In posh KP,things are not the same

Since then,the most massive change that has affected residents is the security beef up. “We have all become more security conscious. All of us now automatically look out for suspicious people and objects,” says Praful Chandavarkar of Malaka Spice,Lane 5. “People are checked and doubled-checked before they enter any public place,be it a restaurant or shop. This has been a common norm in other cities,but it has finally started here. I’m afraid before the blasts,security tended to be slightly lax,” adds Sharma.

The other change that is visible is the newfound esteem in which the police are held. Chandavarkar says,“The police work for our protection,so whenever they issue a set of instructions,we follow them to the letter. For example,CCTVs,security guards and frisking has become common.”

But extra security has also become irksome for many. As Madhuri Padgaonkar (name changed),a resident of Lane 6 puts it,“Chabad House always had high security,but that didn’t stop a bomb from exploding across the road. Perhaps security needs to be tightened around certain areas,like Lane 1,but not in other areas. It is quite irritating to have to subject yourself to frisking if you have gone to the nearby grocery store,or get your car checked every time you take it out for a drive.”

However,whatever the changes be,Koregaon Park still remains popular with the rest of the city. Sunil Chandani of The Hidden Place says,“Initially,there was a drop in visitors to the area,but since then things have returned to normalcy. Koregaon Park has its own charm that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the city.”