The roads at Doctors Colony, Peda Waltair, wore a deserted look on a sun-soaked afternoon. Forty five years ago, this tiny neighbourhood was a home for 20 doctors who grew up in the locality as a family.
While most doctors shifted to various places, disposing of their property, a few preferred to stay in the residential area that has spacious roads with trees and ornamental plants dotting all along the lanes.
“The colony which was exclusively meant for doctors now houses less than half a dozen of them. Like us, there are a few doctor couples who reside in the colony. Life is little secluded over here as people prefer to lead an independent life with a majority of their family members settled abroad. But yes, we share one common hobby and that is gardening,” says Sunila Naidu, a gynaecologist.
The colony boasts of housing famous doctors in the city including late G. Chandrasekharam and late Sundar Rao who were instrumental in initiating the Doctors Cooperative House Building Society Limited 40 years ago. “The duo made an impact on doctors’ community by allotting 24 plots to the society members,” explains R. Ramadas, urologist who came to the colony in 1983.
Except a few apartment blocks that sprang up in recent years, the place paints a picture of posh locality with impressively built houses that attract one’s attention. “Though the colony has gone through a shift in recent times, it is basically quite peaceful. This is one of the main binding factors that draw people to the place,” says Dronamraju Srinivas, former Government Whip who has been residing in the colony since 1986.
The place earmarked for a park in the colony now houses a 1,000-kilolitre capacity water tank initiated by GVMC. As a result, the health-conscious residents are heading to Sivaji Park located close to the colony. “In order to enjoy our evening walks and motivate each other to continue the exercise, we team up with our friends. This way, we cannot skip our regimen or miss catching up with our dear ones,” adds Dr. Sunila Naidu.
