South Bopal Showdown: Comparing Services in Ahmedabad’s Neighborhoods

Bopal has experienced a growth in infrastructure in the past decade. The Bopal-Ghuma Nagarpalika has rolled out schemes for several development works.

The multiplex theater City Gold was built during this time. BRTS route has end-mile connectivity to Ghuma that goes from Iskcon to Bopal-Ambli road to Ghuma via Bopal Cross Roads. This route includes a direct line from the Shivranjani crossroads to the Bopal roundabout. The government was criticized for spending Rs 50 million for building a road and then 6 months later, digging it up all over again for laying the BRTS route.

Since 2005, many new properties have come up around Basant Bahar Road (some people call it Gala Gymkhana Road) as well as the Bopal-Ghuma 4 km stretch. The villages Ghuma and Bopal are very close – it is hard to differentiate.[opinion] The South Bopal area (popularly known as SoBo) has become a hotspot of the Bopal area. The well-known road of the North Bopal area is the ‘Chocolate’ road which passes through Bopal Lake, DPS, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) colony, GEB Electrical supply office, and connects with Shela Road.

Available service offerings in South Bopal

Residential Property Services is one of the top services that South Bopal as an area has to give.

The residential property services include Property Management, Maintenance and Repairs, Home Security, Landscaping and Outdoor Maintenance, Interior Design and Renovation, Home Cleaning Services, Utility Services, and Moving and Relocation Services.

All the services are made and ensured by each developer to give premium living spaces and lifestyles to all the residents and to attract potential customers. 

Local services such as adequate infrastructure, close connectivity to office areas, TDS, water services, educational institutions, shopping centers, supermarkets, sobo centers, AC repair and maintenance, courier services, and salon services are also available in the South Bopal area as there are residents who give such services. 

Accessibility and Convenience

The services provided in South Bopal are easily accessible to all the residents as in each radius certain shops and service providers are ready to provide such services at certain charges. 

Compared to other localities of Ahmedabad, South Bopal has the highest number of shops, stores, and offices in its area which in turn helps in providing a vibrant range of services to the residents.

Customer Satisfaction Levels

Customers acquiring these services are partially happy as they get all of these at their doorsteps with less effort but they have to pay charges more than those of services in other areas. 

The services given are no doubt at the best level but due to the charges, people who cannot afford these services try avoiding taking these services. 

Price Comparison

The price of the services, flats, and apartments is higher than that of other areas of Ahmedabad. 

As the flat rates are high, the materials used in building are all of premium quality due to which the rates of the services for maintaining the houses are also high.

The same local vendors if they go to other areas such as Paldi, Maninagar charge less as the residents there do not pay such high prices. 

The residents in South Bopal have to give more money for necessities as compared to other regions. 

If the area changes the price of the services, flats, necessities, food, and clothes also changes.

Local vs. Global

South Bhopal is a premium area in Ahmedabad, and many brands have started their stores in the same area.

As the residents living there are also of high monthly income they prefer buying products from branded stores than that of local premium stores as well.

People in South Bopal run behind the brand name, but end up paying more for the same product which they could at a lesser rate at other local premium stores. 

The products in local stores are also of good quality and material but as they do not have a brand identity their products are not sold more.

So, South Bopal mostly has all branded shops, stores, and cafes in its area rather than having local shops for all needs and requirements.

This, in turn, is disadvantageous for the other middle-class people who cannot afford brands and then have to go to other areas for their purchases.