail space development, particularly in the Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad regions, with over 22 million sq. ft expected in NCR alone by 2031. The evolving landscape of retail is also marked by a growing emphasis on food and entertainment within malls, as well as an increase in direct-to-consumer brands establishing physical stores.