Malleswaram goes for a concrete makeover

Malleswaram goes for a makeover
The Times of India

Bangalore: It’s traditional Bangalore, better known for its temples and cultural dos. But now, the Malleswaram-Rajajinagar area is set to see a generous dose of the temples of modernity — mega malls, modern high-rise apartments, state-of-the-art commercial complexes and luxury hotels.

Work on at least two massive projects are expected to begin soon. The Brigade Group, which bought 41 acres of Kirloskar Group’s land in the area, is planning an integrated project that would include a high-rise apartment complex, a commercial complex, a mall with a multiplex (that could have eight to 10 screens), a hospital, school and a business hotel.

Sobha Developers and Davanam Constructions recently announced the setting up of a Rs 1,500-crore mall-commercial-hotel complex on 17 acres of the old Minerva Mills land. Renaissance Holdings, which has already built some high-rise apartment blocks in the area, is planning more. Mantri Developers has been planning a large residential complex on Sampige Road.

“Even though land sites are difficult to get, the Malleswaram-Rajajinagar area will pick up,” says Mayank Saksena of Chesterton Meghraj Property Consultants. “The projects announced are good for the area. They’ll also provide necessary amenities.”

Brigade Group managing director M.R. Jaishankar, who has lived in the area, notes it has always been short of public facilities, “no decent restaurants, no good place of entertainment, no proper hospital, no hotel.” He says the commercial complexes that come up will obviate the need for many to travel the long distances they currently do to get to work, given that most workplaces are in the south and east of the city. It will be particularly beneficial to women who work, he thinks.

But not everybody is convinced the area holds the potential for something like a modern mall.

A leading mall developer who was planning a mall in the Ram Kumar Mills property in Rajajinagar has now decided against it, “because our surveys showed the area does not have the disposable income necessary to make the mall viable.”

Jaishankar, however, disagrees: “Nearly 30 per cent of Bangalore’s tech population (with high purchasing power) resides in the north and west of Bangalore.

So there’s enough high-income people close to these emerging facilities.”