Bengaluru’s expansion — in terms of area and population — has seen the emergence of new pockets of leisure across the city. Indiranagar, Koramangala, Kammanahalli, J.P. Nagar and BEL Road have come to be known as the new leisure destinations, offering a variety of pubs, restaurants and other options for people to unwind.
But have these new pockets overshadowed the popularity of the Central Business District (CBD), including M.G. Road and Brigade Road, which was the go-to destination for Bengalureans not long ago?
The industry is divided. While some say the growth of new leisure destinations is a natural, expected phenomenon, others say it has affected the lustre of the CBD.
Ashish Kothare, a veteran in the pub industry, said the rise of the new belts of leisure had ‘definitely’ affected the scope of businesses in the CBD.
“Why would people travel all the distance to Brigade Road when you have options available in your neighbourhood? With the drunk-driving checks, people feel it is better to be safe than sorry. Traffic woes have also aggravated it to a large extent, as reaching the destination and finding parking have become a challenge,” he said.
Mr. Kothare said the trend started in 2016 in Indiranagar, and Koramangala caught on immediately. “In 2017 and 2018, HSR Layout, Kammanahalli and Sarjapur gained popularity. A lot of pubs in the CBD have shut shop. Many old-timers retired as things became sluggish. The trend has also changed. Rock music used to be famous in Bengaluru. Now, with the influx of people from outside Bengaluru, preferences have changed. The new generation is not music-oriented at all, as their preference is in having a good time,” he explained.
‘In tandem with city’s growth’
Manu Chandra, Chapter Head, Bengaluru, National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI), said the rise of the new pockets of leisure is in correspondence with the growth of the city on the whole. “The population of Bengaluru has increased two-fold; it is like Mumbai and New Delhi now. The growth of more such destinations is in correspondence with the growth of the city, but that does not mean the CBD is not popular. It continues to thrive,” he said.