AS Rao Nagar: The miniature Hyderabad

Dr AS Rao Nagar is a major suburb of Hyderabad and is located in the north-eastern part of the city which falls under the Kapra Municipality, in the North Zone of GHMC limits. The suburb has many townships like Saket, a gated community spread over a large area. Nearby suburbs include Neredmet, ECIL, Sainikpuri and Moula-Ali.

AS Rao Nagar is a hub of many grocery stores like Ratnadeep, Vijetha Super Market, Reliance Fresh, More Super Market, Spencer’s, Ushodaya, Haritha and Food World. Bakers Inn, Clay Oven Bakers, Just Bake and 6th Avenue Bakers are located in the suburb, and famous restaurants like Parivar, KFC, Domino's Pizza, Pizza Corner, Café Coffee Day and McDonald's are also located here. Retail showrooms of Khazana Jewellery, Malabar Gold, Tanishq, Max, Reebok, Raymond’s, Digjam, Provogue, Adidas, Nike, Lee, Denim Mart, Wrangler, Fastrack, MegaMart, Duke, The Time Factory, Vijay Textiles, Chennai Silks, Kalaniketan, R S Brothers, Anutex, Levi’s, Classic Polo, Mum & Kids, Pink Planet and Vimal have also been set up over the last few years. You name any major brand in Hyderabad, its branch is here.

History
Vijaya Kumar Kantheti, president of the Dr AS Rao Nagar Residents Welfare and Cultural Association, said, “AS Rao Nagar was named after Padmabhushan awardee Dr Ayyagari Sambasiva Rao (1914—2003), founder of the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) in Hyderabad. He was instrumental in forming ECIL Employees Co-Operative House Construction Society Limited in the year 1976, for the benefit of the employees of Department of Atomic Energy, ECIL, NFC and TIFR. The 116.38 acres of area has now turned into an Electrified Electronic Colony of Hyderabad.”

Dr AS Rao had worked in close association with Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai, and shared with them a strong confidence in the competence and potential of India's young scientists and technologists. The trio, along with another of India's luminaries in science like S Bhagavantham, lent great prestige to the Electronics Committee widely known as Bhabha Committee, which prepared a well-detailed, in-depth study on electronics in India with recommendations on the development of this industry for the government. The Bhabha Committee Report became India's first blueprint for the development of electronics industry and it bears the imprint of Rao's convictions and practical experience. The publication of this report accelerated the move to establish the ECIL, which was duly incorporated as a fully government owned company on April 11, 1967, with Sarabhai as the chairman of its first Board of Directors and Dr Rao as the managing director. During the first 10 years of its existence, when Dr Rao was at the helm, ECIL achieved a truly remarkable growth in terms of its product range, turnover, ancillaries and employment potential. He played a pivoted role as a member of the Electronics Commission constituted in 1971.

Landmarks
Many electronic showrooms like Reliance Digital, LG, Tirumala Music Center, Sony Center, PCH Electronics and Adishwar Electro World and mobile showrooms like Sangeetha Mobiles, Univercell, Reliance Communications, Planet M are located in the area. Real estate offices like Crescent Krishna Mutual Policy and Real Estate Agents like Sri Akshaya Real Estates and Guru Raghavendra Real Estates are also located here. State Bank of India, Andhra Bank, ICICI, HSBC, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Union Bank of India, Axis Bank, South Indian Bank, Karnataka Bank, Federal Bank and HDFC Bank are the prominent bankers. Vijaya Diagnostic Centre, Lucid, Vasan Eyecare, Max Vision and a few hospitals like Poulomi and Lifeline are present in the vicinity.

The major landmarks are Radhika X Roads, Tote Centre of HRC, SCR Railway Reservation Counter, Homi J Baba Community Hall, Anupuram Function Hall, Kapra Municipal Park, HMTV and The Hans India office.

Many schools like St Theresa’s High School, CAL Public School, Vijaya High School, Bhashyam High School, Gowtham Model School and also several Inter and Degree colleges, viz Sri Gayatri Junior College, Anish College of Commerce and many more are here. For entertainment, theatres like Sharada 70mm, Asian Radhika multiplex (at the Radhika junction) and Shiva Shakthi 35mm are located here. Talluri multiplex is the latest addition to the list.

Problems
Residents have called for regulation of traffic on main roads to prevent accidents, and clearing the footpaths for pedestrians. Drainage and drinking water problems apart, the concerned agencies do a shoddy job while laying pipelines or recarpeting the roads, leaving the commuters in peril. The suburb is well connected to different parts of the city. Many APSRTC buses namely, 16A, 16C, 16AK, 16AS, 16R, 35, 37, 34, 37AL, 43, 24E, 147 take to this route. The nearest local train stations are at R K Puram and Moula-Ali. The suburb is well connected to Ghatkesar, ECIL, Keesara, Sainikpuri and Malkajgiri.