KNOW YOUR CONSTITUENCY

KNOW YOUR CONSTITUENCY

MALLESWARAM
Old timers still swear by this area. Talk to senior residents about Malleswaram and there begins the story - do you know that there used to be roads lined with sampige trees? The Sampige Road stands for that, but now trees are being felled to make underpasses. They do not stop at this. “Some trees have grown up with us and we saw them being killed mercilessly to make way for roads,’’ they rue.
Situated at close proximity to the central bus station and city railway stat i o n , Malleswaram has not lost its old-time charm. An upmarket residential area which is home to a part of Bangalore’s creamy layer, it is considered “the place’’ to live in.
Balancing together its quaint history and the recent change in the demographics, some of the areas in Malleswaram segment cater to the rich - Sadashivanagar, Vyalikaval, Palace Orchards abutting Sankey Lake.
Once predominantly populated by Tamil Brahmins, Malleswaram has opened up to the cosmopolitan mix of people. Good infrastructure, well-laid layouts, wide connectivity, renowned educational institutions and a cultural hub, has made the area the most sought after.
But a little away from the main centre, it’s a contrast of sorts. Srirampura, which is hardly a km from Malleswaram 11th main, is a virtual slum. Situated amidst a wholesale cloth market, Srirampuram has not seen any development. For the elected representatives, it is nothing but a vote bank that also breeds small-time criminals who service the politicians. Similarly, Ashwathnagar, Gayatrinagar, Maruti Extension, Anjanappa block all suffer from civic woes.
Malleswaram, like any other happening locality, has fallen prey to commercialisation. The once-huge bunglows, with mango and jackfruit trees, are now apartment blocks. Commercial complexes have come up with rampant violation of rules. Alert and active resident associations in Malleswaram have definitely created some fear in the minds of violators by taking up campaign against building violations.
Sampige Road and Malleswaram 8th cross, the main shopping hub, is to the area what Jayanagar complex is to south Bangaloreans. While the charm of Janata Hotel, Udupi Krishna Bhavan, Veena Stores and the famous Central Tiffin Room (CTR for butter dosa), still remains intact, residents are also patronising eateries serving north Indian, Chinese and fast foods.
On the other hand, Sadashivanagar and Palace Orchards have seen an increase in traffic, also due to commercialisation. With a lot of VVIP activity (read politicians) in the area, the residents have learnt to live with jammed roads and huge vehicles occupying smaller lanes.
Moving towards Mathikere, close to M S Ramaiah College, some interior areas are rural in nature with mud roads. The demand for housing here has gone up, thanks to the outstation students of M S Ramaiah College.
Though Malleswaram was not a problematic area in terms of traffic, the recent construction of the underpass has taken a toll on the commuters.
After delimitation, the wards falling under Malleswaram segment have changed. The segment is likely to get some old and new wards - Mathikere, IISC, Aramanenagar, Subramanyanagar and Gayatrinagar.
Major areas
Subramanyanagar, Gayatrinagar, Rajajinagar II state, Maruti Extension, Srirampuram, Rajamahal Guttahalli, Upper Palace Orchards, Vyalikaval, Sudhindranagar, Malleswaram, Mathikere, Sadashivanagar, Bashyamnagar, M S Ramaiah Nagar.
Landmarks
IISC, Sankey Tank, MES Educational Institutions, Chowdaiah Hall, TTD Trust, Aranya Bhavan, Sampige Road, Wood Science Institute, Malleswaram Railway Station, Srirampuram Cloth Market, Janata Hotel.
PROBLEMS
Earlier
Bad roads and irregular water supply in some interior bylanes, haphazard pavements.
Now
Rampant building violations and encroachments. RAJARAJESHWARINAGAR
Two decades ago, the unpolluted Vrishbhavathi Valley, coconut groves, small hillocks, lush greenery and the famous Rajarajeshwari temple arch at the entrance of the area off Bangalore-Mysore road greeted a traveller to the city.
Today, the area sans the beauty, forms Rajarajeshwarinagar Assembly segment. A magnificent arch which marks the entrance to the area is visible from Mysore road. Built by the Rajarajeshwari Temple Trust, it was inaugurated by former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao.
Rajarajeshwarinagar receives its name from the famous t e m p l e. Jnanakshi Shri Rajarajeshwari is the presiding deity of this temple built in the late 1960s.
Omkar Hills,
said to be the highest points of the city, and Shridhar Gudda, both of which are within a fiveminute drive from Rajarajeshwarinagar, offer a panoramic view of southern Bangalore. The area attracts people from surrounding villages, especially the college-going crowd that enjoys these get-aways.
Today, the scene has changed drastically. Increasing crime graph, pathetic roads, poor water supply, steep roads, poor garbage maintenance system.
Following delimitation of the Assembly constituencies and reorganisation of areas, most areas that were under the Malleswaram constituency including HMT Layout, Jalahalli, Yeshwanthpur and Peenya Industrial Area have been made part of Rajarajeshwarinagar constituency.
The base of the Assembly segment begins from Bharath Housing Society near Channasandra and extends up to Jalahalli, Yeshwanthpur and Gokula extension. The original Rajarajeshwarinagar also constitutes Ideal Homes Township, BEML Layout, BHEL Layout and Pattanagere.
The area has witnessed bustling activities with schools, colleges and nursing homes. Six engineering colleges — PES, RV College of Engineering, Ambedkar, GAT, RNSIT, JSSATE and SJBIT — are located in the constituency. Most importantly, the constituency also houses the software park Global Village.
The isolated area has been accorded so much importance that the land value has shot up. The area’s greenery and parks attract many pensioners.
Though the major portion of area cuts t h ro u g h Bangalore - Mysore and Bangalore - Magadi road, it also c o m p r i s e s Peenya Industrial Areas, Yeshw a n t h p u r, Gokhula Extension, which is at the northern part of the city.
RR Nagar has Bangalore University and a huge reserve forest area. The university houses several departments amidst a mini forest. That apart, the famous Vrishbhavathi runs along the Mysore road. Vrishbhavathi river was once the main source of water for Bangalore and water was tapped for agriculture purpose too. Today, it is just a sewer and has become a health hazard for the nearby areas.
Many shopping complexes, darshinis, restaurants, nursing homes, wine shops, paying guest facilities, service apartments have been vying to outnumber each other. The Halagevaderahalli Lake, which was once a beautiful spot, has gone dry, and is now a wasteland. Shakti Hill Resorts, The Club, Hotel Luciva International are some of the best accommodations in the area. This area is home to industrial areas, various housing societies and employees’ layouts, aprt from the freedom fighters’ colony.
While isolated places like Bangalore University, Mallathahalli, Papareddypalya, BEML Layout suffer from security threat, Peenya, Yeshwanthpur, Gokula suffer from traffic congestion, lack of space and poor infrastructure. Traffic on Mysore Road and Yeshwanthpur moves at a snail’s pace irrespective of the time of day.
Major areas
Sunkadakatte, Malathahalli, Nagarabhavi, Bangalore University, BEML Layout, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Peenya Industrial area, Gokhula, Dasarahalli, Pattanagere, Sunkadakatte.
Landmarks
Bangalore Children’s Hospital, Rotary Hospital, Shridhar Gudda, Omkar Hills, Jnanabharathi campus.
PROBLEMS Earlier
Narrow roads, overflowing and stinking drains, marooning.
Now
Poor garbage disposal, parking problem, narrow and steep roads, poor water supply. The trouble with free elections is, you never know who is going to win. — Leonid Brezhnev