Exclusive: Iconic The Hindu building in Bengaluru set to be demolished

Bengaluru

The iconic building of The Hindu newspaper in Bengaluru is all set to be demolished, with a brand new multi-storeyed building likely to come up at the same location, according to a source in a managerial position at the publication. The building is located at Nos. 19 and 21 on Bhagwan Mahaveer Road, formerly known as Infantry Road.

The building, owned by Kasturi and Sons Limited, has long been a landmark in the city. The source said the company has been in talks with a Chennai-based builder, possibly for a joint venture. It has been confirmed that the structure will be reduced to rubble, and staff members from editorial, circulation, advertisement and other departments will be relocated shortly. If everything goes as planned, demolition may commence in March or April.

The relocation of staff is temporary, and they are likely to return once the new multi-storeyed building is ready. According to the source, initial discussions with the builder indicate that the publication will have dedicated space for its operations, while other portions may be leased or rented out. This also signals the publication’s likely entry into the real estate segment in Bengaluru.

The source added that construction of the new building may take at least two to three years to complete.

The building holds significant historical importance in the evolution of The Hindu in Karnataka. Established and occupied in 1970, the facility marked a major milestone with the launch of the newspaper’s Bengaluru edition. This was a landmark moment, as it became The Hindu’s first edition to be printed outside its home base of Madras, now Chennai, signalling the newspaper’s geographic and editorial expansion beyond Tamil Nadu.

Although The Hindu’s parent company, Kasturi and Sons Limited, was founded in 1878, the Infantry Road building served as a purpose-built operational hub to support its growing readership in Karnataka. Technologically, the building was also pioneering. At the time of its inauguration on March 27, 1970, it became the first site in India where The Hindu used facsimile transmission technology to receive full newspaper page images from its Madras headquarters for local printing — a significant advancement in newspaper production.

The location itself reflects Bengaluru’s layered history. Originally named Infantry Road due to its association with military barracks, it was officially renamed Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Road by the BBMP in 2004, further embedding the building within the city’s evolving urban and cultural landscape.