Being an end-user driven market, Bangalore has remained resilient in the face of vast changes in recent times. According to a study by real estate advisory firm Trespect, Bangalore was only second to Mumbai for housing sales in 2019. The study also specifies that Bangalore recorded a 14% rise in new launches year-on-year, of which 34% was in North Bangalore followed by 32% in the East.
Both North and East zones have been the rising stars of Bangalore city in the last few years with an upsurge in infrastructure development and commercial activity. While the North zone had the highest number of new launches in 2019, the East zone reflected the highest number of sales.
North Bangalore, comprising micro-markets like Hebbal, Yelahanka, and Hennur, along with areas like Whitefield, Sarjapur Road, and Bellandur that make up East Bangalore are perfect for new homebuyers and renters alike.
So, how will prospective homebuyers choose the neighbourhood that will meet their requirements? We give you a quick composite of North and East Bangalore to help you pick the ideal neighbourhood for you and your family.
North Bangalore: a space for all
The establishment of the Bangalore international airport in Hebbal sowed the first seeds of development in the North zone. High Networth Individuals (HNIs) and NRIs began making a beeline for the area, and Hebbal expanded at lightning speeds to feature plush villas, affordable homes, and luxury apartments. Development accelerated as business, and commercial activity increased with PSUs, aerospace, defence, and IT companies setting up their offices.
Soon elevated expressways, wide roads, and connectivity to the metro became one of the prime factors for driving residential housing demand. North Bangalore is well-connected via key roads like the Outer Ring Road, Bellary Road, and Tumkur Road that link working professionals to Manyata Tech Park, Kirloskar Tech Park, and other centres of employment.
Social infrastructure in North Bangalore is mature with leading schools and hospitals having their presence. Fortis Hospital, Columbia Asia, and Omega Multispecialty are a few of the healthcare options in the area. There are reputed schools like Kendriya Vidyalaya, VIBGYOR and Orchids International among others.
Being home to prominent malls like Elements and Orion, North Bangalore offers plenty of choices for an evening out with friends or a weekend outing with the family.
Once an investor-driven market, North Bangalore has flourished to welcome a wide spectrum of residents ranging from families to working professionals to older NRIs who return to India to settle down.
East Bangalore: Great for the young and old
It all began with the setting up of ITPL back in the late 1990s. The presence of Bangalore’s first IT Park acted as a catalyst to the IT boom that had already been set in motion. It breathed life into a section of Bangalore that had been, until then, predominantly suburban, bordering on the rural.
Today, Whitefield, which can be considered as the ‘capital’ of East Bangalore, and other areas like Budigere, KR Puram, and Sarjapur have burgeoned substantially to become hotspots for aspiring homebuyers. In addition to the thriving presence of IT companies, East Bangalore is also home to numerous startups and businesses, which have driven up demand for residential spaces.
Infrastructural development, including the train service connecting Whitefield to Majestic and accessibility to the metro have made it easier for residents to commute. Whitefield is also reasonably well-connected via the Outer Ring Road and Old Madras Road to other parts of the city.
East Bangalore has plenty of choices when it comes to social infrastructure. Hospitals like Columbia Asia and Narayana Hrudayalaya are near Whitefield as well as Sarjapur while there are prominent schools like Delhi Public School and Presidency School among others to pick from.
Socialising is never a problem with a plethora of options for restaurants, pubs, and malls.
Which is better?
North Bangalore is better connected to the city centre, and if you are not an IT employee, this could serve you well for the long term. However, being in East Bangalore gives you access to considerably more employment opportunities. If you are focused on your career, particularly in IT, then perhaps this is the place to be.
North and East Bangalore are both great neighbourhoods with multiple unique advantages. They are similar in terms of development, resale value, and quality of living but the perks that each location offers differ slightly. The reasons for deciding between North and East Bangalore might ultimately boil down to your place of work, availability of social amenities, and ease of commute.
I think the east side of Bangalore is much happening and has got a life.