Month: May 2015

Know amenities in life style apartments

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Lifestyle Apartments Amenities

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A slice of life, anyone? Or maybe an itsy bitsy piece of heaven; will that do? That’s the promise of a fine luxurious apartment and that’s what they are supposed to do, i.e. give you a home that spells L.U.X.U.R.Y and C.O.M.F.O.R.T, nothing more, nothing less.

Its common knowledge that the rich and famous like their possessions to be unique, exclusive, top of the line and perhaps one up on their next door neighbour. Wealthy people don’t mind paying a premium for something which is perceived as elite; so long as every convenience is taken care of.

The luxurious apartment market is a tough one with an aggressive contest among builders and real estate developers with each one vying for a bigger chunk of the ‘luxurious apartment’ pie. Things however can only get better for the end customer.

What sets apart a luxury apartment versus an ordinary plain-vanilla, cookie-cut house are the fine aesthetic sensibilities and the use of exemplary design that is harmoniously put together to create an extravagant urban palace. So what should one expect in a luxurious apartment? Don’t be fooled by gimmickry or false promises; here’s what you need to know about amenities in life style apartments.

Typically, you should keep an eye out for-

  1. Digital Features that use avant-garde automation
  2. A world renowned architect, perhaps an international one, who has experience in designing masterpieces world over.
  3. Some sort of novelty or newness that sets apart this project from the rest.
  4. Adherence to international standards of construction.
  5. Time-honoured construction methodologies that still hold good in today’s world.

What to expect in the house:

A luxurious home should have scope for entertaining, lots of it. Aside from space there must be state-of-the-art provisions for privacy and security. Expect features such as a private landscaped garden or an indoor pool.

The interiors layout can often be customised with mood lighting, motion detector lighting systems throughout the house, choices of wooden flooring and tiling options with marble and/ or vitrified antiskid tiles or a glass enclosure in the shower area with imported branded bathroom fittings.

The kitchen will probably come equipped with a branded modular set up including a hob, chimney, washing machine, dish washer, dryer and a microwave among other white goods. Besides, there will probably be a servant room adjoining the kitchen replete with a separate washroom area.

Nowadays, luxurious homes come with eco-friendly features such as solar panels or small windmills. Newer technologies utilise the heat emitted from air-conditioning systems to heat up water for use in bathrooms.

Digital Features

  • Luxury homes will characteristically have iPad/ smartphone enabled features such as wireless door locks with no requirement for physical keys or programmable zones with auto sensors for adjusting light, temperature and entertainment settings.
  • Sensors placed through the house with auto alerts in case of a gas leak or a fire hazard.
  • Home automation systems that include video cameras that help with surveillance and for controlling every gadget in the house, besides keeping a constant vigil on
  • Video door phone
  • Touch screen / remote controlled Panel
  • Panic switch
  • Smart cards for locks

What to expect in the common areas:

The sky is the limit and truly, many builders today are going out of their way to provide features and amenities that can make a person feel like a celebrity, every single day. You can assume that some or perhaps all of the below mentioned features would be present in an uber luxurious project-

  • An air conditioned lounge area with Wi-Fi internet connection and entertainment zones for kids and perhaps a pool table or a Lazy boy chair.
  • An Olympic sized swimming pool or an infinity pool.
  • An air conditioned gym with imported equipment.
  • A dedicated yoga/aerobic room.
  • Steam/ Sauna/ Massage Room with wet and dry areas.
  • Spa and a Jacuzzi
  • Concierge Services
  • An outstanding signature feature that distinguishes the project from others. It could be a celebrity interior decorator designing the homes or a patio on the 28th
  • A discotheque/ Café/ Bar and restaurant/ Mall or a Shopping centre.

 

Investors are moving to Tambaram. Here’s why

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Investors are moving to Tambaram. Here’s why

Located on the GST Road (Grand Southern Trunk) Tambaram serves as a midway to the IT and SEZ corridors. The GST road is regarded as one of the busiest National Highways connecting Chennai to Trichy. It starts from Kathipara junction at Guindy and connects the Chennai International Airport with many areas such as Tambaram, Pallavaram and Chrompet.

With many well established industrial enterprises and effective road connectivity Tambaram has elevated as one of the top ten preferred locations to buy a home in Chennai.

The story so far

The origins of the name ‘Tambaram’ have probably been derived from an ancient temple by the name Tamburamana Gunaseela Nallur. The name was shortened and it was rechristened Tambaram. Often referred to as being one of the oldest localities in Chennai, Tambaram was merely considered as a satellite village in the outskirts of the city. However today, this locality has undergone a metamorphosis and is regarded as one of the fastest growing suburbs in South Chennai. Home to one of the busiest railway terminals of the Chennai Suburban Railway Network, Tambaram is buzzing with activity.

The Scenario today

Situated along the Trichy-Chennai Highway, Tambaram is sub-divided into West Tambaram and East Tambaram with the Chennai Suburban Railway station serving as a divider between both. The area is densely populated and enjoys superb connectivity via the rail and road network. In fact, a few years back the Southern railway augmented the suburban train services to Kancheepuram by extending four EMU services on the Chennai Beach-Tambaram-Chengalpattu section. This was done keeping in view the increased population, boost for tourism and the requirement for convenient access to recreational spots. Additionally, the Southern Railway made the Tambaram railway station a new terminal, aside from the existing terminals at Chennai Central and Egmore.

Today Tambaram has become a busy hotspot owing to its proximity to commercial industries. Besides, it serves as a town panchayat for the smaller areas adjoining East and West Tambaram with suburbs such as Mudichur, Mannivakam, Padappai adjoining West Tambaram and Selaiyur, Camp Road Madambakkam neighbouring Tambaram East.

The massive spurt in real estate development in Tambaram has presented investors and end buyers with abundance of residential properties and for those who invested early, Tamabaram has rewarded a handsome capital appreciation. The increment in capital appreciation has been nearly as high as 18 per cent in the last one year and 22 per cent in the last two years.

One good reason to invest – here’s many

Currently there are about 35 new ongoing projects with nearly 81% of the projects having fully completed and the rest being under construction. The price bracket of the flats here is usually within the price range of Rs 10 to 40 lakhs and rentals are usually to the tune of Rs10 to 14 per square feet depending on the project and flat furnishings.

Analysts predict that once the proposed Monorail commences there will be greater appreciation in property rates. In fact, Tambaram will perhaps be the closest metro station in the forthcoming Metro Rail project and one can expect 20% price appreciation over and above the existing rate windfall. Further spurring the growth is the proposed six lane highway and the upcoming two-way tracks proposed between Chengalpet and Tindivanam that will connect Tambaram to other important towns of Tamil Nadu.

Tambaram stands to gain even further when the proposed Tambaram Eastern Bypass Road comes up. The road will bypass Tambaram and be used by commuters from Velachery, Thiruvanmiyur and Perungalathur to join the NH45.

Its good going…all the way

Tambaram enjoys the distinction of all-round development and one can find many renowned schools, colleges, hospitals and a well-equipped civic and social infrastructure. Many restaurants, banks and shopping centres such as Naidu Hall, Sharptronics, Kelvin Electronics and Mega Mart have mushroomed here.

Summary

Some of the localities which were once deemed as Chennai outskirts have recorded price increments by up to 75 percent and it is expected that in future they will continue to enjoy huge returns too. Tambaram is one such case in point. Once considered as the city’s limit, Tambaram today enjoys the status of the CBD and is often cited as being the ‘Gateway of the beautiful Metropolitan city of Chennai’.

 

 

Sembakkam growing as upbeat in real estate

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Positive Returns on real estate in Sembakkam leaves investors happy!

Sembakkam, located in Kanchipuram district is an area that lies within the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA). Located approximately 30 kms to the south of Chennai, Sembakkam is a residential area that has rapidly gained recognition on account of proximity to the adjacent IT Parks. With superb access through road, rail and air bases, Sembakkam enjoys connectivity to all the important landmarks within a 10 km radius. Recently the Sembakkam Municipality received its prestigious ISO 9001:2008 certification from an evaluating body- a recognition that is not just noteworthy but well-deserved as well.

Accessible and well-connected- that’s Sembakkam for you

The widespread development that has taken place due to the Velachery Tambaram road has facilitated quick access to the IT corridor, Chromepet MEPZ, Guindy industrial estate and Chennai Corporation area. In more ways than one, this road is virtually comparable to creating a ‘spillover effect’ that has set into motion a massive economic uptrend in nearby areas.

Reachable via the Velachery Tambaram road, Sembakkam is well connected to prime areas such as GST Road and OMR. Residential apartments in Sembakkam are much in demand as the location is in close proximity to all the information technology (IT) companies in OMR and Porur.

Work Life and Recreation- it’s a perfect balance here
Sembakkam is an area that is fast being recognised for its economic viability in terms of the value for money, recent returns on real estate investments and the advantage of closeness to major IT companies. However, the urbanisation and development has not disturbed the peace and tranquillity and one can still find that the air is relatively pure and fresh. There is a reserve forest area within the precincts of Sembakkam and it serves as a green lung to the town. Besides, there are a large number of water bodies and the water table is generally considered high in the area. These factors have been conducive to the overall development of Sembakkam as a potential hotspot for investment.

All major schools and renowned educational institutions such as the Alpha Matriculation School, MAV School, Shree Gugans, Zion Matriculation School at Selaiyur, BVM Global at  Perumbakkam and colleges such as Prince Shri Venkateswara Arts & Science College, Bharath University at Camp Road, Madras Christian College at Tambaram East, Vels University at Pallavaram, Tagore Engineering College and the B S Abdur Rahman University are easily reachable from Sembakkam.

Healthcare facilities and well-known hospitals such as Hindu Mission Hospital, Global Hospital and Kamakshi Memorial Hospital are available nearby. Besides, the recreational facilities such as The Phoenix Mall, The Grand Mall, Coromandel Plaza Mall/ AGS Theatre and the Vandalur Zoo are close-by and considered as major attractions for residents in Sembakkam.

The promise of growth

The Sembakkam Municipality’s recent acquirement of the prestigious ISO 9001:2008 certification from an external international agency has garnered many accolades from all corners. Further, it has helped local bodies in improving the quality of service provided to tax payers. The records of the municipality are fully computerised with digitized collection reports of garbage charges.

The certification is no mean feat as the municipality achieved this certification by ensuring quality services at all times and carrying out other efficient facilities for the public. Besides, the certifying company carried out a series of strict inspections before awarding the certification. Today, the Municipality has set into practise a standardised working ambience for its staff and officials aside from offering a host of comforts for visitors, keeping in line with the requirements of ISO certification.

Proposed Monorail

While the 21 km first corridor will link Poonamallee and Kathipara, via Kumaranchavadi, Porur and Nandambakkam, with a wishbone line forking off to Vadapalani, there are expectations that the government will soon announce the alignment for the second corridor that will connect Vandalur and Kathipara, via Perungalathur, Irumbuliyur, Tambaram East, Sembakkam, Medavakkam and Velachery.

The proposed monorail would take in its ambit Sembakkam and with this increased connectivity it presents investors one more thing to look forward to.

Chennai Monorail Corridor 2 at Vandalur to Velachery is expected

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Chennai Monorail 

chennai-monorail-vandalur

Chennai is going full steam ahead and this time it seems like the government is pulling out all the stops to make the growth story even bigger and better than ever before. Recently ranked 9th in the list of the world’s best cosmopolitan cities the Tamil Nadu Government has given the infrastructure a much needed boost by re-introducing the monorail project.

The monorail project was initiated in order to reduce traffic congestion and to increase the share of public transport in the urban transport network. Typically, Chennai has always faced severe traffic problems due to inadequate, shrunken and encroached footpaths and several key missing links in terms of road connectivity. With substantial increase in the population and the introduction of more bus facilities and goods vehicles the traffic situation has worsened even further. Given this scenario, the Monorail project is often cited as a whiff of fresh air in a choc-a-bloc city. It aims to reduce traffic congestion, road accidents and improve mobility for pedestrians besides providing an affordable and safe mode of travel for everyone.

How it Works

A monorail, in simple terms, is an electric-powered bus that runs on an elevated concrete beam. This system is often confused with light rail systems such as cable cars and tramways. In terms of commercial viability, this system has been highly successful world over and many densely populated countries have adopted this system for its long term benefits.

In India, around the start of 2014, with the successful launch of the monorail project in Mumbai, cities such as Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Delhi are pursuing monorail projects as well.

Is it commercially on track?

In Chennai, the government invited bids for the ambitious ‘Elevated Monorail Mass Rapid Transit System’ (EMMRTS), Monorail project covering over 300 kms. to be implemented in a single phase. Spanning 18 corridors, this project, when executed, would turn out to the biggest monorail project in the world. (There are fewer than 20 monorail systems in Asia, of which 10 are in Japan. The longest operational monorail line in the world is a 23.8-km corridor in Osaka).

The international Monorail Society has gone on to describe Chennai’s plan as “ambitious” and “staggering”. The project is in fact truly ambitious and long drawn; however, it reinstates Chennai on the world map once again and provides for convenience for generations to come. With the implementation of this project, governments aim is to increase the share of public transport from 27 per cent to 46 per cent by 2026- an impressive plan to say the least.

A stop too many

The project approval saw its ups and downs with several tenders that lapsed due to failed bidding. The Monorail project was first proposed during the 2001-06 rule of the AIADMK. The DMK regime that took over in 2006 had little interest in the project and moved towards the implementation of the Metro rail project. The tender process to choose the contractor was stuck yet again as the project was nearly as expensive as the metro rail but didn’t have the same passenger capacity as the metro. While the metro rail has the capacity to carry 45,000 passengers one-way, the monorail can accommodate just about 10,000.

In November 2014, the project crossed another hurdle with an ‘in-principle’ approval from The Ministry of Urban Development. An official stated, “As per the approval accorded last week, the project will be implemented under design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) model with entire funding from the State Government, its agencies and partners under public private partnership without any financial support from the Centre.”

Final Destination

Officials in Tamil Nadu state the bidding process has now begun though procedurals mandates would take time to complete for a project of this magnitude. The current round of bidding process is the third since the revival of the project by the present government that took over in May 2011. The Tamil Nadu government has kick-started the project with a revised route plan but with a slighter higher cost per km than the previous plan. In the revised plan, the government will start with the 20.68 km monorail at 156.43 crore per km.

The route will connect Poonamallee in the northwest of Chennai and Vandalur in the far south through two corridors that will meet near the Kathipara intersection.

The 21 km first corridor will link Poonamallee and Kathipara, via Kumaranchavadi, Porur and Nandambakkam, with a wishbone line forking off to Vadapalani. The government is expected to soon announce the alignment for the second corridor between Vandalur and Kathipara, via Perungalathur, Irumbuliyur, Tambaram East, Sembakkam, Medavakkam and Velachery.

Corridor-1 – 20.68-km from Poonamallee to Kathipara with a link from Porur to Vadaplani – is expected to cost 32.35 billion whereas the Corridor 2- Vandalur-Velachery is expected to cost at least 40 billion.

 

Tambaram- Good Living, Great returns

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Tambaram- Good Living and Great returns

tambaram-apartment-living

Chennai was recently ranked 9th in the list of the world’s best cities, reaffirming market pundits belief that the future of Chennai’s realty growth is primed to go a few notches higher. Today, the city has attracted much attention from all the corners of the world because of its highly lucrative return on investments in realty and the continual improvement of living standards, infrastructure development and road connectivity. With a population largely comprising of working IT professionals and a sturdy industrial workforce, analysts believe that Chennai is grooming itself for yet another tryst with success.

It was earlier believed that the upsurge in real estate was mainly concentrated in the Western corridors’ business and industrial belts of the city, however, the growth story of Chennai has been so phenomenal that it has given a much needed push to fringe areas too. The Grand South Trunk Road (GST Road), OMR (Old Mahabalipuram Road), ECR (East coast road), ORR (Outer Ring Road) and the localities touched by these corridors have emerged as the favoured places for real estate investment by NRI’s, IT professionals, HNI’s, corporates and end users.

Tambaram, Guindy, Vandalur, Sembakkam and Velachery road have seen an influx of new projects and a healthy absorption of most of the inventory. These areas have seen a lot of improvement in infrastructure such as setting up of schools, institutes, hospitals, road expansions and increment of transportation facilities.

Conversely, Tambaram, positioned on the Chennai-Tiruchy highway, has by far been the biggest beneficiary of all this development and perhaps much of its success is due to its strategic location. Divided into Tambaram East and West by the railway station, this area, by virtue of being located on the GST Road (Grand Southern Trunk), serves as a midway to the IT and SEZ corridors. Cited as being one of the oldest localities in Chennai, Tambaram has seen an incremental real estate appreciation nearly as high as 37 per cent in the last one year and 22 per cent in the last two years.

Terrific Tambaram

Today, Tambaram has well established industrial enterprises nearby and affords quick road connectivity to the neighbouring areas and to the rest of Chennai. Besides, the fully functional flyover that connects Mudichur road and GST road to Velachery main road has been a boon for travellers and has considerably reduced travel time. Tambaram is about 27 kms away from the heart of Chennai and is easily accessible through bus, rail and the road. The MTC (Metropolitan Transport Corporation) buses are frequent and ply to various parts of the city.

Tambaram boasts of having its own railway station and it is perhaps one of the busiest terminals of the Chennai Suburban Railway Network. A number of suburban trains connect this area to nearby localities as well as to the beach. Tambaram is located roughly about 10-11 kms from the Chennai airport and one can reach it in a matter of minutes via the GST Road or the Velachery-Tambaram High Road.

Fantastic Return on Investment

Tambaram has earned the status of being one of the most preferred neighbourhoods in Chennai with property prices that have steadily moved upward. Rentals and realty prices are considered relatively stable as compared to other localities. Currently there are about 35 new ongoing projects with nearly 81% of the projects having fully completed and the rest being under construction. The price bracket of the flats here is usually within the price range of Rs 10 to 40 lakhs and rentals are usually to the tune of Rs10 to 14 per square feet depending on the project and flat furnishings.

The Tambaram Municipal Corporation has been instrumental in developing a spruced up and efficient infrastructure model with unique projects. The underground sewage programme as well as BINS- a solid waste management programme have been highly successful and have set an example for other municipalities to follow. Tambaram has faced very few civic and infrastructural problems and it can be said that this is the reason for its real estate success story.

East Tambaram or West Tambaram

Tambaram enjoys the distinction of all-round development in both the East and West. There are renowned schools, colleges, hospitals and a well-equipped civic and social infrastructure. Many restaurants, banks and shopping centres have mushroomed in both sides of Tambaram, besides, the presence of police stations, fire stations and the Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force have given the reassurance of a comfortable life to many families.

Further spurring the growth is the proposed six lane highway and the upcoming two-way tracks proposed between Chengalpet and Tindivanam that will connect Tambaram to other important towns of Tamil Nadu. There is an upbeat optimism that there will be a further spurt in real estate prices.

Summing it up

Perhaps Tambaram was once been considered as the city’s limit, but today it enjoys the status of the CBD by itself and it is often cited as being the ‘Gateway of the beautiful Metropolitan city of Chennai’.

Today, as more and more end users and investors move southwards towards the IT and industrial corridors there will be an obvious need for quality housing and Tambaram reigns supreme for those who want to make extraordinary profits in real estate investments.