Bangalore seems to be a city of paradoxes. While on the one hand linguistic activists are crying hoarse against the invasion of lifestyle from the West, on the other hand the changing cultural and ethnic composition of the City seems to emphasise on its growing cosmopolitan culture.
Not only has Bangalore seen an influx of people from different parts of the country over the years, but the number of foreign immigrants in the City registered with the Foreign Registration Office (FRO) has also been steadily climbing up with an increase of 30.86 per cent from 2003 to 2006, according to reliable sources.
With Greater Bangalore on the map and projects including the upcoming international airport in Devanahalli and Bangalore Metro in the pipeline, these figures are expected to rise sharply in the coming years, sources said.
The number of foreign immigrants registered with the FRO in 2003 was 6,134, a figure that climbed to 8,027 in 2006. Foreign immigrants of 103 different nationalities have registered with the FRO, as of 2006. The  immigrants include nationals who have come under the business, employment, student and research visas, as well as dependent visas.
Those individuals who have a stipulation that registration is required on their visas, which applies to visas extending over 180 days in most cases should register with the FRO. But there are exceptions depending on the embassies and nature of the visas.These numbers also include persons with tourist visas who have overstayed and have registered with the FRO to get their visa regularised.
It is students who form the major chunk of immigrants. In 2003, 3,000 students registered with the FRO and 3,105 registered last year, with Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi students topping the list.
There are 300 students studying in the City on Government of India scholarships implemented by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, said the Director of ICCR, K W Lobo. Other self-supporting students also opt to study in Bangalore, where higher education is offered at affordable rates.
Bangalore also has a reputation as the IT Capital and a cosmopolitan city worldwide and many of the private colleges in the City promote their institutions abroad, he explained. Many foreign students are vying for metro-centric academic living, where they can study and enjoy themselves, Bangalore fits the bill perfectly says the President, Federation of International Student’s Association-Bangalore, Aboud Jumbe.
The others come to the City as they are employed by multinational corporations who have operations in the City, business prospects and for the healthcare facilities, said the source.
Information from the City Special Branch which includes FRO is exempt from the Right to Information Act and authorities do not divulge details like the highest concentration of a particular nationality or the nature of their professions for reasons of
security.