“I have lived here for over two decades. It does not feel like home anymore. There are hookah bars and pubs, which were predominantly found in the Central Business District (CBD), doing business here now. There sure were advantages when we got branded shops and other facilities, but seeing a hookah shop opposite a college and a hospital really makes one question if commercialisation really means development,” rued Syona Thomas, a resident of New BEL Road.
Amidst the ongoing debate over the demand from retail business owners and hoteliers in the city to make Bengaluru a 24/7 open city, and concerns expressed over this from law enforcement agencies, residents in areas that have seen a boom in commercial activities — both old and new ones — are bracing for the worst. While the industry argues that keeping businesses open throughout the day will help them cater to the huge population with a diverse job profile, many resident welfare associations, especially from localities like Koramangala and Indiranagar, which have been living with the ill-effects of illegal commercialisation, have opposed the idea, pointing out that it would adversely affect the residents.
Earlier, Bengaluru had pubs, bars, and malls in specific locations, especially in and around the areas in the CBD. Along the way, as the borders of the city expanded, widescale commercialisation spread to many other localities which once were mostly residential.
