Law & order fine, but GenNext wants discos & malls in Patna- TNN, Oct 21, 2010,

Law & order fine, but GenNext wants discos & malls in Patna

Pooja Kashyap , TNN, Oct 21, 2010, 12.25am IST

(I HOPE YOUTH TAKE THESE ELECTIONS SERIOUSLY AND VOTE ON SERIOUS ISSUES AS WELL...VIBHA)


PATNA: Of the 5.5 crore Bihar voters, 2% — that is, 11 lakh — are in the age group of 18 to 19 years. Not a number big enough to make or mar the prospects of parties in the fray. But most of them are vociferous about what should be the poll plank.

Good law and order is their overwhelming demand along with all those things they see in metros but not in their town: reputed food and coffee chains, lounge bars, world class malls, discotheques, hotels and gymnasiums.

They say that even after five years of NDA government's 'sushasan', or good governance, their choices are limited. No McDonalds, no KFC; neither Pizza Hut in the Bihar capital of an estimated 20 lakh people. Says Rahul Ranjan, ''I wonder when a Barista would arrive here.'' He is a fourth-year engineering student of RV College- Bangalore, and says he hopes the next government would proactively invite these chains. The city's silver screens are also a wash-out. While the youngsters look for multiplexes, the movie halls here do not even bother to put on the AC. ''Halfway you start feeling the heat,'' complains Sahil Tiwari, an engineering student.

''And where are the malls?'' asks Revant Ranjan, a third-year student of Sikkim Manipal University. Malls, he says, are a cultural phenomenon which the entire family can soak in. There's one mall under construction in Patliputra locality and is likely to open soon. ''At least a beginning has been made,'' Revant says, sighing with relief. For Siddhartha Tiwari, Patna deserves a place like Dilli Haat. ''It will be a completely new experience for the people here,'' he says and adds, ''Handicraft items from all over the state can be put up, which will benefit the rural folk who make them.'' Add to this the variety of food from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and the experience is complete, he says.

''In Karnataka, even a small district like Manipal has discotheques and a great night life, where students from Indian and abroad have fun,'' says Vanshika Sharma, a student of mass communication at Mahe in Manipal.