Sainikpuri goes the Marredpally way

Sainikpuri: “Sometimes it’s good to take a backseat,” is a one-liner on a billboard beckoning on the Sainikpuri Road. It is an advertisement for people to stop over for a cuppa. The Army officers chose to build houses in Vayupuri and Sainikpuri to take a backseat and have a relaxed life away from the hustle - bustle of the concrete jungle, but now are besieged with an army of commercial establishments selling Kancheepuram sarees, ice-cream, snacks and tiffin centres etc.

Not so long ago, Sainikpuri and Vayupuri were known for serene surroundings and a sense of calm. However, in the last few years commercial establishments mushroomed as bungalows morphed into restaurants and childcare centres. While Dr A S Rao Nagar developed rapidly, for long the Sainikpuri stretch was untouched but with land prices shooting up, owners started letting out their houses to businessmen and in some cases started on their own business. Maj Gen A B Gorthi (Retd), ex-president of Armed Forces Officers Cooperative Housing Society (AFOCHS), says, “No commercial activity should be permitted in a residential colony, particularly when such activity tends to disturb the peace and tranquility of the colony.”

In the recent past, a number of residents complained about disturbance as youngsters park vehicles in the by lanes and stay put for hours on end. Mallika, (name changed on request) said, “A few youngsters attacked my father when he questioned them why they were making noise and for littering the place. This is the price one pays, I guess if a place develops.” I have been living in Sainikpuri for the last three decades. I grew up in Marredpally where bungalows used to be the norm. Now it is a concrete jungle of high-rises. I see Sainikpuri going the Marredpally way. What used to be a retired officers' colony, Sainikpuri now seems to have a lot of commercial shops and restaurants on the main roads. It’s good to have these conveniences close by but areas around the cafes and restaurants have a lot of plastic bottles and garbage strewn around. Loud music also takes away from the peaceful and quiet surroundings of yesteryear, says Beyniaz Edulji.