Appu Ghar Entertainment Pvt Limited is set to inaugurate the city’s first bowling alley in Krishna Complex, Navrangpura, on 23 June.

Constructed on 6,000 sqft of air-conditioned basement area, the ABC bowling alley incorporates a mini-alley (called bowling go) for children, two full-size alleys, as well as pool tables and a cafeteria.

For Swedish NRI and promoter Gian Vijeshwar, chairman of International Amusement Limited (which also owns the Appu Char at Delhi’s Pragati Maidan), this is the second forray into Gujarat.

Ten years ago, he was assigned the contract for constructing and operating a mini-Appu Ghar at the Maha Gujarat Fair, a three month extravaganza organised by the former government Chimanbhai Patel.

"Attitudes have changed since I set up the Appu Char in Delhi," he says, "The socialist government then frowned on anything considered elitist, such as a bowling alley. Now, these things are perfectly acceptable and I am setting up such entertainment arcades all over the country."

Besides Delhi and Ahmedabad. Mr Vijeshwar currently operates entertainment arcades in Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune.

The ABC Bowling Alley plans to keep prices a notch below those prevailing in larger centres, with a covering charge for entrance, which can be encashed at the pod tables or the bowling alley. Says Appu Ghar Entertainment’s Ahmedabad-based director Manjit Buttalia, "We will be charging Rs 100 per person per game, whereas the charges in Delhi, Mumbai or even in Indore are Rs 125 upwards."

The bowling alleys at ABC will be open between 11am and 11pm, whereas the pool tables, as per regulations, will open only at 4 pm and stay open till 11 pm.

While the bowling alleys and pool tables are ready for operation, the promoters have yet to appoint an agency to run the cafetaria, which is always a major money-spinner at such venues.

Compiled from local news media