Future Plans and Perceptions

With the understanding on the pre-metro residential dynamics across the three sites and the incoming metro as a part of the larger change that’s happening, this section focuses on the kind of notions the impact of metro construction has led to in the overall dynamics of the neighbourhood and how they foresee the transformation happening in their individual lives, hence the neighbourhood at a larger scale.

Moving Away

The response of having to move away from their current residences were approached with multiple sentiments. A few residents weren’t much bothered as they were normalised to frequent change of houses and multiple evictions or had a notion of taking care of the situation when it arrives while some feared getting evicted due to lack of housing documents.

"Wo sab ka, humara, wo hi baat hain. Nahi jaane ka, aaye tab dekhenge. Humein utna tension nahi hai, baadme kaam shuru hoga. Jaane de chhod, kya hota dekhenge".

(Parvati, 48, Resident)

Wanting to Stay Back

The response of wanting to continue living in the area also had multiple layers. The emotional reasons linked to wanting to stay in the area were backed by responses such as retrofitting their house to the new norms the metro will bring to the area and others ready to live in small houses, but the memories associated with the house being of utmost value to them.

"Building by law ka problem hua toh baad mein banal sakte hai. But I don't want to leave. Jo yaha se jayega usko sukoon nahi hoga. Bache log ko dekhne mein sukoon rehta tha"

(Raju, 72, Resident)

Other responses included the neighbouring areas being unaffordable to rent out and would prefer to continue staying in there own homes while a few residents wanted to stay in the area due to proximity to school and other facilities that the metro is going to bring to the area.

"Maine aur mere pati ne hath se banaya ye ghar. Isko kaise chhod ke jayenge?"

"Hamari bachpan ki yaad hai yaha. Hum yaha bade huye, hamari shadi yaha hui, hamare bache yaha huye. Dil ka tukda."

(Parvati, 48, Resident)

(Zara, 32, Resident)

Individual Aspirations and "Image" of the Neighbourhood

The metro project has created aspirations among certain residents. A few residents wanted to set up a shop and start a business while a few wanted to build new floors to rent out their homes or as an asset to their kids.

Humein aasha hai neeche ek shop lagaana. Pehle mere dukaan thi jahaan mein toddy, chana (Rs.10), beedi (1 Re) bechti thi. Beti ne bola bandh karo. Ye Gandhi Gramam mein jab the, wahan par tha- church ke paas- Chinappa garden- 30 years back.Us time paisa aata tha. Roz ka Rs.1000 aata tha. Humaare ko acha lagtha tha. Abhi bache log 'aunty woh kar, ye kar' bolte hai humaare ko".

(Mary, 71, Resident)

The younger potter generation aspired to create more awareness among budding potters about the kind of products Pottery Town has been making and the government to take into consideration the heritage and identity Pottery Town holds in Bangalore.

"We just have this one identity of being here for too long and creating an identity and a lot of restaurants receiving products from us... But we also have a request to the government because we have been here too long and created a sense of identity for the place... We also have a lot appreciative art and workshops for IT parks, for schools and colleges. We're speaking about and doing a lot of eco-friendly stuff also and we are spreading awareness... There are a lot of youngsters also doing all this like me for the betterment of Bangalore.. So yeah, I’d say that is a very good deal if you let Pottery Town exist here. We will have a lot of change because of the advancement and because the generation has betterment of thinking and all."

(Reshma, 24, Potter)

They also addressed their hopelessness from the government’s part as there was uncertainty regarding the lease of land and might have to migrate to other areas leading to a decrease in community engagement and also creating awareness about the processes of pottery which the new neighborhood might not be used to.

The residents also pictured the future of their neighbourhood in different ways. Residents generally thought the metro to be good for the area, some explicitly expressing the development and advancement the metro brings to the area.

"When metro construction started, we were very happy that something is coming out that is feasible for people to access. We were very happy.

We won't waste time - we can access metro. Convenient and so easy. We are proud to have that kind of a station for the area."

(Zoravar, 45, Resident)

Some responded to metro coming as something they have been hearing about for years, and will be good for everyone as well as for them. The image of the area was compared to that of a high-tech city or garden city in the future with the completion of the metro line, with local experiences of moving around being the central attraction. On the other hand, some respondents from Gandhi Gramam also thought that the metro construction will entirely change its 'slum image'.

"Jab metro construction complete ho jayegi toh sabh neat and clean ho jayega. Gandhi Gramam ki slum area wali image bhi change ho jayegi!"

(Karishma, 42, Resident)