Hiranandani Gardens, Powai Bags Integrated Township of the Decade Award

A special award for ‘creating a township with a distinctive skyline and for setting new benchmark in Real Estate Industry with unique and unparalleled design’ was conferred on Niranjan Hiranandani, CMD, Hiranandani Group.

The special award, for ‘Integrated Township of the Decade’, was conferred at the hands of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, who presided over the 10th edition of the CNBC-AWAAZ Real Estate Awards on 10 March 2016 at Regal Room, The Trident, Nariman Point, Mumbai.

The award was for the landmark project, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai. “It has been a journey of creating landmarks which turn into benchmarks,” said Niranjan Hiranandani. “The project recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and this award is an acknowledgement of it having evolved into a benchmark,” he added.

In 1980, Powai was a ‘middle of nowhere’ location, situated between Vikhroli and Andheri, largely known for a barren, hillside quarry, said Niranjan Hiranandani. “The Hiranandani Group acquired and started developing 250 acres of land in Powai, and it was as if a magic wand had been waved. Today, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai is one of the most sought after real estate ‘hot-spots’ in Mumbai, and is an ideal example of multicultural community living, a flourishing, upscale neighbourhood, with enviable Infrastructure and connectivity,” he added.

Hiranandani Gardens, Powai is arguably, the pioneer of the integrated township model, one where ‘walk to work and walk back home’ became a reality. The Hiranandani Business Park (HBP) powers the workspaces segment in Hiranandani Gardens, Powai; where the integrated township model has proved to be a trendsetter. It created holistic communities that go beyond just luxury housing, and include schools, hospitals, gardens, green spaces and play spaces, entertainment options, shopping avenues and commercial business districts too, he said. 

“It is not just homes that were built, rather it was the creation of lifestyles, which defined what Community Living was all about. Hiranandani Gardens, Powai offers everything one might desire to lead a fulfilling life. It reflects a vibrant global community, where people from different backgrounds live together and celebrate the spirit of life, and this award perfectly captures it: ‘creating a township with a distinctive skyline and for setting a new benchmark in Real Estate Industry with unique and unparalleled design’,” said Niranjan Hiranandani.

“Hiranandani Gardens is a neo-classical architectural marvel nestled amidst the verdant Powai Hill, strategically located opposite the serene Powai Lake. For me, beyond awards and platitudes, it is a place where more than 4000 families stay, and call ‘home’,” he concluded.

Karle Infra Selects Yardi Voyager 7S for Commercial Property Management

Real estate developer Karle Infra will manage multiple office buildings in Bengaluru with Yardi Voyager 7S, a browser-agnostic, fully mobilised Software as a Service platform.

“We will initially use Voyager to manage a commercial complex which is located in the heart of Karle Town Centre,” comments Dhruva Karle, general manager, ERP, for Karle Infra Pvt. 

“Longer term, we may take on a much larger concentration of buildings. With that growth in mind, we were impressed by Voyager’s ease of scalability, which is important as our business expands,” he says.

Karle Infra will also adopt Yardi Fixed Assets to record and monitor fixed assets from purchase order issuance through purchase, use and final disposition. Additionally, Yardi Inventory Control will give the company total visibility into the acquisition, tracking, depreciation and disposition of inventory across multiple locations.

“Yardi welcomes Karle Infra as one of our new clients in India. We’re delighted that they will have the means to execute their business strategy quickly and efficiently. In addition, they will eliminate duplicate data entry with fixed asset and inventory control management solutions built into Yardi Voyager,” said Neal Gemassmer, vice president of international for Yardi.

About Karle Infra Pvt. Ltd.

Karle Infra Pvt. Ltd. is a real estate and urban infrastructure development company headquartered in Bengaluru, India. With over a decade long experience in developing properties in Bengaluru, Mysore and Goa, Karle Infra is now focused on developing a community-centric, world-class township in North Bengaluru. 

About Yardi

Yardi develops and supports industry-leading investment and property management software for all types and sizes of real estate companies. Established in 1984, Yardi serves clients worldwide from offices in Australia, Asia, Middle East, Europe and North America.

JLL India And Khaitan & Co Release Definitive Report On Real Estate Regulatory Bill

Mumbai: Leading international real estate consultancy JLL India, in partnership with eminent law firm Khaitan & Co. has released ‘Deciphering The Legal And Commercial Aspects of RERA’ - a definitive report on the game-changing Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act 2016 (RERA) at a press conference here today.

RERA was recently passed in the Parliament and it received the assent of the President of India on 25 March 2016. It has paved the way to setting up of a real estate regulator, which is proposed to be set up within one year from the date of coming into force of the Act, to deal with commercial and residential realty.

Anuj Puri, Chairman & Country Head, JLL India said, "This Bill, which was waiting in the wings for far too long, will significantly reduce the various irregularities and contrasts currently plaguing the Indian real estate sector once it is implemented. Among many other things, RERA will provide a positive impetus towards achieving the Government’s 'Housing For All' vision, while ensuring a level-playing field for developers and buyers. This report examines the various nuances and implications that this very important Bill holds for all real estate industry stakeholders.”

RERA will help make the Indian real estate sector more mature, and more attractive for foreign investments as well as for Indian consumers. It will, for instance, disallow the common practice among many developers of pre-launching projects without getting requisite approvals from the local authorities, and it will make mandatory project registration with the regulator. Developers will also have to disclose approval status, project layout and timeframe for completion to the regulator as well as customers. However, there are a number of other ways in which this BILL will influence the real estate sector.

Haigreve Khaitan, Partner - Khaitan & Co said, "RERA is poised to revolutionize the way in which real estate is built, sold and consumed in India. It is an important milestone in the country's quest towards increasing transparency and ease of doing business. It is important to understand the legal implications that it holds for all related industries and stakeholders. This report is therefore very pertinent and timely."

All in all, the incumbent government has succeeded against various odds and given Indian real estate its most valuable card. RERA is a verdict to end the age of information asymmetry, lack of accountability and unwarranted project delays, and marks the beginning of rising transparency, liquidation of assets – and, importantly, positive sentiment.

Start living at AVM Studios, your new address at Asta AVM

Finally, you can find your home at a prestigious location once occupied by the legendary AVM Studios in Chennai. Asta AVM is a multi-storey residential project that is being developed at AVM studios near Vadapalani on the famous Arcot Road.

A venture between M Balasubramanian of the AVM family and the leading builder Sapthrishi Buildcon LLP, the project promoters are the successful developers of over 12 lakh sq ft of commercial and residential projects in Chennai, according to a media report.

The property is accessible both from the two major landmarks of Chennai - Vadapalani and K K Nagar.

While Nataraj & Venkat associates will be the Architects of the project, the structural Design will be handled by Alex Jacob, United Consultants. Amace Projects Pvt. Ltd. has been appointed as Project Management Consultants for Asta AVM, 

Asta AVM will have well appointed residences, ranging from 2 and 3 BHK homes, spread across 6.5 acres. The Metro rail service and two major bus depots at Vadapalani and KK Nagar, provide excellent connectivity to travel in the city.

As an early bird offer, the rate has been fixed at Rs 9250/sq ft which is applicable till April 15.

As for as the price range, a 2 BHK apartment at Asta AVM would start from Rs 59 lakh, while for 3 BHK the price range goes from Rs 1.26 crore. The project will also have penthouse and duplex type of housings as well whose price starts from Rs 1.57 crore.  The project is expected to be completed in 2018, according to an e-mail ad sent by HDFC Realty, the leading bank which offers loan for this project.

The bank is sending the property information to prospective clients via e-mail with a rider at the bottom to avoid legal wrangle in case of any law suit.  This is what the bank says in the ad:

“The properties are marketed on an “as is” basis, and are without guarantees or warrantees of any kind, express or implied. The intended buyers are expected to carry out due diligence and carry out any transaction based on their own assessment of the owner, developer, seller, projects, flats, shops, or property listed in this communication. It is not an offer or invitation to offer for any loan for the property from Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (HDF C Ltd). The loan will be provided by HDFC Ltd at its sole discretion. HDFC Ltd and HDFC Realty disclaim all warranties express or implied, statutory otherwise. This promotion is without any recourse to “HDFC Ltd and/or HDFC Realty”.   

Common Amenities at Asta AVM:

CCTV Surveillance

Fixed power backup

Optical fiber cabling for broadband

Provision for DTH connection

Large open landscaped area

Piped Gas Supply

Metro water Connection

STP Water Recycling

Lifestyle feature at Asta AVM:

Open air theatre

Children play area

Guest suites

Basketball court

Jogging track

Club house

Contact the bank for further details about the property (http://hdfcrealty.co.in/Emailer/avm_asta_click_inhouse/index.php) or visit http://www.astaproperties.com/ to get more details.

Uzma Irfan Wins 'Woman Achiever of the Year' at the GREB Awards 2016

Ms. Uzma Irfan – Director, Prestige Group, was felicitated as the ‘Woman Achiever of the Year’ at the Global Real Estate Brand Awards (GREBA) 2016.

At a grand event, held at the Ritz-Carlton in Bangalore, Uzma was honoured with the award. In a predominantly male-dominated industry, Uzma has, through her hard work and dedication, managed to carve a niche for herself. This award is a testimonial to her efforts. With her work speaking for itself and recognition from several reputed platforms, she hopes to encourage more women to foray into the realty sector, the company said in a release.

Ms. Uzma Irfan joined the Prestige Group in 2006 at a crucial juncture when the brand was undergoing rapid expansion and diversification. Uzma then took on the role of Executive Director, Corporate Communications in an effort to streamline all branding and communication-related initiatives. 

Over the years, the Prestige Group has grown by leaps and bounds and she can be credited for single-handedly strengthening the public image of the company during this phase. Now Prestige Group is the second largest developer in India.

From systematically profiling the company and its diverse interests in the media to assisting the company in its various networking forums, she has played an instrumental role in communication and marketing. Uzma Irfan is currently responsible for Marketing Communication, Corporate Communication, Branding and all image related initiatives for the Prestige Group in her role as Director for the company.

Apart from this, UZMA was also awarded the ‘Female Real Estate Professional Of The Year’ by Bangalore Real Estate Awards 2014 and recognized as the ‘Woman Super Achiever in Real Estate’ by ABP News Real Estate Awards 2015. Uzma also recently received international recognition when she was awarded the ‘Female Real Estate Professional of the Year’ at the 2nd BERG Awards, Singapore.

Durga Bags Two Awards for its Bangalore Projects at GREB Awards 2016

Durga Projects has bagged two awards at the recently held 'Global Real Estate Brand Awards 2016' by Deccan Chronicle and PNB Housing that was held at Ritz Carlton in Bangalore.

Durga Projects has been awarded the 'Most Admired Upcoming Luxury Project' and 'Emerging Developer of the year' for Durga Petals, a 2, 2.5 and 3 BHK luxury project, which is expected to be completed in Jan 2017.

On receiving the awards, Director Neeraj Jhunjunwala said, "When you talk about luxury, Durga Petals is by far our most luxurious project yet. We thank GREBA for recognizing our project as the most admired in the luxury category. Durga Petals is designed to 'Foster Urban Achievers' and offers a spacious and luxurious lifestyle with 40+ well-architected and crafted amenities. The homes are flawlessly and carefully created to give a world-class standard." ' Neeraj  accepted the ‘Most Admired Upcoming Luxury Project' on behalf of the company.

Durga Projects' 'Emerging Developer of the year' award was accepted by their Director, Navneet Jhunjunwala from Sanjaya Gupta, Managing Director, PNB Housing Finance Limited. He thanked the Durga team and its patrons for the recognition. 

"All our projects are located on the Marathahalli outer ring road. We have a few more in the pipeline and are confident of launching them over the next few months. We are committed to build and deliver better quality projects in the near future. The Durga Management and its entire team thank its patrons for this recognition and continued support," he said.

At the company's flagship project, Durga Petals, construction is on at full swing and is expected to handover possession to its patrons in less than 11 months. The project has recently launched two new towers 'G' and 'E' and is ahead of the construction schedule.

Durga Petals, for its patrons, has included amenities like work-from-home office cubicles, day-care center, temperature-controlled swimming pool among many others, ensuring that the customers' dream of an ideal and optimized life is realized. These amenities will help its customers enrich their family lives with more family time and comfort. 

Puravankara Launches its First Theme Based Integrated Lifestyle District in Pune

Puravankara Projects has forayed back into the Western Region with a proposed development of 30 acres in Mundhwa, Pune.

Purva Silversands, the first phase of development across 20 acres is being launched as a unique Integrated Lifestyle District with a design theme that the city of Pune has hitherto not seen before, the company said in a statement.

Purva Silversands is set on the Mula-Mutha river promenade, right across the business district of Kharadi. The proposed new bridge connecting Kharadi and Mundhwa will help de-congest the traffic and shorten the travel time to Purva Silversands in Mundhwa. The 15km elevated corridor 2 of the Pune Metro Phase 1, will also lead Mundhwa to easy connectivity with the key nodes of the city.

Ravi Puravankara, Chairman, Puravankara Projects Ltd. said: "Our foray back into the Western Region is a 'Home Coming' for us. We aspire to make a difference in the western cities with our unique theme-based projects that offer a lifestyle living. Our first project Purva Silversands is planned in the city of Pune, which is ranked amongst the 50 fastest growing urban cities in the world. A thriving job market, high rental growth and the Government's thrust on improving infrastructure makes Pune a very promising market, with an immense need for high quality homes."

Ashish Puravankara, Managing Director, Puravankara Projects Ltd commented, "Our intelligent designs focuses on spacious well-crafted apartments set in an Integrated Lifestyle District. Situated in eastern Pune, Mundhwa has been strategically chosen for this project as it is emerging as a prime residential location for the business district of Kharadi. Mundhwa has a judicial mix of residential, business, leisure and support services. Upcoming infrastructural developments have given the required impetus, for real estate in this region to flourish."

This unique property offers a variety of lifestyle residential apartments - 1, 2, 3, 4 BHK apartments, penthouses, garden apartments, along with a cafés, restaurants and boutique shopping overlooking the river promenade amidst lush landscapes.

Purva Silversands is an iconic residential development with the best-in-class facilities, providing a resort type lifestyle to homebuyers in Pune. The project has been designed to bring the beach to their doorsteps, with a promise to experience 'Life like it's a holiday'.

Fine luxurious homes around a sprawling manmade lagoon with a wave pool, snorkelling pool, koi pond, hammocks, palm trees combined with cafes, restaurants and boutique shopping make Purva Silversands a unique lifestyle destination, and one of the most attractive investment opportunities in the region.

JLL India Partners With Snapdeal to Market Residential Properties

Property Consultancy firm JLL India's Residential Services division has partnered with leading online market place Snapdeal in an effort to expand its reach in the Indian real estate market. The partnership will combine Snapdeal's deep penetration into the Indian online consumer market and JLL India's expertise in residential real estate marketing.

With the added capabilities of the Firm's recently launched dedicated residential marketing portal JLLR.CO.IN, this move will cement JLL India's leadership stance in the country's online and offline real estate markets. Effectively, customers looking to purchase residential properties on Snapdeal can now avail on-ground advisory and transaction services from JLL. 

While Snapdeal will provide a seamless online real estate platform to enable home searches, JLL will organise guided site visits, help clients negotiate with developers and assist with documentation and mortgages.

Anuj Puri, Chairman & Country Head, JLL India says, “Ecommerce is evolving rapidly and proving to be a major disruptor of traditional marketplaces. In November 2015, India’s internet user base was around 402 million - today, it stands at just over 462 million. There is no ignoring the power of the Internet and the online marketplace, and we will leave no stone unturned to leverage this power. This partnership underscores our mission to remain future-ready and ahead of the curve."

The JLL-Snapdeal partnership will provide customers get an end-to-end service spanning the entire home search and purchase process. Buyers will not be charged brokerage on deals in the primary sales space, viz. purchases from developers. Starting last week of March, JLL is hosting a unique online fest in partnership with leading developers with best possible deals across India and this partnership is timed to make the most of this strategic initiative.

Speaking about this partnership, Tony Navin, Senior Vice President, Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives, Snapdeal said, "The real estate category on Snapdeal has grown rapidly since its launch in August 2014. We have forged alliances with some of the most trusted names in the real estate industry to offer a range of housing options for our ever-expanding customer base in a hassle-free and transparent manner. Our partnership with JLL India's Residential Services agency will further enhance purchase experience for our real estate customers."

Navrattan Group to Setup GREEN Cement Plants in Punjab

Navrattan Group has launched its environment-friendly 'GREEN' cement branded under the names, Navrattan Crete and RECO cement binder using patented technology.

The Group holds the exclusive rights to both these cement technologies in India. Navrattan Group claims that the cement technologies will help save non-renewable resources, avoid landfills and drastically reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

"The group is aiming to invest in Punjab for setting up two cement manufacturing units in Rajpura and Bathinda with the total production capacity of over 0.4 million metric tons per annum each, in the present year," says Himanshu Verma, Founder and Chairman, Navrattan Group.

Various infrastructure development and construction firms are engaging in conversations with the group for technological tie-ups to adopt the 'GREEN' cement technology, he said.

Navrattan Crete is a patented technology that uses a proprietary binder derived from a species of algae and a guarded extraction process which ultimately transforms an enzyme of the algae into a highly concentrated elastic polymeric powder. Individual polymer chains in the Navrattan Crete are linked together by covalent bonding to form one single molecule with all of the aggregates. In addition, a thin plastic film cross links and permeates the entire mixture adding flexibility. 

The cement has a higher tensile strength than Portland cement. Its low coefficient of expansion enables it to work efficiently in all weather conditions. The mixture prepared is hydrophobic, and is therefore resistant to water, acids, corrosion etc. Navrattan Crete also reduces carbon dioxide emission as its manufacturing process does not require breaking down of limestone or the use of large energy intensive kilns, which is a major issue with the conventional cement industry today.

Another patented product of the group is RECO cement binder, an eco-friendly and sustainable cementitious additive prepared with a by-product like fly-ash and slag, which are industrial waste materials. The mineral admixture is qualitatively superior in performance characteristics as compared to that of Portland cement. The additives can be used as a replacement for 15-75% of the weight volume of Portland cement, as a result enhancing the strength and performance while lowering the pollutant emissions into the atmosphere. Certified to ASTM C595, the binder has a higher compressive strength and is resistant to chemical attack. The design mix sets faster than Ordinary Portland Cement.

Navrattan Group asserts that the two 'GREEN' Cement technologies will certainly bring the pollution levels down by 80% in the years to come and provide structures that are stronger and durable at affordable prices.

About Navrattan Group:

Navrattan Group of companies is a global enterprise comprising over nine independently operating verticals. Though the group was founded in 2010, its foundation stone was laid in the year 1999 by Himanshu Verma. Headquartered in Mumbai, Navrattan Group encompasses several business sectors including engineering, technology, construction, infrastructure development and energy. It was in 2010 when the group first ventured into eco-friendly, innovative technological concepts and since then has been focusing on developing and acquiring various alternative (eco-friendly) ways from all over the world to make the earth a better place to live.

Assetz Launches IGBC certified township 63degree(s) East in Bengaluru

BENGALURU:  Singapore-headquartered property developer, Assetz Property Group, today officially announced its entry into the mid-segment market in India with its township brand  Assetz Lifestyle'. 

The first project under Assetz Lifestyle, '63degree(s) East' is located off Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru.

63degree(s) East

Townships from Assetz Lifestyle will provide quality residential dwellings and develop the overall infrastructure of its neighbourhood. Special care will be taken to maintain the sustainability of the projects by adopting various green measures like water and energy conservation and solid waste management. In addition, community facilities like pre-schools, health centres, department stores, libraries and amenities for sports, arts, culture and recreation will be part of every project.

Mallanna Sasalu, MD, Assetz Lifestyle said, "We are elated with the launch of our first township project 63degree(s) East. A one-of-its-kind residential project in Bengaluru that will offer a wholesome living experience based on the concept of full-life, also interpreted as healthy, sustainable and luxurious living."

"We plan to develop around 10 million square feet of projects under the Assetz Lifestyle brand and build over 10,000 units in the next five years, leading to revenue realisation of over Rs 5,000 crores along the growth corridors of Bengaluru," he added.

Conveniently located off Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru, 63degree(s) East is within close proximity to social infrastructure and well connected to all the major roads. Furthermore, the demand for housing in this micro-market has increased owing to its proximity to the NICE Road which has significantly enhanced the connectivity of this area to IT hubs located in Electronic City, Whitefield and Marathahalli.

The project, comprising of 1,608 units in the combination of 1, 2 and 3BHK units are available at attractive prices. 63degree(s) East is spread across 17.7 acres of land with 60% of open spaces, and has received the 'IGBC Gold Precertification' for its meticulous design that has adopted the best of green technologies to make optimal usage of natural resources. Overall, 63degree(s) East showcases a prefect amalgamation of a healthy environment and community living.

Commenting on the development, Ben Salmon, CEO, Assetz Property Group said, "Assetz Lifestyle is a unique initiative to break away from the existing conventional residential project models. Through this brand, we intend to build infrastructure of superior quality at a great price for the benefit of our customers. A decade into our operations in India, Assetz has come to symbolize modern lifestyles through its residential real estate footprint. As such, 63degree(s) East is an extension of our product-line."

About Assetz Property Group: 

Founded in 2006, Assetz Property Group is a front-runner among multinational developers in India with over 10 million square feet under development. Assetz, headquartered in Singapore, is a multi-faceted real estate development and asset management company with four business verticals: Commercial, Residential, Warehousing and Fund Management.

Assetz has launched premium properties in prominent locations across Bengaluru including: 27 Park Avenue (HSR Layout), Clover Greens (Sarjapur-Attibele Road), East Point (Marathahalli), Stratos (Cunningham Road), Marq (Whitefield) and Lumos (Yeshwantpur).

JLL India Launches Residential Property Portal JLLR.CO.IN

Leading international property consultancy JLL India today announced the launch of its dedicated portal for its residential business. The website provides quick and intuitive access to select projects across the country, as well as various JLL-owned knowledge resources for customers.

Unlike the current crop of online aggregators and brokers active in the residential property space, JLLR.CO.IN offers technologically enhanced ease of navigation without distracting advertisements, and a new search capability which allows visitors to quickly and easily find appropriate projects or relevant information. The search function additionally helps customers to narrow down, compare and shortlist options. Since this is a firm-specific service, an expression of interest or inquiry will not result in a multitude of broker calls, but connect the buyer with a single dedicated representative to provide a 360-degree consultation service.

Additionally, to cater to customers interested in investing in residential property abroad, the platform acts as a gateway to real estate investment opportunities in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand and the United Kingdom. The customer will be connected to the corresponding JLL personnel in the identified country, who will assist in identifying and closing such a transaction.

 

To provide the ultimate user experience, the website has been designed to be compatible with all commonly-used browsers and mobile devices. The rich, clutter-free content is easy to navigate and share with others to provide a time-efficient and focused home search process. JLLR.CO.IN also provides instant access to JLL India's latest real estate research.

Commenting on this initiative, Ashwinder Raj Singh, CEO, Residential Services, JLL India said, "The portal has been devised on the back of extensive customer feedback, and focuses squarely on providing convenient, transparent and no-nonsense access to select projects suiting every budget. The design and content allow customers to make informed decisions, aided by the offline consultation process to fill any information gaps.

Simultaneously, the site provides an innovative platform for developers to boost the discoverability of their projects. JLLR.CO.IN is the shortest distance between developers and buyers, simultaneously eliminating the intrusiveness of aggregator sites and providing an end-to-end solution with best-in-class industry expertise in the offline follow-up and transaction process."

Key features:

• Clutter free site with select properties enabling easy access to verified information
• Look-ahead Navigation to reduce the number of clicks to navigate the site
• Engaging user experience with enhanced search and navigation
• Filters which allow users to easily narrow down search by selecting key attributes
• Rapid Response Functionality and optimization for different browsers and mobile devices
• Dedicated user accounts to shortlist and compare projects to revisit as per their convenience
• Convenient forms to request call back for more details and personalized site visits

Ecube Windoors Spreads Wings pan-India

CHENNAI:  Ecube Windoors, one of India's rapidly growing fenestration brand of Mantralaya Impex Pvt. Ltd (MIPL), is strengthening its presence in India in the windows and doors segments through its world-class product range and solutions.

The innovation focused organization's product range includes uPVC window systems, pre-finished wooden doors, aluminium window systems and facade solutions. The company provides end-to-end solutions for windows, from designing and manufacturing, to installing window systems.

uPVC window systems

With strong presence in South India, Ecube Windoors is expanding its operations through installation of its uPVC window systems in residential and commercial real estate projects pan India. Ecube Windoors has an exceptional name in the industry as it is known for completing its installations on time, irrespective of the scale of the project.

ECUBE WINDOORS' installation capabilities can be witnessed among various magnum opus projects, including apartments, villa projects, education institutions, commercial space, etc.

Some of the recent key achievements of the company include installation of 28,457 units of uPVC window systems for a 33 tower apartment project in Chennai, and installation of 2,423 units of colored uPVC window systems for a villa project in Bengaluru. 

With total installation covering an area of close to 2 million sq. ft., Ecube Windoors has worked with some of the most prestigious builders in the industry such as Prestige Group, Mahindra Lifespaces, Radiance Realty Developers, Sterling Developers, Value and Budget Housing Corporation (VBHC), KG Foundations Pvt. Ltd, Vishranthi and XS Real.

In the educational institutes space, besides extending its window and door solutions to some of the prestigious institutes like Sri Ramachandra University, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Dhirajlal University, PSG College of Technology and National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, the organization has recently installed about 76 units of sliding uPVC window systems at CMR University, Bengaluru covering an area of about 6,000 sq.feet.

Ecube Windoors has also worked with notable clients in the healthcare and hospitality space. Realizing the growing need for eco-friendly products in India, Ecube Windoors offers

energy-efficient products, which not only ensure healthy living but also result in saving energy costs.

"Our product offerings are environment friendly, reliable and can be easily customized according to the needs of the customer. We are creating a revolution in the Indian fenestration industry by manufacturing lead-free uPVC window systems with tropical high-UV-radiation formulation. 

As India's window to German precision, our uPVC window systems coupled with the right glazing resist transfer of unwanted heat entering into the building and also offers excellent acoustic insulation. Ecube Windoors energy-efficient products are geared to meet the fast developing demands of the Indian market in every aspect," said R. Srinivasan, Founder & MD, MIPL.

Pre-finished wooden doors are a latest addition to the Ecube Windoors product line. Manufactured with European technology, the pre-finished wooden doors instantly add a classic touch and provide elegant aesthetics to interiors. The holistic system of premium wooden doors include frames and architraves, which are pre-finished to compliment internal doors. Pre-finished wooden doors with light weight eco-friendly cores such as tubular and honey comb core are the next big thing in the industry.

The door infills are made of recycled wood thus resulting in less felling of trees. These materials are complimented with attractive finishes such as veneer to add a high aesthetic appeal. They are easy to install and are factory finished resulting in saving a lot of time for installation at the site as against the traditional carpenter finished wooden doors.

With a product line catering to all aspects of the windows and doors segment, has become an established player in the industry.

"We have a diverse product range in the industry and a proven track record in efficient installation for large scale projects. Innovation is our key strength and we always customize our products for the needs of the market. We will continue to strive towards providing best in class products and solutions to match the needs of the market," said Arjun Srinivasan, Director, Ecube Windoors.

Headquartered in Chennai, Ecube Windoors brand has grown as a preferred partner in providing end-to-end solutions for doors and windows right from designing,  manufacturing till installation, within a short span of 7 years since its inception.

Ecube Windoors boasts of a sprawling fabrication unit that covers an area of 1,00,000 sq. ft. With advanced pneumatic European CNC machinery imported from Germany, Ecube Windoors manages an effective production cycle resulting in quality output. The fabrication unit is ISO 9001:2008 certified by TUV SUD South Asia Private Limited and is also certified as an air and water pollution free environment by authorities. Ecube Windoors is also a member of the Indian Green Building Council, which is a part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). 

By promoting the Green Building concept, Ecube Windoors ensures that the products are energy efficient and environment friendly.

Lodha Sells Rs 1,600 Crore worth Homes in up-coming Thane Project

Lodha Group, one of India’s leading real estate developers, has reached another milestone with its new development in Thane selling over 2,000 homes worth over Rs 1600 crore prior to its project launch.

The Group received applications from over 3,000 home buyers across India to book flats in the first phase of the upcoming project.

In less than two years of acquiring the 88-acre land parcel from Clariant Chemicals in Thane, one of the largest land deals in the country, Lodha Group has now announced its mega plans for an expansive residential neighbourhood in Prime Central Thane.

It will be developed in multiple phases, with the first phase comprising 3,500 smart sized 1 and 2 bedroom residences, housed in 27-30 storied elegant towers around a master planned development featuring over 80% open spaces. The company said that about 60 per cent of the total residences planed for the phase one have been sold out under the pre-launch.

The pre-launch sale of Lodha Group's new project is a testimony to recovery sign in the real estate sector. Industry experts have attributed the Group's success to the increasing preference of home buyers buying real estate in Mumbai from developers who have a proven track record and credibility.

Commenting on the development, Prashant Bindal, Chief Sales Officer (CSO) of Lodha Group said, "It is very heartening to see the interest of homebuyers in this grand development. This neighbourhood has not only created super-normal demand in a highly competitive market such as Thane but also revived its real estate landscape by reinforcing people's trust towards appreciation and investment in real estate. We are working with the best mix of experts from Hafeez Contractor to Sitetectonix of Singapore, to ensure unmatchable quality of homes and a better life for all families."

Lodha's portfolio includes the World Towers, the world's tallest residential project; Palava City - India's first smart city; the Park (including Trump Towers) in Worli, and New Cuffe Parade in Wadala.

Lodha's land bank of 25 million sq. m is the largest by Indian developers, with a value of $10 billion.

Quick facts about Thane development:

• Buyers spread across 18 countries around the world.
• In India, people from over 60 cities, apart from MMR, bought a residence in Codename Big Bang.
• Unique 'IPO'  style method for applications - the first ever in the affordable luxury category in real estate.
• Thane is rated No.1 hotspot by a CII-JLL report with the highest projected rental appreciation among all the major cities in India.
• The area is expected to witness a tremendous spurt in capital values, with 60% appreciation from 2015 to 2020 as cited by Knight Frank

Shriram Properties Forays into West Bengal with an Integrated Township at Uttarpara

Shriram Properties, the property development arm of the Rs 90,000 crore Shriram Group, has marked its foray into West Bengal by announcing the launch of Rs 10000 crores integrated township 'Shriram Grand City' at Uttarpara. 

Spread over 386 acres with a well-planned social infrastructure within the township, Shriram Grand City offers dedicated zones for residential, commercial, office/IT, retail, educational institutions, hospitality and recreational areas.

Shriram Grand City

The integrated township also offers a complete housing opportunity amidst liberal green space along with smart sanitation, solid waste management and recycling systems. As sustainable features, open spaces and walking areas will be well lit by solar power. Other features the township offers include: WiFi support, excellent road connectivity and live-work-play lifestyle for residents.

Speaking on the new project launch, M Murali, Managing Director, Shriram Properties, said, "With a proven track record of performance in South India, we are stepping into West Bengal, the state known for its rich heritage and tradition, to create 'Shriram Grand City,' in Uttarpara. With the support and encouragement of everyone, I am sure the project will make a distinctive difference in terms of quality living space for all."

Grand One, the first phase of the project, is spread across 15.04 acres and has 24 towers. Starting from the ground, there are 14+ floors each with a clear view of the central greens. Each block has 7 units on every floor.

A majority of the apartments are open on three sides and some, on four, to let the southern winds in. What all of them have in common is a multi-facility clubhouse, an open air theatre, a beautifully sculpted central green with nature trails , gurgling brooks flowing under timber bridges, walkways and skating rinks, playgrounds and plazas, 24X7 security and more, providing smart solutions for all the challenges one faces in a regular city, a press release said.

Project highlights:

    

•  IT space can generate huge employment opportunities
• Affordable housing
• Social infrastructure with schools, colleges, healthcare, shopping and more
• Four-lane road from Delhi to the project site
• Planned urbanisation on the Western bank of Hooghly in the KMA are
• Address the housing demand and bridge the demand-supply mismatch 

PCMC Beats Pune To Rank Among India's 10 Cleanest Cities

Anil Pharande

The verdict by Swachh Survekshan 2016, a survey undertaken by the Ministry of Urban Development February 15, 2016 to monitor how far the Union Government's Swachh Bharat Mission has progressed, was an eye-opener for India. While the multiple award-winning Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation ranked 9th on the list of India's 10 Cleanest Cities, Pune - administered by the Pune Municipal Corporation, did not make it to the Top 10 list at all.

Altogether, the Swachh Survekshan 2016 survey studied 73 cities having populations of 10 lakh or above, and focused on aspects such availability of public and private latrines, the efficiency of services delivery, solid waste management and infrastructure development. Always at the forefront when it comes to providing a healthy, wholesome life to its residents, PCMC had in the recent past added to its solid waste processing capabilities via a new garbage depot. This mechanised plant processes 500 tonnes of garbage into compost useful for agriculture on a daily basis. Moreover,PCMC has set the national trend in its progressive and scientific management of landfills, as well as its initiative to turn waste plastic into energy.

Another variable which the Swachh Survekshan 2016 survey focused on was the effectiveness of communication in the identified cities, specifically their citizens' access to information and education, and the civic authorities' proactive approach to in Behaviour Change Communication (BCC). BCC is a very important interactive function via which a city’s governing authorities communicate with the city's population to ensure that initiatives to help the city to grow and prosper are understood and adopted.

Without a doubt, PCMC has been consistent in upholding its promises to provide the very best living standards to its residents. Therefore, the fact that it has been numbered in the 10 Cleanest Cities of India comes as no surprise. The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation is a veritable masterpiece of urban planning, driven by an unrelenting focus on infrastructure, sustainability and future-readiness. It offers a sharp contrast to the confused and retrograde approach being followed by the Pune Municipal Corporation, which has not been able to deliver on the functions and aspects that make a city worth living in.

The fact that PCMC has been able to come out a winner on the list of India's 10 Cleanest Cities is all the more remarkable if we consider that this region is home to the thriving MIDC industrial belt, as well as the Hinjawadi Infotech Park. These hubs are among the country's most prolific employment generators, causing countless new skilled professionals to make PCMC their home every year. 

Despite the immense complexities this presents to the city authorities, PCMC has consistently risen to the challenges and continues to provide people from all walks of life and income segments with a wholesome, healthy environment to live and work in. It has been able to do this is by encouraging the development of integrated townships and ensuring that all real estate development happens with strict compliance to its town planning norms.

In PCMC, open spaces and green 'lung' pockets are available in every sector to control pollution and provide citizens with places to meet and relax, and wide roads and over/underpasses allow for free-flowing traffic. Water and electricity supply is several times more reliable than in the Pune Municipal Corporation, and highly efficient civic sanitation services ensure that all residential and commercial zones are kept clean.        

Thanks to these factors, there is no doubt that PCMC will move further up the rankings over the next few years. In the meantime, it will continue to focus on maintaining its well-deserved reputation for being the best region in the country for people to work, live and prosper in.

Contributed by  Anil Pharande, Chairman - Pharande Spaces.

VBHC Value Homes Wins NDTV and ACEF Property Awards for Low Cost Residential Projects

VBHC Value Homes Pvt. Ltd. (formerly Value & Budget Housing Corporation), a Bangalore-based builder who has projects coming several cities in India, has won the prestigious NDTV and ACEF property awards for its projects in Mumbai and Bengaluru.

VBHC's 'VBHC Greenglade' located in Palghar, Mumbai, won the NDTV Award under the 'Low cost housing apartment project of the year' category while 'VBHC Palmhaven-1' project located off Mysore Road, Bengaluru, won the ACEF Property Award under the 'Residential Project of the Year' category, a company release said.

Rahul Sabharwal, COO, VBHC Value Homes Pvt. Ltd. said, "We are one of the few focused players in the affordable housing segment in the country and receiving such prestigious recognitions makes us feel proud. Our vision is to make the affordable homes really affordable in India and also fulfil our PM's vision of 'Housing for all by 2022'."

The 'VBHC Greenglade' project has excellent connectivity to Mumbai and Gujarat through Western Railway Line and National Highway 8 (NH8). The project has 70% open spaces and offers modern amenities to enhance lifestyle.

Jury members for the  awards included Mrs Renu Sudkarnad, MD, HDFC; Mr Amit Bhagat, CEO & Managing Director, ASK Property Investment Advisors Pvt. Ltd; Mr Ritesh Vohra, Partner, Real Estate Investments, IDFC Alternatives Limited; Mr Rohit Salhotra, MD and CEO ICICI-HFC; Mr Sachin Sandhir, MD, South Asia, RICS and Ms Manisha Natarajan, Senior Editor, Business and Real Estate, NDTV.

About VBHC

VBHC Value Homes Pvt. Ltd is a professionally managed real estate company which believes that good quality living should be within everyone's reach. The company was co-founded by former Mphasis Chairman, Jaithirth (Jerry) Rao and former Citibank Consumer Banking Head, P. S. Jayakumar. With marquee investors like HDFC, IFC, Carlyle, Van Herk Groep and Caspian Advisers, VBHC has large scale expansion plans and promises to deliver 18,000 homes in the next few years as it expands its national footprint across India.

Real Estate Regulatory Bill gives more power to buyers to take on errant builders

The much-awaited Real Estate Regulatory Bill has now broken the last hurdle to become a concrete legislation when it was passed by the Upper House of the Parliament – Rajya Sabha on Thursday much to the relief of home buyers who now got a legal arm to protect their interests.

The Bill has various provisions which can protect the interest of buyers, who have remained mute victims for years due to irregularities in the real estate dealings by unscrupulous builders across the nation. The provisions of the bill now will make the developers accountable and also bring in the much-needed transparency in terms of dealings and quality of the products.

Indian real estate has so far been remained unregulated which has made many becoming fly-by-night builders to take advantage of the gullible home buyers. Big builders are now happy because this bill will regulate the industry and cut-to-size the small-time developers who account for more than 60 per cent of realty transactions in India.

However, certain developers did express their disappointment saying that the Bill did not take Government agencies, whose delay in approvals can impact on project completion schedule, from its purview. It’s now up the state governments to implement it with or without further amendments.

Let’s see what builders, analysts and industry organizations have to say about the Bill becoming a Law.

T Chitty Babu, National Chairman of CREDAI:

T Chitty Babu, while welcoming the Bill, said, “This will give a level playing field for developers and also regulate the approval process.” However, he said that the Bill has failed to bring an important stakeholder into its fold — the government agencies.

Explaining further, he told New Indian Express, There are four stake holders in the development of a real estate project - the developer, the financial institutions and the customer. The fourth stake holder, the government, has not been brought into the ambit of the bill. The government plays an important role in the approval process. Now we will have 58 windows and a door.”

Sunil Kanoria, president, ASSOCHAM:

Apex industry body ASSOCHAM said the Bill would to lead development of urban infrastructure,  help realise government’s vision of ‘Housing for every Indian by 2022’ and play a pivotal role in structural transformation of India’s economy.

“Apart from resolving key issues that are hampering the growth of the real estate sector, this bill will lead to institutional reforms in land acquisition, approval processes and taxation that are much needed to expedite development of affordable housing,” said Sunil Kanoria, president of The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

“Besides, it will also help in facilitating investments through FDI, REITs and other innovative real estate financing models will help attract long term funds from foreign and domestic investors,” Kanoria said.

Arvind Jain, Managing Director - Pride Group: 

The real estate regulatory bill has been long in the pipeline, and has now cleared all roadblocks and become a law. Various decision makers involved in it had been ambiguous about their stance towards this vital regulator, and as a result it remained pending. Now, it has finally received the green signal and is all set to revolutionize the Indian realty market. It will empower consumers by giving them confidence while making their real estate investments. It imposes strict regulations on how developers conduct their business, and underwent various redrafts aimed at doing this. It is very encouraging that the bill is now a reality. 

Kishor Pate, CMD - Amit Enterprises Housing Ltd: 

The real estate needed the Real Estate Regulatory bill more than any other single piece of legislation, even though GST, the Land Aquisition & Rehabilitation Bill, single window clearance and industry status are by now means of less importance.  The industry has been in express need of an apex body through which all concerns of consumers can be addressed transparently and efficiently. We will now see a radical transformation of the entire residential sector. Strict enforcement of project delivery timelines, verifiable construction quality and assurance of legal clearances will finally become a reality, and the consumer confidence which had all but evaporated will return. It is a most welcome development.

Anil Pharande, Chairman - Pharande Spaces: 

The Indian real estate sector has historically been unregulated and ill-organized. Unfortunately, the unorganized segment has so far represented the largest share of the market, and it is in this segment that consumers have in innumerable cases been held hostage to by unscrupulous practices of ruthless developers. The real estate regulatory bill was drafted with a vision to give clarity and assurance to real estate buyers via various strictures. Now that it has become an enforceable law, it will have a profoundly positive effect on how both domestic and global investors view Indian real estate. More importantly, it will give homebuyers a strong measure of assurance. 

 

Anuj Puri, Chairman & Country Head, JLL India:

The passing of the long-pending Real Estate Regulatory Bill is an unequivocal victory for the Indian real estate sector. Its enactment as a law will almost single-handedly revamp the way the sector works across the board, from developers to end-users and investors, to lending institutions and government agencies involved in the buying and selling of property. It is by far the most decisive step the sector has taken towards transparency and reaching towards the kind of standardized processes, procedures and accountability guidelines that the industry requires to progress.

Harshvardhan Neotia, President, FICCI:

Commenting on the Real Estate Regulatory Bill, Harshvardhan Neotia, President of FICCI, said, “The passing of Real Estate Bill, 2016 in Rajya Sabha is a landmark step towards enhancing the credibility of construction industry by bringing in transparency and accountability in execution of projects. I hope this bill will put in place an effective regulatory mechanism that would safeguard the interest of consumers as well as provide protection against fly by night operators. The passing of bill should enable timely approval and execution of projects which will raise the confidence of consumers and also give a huge boost to the growth of real estate sector.”

Though this is a good beginning after a prolonged delay, the Real Estate Regulation and Development Bill becoming a Law, in a way would prompt buyers to go for purchasing homes without any apprehension of being cheated. This will help the sagging real estate sector to stand up to meet the increase in demand. Though there are still uncertainities like the appointment of regulators   in states and implementation in toto by state governments, the bill in the long term would provide the much-needed impetus to the sector's overall growth.

Also read the article in Press Release Point.