Situated in the northern belt of Bengaluru, Yelahanka is a well-developed residential and commercial locality. Its separated from downtown Bengaluru by only 14 km, a distance that doesnt take long to cover, thanks to the new Airport Road. Earlier only a satellite town to Bengaluru, Yelahanka soon came under Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palikes (BBMP) ambit for development. The rapid development and expansion of the locality has meant that today, its made up of two parts, Yelahanka Old Town and Yelahanka New Town.
What most people dont know about Yelahanka is that it was the origin of Bengaluru. Kempe Gowda, the man who founded Bengaluru, established Yelahanka as the citys first capital. Only later did he expand the city down south, to KR Market and Basavangudi.
As a locality, Yelahanka is well rounded and multi-faceted. Both Old Town and New Town capture a mix of the old and new world charm of the locality. While Old Town has established commercial markets and old-school houses, New Town is a prime residential locality, brimming with new residential developments. This mix of the two worlds yields balance and harmony to the locality.
Yelahanka is a great place for families with kids, since various prominent schools and colleges are situated here. And since the locality is very well connected to the rest of the city by road, theres no problem traveling around the city whether its for work or entertainment.
One cant leave out the fact that Yelahanka lies amidst an extensive lush green cover and has a number of lakes within its bosom. The bird sanctuary Puttenahalli Lake and Yelahanka Kere are the major lakes surrounding the locality.
Key Projects in Yelahanka are:
Vajram Tiara
Classique Woods
Ramky One North
Jayanth Santis
Apoorva Meadows
RMZ Galleria
NCC Meadows II
Mittal Elanza
Ultimate Signature
Siva Sai Meadows
Connectivity and Transit Points
Among Yelahankas many plus points is connectivity. The area lies very close to NH-7, a small section of which is the airport road. Traveling along this road for 18 km takes the localitys residents straight to Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. This same road connects the city to Hyderabad on one end and takes the areas residents into the heart of the city on the other.
One of the oldest railway stations in Bengaluru, called Yelahanka Jn., is located within Yelahanka. The railway lines emerging from this station connect to major localities in the city, including Yeshwantpur, KR Puram, and Byappanahalli. The two railways junctions for the city, Bangalore City Junction and Yeshwantpur Junction Railway Junction are located about 23 km and 17 km respectively.
Yelahanka New Town, Yelahanka Old Town, Yelahanka Satellite Town, and Yelahanka NES are the major transit points for the areas residents. Each of these areas have a central bus stand from where they can travel to Kempegowda (Majestic) Bus Station a central bus stand for the city of Bengaluru.
Auto-rickshaws are a popular means of traveling within and beyond the locality, although buses are preferred for the cheaper rates. Some people hire cabs for traveling within the locality, but thats uncommon.
Major Landmarks
· Rail Wheel Factory
· 2.NES Office, Yelahanka
· Allalasandra Lake
· Yelahanka Kere
· Yelahanka Air Force Base
· NITTE
· Meenakshi Institute of Technology
Factors for Growth in the Past
Originally intended to be a satellite town, Yelahanka today is part of the Greater Bangalore Metropolitan area and is a suburb in its own right. Excellent connectivity to major transit points, such as Mekhri Circle, Hebbal, and Kempegowda International Airport, has ensured a spate of both commercial and residential development over the past decade.
With land prices hovering around Rs 2,500-4,000 per sq. ft. over the past couple of years, Yelahanka has offered a cheaper alternative to investors looking to take advantage of the areas accessibility without splurging on premium real estate further south.
Major Challenges
Obstacles to Yelahankas unmitigated growth include the immense traffic build up on the Hebbal- Devanahalli highway. What once used to be a 30-minute drive from the city, now takes upwards of an hour. The destruction of heritage buildings and large scale depletion of green cover, has also aroused local ire and an increasingly vocal set of protest groups are fighting commercial interests in the area.
Factors for Growth in the Future
One of the prime reasons for Yelhankas continued expansion and consolidation is the ease with which land can be acquired in the area. The localitys proximity to the airport also makes a property in Yelahanka an attractive business asset, while large on-going infrastructural projects have drawn additional investment, specifically from the IT and hospitality sectors. An upcoming series of three business parks along the Devanahalli will also likely translate into an upsurge in the demand for housing in Yelhanka the existing Manyata and Kirloskar tech parks have already resulted in several thousand IT professionals moving into the region. The extension of the Metro Rail Project to Hebbal and beyond will only ease the daily commute for residents of the area, as well as alleviate traffic snarls.
Some of the Residential Projects at Yelahanka are listed below:
Embassy Boulevard
Provident WelWorth City
Radiant Jasmine Terrace
Aesthetic Landscape
Heritage Estate