LOSING OUT

LOSING OUT
George Bush’s Hyderabad visit has set off the debate again: is Hyderabad stealing Bangalore’s thunder?
The Times of India

BLAME it on Hyderabad. That’s the mood now, especially after George W Bush chose to visit it instead of namma Bengaluru. With Bangalore’s infrastructure in the dumps and Hyderabad’s stars in the ascendancy, the limelight seems to be shifting slowly but inexorably away from here.

BT asks Bangaloreans with their roots in Hyderabad, to compare cities.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Sangita bin Jung, jewellery expert: (Born and brought up in Hyderabad, l in Bangalore for 18 years):
Hyderabad’s far better planned than Bangalore. The key lies in its wider roads, more flyovers, less traffic congestion. Here, there’s no rush hour anymore — it’s all the time. One shower and the power goes off. Bangalore’s population explosion means a crunch of domestic staff.
Her rating: Hyderabad *** 1/2, Bangalore ** 1/2

Nilima Rovshen, director of an NGO (Hyderabadi by birth, with family there; Bangalorean for 18 years):
Hyderabad is larger, with wider roads and potential to expand. Bangalore wasn’t meant to grow this big. Hyderabad’s governments have been steady and committed.
Her rating: Hyderabad **1/2, Bangalore virtually 0.

Keerti Reddy, actress
(Hyderabadi by birth, brought up and educated in Bangalore): Bangalore’s deteriorated from its garden and pub city image. It’s smaller than other towns, and the roads and traffic are bad.
Hyderabad has really improved infrastructurewise. Her rating: Hyderabad *****, Bangalore **.

SOCIAL LIFE

Sangita: Bangalore is more cosmopolitan. The eating out’s great, there’s a chilled out quality and no small
town mentality. Hyderabad is old-fashioned; eyebrows would be raised seeing a girl sitting alone, having a drink.
Her rating: Hyderabad **1/2, Bangalore ***

Nilima: Bangalore offers a more westernised, free environment especially for women and youngsters. Hyderabad has grace and culture, history and much more to offer tourists and outsiders.
Her rating: Both should borrow from each other.

Keerti: Culturally, Bangalore’s rich. Hyderabad is more closed, it’s difficult to make a breakthrough in social circles, and new fashions, cuisines take time to catch on.
Her rating: Hyderabad *, Bangalore *****

BIZ SAVVINESS

Sangita: Both are neck and neck. There’s an economic boom here, and plenty happening. Hyderabad means old money, old business. Bangalore means IT/BPOs and a lot more people with disposable incomes.
Her rating: Hyderabad ***, Bangalore ***1/2

Nilima: For the entrepreneur, Hyderabad is better, having an exisiting business mentality, even though IT is making inroads there now.
For the working person, it’s Bangalore.
Her rating: Hyderabad***, Bangalore ***

Keerti: In Hyderabad, to do business you must play safe — not be too different. Bangalore has working people from different backgrounds, all interesting with something to offer. Because of cosmopolitan attitudes different language films do better here, while the typical formula works best in Hyderabad. Fame and money matter less in Bangalore.
Her rating: Bangalore ****, Hyderabad **

BUZZ FACTOR

Sangita: Bangalore’s still more happening. If infrastructure’s put right, then we’re way ahead of Hyderabad, which is far more laid back.

Nilima: The ordinary Hyderabadi is a proud citizen, while every Bangalorean is disgusted with what’s being done to the city.

Keerti: Hyderabad scores a little more in the outer trappings. But it’s people who make the place. Bangalore wins.