Because this place has the perfect mix

Those who live in the south of the City will tell you why JP Nagar rocks. Thanks to excellent connectivity and rise of residential as well as commercial projects, the area continues to be much sought-after, writes Suja Natarajan

Erstwhile known as the ‘Pensioner’s Paradise’, Bengaluru has now completely transformed into a trendy, IT business hub and a megalopolis, housing over 10 million people. With abundant signs of westernisation, Bengaluru with its cosmopolitan culture has confidently forged its identity on the world map.

But if you long to relish the tradition, heritage and serenity that once was characteristic of old Bengaluru, then head to the southern side. Among all the five zones of the City, South Bengaluru has managed to preserve the rustic charm and has also kept pace with urbanisation.

This area comprises some of the finest residential neighbourhoods – JP Nagar, Jayanagar, Banashankari, BTM Layout and Bannerghatta Road.  

JP Nagar or Jayaprakash Narayan Nagar was strategically developed as a residential layout during the days when Ramakrishna Hegde was the Chief Minister of Karnataka. JP Nagar is a BDA-developed layout,  spread over 2,500 sprawling acres of land and split into nine phases.

Earlier dotted with beautiful bungalows and independent houses, the layout has now given rise to multi-storied apartments, thanks to the IT boom. With well-developed roads, gardens and parks, and decent infrastructure, JP Nagar is home to some of the prominent celebrities of Bengaluru. 

Everything in here

JP Nagar offers a perfect mix of art, culture, education and entertainment. Cultural scene in the City is incomplete without mentioning Ranga Shankara in JP Nagar.

As one of the world-class theatre facilities in the country, it showcases the best performances in Indian and international theatre. JP Nagar is also known for temples such as  Lakshmi Venkateshwara Temple and Ragigudda Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy Temple.

Sarakki Lake, one of the oldest and the biggest lakes of Bengaluru, can be found here. Other entertainment and leisure destinations in the vicinity of JP Nagar include the Woodrose Club, Bannerghatta National Park, JP Nagar Club, Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, and the Bull Temple. 

The social infrastructure of JP Nagar is also commendable. This locality houses a number of reputed schools like St. Paul’s School, Innisfree School, Oxford English School, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidya Mandir and even colleges like RV Dental College and the Indian Institute of Management.

Healthcare facilities are also on par with the best, courtesy Sagar Hospital, Dr Agarwal Eye Hospital, Apollo Hospital and many others. For those looking for a fun time in this area, fret not. For JP Nagar has Bangalore Central, Gopalan Innovation Mall and famous eateries like Rajdhani, Mango Tree and Barbeque Nation.

Connectivity matters

One of the unique selling points of this location is its accessibility to the Central Business District (CBD). Also, the Outer Ring Road gives convenient connectivity to other locations of the City like BTM Layout, and Jayanagar. JP Nagar is well linked to other parts of the City through Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses, private bus operators and auto rickshaws. 

Located along the Hosur road, JP Nagar is a hotspot amongst the professionals employed in Electronic City. The proposed phase II of Bangalore Metro Rail, especially the Kanakpura metro line is expected to reduce traffic congestions in the neighbourhood. What’s more, the area is also well connected to the Kempegowda International Airport (42 km) and the City Railway Station (11 km). 

Market trends

A sturdy social infrastructure and increasing number of professional workers has augmented the demand for real estate in this area. Also, the expanding areas of Jayanagar and BTM Layout has created a spillover into JP Nagar and increased the demand for housing. JP Nagar has tremendous scope for development and urbanisation.

As a well-planned locality that once charmed affluent classes, JP Nagar’s excellent connectivity and peaceful surroundings is now attracting the IT crowd. A number of premium apartments, bungalows and housing projects have mushroomed in the area.

As a result, JP Nagar has been experiencing inconsistency in its price trends. The cost depends on the phase of the locality. The average price per sq. ft. for a multi-story apartment in JP Nagar varied between Rs 3,700 – Rs 6,200 in Oct-Dec 2014. The current price stands at Rs 5,000 – Rs 6,000 per sq. ft.

Problem areas

Despite being one of the prime residential neighbourhoods, JP Nagar is plagued with a number of problems. “There is enough ground water but residents in some phases face water problems. We also have Cauvery water connection in this locality, but for a full-time water connection, we have to shell out extra,” rues Sachin Vasantha Bhatt, a resident of JP Nagar. 

The area also lacks an efficient garbage disposal and sewage system. “There is no proper waste management system in place. Waste clearance is pathetic, thereby attracting mosquitoes, leading to a number of health issues. Potholed roads, frequent power cuts, and lack of cleanliness plague JP Nagar.

Though the general infrastructure is good, most parts of JP Nagar aren’t accessible by public transportation. You have to either use your personal vehicle, or hire a taxi or auto,” says Saurav Pradhan, a software developer from the area.

“Poor lighting and dug-up pavements make it quite dangerous for people, especially at nights. There are also several chain snatching incidents that are on the rise, which is a concern for the residents,” adds Jyoti Shivaraju, another resident.

There are areas that need to be worked on and pressing issues that demand attention. However, with affordable homes, good connectivity, fun entertainment spaces and an overall old Bengaluru feel, JP Nagar has every right to be on that list of most popular residential destinations.