The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) complexes, once one-stop destinations for a range of needs- from buying vegetables to shopping for special occasions- have now lost their sheen.
Many Bengalureans who grew up in the 1980s and early 1990s fondly recall visiting these complexes. Some remember going there on dates, others shopping for weddings and festivals. A few say the BDA complexes were part of their everyday lives, as parents or grandparents would take them there in the evenings.
Over time, however, as Nitin Seshadri, a resident of Koramangala, puts it, “The agencies responsible for maintaining these spaces failed to reimagine and develop them to cater to a growing and transforming city.” As a result, of the 14 existing complexes in the city, barring a few, many have turned into hotspots for illegal activities. A handful of complexes, such as those in Nagarabhavi, Banashankari and Jayanagar, continue to attract people and support decent businesses. However, even these are no longer what they once were.
Town squares
The erstwhile City Improvement Trust Board (CITB) and its successor, the BDA, developed these complexes while forming layouts. The idea was to provide families living in a particular layout with a single place where they could buy everything required for daily life. These complexes also housed government offices such as RTOs, sub-registrar offices, railway offices and post offices.
Mr. Seshadri recalls standing in long queues for hours to pay electricity bills. “I fondly remember the In Touch bookshop in Koramangala, where I used to buy plenty of books. It was the best place to go,” he said.
Sujith, a resident of Indiranagar, said that for some families, these complexes were like weekend picnic spots. “We would leave in the morning on a scooter, play in a park, have food at the complex, do some shopping, enjoy evening snacks like cotton candy, and then return home,” he recollected.
Many residents also remembered the Poonam Theatre in the Jayanagar complex, later renamed the Puttanna Kanagal Theatre, where several film festivals were held. In many ways, the BDA complexes served social, commercial and even entertainment purposes. Above all, they functioned as “town squares”, where people gathered.
Malls hit shopping complexes
However, over time, commercial establishments catering to diverse and growing interests began to emerge across the city. Branded showrooms did not come up within the complexes but instead opened as standalone outlets. Additionally, private malls mushroomed across Bengaluru, housing branded showrooms and upscale stores, drawing people away from these public spaces. One of the first victims of this mall culture in the city was the BDA complex on Cunningham Road, according to a BDA source.
Even today, several government offices continue to function from these complexes, though much of what once defined them is gone. Mr. Seshadri noted that as the BDA failed to periodically redevelop these spaces, footfall declined, leading to losses for businesses. Many eateries, bookshops and private vendors moved out, leaving behind mostly small-time vendors. For them, selling goods inside the complex or on upper floors did not make economic sense, forcing many to turn to street-hawking.
Redevelopment in PPP mode
As shops began to vacate, vacant spaces became breeding grounds for illegal activities. Amidst this, the BDA has now unveiled a redevelopment plan.
A BDA official told The Hindu that redevelopment plans have been awarded to two companies, which would undertake work at seven BDA complexes. Maverick Holdings will redevelop the Indiranagar complex, while MFAR Developers will handle the Sadashivanagar, R.T. Nagar, Vijayanagar, Koramangala, HSR Layout and Austin Town complexes.
The redeveloped buildings will house a mix of showrooms and office spaces. “They will be given a 30-year lease, and the revenue generated will be shared. Maverick will pay 35%, while MFAR will pay 30% of the revenue,” the official said.
However, the plan has drawn strong criticism from citizens. They argued that these complexes were designed to serve all sections of society and were envisioned by the BDA as public convenience spaces. With the new model, they said, the focus has shifted from public service to revenue generation.
Published – January 21, 2026 09:40 pm IST
