Amid the growing demand for free space within the city and soaring house rents in Bengaluru, many land parcels on the outskirts are witnessing rapid, unprecedented conversion into residential layouts. However, the infrastructure remains sub-par.
One such example is the development of layouts beyond Electronics City Phase 2, including Anantanagar and areas around Heelalige village in the southeastern outskirts of the city. Although the area has expanded rapidly over the past decade, road conditions have continued to lag behind.
Recently, nearly 1,000 residents of the area, including schoolchildren, took to the streets demanding improvements to basic infrastructure. They also submitted a memorandum to the Tahsildar of Anekal.
In the backdrop of such a large-scale protest, The Hindu visited the area, covering a five-km radius around Heelalige, which includes layouts such as Anantanagar, Sampige Nagar, and Glass Factory Layout. Anantanagar, in particular, is growing quickly, with multiple phases being developed.
However, all these layouts suffer from poorly developed facilities. The connecting roads are either muddy or filled with large craters, and garbage lies strewn along the stretches, exposing ineffective waste management.
Infrastructure collapses
For instance, Singena Agrahara Road, which connects Huskur Road and Dommasandra–Chandapura Road, has become irreparable and is in need of a complete overhaul. Garbage is visible throughout the stretch, with some of it even burnt. Drainage systems along most roads remain half-built, causing water to overflow onto the streets. Almost all roads are bumpy and offer no smooth commute.
According to residents, accidents have increased over the years.
Rajashekar Rajendran, a resident of Glass Factory Layout who commutes daily to Brookefield, has been a victim of this poor infrastructure. “In February, I skidded and fell while returning home from the office on my bike due to the pathetic condition of the road. I had to undergo surgery, and I now have a metal plate in my right shoulder,” he told The Hindu, adding that he has not yet fully recovered.
Veena Reddy, another resident, said, “It’s been five years since the roads here were properly asphalted. Those that were tarred deteriorated in a few months or after just one spell of rain.” Abhishek, a techie working in Electronics City, described his daily struggle. “It’s very difficult to ride on these roads, and traffic has become unbearable lately. Because the roads are bumpy and full of potholes, I’ve developed back pain, and my spine starts hurting by the time I reach home,” he told The Hindu.
Expansion and boon
Despite the many issues, the suburb was expanding rapidly. Anantanagar in particular is growing, with new areas emerging. Several builders, many of them relatively less known, have begun constructing new apartment complexes, now visible almost every kilometre.
Until recently, no resident association existed to push for development, but a new one is being formed following last week’s protest. A list prepared afterward shows that more than 50 apartment complexes exist in the area. Rents for 1BHK units range from ₹10,000 to ₹20,000, making the area accessible to a wide cross-section of residents. However, water supply relies entirely on borewells and tankers, and the constant movement of these tankers adds to traffic congestion.
The area is also accessible from Huskur and Hebbagodi Metro stations and the Heelalige railway station, where six trains halt daily (three each in the morning and evening).
However, reaching these transport points remains a challenge. J. Vijayalakshmi, who works in Central Bengaluru and uses the Metro, said she barely gets a bus or an autorickshaw to her home, located 3 km from Huskur Metro Station.
“It takes me a little over an hour to reach Huskur from Majestic by metro. But from the station to my house it takes another hour,” she said, pointing out to the poor condition of the roads. “Autorickshaws refuse rides because the road is so damaged, and traffic is terrible,” she added.
Irregular and limited bus services add to residents’ woes. These issues finally pushed residents to form an association and protest for basic amenities.
Despite poor roads and limited bus services, the area is well-connected through the metro and railway network. Most importantly, its southeastern location gives it road access to all major tech hubs: Outer Ring Road, Bellandur, Whitefield, Varthur, and Electronics City, all within roughly an hour’s reach.
As the locality is still developing, house rents remain affordable and the neighbourhood is not yet overcrowded. Several malls are also located nearby. If the area is developed properly, a significant share of vehicular traffic from the city centre is likely to shift here.
Published – December 03, 2025 08:42 pm IST
