Hunting for a model layout? Check this out

Hunting for a model layout? Check this out
The Times of India

Bangalore: Former CM late Gundu Rao would have been a happy man today. His dream of developing a model layout in the city after his visit to Singapore, is near-realised.

Singapore Colony or Gundu Rao Colony, officially known as Nandini Layout (Ward 12), located in a valley beyond Mahalakshmi Layout has a charm of its own. Designed two decades ago, it has over the last five years, developed into a self-contained residential colony with nearly 3,000 households, thanks to pro-active welfare associations in the layout.

The main attraction of the layout is its centrally-located circular park and concentric roads leading to several symmetric blocks of threestoreyed apartments. Bought in 1982, the layout was let out for purchase under Self-Finance Housing Scheme (SFHS) and later developed by the BDA.

Consequently, several public sector undertakings including insurance companies and nationalised banks (22 institutions in all) purchased these blocks in bulk for their employees.

The layout is also home to state government employees, journalists and a good number of senior citizens. (Some reckon the place as Journalists’ Colony as well). The layout today stretches up to the Tumkur Ring Road.

The well-planned layout, which had empty spaces allotted for civic amenities, is being filled up over the last few years, the latest in the offing being the police station.

With residents of the entire layout frequenting it every day, the well-illuminated circular park continues to remain the centre of attraction in the Layout. Large spaces of well-designed bus and auto stands, post office, telephone exchange office, a club house, two schools, Bescom office with a substation, HOPCOMS, petrol bunk and milk booths amid beautiful tree-lined columns lend a tranquil setting to the layout. But, spaces earmarked for a cinema hall, a shopping complex, a hospital, a public library are still vacant. “Rapid progress has taken place in Nandini Layout over the past few years. Though small, it is a township in itself. However, it would be nice if a full-fledged hospital is constructed on priority here,’’ said a senior citizen, residing here since 1989. Roads should be improved and vacant spaces deweeded, he adds as an afterthought.

There’s more the residents can look for. “A budgetary allocation of Rs 70 lakh has been sanctioned to set up a computerised library. A bank and a fire station will come up next to the police station shortly. Talks are on with a private sector to set up a hospital in the area,” says a former secretary of the Nandini layout residents’ association.