Like any other major part of the city, Indiranagar is a busy locality on any given day. A commercial hub east of the city, it is also a transit point leading to the central business district (CBD), Koramangala, Old Madras Road and Thippasandra among other localities.
But weekends are another story. Entire stretches of the Indiranagar main road, the 100 feet and the 80 feet roads, which boast of some of the best eateries and resto-bars in the city, come alive during evenings on weekends. So much so, a large number of people prefer Indiranagar and Koramangala over the traditional party hubs like Brigade Road and M.G. Road.
But certain quarters perceive the extension in nightlife (till 1 a.m.) differently. This is because Indiranagar, unlike the CBD, is a part-residential and part-commercial area.
M. N. Babu Rajendra Prasad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East-Traffic) admitted that the extension in nightlife was a “problem” in parts of Indiranagar, especially around 80 feet and 100 feet Roads. “There is no parking and we do not have sufficient staff to handle the situation,” he said.
Businessman Natarajan V. (56), a resident of Thippasandra, said a popular resto-bar on 80 feet road had barred parking near its premises on the main road.
“It is public property, but the bar owners have occupied the roadside for ‘valet parking’. While I’m not opposed to the extension in nightlife, the law should not be broken,” he said.
However, P.S. Harsha, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East), said that there was no major problem as only one police station in Indiranagar was affected.
“While the additional burden on security is a problem, we are mopping up resources and managing the show by compensating with the workload. We are hopeful and also know that the government is looking in terms of providing additional staff.”
Youngsters, on the other hand, are rejoicing over the extension in the nightlife deadline. . Desmond Victoria, a 26-year-old IT employee whose family has been living in Indiranagar for the past two decades, said, “It is a safe neighbourhood, so security is not a concern. The new thing here is the extension in deadline for the weekends. Indiranagar has been a preferred destination for those who want to eat out, so we are used to it,” he said.
Samhitha Shetty, an IT professional, concurs. “I work in J.P. Nagar and stay in Marathahalli. So, it makes sense for me to hang out in Indiranagar rather than go all the way to Brigade Road. Besides, some of the best restaurants and pubs are here,” she says.
