Showpiece of cosmopolitan City

Showpiece of cosmopolitan City
Michael Patrao
The 100 Feet Road, which is about two kilometres in length is the pride of Indiranagar, a premier residential area of Bangalore.

This road links Old Madras Road with Airport Road near the Airport Road-Intermediate Ring Road flyover junction and cuts across areas like Indiranagar, HAL I and II Stage, Defence Colony and Doopanahalli. The road intersects Chinmaya Mission Hospital (CMH) Road at midpoint.

Many of the bungalows on this road belong to high-ranking police officers, IAS officers and defence officials along with many software companies that have taken their roots on this road. What was once a largely residential stretch, has now slowly turned into a commercial hub; what were once residential bungalows and blocks became cafes, restaurants and shops that offer items such as craft, furniture, modular kitchens, handicrafts, furnishing, upholstery, home decor, branded clothes and accessories, trendy jewellery, mobiles along with car and two-wheeler dealers, beauty salons, fitness centres and banks.

There are several coffee joints like Beanstalk, Cafe coffee Day and Barista; consumer durables and home electronics retailers like Pai, Vivek’s and VGP; big retailers such as like Food World, Reliance, Fabmall, Subhiksha, Fresh and Fresh, have set shop here. There are many fine dining options like Tangerine, Roomali with a View, Little Italy, South Indies, 100 Feet boutique restaurant, among many others.

There are also a few places of worship like Sundara Anjaneyaswamy temple, Four Square Gospel Church, Indiranagar Methodist Church and the well-known education institute — New Horizon School and College. The East Cultural Association is a landmark on this road. The 35-year old Club is so named because it is located in Bangalore East zone. The BBMP’s Indiranagar Park, near the CMH Road-100 Feet Road junction, is the sole lung space on this road.

A one million sq ft shopping mall, with an investment of Rs 400 crore, said to be the largest in South India is coming up on this stretch. The mall is being designed by a Seattle-based architecture firm and will host luxury brands of the world, an entertainment hub and also house service apartments.

The opening of Koramangala ring road has increased the density of traffic on the 100 feet road, so much so that it had become necessary to have a skywalk near the flyover. A part of the Metro Rail, coming from the CMH Road will take a turn onto this road.

The only eyesore on this stretch is the slum and filth on one end of the road near Old Madras road. This is a remnant of a society resulting from a decadent and corrupt government and bureaucracy.