The idea of creating a new city as a counter magnet to Mumbai was originally envisaged in the Regional Plan of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) in 1965. The actual planning process of this new city began in 1971 after the formation of CIDCO, a Government-owned company for development of cities.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Perhaps no other segment of Indian real estate would have taken as much beating as the retail one. With consumerism down due to overall slowdown in the economy, e-commerce emerging big to challenge the malls and the high streets back with innovations, it seems the mall developers had abosiltely no idea as to how to deal with the emerging market realities. Track2Realty Focus 2015 takes a look at how the promising retail in India could not benefit retail realty in its performance.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The increasing shift of corporate focus towards Noida has been a matter of both research and speculation in the region. While the critics would like to point out that the shift of the Indian business community and the Multi National Companies (MNCs) have been more due to recent economic slowdown that made the scale of economy unviable in the high rental destinations like Gurgaon, the optimists within the built environment would prefer to look at the traction points of the city.
Track2Realty Exclusive: At a time when the buzz word across the country has been the inevitable reality of urbanisation and the need to create smart cities the urban planners are wondering which are the Indian cities that can claim to be close to the desired smart index. More importantly, which are the cities that have managed urban development along with the pace of business and economy to emerge as the truly developed cities with self sustaining physical and social infrastructure that could be a magnet for big ticket investment?
Track2Realty Exclusive: Navratra is all about nine days of festivities with 10th day being celebrated as Dussehra, which means end of 10 evils. In terms of its significance for real estate market which has weathered many challenges borne out of bearish macro-economic sentiments leading to slow sales, squeezed funding and inventory hangover, this Navratra seems to be the turnaround time.
Track2Realty Exclusive: 100 days of governance may be too short a time to evaluate or judge the performance of a government or its impact on any given business. But the Gujarat real estate is so euphoric with the new government at the Centre that it seems they have not only regained some of the lost ground but also carry 100 new hopes ahead.
Track2Realty-Agencies: Following relaxation in SEZ norms, debt-laden property developer HDIL has decided to scrap plan to sell the 70-acre land parcel at Kochi Special Economic Zone and is now looking to construct IT infrastructure there.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Administrative Reforms
A. Single window clearance for building approval.
B. Uniform and simplified building permissible rules.
C. No discretionary stoppage of work after granting approval for commencement without hearing by regulator/civil court.
D. Mindset reform; special campaign for political leaders and bureaucrats to support/accelerate growth, remove impediments.
E. To put mandatory block mentioning following in every order/permission, Date of application, Potential investment, Potential contribution to GDP in rupees, Potential new employment generation, Date of sanction, Number of days delay beyond permissible limit, reasons.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Puniet Singh, CEO, Sherwoods Independent Property Consultants says the latest trend of moving to the outskirts in the vicinity of IT companies benefits individual and professionals to have their comfort nearby with office and home in the same areas. This will expand the horizon of modern living as well. Further the distance from the city allows its residents to stay away from traffic, pollution and congestion.
Track2Realty: The real estate sector has welcomed the Union Housing Minister Ajay Maken’s move to accord infrastructure status to affordable housing on expected lines. The industry body CREDAI has nevertheless called for extending similar treatment to the entire housing sector again on expected lines. However, the market dynamics defy any dreams of mass housing or cheap housing even for the economically weaker sections.