More and more Delhi University students are moving from Kamla Nagar to Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB) Nagar for better rental accommodation, security, coaching centers and cool hangouts. Ananaya Banerjee reports
A few years ago, it was tough to convince any north campus student that there can be a better hangout option than “K Nags” or Kamla Nagar. But now students are shifting loyalties. It is no more Kamla Nagar which is considered the best option to stay, eat and shop. Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar or GTB Nagar has emerged as the popular choice. Affordable rental accommodation, easy availability of coaching centers, better security arrangements and cool eating joints are reasons why the place is getting popular.
A safe choice
Once the admission procedure starts college hostels fill up faster than you blink and a lot of people are in need of affordable accommodation, preferably close by university. Most of these students opt for a rental arrangement with basic amenities in areas which are secured with guards or gates and with a market and coaching centers nearby.
Adjacent to the University, on the other side of the canal separating the two areas, is GTB Nagar. An upcoming posh locality that once used to be restricted to residential complexes, has taken up the mantle for being the new hotspot for the students. Virmal J Singh, the owner of Punjab Properties, is a local agent who helps students in acquiring a hostel room, flat or a PG (paying guest) according to their preferences. He says that GTB offers accommodation in three areas and students can choose as per their budget. They are Vijay Nagar, Hudson lane and Outram lines. Hudson has rents varying from Rs8,000-16,000 for a single person. Vijay Nagar and Outram are cheaper with a range of Rs6,000-12,000. This generally includes meals, laundry and electricity. Says Singh, “Most students come from North India. I have seen very few South Indian students coming here. Maximum influx is from north east states. They usually come in groups and rent a whole floor, which costs them around Rs30,000-35,000.”
The security in the region is high as Delhi Police has mandated CCTV cameras on streets, lanes and outside gates. Cooks, maids and other help is also available easily because it is essentially a residential area. They charge somewhere around Rs1,500-3,000 for cleaning, cooking and washing for independent flats. Mansi, whose studying commerce in Daulat Ram College feels, “I wouldn’t want to live in Kamla Nagar. It is too noisy and dirty. I opted for a flat with my friends in Outram lines. It’s a peaceful neighbourhood with a park.”
Coaching for various entrance exams — civil services, judiciary, charted accountancy, mathematics, company secretary ship are easily available in the vicinity. Khan study, Nirmal Institute, Pitanjali and Paramount are the most famous ones. Diana, originally from Manipur, has spent three years in Delhi. “I chose this place because my CAT coaching in the locality,” she says.
Cool addas
GTB Nagar has transformed itself into an urban hub with cuisines from all over the world, tastefully done up ambience and prices that go easy on the pockets of students with limited allowances. A popularly frequented joint in the neighbourhood and the first of many to have opened up is QD’s which first used to be in Kamla Nagar. The joint was the first to make the shift to this locality for a more spacious outlet to cater to the immense footfall it witnessed for its Indian and Chinese fusion cuisine.
Renae, one of the directors of the franchise that co-owns two joints, says, “People were actually skeptical when we moved our set up here.” In merely a year, the demand for continental dishes went up. To do justice to the world cuisine, a second brother, too, opened a joint. It was named Rico’s which in Spanish translates to delicious. The menu has dishes from around the globe.
Moving along the street, there are several joints bustling with energy. One that catches the eye is Big Yellow Door, which has a martini class signifying the letter Y on the entrance. As abbreviated by the students, BYD opened up in February last year. It has become quite popular with the students for its breakfast menu and reasonable prices among other things. The joint offers waffles, pancakes, porridge, omelettes and toasts.
Another notable joint to add to the list is YOlO 21; a youth centric venture started up by Sukreet, merely six months ago. The theme of the place is YOlO (you only live once). Musical instruments and books are made available here to the guests.
Note of caution
GTB has been remodelled to be the new student hub where one is likely to find all things important. With a surge of popularity in its favour, GTB is set to reach a whole new level. As Sneha a student of sociology from Hindu college says, “I prefer going to GTB, the food is better and I don’t have too much.”
Things are definitely looking up for this place. But in order to actually give Kamla Nagar a run for its money, GTB still needs to work on a few details when it comes to upgrading the market scenario. Barring food joints, there are not many attractions in the area. The area can be a disappointment to those who love to shop.