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CHAMARAJPET
Bangalore: For long identified as a ‘Kannadigara kote’, Chamarajpet continues to be an important commercial pocket of the city. Old residential areas have been the constituency’s landmarks but the surge in commercial activity in the past couple of decades has left the area with a mixed population profile.
Chamarajpet — that houses bustling business pockets like Taragupet and
Bazaar Street —is one of the oldest commercial hubs in Bangalore, known for its history as a market for banana leaves and incense. The constituency also boasts of a host of temples and marriage halls. The Ramanavami concerts organised by Sree Rama Seva Mandali at the Fort High School Grounds have been a much-cherished fixture in Chamarajpet.
Dotted by places of worship like the Rajarajeshwari, Kote Venkateshwara and Sathyanarayana temples, the con stituency has a diverse social and religious profile. Chamarajpet has a substantial Muslim population and areas like Anandapuram consists of a good number of Tamil settlers.
Developed as an extension during the pre-Independence period, Chamarajpet is one of the oldest residential localities in Bangalore. The location offers easy access to areas like Majestic and K R Market. As a locality that falls between Basavanagudi and K R Market and that has Mysore road passing through, Chamarajpet has over the years been increasingly hit by the burgeoning traffic inflow. Areas like the 5th Main have now become bustling traffic merging points. Residents and traders in the locality have been vocal about their concerns over the traffic but life on the roads has not changed for the better.
Garbage disposal and other sanitary aspects have not met the desired redressal in the constituency, according to the residents. While shrugging the issues off saying that these are worries that affect Bangalore as a whole the residents, however, are critical about the progress made on road development projects in the constituency.
Some of the residential areas have been neglected, as reflected on roads stripped of tar cover and the customary craters. The rain only make things worse on these roads. The sanitation issues in the constituency are more pronounced in the slums and their neighbourhoods.
Despite the infrastructure bottlenecks, Chamarajpet has retained its unique spirit — a blend of old-world charm and modern-day chaos — and is in many ways reflective of the city’s socio-economical fabric. The constituency comprises the five BBMP wards of K R Market, Padarayanapura, Jagjivanram Nagar, Azad Nagar and Chamarajpet.
Major areas
Jagjivanram Nagar, old Guddadahalli, Vinayak Nagar, Goripalya, Valmiki Nagar, Azad Nagar, new Taragupet, Cottonpet, Cheluvadipalya, Rayapuram and K R Market.
Landmarks
Gayana Samaj, Brahmin’s Coffee Bar, Bangalore City Institute, Makkala Koota, Tipu’s Palace, Uma Theatre and Fort High School.
PROBLEMS
Earlier
Erratic garbage disposal, overflowing drains, faulty sanitation amenities.
Now
Unchecked development, burgeoning traffic, shrinking road space. CHICKPET
Bangalore: Much before the central business district took shape in the city, Chickpet was Bangalore’s definitive commercial hub. And despite the malland-multiplex fancy, it continues to be a much-frequented shopping destination, offering plenty of options in everything from Kanjeevarams to glassware.
The bustling centre of the constituency — the core market area — has a rich history that has recorded supply of silk to members of royal families. Complete with pavement traders and teeming traffic, Chickpet redefines rush-hour business. Though the saree stalls are what Chickpet is constantly tagged with, the locality also offers a good range in other purchases including steel and brass vessels.
Like with any bustling commercial hub, Chickpet has suffered infrastructural setbacks with civic amenities not keeping pace with the rising business. The traders of the area have time and again raised concerns over flawed civic planning but a positive difference is yet to surface. The absence of storm water drains has resulted in flooding of areas like Kempegowda Nagar and V V Puram.
The erstwhile Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) had proposed a revamp of old city areas including Chickpet, Cottonpet and Taragupet that have been hit by the rise in commercial activity. In tune with the trend across Bangalore, the administrative proposals haven’t been able to meet the demands on ground.
According to old residents in the area, unchecked construction of buildings in the business centre has been the bane of Chickpet. Old areas including Ashwathnagar have been left behind in the business rush. As more businessmen set shop in the locality, the residents are also dreading the possibilities of mass fire accidents in thickly populated areas. Better roads and streamlined drainage systems are other demands raised by the residents.
While the old residents of the commercial areas blame the rise in business and the subsequent increase in vehicular movement for the fall in infrastructure standards, the businessmen maintain that the issues are eating into their profits as well. Narrow roads and lack of adequate parking space is becoming a turn-off for the shoppers, hitting the revenues. And with more malls springing up in the neighbourhood, the signs are not quite positive.
Kalasipalyam, that houses a major transportation hub and a market in the constituency, has also been hit by inadequate infrastructure. A constantly busy location, thanks to bus services by the inter-state private operators, Kalasipalyam has over the years been reduced to an area identified with unke m p t p u bl i c t o i l e t s and broken drains. As the constituency braces for another assembly election, Kalasipalyam will again be in focus if the previous pre-election voter meets are any indication.
The constituency — while being home to business hubs like Gandhi Bazaar, Kalasipalyam and the ‘pete’s — also has lung spaces including the Lalbagh and residential areas in parts of Jayanagar. The Chickpet constituency, in its new shape, comprises the six Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) wards of Sudh a m a n a g a r, Hombegowdanagar, D h a r m a r aya - swamy temple, V V P u r a m , Mavalli and Kempegowda Nagar.
Major areas
Kempegowda Nagar, Shankarapuram, V V Puram, Jayanagar 1st, 2nd and 3rd east blocks, Wilson Garden, Siddapura, Hombegowdanagar, Chinnayanpalya, Mavalli, Sudhamanagar, Kalasipalya and Nagarthpete.
Landmarks
NIMHANS, Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, Gandhi Bazaar and Khaleel Building.
PROBLEMS Earlier
Absence of stormwater drains, traffic pile-ups during peak business hours, broken drains in busy market areas.
Now
Boom in construction activities with no civic amenities to match, narrow roads, flooding during rain, lack of parking space for shoppers in commercial areas.