New Delhi, Sept. 24 -- Drive down Anna Salai, Chennai's 400-year-old artery, towards the Adyar River, and you will see a 200,000 sq. ft office building under construction next to the Little Mount metro station. When completed, it will serve as the headquarters of Equitas Small Finance Bank.

For over four years, Equitas, the story goes, had been scouting for a piece of land for its headquarters. It was particular about the location-it had to be on or near Anna Salai, because being on Chennai's most important road mattered.

But, given that it is one of the oldest and most developed parts of the city, land was not easy to come by. That is until an intermediary introduced the bank to realty company Arihant Foundations and Housing Ltd, in 20...