While the immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic by the IT companies was to push the work-from-home culture, it might be possible that these companies could carry forward this model to the future as well.
The IT-Hub of India, Bengaluru, could see multiple changes, both regards to its development and real estate, owing to this decision by the companies.
Techies will prefer less congested areas
With travel to office reduced, IT employees could prefer to move to less congested areas, away from the city’s technology hubs such as Mahadevapura, Whitefield, Electronic City, Bellandur, and Sarjapura.
While real estate commands a premium rate in these tech-hubs, with the ‘WFH’ culture catching up, developers might be forced to develop new strategies. Hence, indirectly, this could lead to more equitable development in the city.
Experts talk about the topic
V Madhu, who once headed the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation and years later, a private budget housing firm, said “The stretch between Central Silk Board to KR Puram in Bengaluru may look deserted if work-from-home picks up and succeeds as serious work culture. The plots of land on either side of this road has been one of the favorite picks for developers.”
However, a few experts said that people could move to less congested areas only if the government moves to improve infrastructure there. For instance, a few felt that improving the areas around metro terminals could be a fine way to kickstart the initiatives.
Regarding equitable development, V Madhu said: “The government should revisit its development plan for Bengaluru, align it with changing urban dynamics and encourage private players to participate in creating necessary infrastructure in areas around metro terminals.”
Source: Economic Times
