HYDERABAD: Over the last five-six years, at least half a dozen star hotels have sprung up across Hyderabad’s IT corridor. This is in addition to at least 15 to 20 pubs, service apartments and a flood of upscale restaurants, show market records. In comparison, the city’s central business district (CBD) — the Begumpet-Punjagutta stretch that was once Hyderabad’s social epicentre — has seen only a handful of players make an appearance.
In fact, many outlets have now shut shop in the CBD and taken their operations to ‘hitechabad’.
“We shut the Begumpet branch within two years of its opening as we realised that the crowd was moving towards Hi-Tec City and beyond. We saw a drop in footfall as even those living around Begumpet were travelling all the way to the IT corridor for social events. That’s when we decided to open a branch in Gachibowli (in December, 2020) where the business is steadily growing,” said Tabeer Osmani, associate partner and marketing head, Heart Cup Coffee.
Like him, there are others too who are looking towards the western corridor, to expand their business. “In two months, we are opening a new outlet in a mall in Kondapur. Due to the IT industry, Hyderabad welcomes new people from different cities every day. Considering the variety of choices that people have in terms of food and experiences, we thought it’s only wise to expand to this area,” said Ayush Agarwal, co-founder, AirLive that’s currently limited to Jubilee Hills.
Ten downing street, popularly known as 10D — synonymous with Begumpet since the early 90s — too has made Kondapur its home. “Today, Gachibowli and its neighbouring areas are a high activity zones where people step out even during weekdays. In the same building where we started, there are four other outlets. Yet, that doesn’t dampen our business,” said Pranay Reddy, executive director, 10D.
Not surprising then, the Gachibowli -Hi-Tec City-Chandanagar-Kukatpally belt has seen eight new malls come up in the last five years. During the same time, not a single new mall has opened in the CBD.
