TM Want to be here? real-real-

tiestiesKolkata’s only real estate magazine I Vol 9 I Issue 4 I January 2014 real- Steal the limelight in style and join the bandwagon of over 45,000 show-stealers from the corporate world, real estate, retail sector, HNI and more. tiesKolkata’s only real estate magazine

Ad sales agency enquiries solicited MAVERICK!AN INTERVIEW WITH RAHUL SARAF, ONE OF THE MOST CREATIVE REAL For enquires and to advertise: Call 033 4040 1010/ 6620 1010 | [email protected] ESTATE VISIONARIES OF INDIA Opposite Mirania Lake, NEW LAUNCH near Science City INIA

Land area: 1.5 bigha Number of flats: 37 Completion time: January 2017 Number of blocks: 1 Unit sizes: 2,180; 2,450; 4,630 sq ft Location: E.M.Bypass/P.C.Connector Number of floors: B+G+21 Open space: 80 percent Developer: J. C. Infratech

The developer speaks: “The project offers an exclusive premium residential lifestyle living with internationally benchmarked architecture. Contact: Attractive pricing makes it a worthy buy. Inia 033 40401010/ is strategically located at Topsia which is well-connected across the city. A 40 ft lobby 66201010 with a water curtain is a unique feature in the project. All apartments are south-facing Email: sales@ with three sides open. The infinity pool on nkrealtors.com the terrace along with a Sky Gym provides a modern lifestyle edge to the project.” NEW LAUNCH NORTH

GRANDENear Airport

Land area: 400 cottahs • 3 BHK Flat (sq ft.): 1,231, 1,312 grace period Number of wings: 19 and 1,903 Location: Beside Belghoria Express Number of floors: G+6 (Proposed) • 4 BHK Flat (sq ft.): 2,311 Way, near Durganagar Rail Station, Number of apartments: 480 Open space: 60 percent Nimta, Kolkata 700 049. Unit sizes: Completion: 42 months from the date Developer: Mounthill Realty and • 2 BHK Flat (sq ft.): 1,022 of commencement + six months’ Balmukund

The developer speaks: “In today’s fast- paced life, the most important asset Contact: of our lives – health – is relegated to the back burner. North Grande is a 033 40401010/ residential complex designed around 66201010 one’s health. Comprising a health- themed central garden and two-storey Email: sales@ clubhouse. Designed to stimulate the nkrealtors.com mind, strengthen the body and stir the soul. So that residents may cherish life.”  COVER STORY

N. K. Realtors (P) Ltd. Maverick! 9, Elgin Road (4th Floor), Mudar Patherya Kolkata – 700020, India Tel: 033 4040 1030 interviews Rahul Web: www.nkrealtors.com Saraf, one of the most For feedback, write to us at [email protected] creative real estate visionaries of India on himself.

Home Loan Partner

 INSIDE

Editor: Biplab Kumar Co-ordinator: Sanjay Adhikary Proof reader: Sandip Das Distribution: Abhijit Kar and Bandhu Sundar Ghosh Database management: Sonti Nag GRAFFITI GOLD AGE HOME WHAT’S YOUR RATING? Advertising: Anuraj Dhar Some select individuals are making How a swank modern-day home for Anirudh Agarwal explains what (+91 9674107979) Kolkata’s walls more vibrant. Student the elderly presents a niche segment makes CRISIL Real Estate Star Ratings Editorial support and design: Kausar Ali Patherya offers a fresh yet to be discovered in India’s (CREST) one of the most credible perspective on the graffiti across the young organised real estate sector independent ratings in India’s realty city walls...... 12 ...... 18 sector ...... 22

DISCLAIMER The publisher, contributors and editor are not responsible in any way for the actions or results taken by any person or organisation on the basis of reading information, stories or contributions in this publication. The views expressed are their own.

For all real estate queries, please call the customer care at: 033 4040 1010/6620 1010 anytime between 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (IST), 7 days a TEN THINGS I WOULD DO TO BRTS WILL REVOLUTIONISE week. ECO PARK IMPROVE KOLKATA KOLKATA COMMUTING HIDCO Chairman cum Managing Content published in Real-Ties is an A perspective by prominent installation exclusive intellectual property of the JC Ganguly, Traffic and Transport Director Debashis Sen speaks on what artist Susanta Pal ...... 24 Department of Public Relations and Department, KMDA, explains how makes Eco Park unique ...... 30 Corporate Communications – N. K. the proposed Bus Rapid Transit Realtors Pvt. Ltd. System will revolutionise commuting N.B. For free circulation, not for sale. in Kolkata ...... 26

January 2014 /real-ties/02  EDITORIAL

If there is one thing that Kolkata needs it is maverick in him through ‘Atmosphere’, his mavericks. There used to be a time when premium residential showpiece. This is not just mavericks abounded in the city and there likely to emerge as a Kolkata showpiece; Rahul was a saying that ‘What Calcutta thinks today, insists that this will set the benchmark across India thinks tomorrow.’ Over time, Kolkata has all of India! become increasingly conformist and just like The year 2014 will be an interesting year other areas of the city’s life, this is also evident for Kolkata following the introduction of the in its real estate sector. We will not say that proposed Bus Rapid Transit System, the growth most facades and structures are just about the of the 480-acre Eco Park and launch of the same; we will however say that there is a need Srijan Industrial Logistic Park. for builders and architects to do something radically different. We would welcome your observations and suggestions at [email protected] This brings us to someone who has done just that. Rahul Saraf. He has dared, he REGARDS, TEAM NK has questioned. In this issue we profile the

THE WOW OF A LANDSCAPED FOURTEEN REASONS TO LOOK A TILE THAT CONVERTS A SHERWOOD COMPLEX: ALL PROPERTY! FORWARD TO 2014 FOOTSTEP INTO ENERGY? SECURE! Landscape architect Madhup New additions in the city to look Urban strategist Scott Burnham What makes Sherwood Estate one of Mazumder speaks about ‘landscape’ forward to in 2014, be it in the presents six ideas that can revitalise the the most secure residential properties transforming into an integral entertainment sector or infrastructure urban landscape ...... 42 in Kolkata? ...... 44 component of real estate projects ....34 or culturally ...... 40

FOCUS ON SRIJAN INDUSTRIAL GOSSIPWALLAH DEVELOPMENTS FREEWHEELING LOGISTIC PARK What keeps Devang Gandhi fit? How Upcoming facilities and real estate Mudar Patherya on one of the great Abhishek Bharuka explains Simpark as an automated parking trends sprouting across the city ...... 54 unsolved mysteries - how eunuchs ‘warehousing’ and what makes SILP system works as a model? What makes discover that a child has been born at one of the largest industrial logistics the Realty Expo a grand success? The home! ...... 56 parks of Eastern India! ...... 48 proverbial fly on the wall picks up interesting stuff...... 52

January 2014 /real-ties/03 MAVERICK! MAVERICK!

What makes Kolkata’s Rahul Saraf, who is building the Atmosphere showpiece, one of the most creative real estate visionaries of India? Mudar Patherya and Radhika Bansal interview the man – on himself

A designed image of the 35-storeyed Atmosphere being constructed on the EM Bypass adjacent to Science City. A part of the 12,000 sq ft permanent gallery inside Forum on Elgin Road showcasing the premium residential project of Atmosphere, weighing two tonnes

What makes Rahul Saraf ‘Rahul They needed to do so through Indian eyes and the Saraf’? partners selected me to be that interface. In turn, Definitely not a desire to be different for the sake of I was required to understand their operational being different! What makes me ‘me’ is that I love workflow (project management, timelines, quality what I do. It is the realisation that my work will live checks and balances). That was where I completed beyond my existence. And it is a matter of pride – my graduation! call it izzat - that I must create something that will In what way? make people say ‘Must have been a visionary who In those days, building a ten-storey building in built it!’ I will go to the extent of saying that if I were India took three years. The Singaporeans built a FMCG producer what I would have created would 70-storeyed towers in 18 months. Their Republic have been consumed and vanished; what builders Plaza (1.5 million sq ft) in the central business produce is consumed and still exists for people to district was built within a year-and-a-half. In another appreciate. So how could I not be passionate?! project, they built four basements with a mall and How does one connect the dots office tower above with the basement wall kissing backwards? the metro tunnel through a ‘top-down’ approach. I completed only six months of college (St Xavier’s B. Mind blowing. The irony was that after a year, the Com). On paper, there would have been no hope for Singapore company concluded that Kolkata wouldn’t me but something fortuitous happened. The family be able to absorb their costs. They exited and our began to work on the Infinity IT project in Salt Lake partners concluded that we – the Sarafs – should with partners. Initially we had farmed the project out assume the role of the turnkey contractor since I had to a Singapore company to design and build. This already absorbed most of the Singaporean practices. Singapore company needed a techno-feasibility study And that is how we graduated from financial to ascertain turnkey project costs and timelines. partners to vendors while building Infinity, India’s first IT Park at that time.

January 2014 /real-ties/06 In what way was Infinity different? When the building is completed, loans repaid and This is a relevant question because today one may not the business is 100 percent yours, will the property be able to appreciate what we brought to the city in the still be relevant? Take Technopolis for instance, early Nineties. Infinity was one of India’s first buildings which was built 10 years after Infinity. During those connected with an optical fibre. We were more than ten years, Kolkata had completed 400,000 sq ft of a regular office building; we were an ‘intelligent’ additional IT space whereas we decided to build building. Our building automation was managed by 6,00,000 sq ft in a fifth of the time (15 months). We Johnson Controls. Infinity was the first building in leased 100 percent at rentals 30 percent higher than India with a reflective glass facade. Metal cladding was DLF because we created a ‘Green Building’ - first in used for the first time in our property. We may have India, first in the world certified with United Nations been small; but we were already different. to earn carbon credits - that would endure. What factors contributed to this Rule 6: Sell a piece of your mind, not boxes. I ‘difference’? always try and build something that makes my heart A number of ‘rules’ that one internalised. beat rise a little each time I cross it. For instance, Atmosphere took us 18 months just to design this Rule 1: Build for yourself. From the beginning, project. You’ve got to burn, burn and burn. You keep ours was a ‘build-to-lease’ model, which made it reconvening till you solve one problem and create imperative to build non-fatigue properties to earn two new ones! attractive rents over time. When one builds to own, you treat the asset like an investment, A slightly different question. A which enhances quality. “I see the 9 km Parama-Maidan question mark hangs over the Rule 2: Enunciate your purpose. flyover starting a tectonic Kolkata real estate scenario. Real estate was our in-house asset shift: there is a huge arbitrage How do you see it from your position? management fund. All our cash opportunity on both ends of the surpluses usually went into building Once the mood of Kolkata changes, as rentable properties that would generate flyover for just a seamless seven it must when the economy looks up, the sustainable revenues. Since we were not minute difference.” biggest opportunity sits right here in this from the sector, we had a differentiated city. I see the 9 km Parama-Maidan flyover perspective for each project. starting a tectonic shift: there is a huge arbitrage opportunity on both ends of the flyover for Rule 3: Grow the market. We had no time for just a seamless seven minute difference. As a result, I competing in the same space. Early on, we resolved foresee the EM Bypass entering a phase of long-term that we would try and do something different that upward correction, which will define the rest of the would grow the market rather than fight for market real estate sector’s growth in the city. share. We would create the first Mercedes in our segment than accessorise a Fiat. What is your goal? I keep going back to see the Republic Plaza building. Rule 4: Remember that this is an asset business. It still looks younger and cleaner compared to The great M S Oberoi indicated that the hospitality everything new I have done in my life. That I haven’t business was essentially a Balance Sheet-influenced been able to replicate it here bothers me. So there business, not a profit and loss-driven one. Simply are still a lot of dreams to be achieved. Empire State because the cumulative profits of Oberoi year- Building (all of 102 storeys) was made in stone in on-year would never match the increase in the 36 months and today is the greenest building in appreciation of the properties. The result was that Manhattan. Its beauty lies in its ability to retrofit we sold only as much of the building to recover itself to the contemporary and stay relevant. These our investment and put the rest on rent to generate are some of the things that excite me. Money is the sustainable surpluses, which in turn became the seed capital for our prospective projects. fuel of life but where you’re taking the car matters! So my dream is to market experiences to my buyers that Rule 5: Stay relevant over time. The big question was: will remain with them for a lifetime.

January 2014 /real-ties/07 ATMOSPHERE . India’s first equivalent of a Mercedes in the luxury residential vertical

here are nearly 470 tons will be lifted to If we achieved this, we knew had designed an international residential 100 m; the project will entail that the project would become showpiece, residents would around 450 tons of temporary iconic.” start drying their sarees from projects, steel work to facilitate erection. their balconies. So we invested At the heart of the project is there are And making all this a reality in a first-rate laundry service at T a commitment to fine detail. luxury residential will be the best complement of a fifth of the cost of the normal Eight different apartment types, international competencies: a dry cleaning. This is just one projects and there is for one, ranging from 6-8,000 Malaysian company fabricating of the many facilities we have Atmosphere. sq ft. Double floor duplexes and lifting the bridge, the here. You name it and we (32) with private lift lobbies. Probably the most complex facade cladding and design provide it at your doorstep.” Single floor villas (48) with residential project being engineering being done in landscaped terraces up to 500 undertaken anywhere in Asia Germany, while bearings being EXTENDING THE sq ft. – or world – today. “A number designed and imported from SERVICE of people ask me to describe The service also extends the US. JEWEL IN THE CROWN Atmosphere,” says Rahul Saraf, to assisting residents in And the jewel in the crown of promoter, “and the easiest way ‘REDEFINING doing up their interiors. the property comprising three to do so is by telling them that ARCHITECTURE IN “Today most people want terrace gardens, swimming if Marina Bay Sands – probably INDIA’ to buy their furniture from pool and a canopy - is a five the most defining real estate So the big question: can abroad, especially China. At storey steel structure. “This project in Singapore – is a this enrich Kolkata? Saraf Atmosphere, we will offer is really what will make private jet on a tarmac, then is confident that this could residents a unique facility: Atmosphere the talk of the Atmosphere is an Airbus ‘redefine architecture in India.’ should they fly to China, we country,” says Saraf. “The 380 suspended in the sky on A number of people view identify vendors who provide moment you have a 5-storey two balls and long columns. residential apartments as an world-class quality at attractive trellis lit from the bottom with Without sounding dramatic aggregation of boxes; the word prices; they can select what trees and shadows, that will be it would be fair to say that ‘icon’ does not figure in the they like, we activate our experiencing height in the true this kind of construction has treatment. “Atmosphere could purchasing department to sense!” probably never been attempted be a huge contribution in terms act as the sourcing agent- anywhere in the world.” of next generation buildings,” But what makes this project contractor-purchasing agent- he says. “People will not only special is that in addition supervisor. We leverage our UNIQUE build to sell; they will build to to its imposing façade and existing relationships with So what makes Atmosphere create icons that endure.” engineering excellence, there these vendors to generate unique from an engineering are a number of facilities that discounts as high as 55 percent! So what did Saraf propose perspective? A number of make everyday living a cruise. As a result, Atmosphere is for Atmosphere? “Our features: the community club “For instance, you won’t require not just brick and mortar, design engineering brief was in the sky comprises 2,700 a washing machine if you’re it will be a service; it is not simple: Luxury residential tons of fabricated steel; this a resident at Atmosphere,” just a building, it will be an condominium with an IT Park entire weight will be fabricated, says Saraf. “I was tortured by experience.” backbone for services and a erected and suspended on the thought that even as we bearings; a single piece of five-star resort setting on top.

ATMOSPHERE • 3 acres (130,730 sq ft) • Next to Science City • 35 storeys with a 5-storey crown (penthouse) • Two towers (500 ft high, 165 ft apart) • 80 villas (32 double floor villas and 48 single floor villas) • Size range: 6,000-8,750 sq ft • Private landscaped garden with each villa (200-1,500 sq ft) • Exclusive residents’ club: Three- dimensional jigsaw puzzle at 400 ft (spanning four levels) • Number of elevators: 43 • Automated car washing and polishing bay

February 2014 /real-ties/08 THE ATMOSPHERE GALLERY. REVOLUTIONISING THE BUYING EXPERIENCE. Most real estate builders market a residential apartment on the basis of a show flat. However, Atmosphere with eight different apartment types could not have created eight different sample apartments. So the management did something unique within its sector; it created a permanent gallery (12,000 sq ft) to market its property. “At Atmosphere, we recognised that the lady of the house – who has a critical say in the decision – needs references to understand a sense of space,” explains Rahul Saraf. “The result is that every dimension in the gallery is linked to some dimension within the actual apartment. For instance, the marble platform in our gallery is exactly the size of the living room! As a result, we market an experience and not an apartment. Which is why in our brochure, we don’t have any dimensions on the floor plans; we have a scale with the feet measure marked on it.” The heart of the gallery is the architectural model. This ‘doll house’ weighs 2 tons. A team from China flies in every quarter to maintain the apartments.

FINDING ONE’S BEARINGS! The bearings that Atmosphere will sit on would be the size of a bedroom - 2.4m by 2.7m and 1.8h. Movable in any direction. So that in the event of an earthquake, the towers may sway but remain absolutely safe. NEW LAUNCH Ivory Tower Near Kudghat Metro station

Land area: 33 cottahs Unit sizes: Open space: 50 percent Number of blocks: 1 • 2BHK+Study :1,387 sq. ft Completion: Two years six months Number of floors: G+11 • 3BHK (2 Toilets) :1,556 sq. ft Developer: Shristi Commotrade Pvt. Number of flats: 39 • 3BHK (3 Toilets) :1,605 sq. ft Ltd. & 1,656 sq. ft Location: 17/1, Chandi Ghosh Road, Beside Netaji (Kudghat) Metro, Kolkata

The developer speaks: “The Ivory Tower is located in the heart of South Kolkata Contact: near the Kudghat Metro Station. It enjoys excellent connectivity. The road to the 033 40401010/ project is dotted with renowned schools, 66201010 colleges, hospitals, shopping malls and entertainment centers. The RCGC, India’s Email: sales@ oldest golf club, is a stone’s throw from the property.” nkrealtors.com

February 2014 /real-ties/10

graFFiti!

Some select individuals are making Kolkata’s walls more vibrant. Pictures by Kausar Ali Patherya

January 2014 /real-ties/12 “Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint.” Banksy, Wall and Piece

Fourteen-year-old Kausar Ali inherited a cast-away D40x Nikon. Started off by shooting droplets after a shower. Then was dispatched to shoot Kolkata. The following pages are the result!

January 2014 /real-ties/13 “People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish... but that’s only if it’s done properly.” Banksy, Wall and Piece

January 2014 /real-ties/14 “The graffiti on Kolkata’s wallsis either political or banal. So when I came across something refreshingly different, we stopped our car and shot with our cellphone. A day later, I was back to shoot more. This time with my Nikon D40x. Most people dismissed me as a crank; only the guard outside the German Consulate – with one of the most refreshing walls in the city - shooed me away on grounds of ‘security’. First you invite people to see; then you drive them away!”

January 2014 /real-ties/15 NEW LAUNCH Close to Ballygunge Place SIGNUM GARDENIA

Land area: 41 cottahs Unit size: Location: Close to Ballygunge Place, Number of blocks: 3 1,333 – 1,423 sq. ft (SBU) off the Bondel Road Flyover Number of floors: G+7 Open space: 58 percent Developer: Signum Group (An Number of flats: 60 Completion: August 2016 enterprise of Heritage Realty Group)

The developer speaks: “Signum Gardenia is a residential complex Contact: comprising three G+7 blocks with ventilated apartments. It is located close 033 40401010/ to Ballygunge Phari, one of the premium 66201010 Kolkata neighbourhoods. Amenities comprise a community hall, gym, indoor Email: sales@ games room and a decorated common nkrealtors.com terrace. Come, make it your own!”

February 2014 /real-ties/16 Land area: 297 cottahs Number of blocks: 1 Number of floors: G+27 Unit sizes: 3,500; 7,000; 14,000; 28,000 sq. ft Open space: 67.32 percent Completion time: June 2015 (grace period of one year) Location: Strategically located at a focal point on the EM Bypass Developer: Ideal Group

The developer speaks: “Look good- feel good was the brief given to the celebrated architect Hafeez Contractor by the Ideal Group. The result? An awe inspiring exterior design with a pillar-less, column-less internal structure with 14ft high interiors that offers complete design freedom. The property is convenience-driven with environmentally-conscious design (MLCP, 16 passenger lifts, two service lifts, grand entrance lobby, stunning entrance plaza with the right balance of built and green spaces, temperature-controlled office spaces, breathtaking views and a smoking zone). You couldn’t ask for more!”

EM Bypass IDEAL

UNIQUE Contact: 033 40401010/ 66201010 CENTRE Email: sales@ nkrealtors.com “The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or A designer’s rendering of the proposed Jagriti Dham leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty - it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There’s a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.” – Mother Teresa

he one emerging area of India’s young organised Treal estate sector GOLD AGE HOME lies in its old. That’s right. Its A swank modern-day home for the elderly is old people. emerging on the outskirts of Kolkata Over the last few decades, a number of realities have senior citizen old age homes sending a monthly cheque to a residential complex is translated into an interesting in India with hardly 25,000 ensuring their holistic well- its sense of community. social churn: modern health beds. Trust some enterprising being. “There is a growing For decades, there was a care and medicines have real estate development feeling among children dread of getting old, being extended India’s average companies to seek an that a mere remittance is neglected and being lonely. mortality age from 62 years opportunity in this untapped no longer an insurance that That dread has now been in 2001 to 66 years in 2012. area as there is an urgent, their parents will be well- replaced with an excitement India’s elderly population dire need to meet the rising looked after,” says Atul, a where people look forward will reach 326 million by demand. Kolkatan residing overseas. to their retirement in the 2050 (21 percent of India’s “The aging parents need hope that they will now have ATTRACTIVE population). creature comforts and an a collection of people with OPPORTUNITIES infrastructure that will keep whom they will be able to A number of urban children “One of the most attractive their parents safe, for which mingle, socialise and live have migrated to seek realty opportunities is the their children are willing to happily,” says Vijay Sood, opportunities in different creation of homes for the buy, rent into properties to manager of the project. cities and overseas. The affluent or well-off elderly, keep them active, healthy, result: an increasing number which is different from the THE PROJECT engrossed, happy, content of elderly couples are lonelier conventional homes for the Jagriti Dham is a not- and secured.” than ever. aged,” explains Ravindra for-profit initiative of the There are a number of Chamaria, Chairman & This is where Jagriti Dham RC Infinity Foundation. reasons attributed to this - Managing Director, Infinity comes in. “Our vision is This is an active wellness the declining joint family Group. “We see this as an to create an age integrated resort which comes with system, insecurity, loneliness, irreversible trend that will society that promotes well-appointed luxurious lack of companionship and only accelerate over the active aging,” says Ravindra facilities. It has furnished lack of accommodation, foreseeable future.” Chamaria, promoter of a and fully serviced 500 sq ft new Gold Age Home for AC rooms with an attached etc. As per recent statistics, Interestingly, caring for the seniors of our society. bathroom, balcony, sitting there are only just over 1,000 parents has extended from “The biggest upside of such area with sofa, coffee table

January 2014 /real-ties/18 dining halls and a temple What could make Jagriti A designer’s rendering of the proposed Jagriti Dham with purohit for prayers and Dham senior-friendly is the worship,” explains Mr Sood. extension of its philosophy “Plus there will be walking into design. “The entire trails, jogging tracks, water architecture will be senior- bodies, tree canopies, flower- friendly,” explains Ravindra fringed walkways, open-to- Chamaria.” For instance, sky Japanese gardens and we have created wheel pathways. Sheer heaven. A chair- and walker-enabled mini-paradise.” ramps. Our spacious lifts will accommodate stretchers; HEALTHCARE our doorways and corridors One of the most relevant will be wide enough for provisions of Jagriti Dham wheel chairs to swivel. Our lies in its healthcare. “We bathrooms will be equipped have selected to invest in with wheelchair-accessible the presence of visiting showers, grab bars/rails and doctors, gerontologists and adjustable height shower specialists,” explains Sood. heads. This is one of the first “Besides, we will have a 24- instances in the city where hour ambulance and trained the architecture will have nurses round-the-clock. Floors: G+2 Rooms: 72 Guest rooms: 2 been customised around the Completion time: August /September, 2014 Staff Because the whole idea is elderly.” members: 70-80 with a separate service block to provide a worry-less stay, building within the complex (G+3) for accommodation we have diet charts, periodic The general consensus is Location: Merlin Greens, D. H. Road, Kolkata 743503 check-ups and arrangements that this is an idea whose with health insurance time has come. “This is companies (Apollo Munich, a natural outcome of the and pantry, among others. deposit (fully refundable) Bharti Axa Life, among decline where the joint and Each room comprises double and `5 lac entrance fee others). Apart from leading nuclear family structures are beds, wardrobes, lockers, (refundable within six Hospitals and Nursing leading to the community- sofa, flat-screen LCD TV, months of occupation) in Homes of Kolkata, we have based family structure,” refrigerator, kitchenette and addition to just `25,000 also exclusively arranged Ravindra Chamaria. “We a study table. Added facilities (single occupancy) and special care for those expect this project to be very include Wi-Fi connectivity, `30,000 (couple) per month, with mobility, dementia, successful, following which intercom, power back- plus lodging, food, well- Alzheimers and other we shall replicate it across the up, 24x7 male and female equipped laundromat, age-related problems at the country,” he concludes. Institute of Neurosciences, attendants, housekeeping and round-the-clock personal The project is expected to Kolkata. The result: A maintenance. male and female attendants, be completed by August- housekeeping, security complete peace of mind. “This is an excellent zero- September 2014. with CCTV and guards, tension concept for a `25 lac SENIOR-FRIENDLY

FACILITIES including interactive • Meditation/Yoga hall • Custom-tailored • Open-to-sky • Laughter club and sessions • Banquet and gymnasium with Japanese Gardens yoga classes • Good fitness conference halls trained instructors • Two lifts with • Pilgrimage tours regimen • Well stocked library • Coffee bar lounge stretcher facilities • Discourses on • Classes for music, and reading lounges • Convenience store • 24/7 ambulance spiritual, mental painting, computer, • Card and indoor and chemist shop service stimulation and well photography, theatre, games room; facilities • Doctor’s chamber • Free access to the being gardening and flower for outdoor sports • State-of-the-art proximate IBIZA Club • Regular health decoration, etc. • Wellness spa (male modern well- (comprises swimming check-ups by Infrastructure and female) with equipped kitchen pool, tennis court, physicians • Dedicated temple trained therapists and • Two dining halls (AC restaurants, among • Counseling sessions for worship with priest beauty salon and non-AC) others).

January 2014 /real-ties/19 LEGAL CORNER Advocate Raghunath Ghose, (R N Ghose and Associates) details the limitations in the West Bengal Land Acts

he two statutes excess of this limit, a prior institutions, bio-tech park, for real estate development restricting application needs to be made food park, port, airport, purposes. individuals land to the State Government. shipyard, including ship There are several other holdings in West building and ship breaking, T Earlier, a person intending land laws in West Bengal Bengal are the Urban Land oil and gas products, piped to establish a township in that regulate real estate (Ceiling and Regulation) transportation, information a planning area (as may be development - West Bengal Act, 1976 and the West and communication permitted to be developed Fisheries Act, East Kolkata Bengal Land Reforms Act, technology (ICT) industries under the West Bengal Town Wet Land Act, West Bengal 1955. The ULCA prevails and ICT-allied industries, or and Country (Planning and Thika Tenancy Act, among in urban agglomerations mining and allied activities, Development) Act, 1979) others. While these Acts do while the West Bengal and for the purpose of future was entitled to hold land in not prevent land transfer, Land Reforms Act applies expansion of any such units, excess of this limit. However, they restrict and regulate to the entire State (except such person may, with the West Bengal Assembly land use conversion and the Kolkata Municipal the previous permission, recently passed the Land mutation. Corporation area). in writing, of the State Reforms (Amendment) Bill Government and on such With the amendment of the West Bengal is one of the 2012 which reads as follows: terms and conditions and in Finance Act pursuant to the few states where ULCA still “If the state government... such manners as the State circular/notification dated prevails even as the Union is satisfied that such person Government may, by rules 10th February, 2013, Service Act was repealed following requires land for the purpose prescribe, acquire and hold Tax is payable in the case the Urban Land Ceiling of establishing a mill, factory land in excess of the ceiling of transfer of apartments to Regulation and Repeal Act, or workshop, livestock area applicable to him under buyers. In the case of joint 1999. Under the West Bengal breeding farm, poultry farm, Section 14 M.” development agreements Land Reforms Act, 1955 a dairy, industrial park or with the landlord and raiyat (someone who has industrial hub or industrial The result is that the developer, whether the same acquired a right to hold land estate, financial hub, exemption of holding land is by way of area sharing or for cultivation) is entitled warehousing, tea garden, in excess of the ceiling sale proceeds sharing, both to hold agricultural land up agro-industry, power plant (as available to real estate landlord and developer are to the limit provided under or power transmission or developers) has now been required to pay Service Tax. Section 14M of the Act. In distribution sub-station, removed. Real estate the event that the person film city, tourism project, developers cannot hold intends to hold land in educational and medical land in excess of the ceiling

THE MAGIC CHECK-LIST hese are some of the to get a continuity, says A and ensure all aspects, speak marketed as a developed one Tpoints that buyers need S Sivaramakrishnan, Head, to neighbours to understand by a reputed developer, there to keep in mind when buying Residential Services, CBRE seller veracity and access to is very little stress involved in a house. South Asia. The plot should the site. establishing the legal veracity. not be a part of an agricultural Clear documentation. area as one cannot construct Property tax receipts or house Costs involved should be One of the main issues is there. receipts from government looked into like stamp duty the legal status. A buyer agencies is another indicator payable upon purchase, local should thoroughly examine Checking the encumbrance that the property belongs to availability of materials and all parent documents, certificate (EC). The EC the seller. skilled labour, and timely including confirmation of can be verified for 13 or 30 completion of construction. the seller’s name in the sale years to understand how the Measuring the land. It’s deed, his rights to sell the conveyance of the property imperative the buyer measures Regulations around the property and conveyance title has moved. The possession the land physically and makes Floor Space Index (FSI) of the deed. One needs to certificate needs to be in the sure the area conveyed is in usage. It primarily depends look at how the conveyance seller’s name. line with the documents. on the governing authority of the locations or city. Source: of the deed has moved in Lastly, how to ensure there is the last three transactions, Access to the site. An Business Standard, 26.01.2014 intending buyer needs to visit no legal dispute? If the plot is

January 2014 /real-ties/20 Advertorial NK REALTORS. ALWAYS LISTENING! Consumer feedback represents a company’s most valued asset

t NK Realtors, Post Agreement/ transparency, promptness and empowered consumers to the largest Allotment Survey: responsiveness. share their feedback easily. We marketing Once the agreement/allotment have already set benchmarks in • After booking, did the site company in is executed, the customers are satisfying consumers through A executive introduce you to the Eastern India, customer- sent a survey questionnaire concrete responses to Commercial Officer? centricity is a core value. We on their email. The questions expressed grievances. develop and modify processes capture the consumer’s • Was the agreement/allotment SMS feedback: When a in-line with our consumer experience with NK Realtors done on time as per the client calls our preference; the communication from initial contact to commitment? customer care number, an begins from initial customer agreement. • What changes would you like automated SMS is sent once contact until property Parameters: The questions to see in NK Realtors? the call is completed asking for handover. covering the consumer feedback concerning the Post-possession survey: At NK Realtors, we capture experience are varied and service provided by the Following property handover, consumer feedback through comprehensive. They cover the Customer Care executive. the customers are emailed a the following media: following: survey questionnaire with a Grievance and support Website (www. • Did you feel misinformed focus to capture consumer (email and call): A nkrealtors.com): about anything during the feedback regarding the entire dedicated email address Visitors share their feedback booking process? transaction experience. ([email protected]) and on their website experience. contact number (033- • How would you rate the Social media Result: Our website attracts 40401030) invite responses, Property Advisor on basis of (Facebook and more than 2,000 visitors every monitored by the senior the following parameters? – Twitter): Our Facebook and day. management in real-time. Behavior, product knowledge, Twitter presence has

TRAINING PROGRAMME NK Realtors’ objective of on the 17th and 18th of grooming and developing December 2013 at the its family members is Middleton Chambers. persistent. As a part of The two-day programme this endeavor, another was filled with interactive training programme was sessions and energetic organised. The topic of the presentations by 130 programme was “Sparkling participants. This invaluable Sales Presentation”. It programme will definitely was conducted by Mr. G. help the NK team to Balachandran (Trainer) sharpen their skills further.

January 2014 /real-ties/21 ‘What’s your rating?’ A growing awareness among property buyers laid the ground for independent rating agencies. Anirudh Agarwal (Regional Head – Real Estate Ratings) explains what makes CRISIL Real Estate Star Ratings (CREST) one of the most credible in India’s realty sector

hat is CRISIL Real Estate Star Who uses these ratings? Ratings (CREST)? This is where it gets interesting. All the stakeholders An independent, credible and in the exercise find a rating useful – for different Wcomprehensive ratings service. It reasons. Take property buyers, for instance. helps property developers benchmark real estate According to a survey across 250 prospective home projects and helps buyers identify them. Our buyers (at the MCHI-CREDAI Property Exhibition ratings address the two critical needs of enhanced 2013 in Mumbai), 98 percent indicated that ratings transparency and objective benchmarking. This would help them take informed purchase decisions; positioning is reflected in our extensive presence; some 92 said they would prefer a rated property over within three years of launch, we are a leader in the an unrated one; in a previous survey, 50 per cent country’s third-party property ratings, covering more of the respondents expressing a willingness to pay than 250 projects (residential, commercial, office, higher for rated projects. This is absolutely amazing. retail real estate projects including townships, mixed Or take developers for instance. Our rating system development projects, special economic helps developers showcase their projects, zones, IT parks and hotels) across 46 cities “Our rating system helps build an impeccable reputation, close sales and more than 170 million sq ft. developers showcase faster and facilitate an entry into new cities. Similarly, property rating helps lending A basic question. Why rate a property their projects, build an institutions appraise project fundamentals at all? impeccable reputation, more precisely especially compliance with India’s real estate sector is still largely close sales faster and legal and financial requirements. unorganised. It is impossible for individual facilitate an entry into consumers to easily obtain information or What is CRISIL’s rating process? documents from a developer’s office. This new cities.” There is a fair amount of rigour that information asymmetry creates problems; Anirudh Agarwal, Regional Head, goes into the rating process: information the buyer needs to appraise dozens of submission, analysis, site visits, interaction, Real Estate Ratings projects before selection; the developer rating committee presentation, rating needs to differentiate his property. CREST assignment, communication and Ratings address the needs of both by putting more publication. The Star Rating is based on an eight- information in the public domain. point scale - from ‘City 7-Star’ (highest) to ‘City 1-Star’ (lowest), which makes the project ‘non- There is one more reason for property ratings. In deliverable’. CREST is different as it reconciles a business where money is taken upfront and the financial and non-financial parameters, making product delivered after a few years, ratings reflect the rating comprehensive. This rating is assigned integrity, which immediately translates into the use on the basis of five key parameters, on which the of quality materials, timely completion, operational project is evaluated. Finally, CRISIL provides a rating transparency and credible trade practices. As a result, certificate (rating) and a rating report (rationale). we see property ratings as a gamechanger.

January 2014 /real-ties/22 CLIENT FEEDBACK Aqua Beaumont – 5 star

“We were happy to receive the Kolkata 7-star rating from CRISIL for Ecospace.” Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman, Ambuja Realty, Kolkata “Thanks to its robust analytical process and unmatched credibility, CREST is the most respected name in India’s real estate ratings space.” Indrajit De, Chairman Eden City Group, Kolkata “The ratings provide comprehensive assessment, enhanced transparency and project benchmarking.” Raj Pasari, CMD Rajat Group

Luxuria Heights – 5 star Eco Space – 7 star

CRISIL’S STAR-RATED REAL ESTATE PROJECTS, KOLKATA Project Location Developer Star Ratings

1. Ecospace Rajarhat, New Town Ambuja Neotia Group 7 Star

2. Avani Riverside Kolkata Avani Projects & Infrastructure Ltd. 7 Star

3. City Centre New Town Kolkata Bengal Ambuja Housing Development 7 Star Ltd

4. Eden City Maheshtala Budge Budge Trunk Road Eden City Group 6 Star

5. Aqua Beaumont 119/2, MT Road, Kolkata 700046 Olympia Real Estate Chennai Pvt Ltd 5 Star

6. Purti Colors Kolkata Pansari Group 5 Star

7. Luxuria Heights Off EM Bypass, Tangra Salarpuria Simplex Buildcon LLP. 5 Star

8. Silveroak Estate – Phase I Rajarhat, Kolkata Salarpuria Simplex Dwellings LLP. 5 Star

9. Rajat Boulevard Pulin Khatik Road, Kolkata Rajat Group 5 Star

Source: http://crisil.com/star-ratings/cities/rated-projects-kolkata.html

February 2014 /real-ties/23 THINGS10 I WOULD DO TO IMPROVE KOLKATA BY SUSANTA PAL, PROMINENT INSTALLATION ARTIST

Susanta Pal is an eminent costume designer who has worked in films by Rituparno Ghosh (Bariwali, Raincoat, Chokher Bali and Antarmahal among others). He won the National Film Award for Best Costume Design for Chokher Bali in the year 2004. He has also installed various temporary public arts in Kolkata during Durga Pujo since 1998. He has been the brains behind last year’s theme at Badamtala Ashar Sangha.

pandals and some of the worst public display murals 1 If people are so compliant with traffic regulations at metro stations or public places. Irony. during the festive season when they don’t jaywalk, then why not during the rest of the year? So 6 As a society we splurge on the unnecessities but I would have awareness-building campaigns do not invest in our architectural heritage. This is that ensure active participation from the target something we need to correct. audience especially in high pedestrian locations 7 Rampant wall postering bothers me - film (Shyambazar or Gariahat). posters, handbills for paying guests and IT

2 We need a broad campaign to improve our training courses. They haven’t even spared trees! civic sense, the benefits of which may be evident 8 I don’t think metros, trams and buses should only across the long-term. I would love to do be used to advertise. There is something called graffiti but what if someone spat on it? visual pollution! 3 The city needs garbage bins at every 200m; 9 We have become so used to cables being we need people to periodically collect and deposit As a society we strung across streets and roads that we have stopped the trash (the KMC generally has people on the splurge on the ‘seeing’ them. Why can’t the authorities bunch them rounds). unnecessities but do not invest in once and for all? 4 When can we be liberated of blue and white, our architectural 10 Hawkers are the kings of our pavements. They which makes everything look like a circus tent? This heritage. This is something we need are a nuisance, and yet integral to our culture and is commoditising the individuality of each para. to correct. economy. The solution: designer temporary stalls

5 Kolkata produces some of the most creative puja (replacing torn flexes).

January 2014 /real-ties/24 PREMIUM HOME New Alipore Ideal Exotica

Land area: 230 cottahs Unit sizes: Open space: 80 percent Number of blocks: 5 • 3 BHK: 2,525 – 2,950 sq. ft Completion: June 2016 Number of floors: G + 21 • 4BHK: 3,030 – 3,950 sq. ft Location: New Alipore • Duplex: 4,960 – 6,440 sq. ft Number of flats: 185 Developer: Ideal Group • Triplex: 8,185 – 8,560 sq. ft

The developer speaks: “Ideal Exotica, offers exclusive homes providing the privacy of a bungalow and the lifestyle of a high-rise with the added pleasure Contact: of shared green spaces. It is Kolkata’s only project offering a jogging and walking track along with sit out 033 40401010/ and meditation areas on the 22nd floor! Well-planned living spaces maximise the benefits of cross ventilation, 66201010 are spacious, beamless and columnless offering design freedom. Designed by celebrated architect Email: sales@ Hafeez Contractor and landscaped by Site Concepts nkrealtors.com (Singapore), the project includes an exclusive residents Club ‘Elexir’, offering a host of sporting facilities.”

February 2014 /real-ties/25 The BRTS in China. There are 17 bus rapid transit systems in China serving 2.3 million people a day with most of these systems having been built since 2008. The bus stops at Curitiba are convenient, well- designed, comfortable, and attractive. Around 75 percent of Curitiba’s commuters use the BRT to travel to work. January 2014 /real-ties/26 Get a bus on time. Travel with comfort. Reach on time. Pay an affordable charge. These sound impossible today. But they could happen sooner than one expects. Thanks to the proposed Bus Rapid Transit System along the EM Bypass. From Ultadanga to Garia, connecting the growth centres of Sector V, Rajarhat, Salt Lake and Patuli.

The first BRT system which entered service in 1974 - Rede Integrada de Transporte (Integrated Transportation Network) in Curitiba, Brazil. The buses run as frequently as 90 seconds! It is one of the most heavily used, yet low-cost, transit systems in the world. BRTS will revolutionise commuting along the EM Bypass in Kolkata! Says JC Ganguly, Chief Engineer, Traffic & Transport Department, KMDA

January 2014 /real-ties/27 Janmarg (Ahmedabad BRTS) – off-board ticketing.

TRANSIT TYPE: Bus Rapid Transit LANE WIDTH: 3.5m (buses); 10.3m (mixed vehicle lane); 3m (footpath and non- motorised vehicle); 7-7.5 m (service road as people living in housing complexes will first use this road which will lead to the bus lane) SYSTEM LENGTH: 15.46 kilometres DESIGN SPEED: Around 50 km/h. PROPOSED BUS STATIONS: 44 ROUTE: Ultadanga to Garia. Key junctions include Chingrihata, Paroma Island, Ruby Hospital and the Gangding station, Guangzhou China Prince Anwar Shah Road connector.

What is a Bus Rapid Transit System? buses will ply independent of the external traffic. The BRTS is typically a low-cost, flexible, mass So it is hypothetically possible that there is a traffic transportation system (usually subsidised) with congestion on the EM Bypass but no congestion dedicated bus bays and stations. What makes this within the bus corridor. As a result, the bus will system remarkable is that it possesses the mass emerge as the most convenient way to travel across movement advantage of Metro Rail without the the Bypass – predictably one every few minutes, corresponding cost or implementation complexity. exactly the way it is in our metro railway. We foresee This is just what Kolkata needs and we expect to that passengers will reduce commuting time, there make this a reality in the near future. will be lower pollution and buses will save fuel (no idling). It would be possible to travel from Garia to What is the need for such a service? Ultadanga in 25 minutes. Absolutely world-class. There are a number of reasons why this service has become a necessity. One, increasing traffic. The How will the BRTS be designed? average hourly vehicle count on the EM Bypass is Along the lines of the Ahmedabad model. The more than 10,000. When the South 24-Parganas smart bus stops will be more of bus ‘stations’, with headquarters are shifted to Baruipur, this traffic will pre-boarding ticketing and comfortable waiting significantly increase. Two, there is a big increase facilities for passengers. The entire system will be in car ownership in Kolkata. Three, computerised like in our Metro stations. we need traffic streamlining more than “The entire system will be Service roads would be integrated with infrastructure creation in the city. Four, computerised like in our the main road; routine traffic would not with a number of properties being built Metro stations. Service hinder the dedicated BRTS corridor. alongside the EM Bypass, the time has roads would be integrated BRTS will work in coordination with come for a Bypass for the Bypass! with the main road; routine operators of smaller buses to create traffic would not hinder the new feeder services to the bus stations. How will the BRTS help? dedicated BRTS corridor.” There will also be overpasses and signals One of the first things that one needs to showing when the next bus would arrive explain is that the bus service will not JC Ganguly, Chief Engineer, Traffic just as it is in a number of modern cities. compete with other traffic on the Bypass. and Transport Department, KMDA By the virtue of a dedicated corridor, What is the status of the

January 2014 /real-ties/28 THE 15.46 KM ROUTE MAP OF THE BRTS IN KOLKATA

widening of the EM Bypass into an eight-lane speed corridor? The Bypass (from Ultadanga to Garia) will be widened to an eight-lane road with provisions for service roads, pedestrian walkways and dedicated cycle tracks. There will be two-bus corridors of the width of a lane in the middle for BRTS. The remaining six lanes will be dedicated to the normal

The TransMilenio bus traffic. This project will be integrated with eight rapid transit system metro stations to facilitate crossovers at any point. serving Bogotá, Colombia When will the project be completed? The road infrastructure should be completed by March 2014. Thereafter, we will look into the BRTS The Chicago BRT detailing and expect the entire system to be in place by July 2014. When commissioned we expect to move millions commuters every single day through this system. It would be the quickest mass transportation system that this city has ever seen. About 1,100 buses make 12,500 trips every Last question. What are some of the day, serving more than 1.3 million passengers successful national BRTS benchmarks? Ahmedabad’s Colombia-inspired Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) is its pride. It is nearly The Ahmedabad BRTS won the prestigious 2010 30 km long and will grow to 90 km in two years. Sustainable Transport Award It won the prestigious 2010 Sustainable Transport Award this year from the Transportation Research Board in Washington. Ahmedabad’s BRTS moves 70,000 passengers daily and is being touted as a model for developing countries. What is interesting is that for the first three months, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation ran the BRTS free and then Median side location of the Ahmedabad BRTS made design changes based on commuter feedback!

January 2014 /real-ties/29 ECO PARK. The size of more than 200 football fields! The pride of New Town is Eco Tourism Park – Prakriti Tirtha. The largest open space in the city. Kolkata’s Hyde Park. In fact, 40 per cent larger. Takes nearly an hour’s walk from one end to the other. Where its water body alone is twice the size of the entire Tolly Club! Debashis Sen, HIDCO Chairman cum Managing Director, explains its uniqueness

January 2014 /real-ties/30 January 2014 /real-ties/31 THE ‘ECO PARK’ District is right across CONCEPT the Eco Park; one of the In recent years, the concept country’s largest convention of urban sustainability has centres is being built at its undergone a significant North. It is connected by the transformation, shifting 10-lane arterial road to the from theory to practice, airport with the Metro Rail occupying a more central alongside. The second phase place in policy and politics comprises a Ceremony and expanding across the Ground, Fruit Garden, Global South and North. As Ayurvedic Garden, Bamboo a consequence, an interest in Garden, Grass Land, urban indicators, standards Butterfly Garden, Banglar and frameworks has Haat and Food Court. On significantly increased. Christmas Day 2013, more than 16,000 visitors visited Eco Tourism Park is a the location! product of this enhanced awareness. The fact that THE BIODIVERSITY Kolkata’s newest district – Already a number of New Town – was invested ornithologists are mapping with the city’s largest the re-entry of birds. A open space indicates the formal inventory will be emerging mindset that a made soon in consultation work-life balance needs with the Biodiveristy Board. to be facilitated by the This is in tune with World government through Bank’s Eco Cities concept futuristic design. This simple that says that the economy perspective was captured and ecology go hand-in- in an effective carbon hand. sink on the one hand and a sprawling unwinding THE CONCEPT location on the other. The West Bengal Government participated in What makes Eco Park an international conference different is its holistic (Tomorrow’s City Today) in local goals. The result is sustainability, balancing Italy, September 2012. The ecological regeneration, that Eco Park fosters our event gathered international vision of creating sustainable resource optimisation experts to discuss the scope and urban recreation. urban spaces with the best for developing and using moments being an hour The property represents indicators, standards and an improvement over before sunset, and the frameworks for urban emergence of mystical lights, traditional urban models in sustainability around the that it is a ‘living classroom’ fountains and Alexander world. The conference street lights. - as the wetlands filter water aimed to implement and and the plants filter the air, evaluate urban sustainability. Partners: Commissioned by people relax and rejuvenate, Indicators and frameworks West Bengal Housing and socialise or seek solitude. emerged as particularly Industrial Development Eco Park is green and blue – valuable as an international Corporation (WBHIDCO), virtually no concrete – and language and instrument for Bengal Urban Infrastructure the only place in Kolkata urban sustainability practice Development Limited where one can see the if and when they married (BUIDL) and Pradeep sunrise and sunset. conceptual considerations Sachdeva Design Associates with practical concerns (PSDA), an architecture and LOCATION urban design studio. The Central Business and global aspirations with

January 2014 /real-ties/32 KEY FEATURES What makes Eco Park unique is that it represents an extensive complement of a number of pride-enhancing features • Flower meadow and formal garden. A flower lover’s zone overlooking the wide tree- lined lakefront promenade with soft Mexican grass lawns at corners. Life-like statues along the walkway. • Rose and fountain garden. A long stretch with rose varieties, colourful fountains and benches. The rose garden in the midst of 24 fountains! • Artist’s cottage. Displaying a rare painting created jointly by five eminent persons (including CM Mamata Banerjee). • Tropical rain forest. Creating the aura of a rain forest. Complete with black rose and other varieties. • Rabi Aranya. Garden featuring trees and plants mentioned by Tagore; complete with Chhatimtala and Mukto Mancha (auditorium). A commemorative pavilion honours. Rabindranath Tagore; lotus pond, walkways and seating areas for small gatherings. • Children’s centre. Singing fountain, lazy river and tree houses. • Boating facilities. Boating, Zorbing, Eco- Cart Riding, Kayaking and a Shikhara ride. • Food kiosks and food court. • Butterfly park. A plant habitat housing different species supporting a large range of butterflies. • Mist house. Housing exotic plants with strict humidity requirements. • Herbal garden. Knowledge dissemination centre related to traditional Indian herbs and medicines.

January 2014 /real-ties/33 Greenfield City extends across 45 acres, with 74 percent open space and 96 blocks with 3,948 apartments.

January 2014 /real-ties/34 THE WOW OF A LANDSCAPED PROPERTY! Madhup Mazumder, Landscape Architect and Senior Partner at Design Accord, speaks about how professional landscaping has transformed into an integral component of sustainable urban and real estate projects.

January 2014 /real-ties/35 ntil a decade ago, there was no awareness be best expressed in the landscape design. about ‘landscape architecture’ in Kolkata. When we were assigned to work on Greenfield The subject was dismissed as just another City in Kolkata we were provided a comprehensive form of ‘beautification’ comprising the U brief. The project extends across 45 acres, with 74 integration of different plants, rockery, squiggly path percent open space as well as 96 blocks with 3,948 and mound. apartments! With a huge network of driveways and There has been a significant change in perception few hundred mandatory car parking bays we were since. For once, customers have begun to appreciate asked to make the project look green! Furthermore, the need for an excellent exterior; the West Bengal the aspiration level was to make this project as a ‘one- Pollution Control Board guidelines have become off’ landscaped community where ecology, culture, increasingly demanding from an environmental recreation, art, water and greenery can co-exist in a perspective. The result is that there is a greater world of its own. recognition that landscape architecture enlivens the visual dimension and ecological value. For a subject ASPECTS that was consigned to someone as an afterthought A number of things go into the creation of a superior now attracts seasoned professionals. landscaping at Greenfield City. One, we maximised the green area. Since more COMPONENTS than 15 percent of the open space was allocated to ‘Landscaping’ has two components – the ‘hardscape’ parking, we converted all paved open parking lots to or the civil part, which comprises the brick and ‘green parking’ with grass pavers allowing rainwater mortar of the outside area, starting from the entrance percolation and grass growth. The result is that gate complex, plazas, vehicular and pedestrian driveways looked less stark and the open parking systems, lighting, drainage system, water bays looked more soothing, expanding the management and all external built aspects extent of greenscape beyond parks and garden sensitive to the project environment. The pockets. ‘softscape’ comprises plants and horticulture. What is required is a holistic balance, which is Two, nodes and community interaction zones. pleasant, functional, sustainable and adaptable We provided each cluster with interactive to natural conditions. community zones, amphitheatre-like settings and seating corners. The driveways intersect at nodes, THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT’S ROLE There has been each significant node associated with land-art features More than 65 percent of the area of most big a significant and green islands. Feature art walls and sculptural complexes comprises landscape design, which makes change in components will be infused to promote different it imperative for landscape architects to be involved perception cultures. right from master planning to project handover. since. For once, Three, sporting facilities and amenities. The club Until a few years ago, landscape architects were only customers comprises tennis courts, cricket pitches, badminton allotted to gardening and beautification assignments have begun / basketball courts, mini-soccer ground and 30m towards the end of a project; today, landscaping is to appreciate swimming pool on the roof deck. There are plans to considered integral to the masterplan. As a result, the the need for create fountains and cascading features in the central landscape architect influences site planning guidelines an excellent park. and the open space structure that the complex exterior; the deserves extending to the use of plants (native West Bengal Four, visual and ecological sensibility. A large pond and drought-tolerant species) to minimise water Pollution Control in the central area will retain the water volume with consumption and enhance project sustainability. Board guidelines an experiential walk-around-the-pond (in addition have become to a natural water harvesting system). Floating decks DESIGN AND CONTEXT increasingly and amphitheatres next to the water will serve as a At Design Accord, we believe that no idea needs to demanding from cultural and recreational hub. Trees will help building be foisted on a project; on the contrary, each project an environmental up a landscaped frontier. possesses a unique ‘big idea’ opportunity inspired by perspective. the local culture, nature and environment, which can Five, plantings and materials. The entire campus

January 2014 /real-ties/36 will nurture a spectrum of native trees and plants, as a whole, instead of uplifting certain limited strips resembling an oasis. or traffic islands. THE NEXT LEAGUE The locations that need upgradation comprise The time has come to take Kolkata’s landscaping big parks and fields (maidan, central Kolkata standard into the next league. This can be achieved if streetscapes and the riverfront) around guidelines as the different government departments - horticulture used by the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC), ministry, development and town planning bodies, which comprises a panel of reputed architects, lighting and civil construction designing agencies – town planners, landscape architects, historians and leverage landscape planning ideas to develop the city ecologists to pass urban scale projects. 5 Kolkata projects with attractive landscaping drop-off court near the entry and the 1 Proposed JW Marriott Hotel (EM 4 Quest Mall (Park Circus): The Bypass): The scale and landscape façade possesses a folded metal screen party lawn are special. Unique terrace design at the podium level will provide feature reflected on ground granite garden offering various sit-out zones. a unique experience. paving pattern at the drop-off court. Design Accord Landscape is a Delhi- The layering of the stepped planters, 2 Infinity (Salt Lake, Sector V): A based boutique design firm offering front limited streetscape treatment, light good example of excellent exteriors specialised design services in Landscape, torch poles and signage features are coupled with an interior atrium. A Master Planning and Urban Spaces unique. The stepped water strip at the drive-in plaza (with internal courtyard) Design. Some of its prestigious projects base of the façade renders a shimmering leads to a grand sense of arrival. The include Parliament of India Annex Extn. night effect. Plus there is an elaborate landscape allows natural light into the (New Delhi), Indira Gandhi Indoor rear drive-in entry court. atrium between the towers. Stadium Complex, Commonwealth 5 Palazzo (Panditya Road): Beautiful Games (New Delhi), Bengal Intelligent 3 Millenium City (Salt Lake, Sector interweave of interior and exterior Park (Kolkata), Technopolis, Green IT V): The grand Deck Podium Plaza spaces, wherein the external driveway Park, (Kolkata), IBM Millenium City, provides unique public spill-over space integrates seamlessly with the stilt (Kolkata), The Venetian Grand Mall for commercials towers. Distinctive parking floor finishes. The USP: the (Noida), Quest Mall (Kolkata), Siddha plaza paving design patterns hold crisp detailing and finishing in the Pines and Siddha Xanadu (Kolkata), the floating terraces and steel prism rich palette of the driveway around the Admiral Baysuites and Monarch sculptures. The unique front ramp side single tower. The highlighted circular Parksuites ( Manila) among many others. water wall creates an inviting entry.

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January 2014 /real-ties/37 NUMBERS JUST THINK CHRIS WARE 4.8 Cartoonist Million sq ft is the projected rise in the area of shopping malls in Kolkata by 2016 (equivalent to three “Who hasn’t tried when passing by a building, or a home, at night to South City malls.) Source: The Telegraph, 06.01.2014 peer past half-closed shades and blinds, hoping to catch a glimpse into the private lives of its inhabitants. Anything… the briefest blossom of a 650 movement… maybe a head, bobbing up… a bit of hair… a mysterious Malls scheduled to come up in the country between shadow… or a flash of flesh… seems somehow more revealing than any 2007 and 2014, with only about 300 having started generous greeting or calculated cordiality. … Even the disappointing operations. Source: The Telegraph, 19.12.2013 diffusion of a sheer curtain can suggest the most colourful bouquet of unspeakable secrets.” Source: Building Stories 9 Percent rentals yields offered by commercial MAHMOUD DARWISH assets on an average as against 3-4 percent in the best residential properties. Source: The Economic Poet Times, 05.12.2013 “Acre is the smell of iodine and spices. Haifa is the smell of pine and wrinkled sheets. Moscow is the smell of vodka on ice. Cairo is the 94 smell of mango and ginger. Beirut is the smell of the sun, sea, smoke, India’s rank out of 185 countries in terms of and lemons. Paris is the smell of fresh bread, cheese, and derivations of registering property index according to a World Bank enchantment. Damascus is the smell of jasmine and dried fruit. Tunis report.. Source: The Times of India, 15.11.2013 is the smell of night musk and salt. Rabat is the smell of henna, incense, and honey. A city that cannot be known by its smell is unreliable.” Source: 6x Mint, 21.12.2013 The growth in office supply in Bangalore since 2006; the city now has more Grade-A offices than Singapore! Source: Business Insider FUN ZONE 1.2 1 Which is the six star-rated hotel • Kanpur US$ trillion investments required in India over the of India? • Chandigarh next 20 years to modernise urban infrastructure and • Bhubaneswar keep pace with the burgeoning urbanisation. Source: • ITC Grand Chola, Chennai McKinsey • Taj Hotel, Mumbai 4 How many years were required to • Leela Palace, Bangalore build the Taj Mahal? • Rambagh Palace Hotel, Jaipur • 22 years 300 • 26 years 2 Who was the architect of IIM- Million pounds (over `3,000 crore) being the cost of Ahmedabad? • 18 years the deal in which Mumbai-based Lodha Developers • Louis Kahn • 12 years acquired the iconic Macdonald House in central • Le Corbusier London. Source: Economic Times, 31.12.2013 5 What are the gateways to the • Karan Grover Buddhist stupas called? • Raj Rewal • Pandavas Which of these is not a planned • Jatakas 117.5 3 city? • Toranas Million ($) being the cost of purchasing a 9-acre lot • Gandhinagar • Ajantas and property in Woodside, CA - the most expensive single-family home ever sold in the USA. Source: Send your answer to [email protected]. Winner of ‘Places and www.forbes.com, 30.01.2013 monuments in India’ from the previous issue is Thrideep Kumar. Please keep sending your answers and we might just feature you in the next Real-Ties.

January 2014 /real-ties/38 DID YOU

CLEAN UP! The 150-odd families living in Orient Row, a quiet cosmopolitan neighbourhood KNOW? in the heart of south Calcutta, have achieved a THE HIGHER THE FLOOR YOU LIVE ON, THE garbage-free locality. Kasturi, a resident popularly GREATER YOUR LIFE EXPECTANCY! known as the garbage queen, came across Garbage Free India (GFI), an organisation with the mission • Research (published in the European Journal of Epidemiology, coming of freeing India of garbage. She began by employing from a study of more than 1.5 million people living in buildings with a few people with cameras “to catch those who were four or more floors) shows that people who live below the eighth floor littering”. Armed with evidence, she and a gang of are 22 percent more likely to die early children went about the neighbourhood on their • According to experts at the University of Bern in Switzerland, people Bell Bajao campaign. When they were confronted living above the 8th floor are 40 percent less likely to die from lung with pictures, they didn’t know where to hide and disease realised they couldn’t do it any longer. This appears • They are also 35 percent less likely to die from severe heart disease to be an interesting model that can be replicated because walking up and down the stairs meaning they are fitter across the city.

Source: The Daily Mail, 21.05.2013 Source: The Telegraph, 29.12.2013

A STEEL SHELL MAKES A SAFER OPERATING THEATRE THAN ONE MADE OF CONCRETE AND WOOD.

teel, being non-porous, does sheet to control temperature. Floors germs in small corners is less. The steel not let microbes grow on have tiles fitted on copper mesh with sheets are easier to clean compared the walls and ceiling of an coats of anti-microbe paints. The OTs with concrete walls. A conventional OT SOT, thereby reducing the have sliding metallic airtight doors requires fumigation after every major chance of infection in patients. Peerless operated by sensors. The walls and roof surgery but a steel OT needs it once in Hospital has recently converted all its of the OT are covered with a seamless a while. Despite that a steel OT is better seven OTs into modular steel facilities, steel sheet given a coat of anti-bacterial sterilised than a conventional one. promising to cut down on infection. and anti-fungal paint. Cardiac surgeon Ramakanta Panda of The shelves, where surgical instruments Advantages? Steel interiors help Mumbai’s Asia Heart Institute said his and emergency medicines are stored, in better infection control. Since hospital had installed modular steel OTs are built into the steel walls and have it’s seamless and free of joints, the 13 years ago. glass covers. Thermal pads are placed possibility of accumulation of dust and between the concrete wall and the steel Source: The Telegraph, 12.09.2013

January 2014 /real-ties/39 REASONS TO LOOK FORWARD TO 2014 The bus terminus will be the entire history of traffic located in Hastings (100 1 More brands…The removed from Esplanade violations. The more the past rooms). 14first Porsche showroom this year and the Maidan violations, the steeper the will open on Park Circus 12 Lower cellphone will heave a sigh of relief. fine. You will be able to pay connector. The top-notch radiation. The department State transport utilities have traffic fines through credit/ brands to come to Quest of telecom has announced already shifted their buses. debit cards. This is part of a Mall comprise Breitling, that Indian mobile handset Won’t be long before private modernisation drive, which Burberry, Canali, Emporio makers and importers will owners follow suit. And the includes setting up CCTV Armani, Furla, Gucci, have to adhere to the new green brigade wins. cameras to read vehicle Michael Kors, Paul Smith, Specific Absorption Rate registration numbers. Tumi and Villeroy & Boch. 6 Airport terminal. (SAR) limit of 1.6 watt per Plus Yauatcha, Calcutta’s Enjoy a new experience 9 Garbage-free city. kg, down from 2 watts per first date with a Michelin- at Terminal 2 - There will KMC intends to dismantle kg. SAR is the amount of star restaurant, Bombay be apps and SMS-based 78 dumpsites and use more radio frequency absorbed by Brasserie, Irish House, passenger facilities. The compactor stations to ensure the human body while using Serafina and Smokehouse food court will also become clean, hygienic disposal of a mobile phone. Deli. operational as will more waste. Over 100 new garbage 13 A second Eden! A restaurants and retail stores, disposal trucks are being 2 No-refusal taxis. No new cricket ground will be turning the sedate terminal bought. more ‘nahi jaayega’ when inaugurated at Rajarhat New into a buzzhouse. it comes to asking for a 10 Pretty riverfront. You Town in mid-2014. What’s drop to Salt Lake or Behala. 7 Aerotropolis takes off. will be able to enjoy a long unique is that along with a Welcome no-refusal cabs! Sometime in mid-2014, walk on the beautified gallery and pavilion, there the first aircraft is expected pavement from Prinsep will be an open viewing 3 Additional transport. to land at an airstrip in Ghat to Millennium Park space where spectators can Some 874 AC buses will ply Andal, marking the takeoff in 2104. There will also be sit on manicured grass, as in in the city this year, pushing of Bengal’s first private a sunset-viewing platform. Australia. out rickety and run-down greenfield airport. Located Those wanting to go to buses that are such an 14 Nazrul Tirtha. An 18km from Durgapur, Babughat from Eden eyesore (and a pain in the educational and research Nazrul Islam Airport can Gardens would be able to back). centre on Kazi Nazrul handle Boeing 737s and use a foot overbridge being Islam will come up on a 4 BRTS. The bus rapid Airbus A-320s. It will be the built by KMC. 100 cottah plot in Rajarhat transit system (BRTS) will third full-fledged airport 11 More (hotel) room for New Town. It will have a finally become operational in Bengal after Kolkata and all. Five more star hotels will complete Nazrul archive, a between Ultadanga and Bagdogra. begin operations in Kolkata library and reading room Garia along EM Bypass in 8 Traffic-challan. in 2014, adding 1,240 rooms that will have the rebel poet’s March 2014. It will have two Kolkata will become the to the city’s inventory! These original manuscripts and dedicated bus corridors in second city after Delhi to include Lalit Great Eastern letters. There will also be a the middle of the Bypass. introduce traffic e-challans. (244 rooms), JW Marriott small audio-visual arena for The remaining six lanes on As soon as the police key on EM Bypass (300 rooms), scholars and students. both sides will be left for in a vehicle’s details into Novotel (346 rooms) and flow of normal traffic. Source: The Times of India, their GPS-enabled handheld Courtyard (250 rooms) 29.12.2013 5 Esplanade Terminus. device, they can access while Raddisson Blu is

January 2014 /real-ties/40 The top-notch brands to come to Quest Mall comprise Breitling, Burberry, Canali, Emporio Armani, Furla, Gucci, Michael Kors, Paul Smith, Tumi and Villeroy & Boch. Plus Yauatcha, Calcutta’s first date with a Michelin-star restaurant, Bombay Brasserie, Irish House, Serafina and Smokehouse Deli A TILE THAT CONVERTS A FOOTSTEP INTO ENERGY? URBAN STRATEGIST SCOTT BURNHAM PRESENTS SIX IDEAS THAT COULD REVITALISE THE URBAN LANDSCAPE

FUTURE GADGETS

endable smartphones. BSamsung’s groundbreaking technology called ‘Youm’ incorporates OLED displays (company 1 The Cascade by Edge Design 4 UK company, Pavegen created a reportedly controls 90 percent Institute is a self-contained urban park tile that captures the small force exerted of the market’s OLED supply) that attaches to public stairways to by each commuter footstep and turns it that are flexible, bendable, and transform them into attractive spaces into energy. City of origin: London almost indestructible. It features for rest and social moments. City of a Windows Phone operating origin: Hong Kong system. hilips ErgoSensor PMonitor. To help make sure you don’t fall victim to bad posture, Philips has developed the ErgoSensor Monitor that follows your eye position and suggest to you a better, more 5 Inside each of Boston’s parking pay ergonomically correct way to machines (City Tickets machine) is a sit. It will also tell you when networked Wi-Fi system, a computer, a you should take a break and go 2 Softwalks has transformed stretch your legs. Think of it as a scaffolding ‘sidewalk sheds’ into areas printer, a payment processing system, and little office mate! for street-side dining and hanging out. location-aware technology, all powered by Its seats, benches, counter tops and a solar panel designed by Mayo Nissen. lobal Chef is a kitchen planters bolt onto existing scaffolding City of origin: Copenhagen Gappliance and service that structures to make them destinations connects people and cultures instead of areas to avoid. across the globe through City of origin: New York cooking using hologram technology. The appliance has a motion detection camera and can project holograms 360° around itself making it a fully interactive experience.

6 Bamboo nests installed atop billboard structures to clean and cool the air. Urban Air is an initiative 3 Designer Jean-Baptiste Hardoin by Stephen Glassman to swap the created La Grande Cantine, a table that commercial ads for air scrubbers and transforms individual waterfront seating natural cooling units along urban areas into picnic areas. City of origin: Paris motorways. City of origin: Los Angeles

January 2014 /real-ties/42 REAL ESTATE LAST YEAR, SOCIAL NETWORK FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE APPS SALES OF ADULT This application boasts 10 INCONTINENCE million monthly users who peruse the home design and PANTS OVERTOOK re-modelling site, creating image-driven THE SALES OF ideas. Houzz Interior Design Ideas app has the largest database of home design BABY DIAPERS IN ideas, with more than 900,000 beautiful JAPAN. photos to browse through.

Source: The Times of India, 27.10.2013 This application focuses on neighbourhoods, allowing its users to connect with neighbours and exchange information ROOM about the area. PAINTING IDEAS app provides This application hundreds of is available free innovative of cost on the smart phone, covering designs, styles, spots, spills and smudges, or advice on WHAT’S NEW? Car elevators themes, and surface-by-surface cleaning, or news, decoration ideas. carry autos from building tips and articles on keeping your home basements to apartment front organised. doors. High-rise residents WALL DECORATING IDEAS provides a in US luxury buildings prefer gamut of wall decorating pictures, designs, lofty views from nose-bleed paintings, shelves, crafts, wall hangings, heights. Boutique-style closets stickers, among other things. comprise illuminated rods, compartmentalised storage, shoe walls, camouflaged jewellery safes and climate-controlled fur cabinets. Some owners even install wine fridges, breakfast nooks, cigar humidors, stripper poles and putting greens!

LOVELY is a location-based app which makes MAGICPLAN allows BIGGERPOCKETS app it easy to find places nearby. You can store you to create custom allows you to easily engage your preferences and set alerts so you know floors plans by just in the BiggerPockets the minute something new hits the market. moving your phone or iPad around Forums asking or answering questions This free app is compatible with iPhone, iPod the room taking pictures. Price: Free about real estate anytime – anyplace. touch, and iPad, but requires iOS 5.0 or later. Price: Free

Homes with pet amenities. Fancy massive MiMA development’s Dog can be cleaned after a session outside; developers are stocking their high-end City will walk, groom and arrange play Pierre offers a pet food-centered room buildings with ‘pet-friendly’ features. dates for residents’ dogs; Caledonia has service menu! Residents are surely For instance, in New York City, the a separate canine entrance where dogs going to be barking up this tree!

January 2014 /real-ties/43 SHERWOOD COMPLEX ALL SECURE! Sherwood Estate is one of the most secure residential properties in Kolkata. What makes this an interesting case study is that this 15-acre property has been secured through a multi-tiered approach, securing the well-being of its residents and their property.

Entry points: The property has only one entry responsible entirely for systemic effectiveness. point, making it possible to control entry, exit and Security supervisors move in patrols comprising 2-3 related surveillance. guards on bicycles (especially at night) to supervise the complex. Guards: There are 88 security guards (44 per shift). There are two lady guards in the complex. Placement: Guards are placed at vulnerable points along the boundary wall (10 feet high), near The guards are appointed across two shifts (7:30am- construction points outside and near adjacent 9pm, 7pm-10am). Of the four gates in the complex, buildings close to the complex wall. only two are used. A ‘Sherwood’ car sticker represents the first filter. Guest cars are permitted Technology: Sherwood invested in a ‘boom’ inside only after due documentation system with an automatic barrier at the and clearance by the inviting resident. main gate. A biometric system checks The guest is escorted from the entrance Sherwood Complex invested the attendance of the maintenance staff. of the building complex to the guest’s in a ‘boom’ system with an CCTV cameras have been installed apartment. During festive events, automatic barrier at the main throughout the complex with backup additional security is recruited. gate. A biometric system recording archiving. checks the attendance of the Identification:All domestic helpers, Manual frisking: The security maintenance staff. drivers and cleaners, among others frisks mechanics coming with bags, the are recognised by their identity cards contents of which are ascertained at the certified by the security guards. A ‘badge’ time of entry and exit and corroborated system for guests is being proposed to make it easier by the resident. for guards to manage incoming visitors. Infrastructure: Some eight speed breakers inside Management: The active management of the the complex have minimised road accidents. security is facilitated by committees. A security Awareness: All important contact numbers sub-committee comprises three members elected (nearest police station) are displayed outside the lift by the residents. Two security officers (one each and the club, among others. for night and day) manage the security system, 1254 25 900 apartments buildings families

February 2014 /real-ties/44 Best Mac apps FOR HOME SECURITY

iSentry takes a picture or video when any motion is detected. Images can be uploaded so you can view them from anywhere. Security Camera takes a photo every time someone starts your computer; the picture is sent to your DropBox account. If your laptop is stolen, you have a photo of the thief! iCam lets you monitor multiple video cameras from your iPhone, iPad or iPod. If the motion sensor is triggered, you will receive a notification and can watch live video of what’s happening at home. SecureHome uses the built-in microphone on your computer to listen for odd noises. If an intruder is heard, the app will sound an alarm to scare off the intruder and send an email to your smartphone. My Webcam Broadcaster creates a time-lapse video, which Speed breakers inside the complex you can make public or keep private.

“SECURITY SYSTEMS ARE NOW LINKED TO MOBILE PHONES”

What is the most exciting technology What innovative and sustainable modes development in Kolkata’s security? of technology are prevalent in security The Building Management System package that combines complexes in Kolkata? Could you cite five fire detection system, access control system, finger such examples? registration, video door phone system and public address. We implement advanced security systems, which includes We provide customers with customised solutions. Some IP-based cameras with video recorder that can be configured of our clients include 24 Camac street, IXL Newtown with an Android phone (iPhone) or laptop. Which means Square, Doveland Court, Peerless Hospital, Dakhineshwar that one can watch what is happening in one’s office through Mandir, Bartman Newspaper and Infinity IT Park. one’s phone even though one may be at home! Nowadays Which point is generally overlooked? recorders possess a storage capacity of a minimum 30 days. Elevators! Another overlooked location is the systems What are the other alarm systems that you room, where all the surveillance of the cameras takes implement? place. A camera should be installed there as well, because In our burglar alarm system, if anybody tries to break a anybody can come in and sabotage the system and get shutter, a message is delivered to whoever’s number is stored away with it. A panic button needs to be installed for in the system via an auto-dialer and mobile connector lonely senior citizens. system. Our fire safety alarm ensures that smoke triggers an - Partho Dey, Geetanjali Surveillance and IT Solutions alarm and the sprinklers start sprinkling water. Besides, our advanced access control system also monitors the movement of visitors within the complex. Most of these safeguards are becoming critical for the safety of senior citizens. 14 600 - Pankaj Chopra, Chopra lac (sq ft) - total Visitors entering the Enterprises complex area complex daily

January 2014 /real-ties/45 Purulia NEW LAUNCH STATUS SHOPPING MALL

“Purulia’s first shopping mall with a multiplex.”

Mall area: 37,809 sq ft with 2 anchor shops, 1 game parlour Parking: Basement cover - 76, Number of towers: 1 commercial and and 1 lounge bar open – 23 (residential) and 4 residential Number of flats: 105 basement -25 (commercial) Number of levels: G+3 (commercial), Unit size: 1,033–2,613 sq ft Location: Mahalaxmi Bagan, G+8 (residential Tower 1 and 2), Open space: 56 percent (residential) Desbandhu Road, Purulia. G+9 (Tower 3), G+10 (Tower 4) Completion: December 2014 Developer: Kushal Bharat Equipments Number of shops (commercial): 22 (commercial); June 2016 (residential) & Infrastructure Pvt Ltd

The developer speaks: “The Purulia shopping mall ‘Status’ is a part of a mixed-use project comprising 105 Contact: residential apartments within the same 033 40401010/ premises. It is situated in a district of West Bengal with a population of 1.5 66201010 lac. It has a two-screen multiplex with a Email: sales@ seating capacity of 500. It has options for a mini anchor, food court, restaurants, nkrealtors.com branded retailers, among others.”

February 2014 /real-ties/46

AREA: 24 ACRES (PHASE 1) BUILT UP AREA: 24 LAC SQ FT LEVELS: G+3 & G+4 HEIGHT: 18 FT (GROUND FLOOR); 16 FT (ABOVE FLOORS) ROADS: UP TO 15 M WIDE INTERNAL METALLIC ROADS

rijan Industrial Logistic Park is an integrated business facility (manufacturing, warehousing and retailing) under a single roof for manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, traders and logistic players. It comprises Sbest-in-class facilities on NH6 in Howrah, one of the best industrially-developed districts of West Bengal. Abhishek Bharuka, Project Co-ordinator of Srijan Realty Pvt Ltd, explains ‘warehousing’ as a concept.

A warehouse has existed for decades. What is the need for a new kind of ‘warehouse’ ? This modern warehouse is a one-stop solution for the storage and logistics of materials across non-polluting industries (pharmaceuticals, electronics, furniture, garments, FMCG, among others). For any company based in Kolkata, distance is a problem since the warehouse and factory (where the packaging is done) are usually in different places, which makes cost minimisation difficult. For example, if a company’s warehouse is in Dalhousie and factory in Barasat, then the time limit for city entry and exit of big carriers is a problem as they store their materials somewhere and packaging is done elsewhere. Connectivity is a problem for some. Besides, traditional warehouses do not serve as the right storage place for some kinds of materials (pharmaceuticals, FMCG, among others). Only a logistics park provides a complete solution.

How will SILP accelerate regional industrial ATM to other modern amenities. Besides, we are strategically growth? located in connecting easily with the rest of India through the NH 6, which runs through Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Our Logistics Park is not a place; it is a logistics management Odisha and West Bengal. Besides, we represent the first leg node, providing related logistics services and facilities that of the Golden Quadrilateral to Chennai and South India. help customers reduce costs and improve their workflow. The Our location is just 13.3 km from NH2, which connects to result is that we see logistics helping moderate costs on the Northern India; Kolkata’s central business district is 16.1 km one hand and providing employment on the other. At the away, Kidderpore docks 17 km and the Kolkata airport 29 km. end of the day, we strengthen the business of our customers because we make it possible to provide everything under one Does the warehousing concept in this case roof - storing to parking to packaging to driver’s quarters to provide a win-win proposition?

January 2014 /real-ties/48 Srijan Industrial Logistic Park One of the largest industrial logistics parks of Eastern India!

It does. We address the growing needs of the garment and chemicals, glass, pharma industry and hosiery). Our service hosiery sectors inside the Jalan Industrial Complex, Bankra, will catalyse the state’s competitiveness, revenues and growth. Alampur and Domjur; we warehouse raw materials and finished products; we provide economy and speed in our What difference will you bring to warehousing? transportation services; we provide an easy access to the In one word, integration. There is no integrated Bengal national and local markets; we enjoy an access to urban logistic park that connects the Eastern part of India with infrastructure and labour. the rest of the country. A logistics park with facilities like banks, courier services, canteen for labour, guest house, Besides, Howrah, where we are located, is one of India’s most retail spaces, restaurants, dedicated security personnel, boom industrially developed districts and a hub of foundry and barriers, among others, will provide an ease of operations for light engineering products. Besides, the region abounds in owners. Besides, the park’s 24x7 operations will serve as a big diverse sectors (jute, flour, rice, oilseed, saw mills, rolling mills, advantage.

January 2014 /real-ties/49 January 2014 /real-ties/50 January 2014 /real-ties/51 Realty Expo 2013

GOSSIPWALLAH

HOW THE would not advise walking up than 90 seconds and low rooms in each flat which is STAIRCASE and down the stairs to anyone power consumption. The booked at the Realty Expo KEEPS DEVANG above 40.” two places where the simpler 2014. The mandatory gifts GANDHI FIT! format has been noticed: The given for this purpose should IN TERMS OF RATE PER DBS building at the corner not be clubbed with any “Staying fit revolves around SQ FT, a carpark is more of Little Russel Street and other existing promotional three things - diet, exercise expensive than an apartment. Ho Chi Minh Sarani and in offer which the participant and rest. Diet balance is the So what the city requires is an a pathological clinic building may already be entitled to. most important. You can automated parking system. on Hazra Road. Worth The Realty Expo 2014 USP: never ‘out-exercise’ a bad diet. The Simpark at the corner emulating. it will address the needs of Since I don’t get time to hit the of Park Street and Rawdon mid-income group (MIG) gym, I usually walk up and Street is an example – the THE ANNUAL REALTY and low-income group (LIG) down my building staircase “world’s first fully automatic EXPO (organised by consumers as well. Watch - to stay fit. I take my time; I mechanised public multi- CREDAI Bengal) arranges out for the event on 21-24th do not pound up and down to level car parking system on for the presence of the widest February, 2014 at Milan Mela protect my knees. I climb my a curve”. The ground plus possible range of properties. Ground, 11 am to 8:30 pm. five floors 16 times - 80 floors two-storied computer based This one-stop destination a day. I take a two-minute system accommodates upto attracted 51 exhibitors and THE RAIN FOREST BY break each time I finish four three times more cars than 15,000 visitors. This time MOUNTHILL REALTY. rounds. I take around 30 conventional parking. Cars around, the four Milan Mela The ways real estate minutes in all. This tones my are parked one over another halls will maximise exposure promoters differentiate thighs and calves; it works which helps in parking two for not only the developers, their properties these days! for the entire body as well. I or more cars in place of one. but also exhibitors of allied Just when you thought that also do free hand exercises, Among the other benefits: products. For participants promoters would struggle crunches and push-ups. The no mechanical maintenance, in Hall 1, 2 and 3, it is big tip: increase exercises shorter construction period, mandatory to give air- to create new ways of selling gradually. A word of advice: I storage and retrieval in less conditioners for all the bed their projects, Mounthill

January 2014 /real-ties/52 Realty has emerged with Clubhouse. Yoga meditation economic growth in sectors to be introduced with the a unique differentiator: an plaza. Spa. Woodland like banking, mortgage, objective to decongest acupressure pathway. An gardens. Tree-grove seating. labour, steel, cement and Kolkata in addition to 100 acupressure what? That’s Special socialising zones paint. There are 254 ancillary more buses to be introduced right, a pathway. This outdoor (festive gathering plaza, the sectors related to the housing to 10 existing routes for sector like cement and iron. better connectivity. Principal flooring surface is designed soft landscaped party lawns Some 30 million people are Secretary (Transport) to stimulate foot nerves when and amphitheatre). Phew! involved in the sector, which Alapan Bandyopadhyay we walk on it. “When your Just the kind of place where has an estimated market announced the ‘open-road the wife has to send out an day-to-day living takes care size of `2.5 lac crore. The policy’ for road, water and air errand boy to check where of your health, it becomes an index indicates realty growth transport. The 15 routes will the husband might be – ideal place to stay and enjoy,” to have shifted to smaller comprise New Barrackpore and vice versa (lest one be says Hemant Sikaria, Founder cities like Dehradun, Bhopal to Alipore, Park Circus dismissed as chauvinistic!). and CMD, Mounthill Realty. and Hubli. The real estate to Furfura Sharif, Boral The project - The Rain CINEPOLIS. Kolkata to sector has been witnessing a Natun Haat to Raja Bazar, Forest – is positioned as a get India’s first international declining trend in big cities Thakurpukur to Santragachhi first-of-its-kind all round cinema exhibitor – Cinepolis such as Bangalore, Kolkata and Shalimar Station to health and wellness-related at ‘Acropolis,’ a `350-crore and Chennai. Source: Times of Ruby Park, selected on the India, 04.01.2014 basis of maximum passenger realty project. The project PPP between KMDA and Merlin Projects off the footfalls. Regarding the comprises features like PALM MEADOWS Rashbehari-EM Bypass open-road policy for river an ayurvedic spa, herbal (BANGALORE) by Adarsh connector. The project (6.5 and air transport, vessels garden, bio pool, aerated Group. Uniqueness: The acres) is expected to be ready will be allowed both on jacuzzi, lotus courtyard Palm Meadows Club offers a in six months. The integrated intra- and inter-state routes. sit-out café with a pool view, and meditation centre. The project will offer 8 lac sq ft of In the open road policy, the an Oak Tavern (where spirits result? “Healthy living is mixed-use development area State will be offering new are available in the form of not a necessity but part of with 90 retail outlets. “We are buses for the city’s fringes. an automated dispenser!), an everyday lifestyle!” says excited to enter Kolkata. We The Government has also aqua bar, spa (aerobics, Sikaria. perceive the market to have initiated smoother inter- fitness and weight training, a deficit in terms of supply state road transit system MARVEL GANGA FRIA sauna, steam, jacuzzi and of multiplex screens and we by simplifying the permit rejuvenation treatments), (WAGHOLI, PUNE). hope to take advantage of system. Source: Times of a 3,000 sq ft gym, beauty Just when one felt that this,” said Ashish Shukla, India, 06.02.2014 parlour and gents salon, this ‘recreational bug’ had country head, Cinepolis leisure pool (waterfall, pebble REAL ESTATE PRICING been driven to its logical India. According to a survey beach, bubble pool, water TRENDS. The movement conclusion and that there just by Cushman & Wakefield, massage jets and outdoor in residential property couldn’t be any way a real Kolkata is fast emerging as a jacuzzi), thermo-regulated prices (July-September new retail hotspot. Source: estate promoter would be able pool, three indoor badminton quarter) demonstrated an Economic Times, 01.01.2014 to add to the kinds of options courts - built to Olympic increasing trend in 12 cities, available, here is a new one. HOUSING START-UP standards, squash court ranging from 0.46 per cent A realty offering that offers INDEX (HSUI). with Australian floorboard in Mumbai to 5.30 per cent 35 recreational facilities! You India became the sixth and Belgium glass, A 5–lane in Kolkata, and declining in read right. Thirty five! Green country (Canada, US, Japan, swimming pool, indoor 10 cities ranging from 0.93 lawns merging into water France, Australia and New games and cards room, two per cent in Bengaluru. This bodies. Timber boardwalks Zealand) to have its own international standard hard latest NHB Residex for the connected to shaded housing start-up index called courts for tennis, basketball quarter covers 26 cities (base half-court, indoor children year 2007). The maximum walkways. Cricket and mini- Housing Start-Up Index activity centre, swings ‘n’ price moderation was in football field. Basketball (HSUI). HSUI is an indicator of residential construction slides playground, conference Meerut (6.88 per cent) while court. Badminton, squash volume, covering 27 cities and boardrooms! Need we the highest appreciation was and tennis courts. Skating (2009 to 2011). The index say more! in Kolkata (5.30 per cent)! plaza. Mini-golf course. will soon cover 300 cities. Source: The Hindu Business SOME 15 NEW ROUTES State-of-the-art gymnasium. This first-of-its-kind initiative Line, 22.11.2013 and 200 buses are likely Swimming and kids’ pool. is a critical indicator of

January 2014 /real-ties/53 Developments Upcoming facilities and real estate trends sprouting across the city.

T parks in Sector V. Infinity has always known to on their projects. The research centres will promote new be a pioneer in setting new benchmarks. It began its ideas for new products. The Bengal government has allotted journey by creating the first IT 10 acres in Rajarhat for the park. IIT IPark in the Eastern region in Bombay’s research park will be situated ‘Infinity Think Tank’, now a landmark on the campus. Source: The Telegraph, and fully occupied. Infinity Benchmark 23.11.2013 (fully occupied) is a 5,60,000 sq. ft. A 6,00,000 sq ft IT park. Merlin work space equipped with great social Infinite, a Gold rated Green Building is infrastructure and design sensibilities. coming up at Sector V even when spaces It is the second Platinum-rated Green in a number of buildings lie unused in Building outside the US and seventh IT Lagoon Bengal’s IT hub of Sector V and Rajarhat. in the world. Then there is Godrej Merlin Infinite boasts of a leasable office Waterside, which is the largest Gold space of 4.2 lac sq ft. Merlin Group rated IT Park in Eastern India with over officials indicated that 90 percent of the 1.8 million sq ft. The facility has achieved land has already been sold out/leased out Gold rating from the Indian Green to medium and small entrepreneurial Building Council. Currently the first ventures. The success of Merlin Infinite tower is occupied and a majority of the was attributed to the right sizing of space in second tower. The Company’s offices and strong infrastructural support third project ‘IT Lagoon’ provides the in buildings. “The demand of space in best of both worlds – the natural and Sector V will increase following the the modern world with a total area of completion of the Metro Rail linkage 4,47,000 sq ft. Situated on the bank of to Salt Lake” said promoter Mr. Sushil a 1000-acre natural lake, IT Lagoon Mohta. provides a stunning view. It achieved Platinum rating from the Indian Green Kolkata will have its first Westin Building Council with a majority of the property, a brand from US hospitality space occupied and operational. conglomerate Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, by mid 2015. Westin will Research Park in Kolkata. IIT manage the upcoming `600-crore Kharagpur is planning to set up a property on an eight-acre plot in the dedicated research park in Calcutta at satellite township of New Town, on the a cost of `100 crore for projects related eastern fringes of the city. “Construction to technology development for industry work has been complete. Interiors work and an incubator of ideas to form is going on. The hotel will be operational small companies. This will be the only by the end of 2014 or mid 2015,” says research park in Eastern India. MTech Sujit Kanoria, Managing Director, and PhD students would have the choice Infinity Think Tank Shristi Infrastructure. Apart from guest to work on research projects at the rooms, the hotel will also have service park. The alumni can involve themselves as well. Companies apartments. It will also have an adjoining commercial and will be benefited as they would be able to create research retail space. Source: The Hindu, 04.01.2014 centres where faculty members of IIT Kharagpur may work

January 2014 /real-ties/54 A thousand words

ANJAN GHOSH

Selected for ‘Foodscapes’ story by National Geographic Anjan Ghosh. A graphic designer by profession but a photo enthusiast at heart. He aspires to communicate everyday living through his life capturing moments. This photograph was taken during the Chhat Puja at Rabindra Sarobar in November 2013. He captured the cultural richness of our society, highlighting how people honour food in our country.

January 2014 /real-ties/55 Mudar Patherya, [email protected] freewheeling WHY THE EUNUCH IS KOLKATA’S MOST SUCCESSFUL MARKETING PROFESSIONAL

ne of the great grateful to them for having family members, office going all he says is ‘Jaldi se rafaa- unsolved condescended to settle lower. timings of the men-folk, dafaa karke khatam karo!’ mysteries is ability of the mother-in-law to They will show an unusual If you call the police, the how eunuchs wilt under pressure. speed in discarding their impassive response is ‘Eta discover that a clothes for the bewildered Presumably this social aamadeyr control theke Ochild has been born at home. attention of your family network becomes active bairey!’ Over the years, the great should you even mildly from the time they notice If you seek neighbourly suspense is not what the suggest that ‘Hum nahi dega. that one of the bahus of support, suddenly you find future holds for the newborn Jaao jo karna hai karo!’ the building has a bulge in most domestic assistants but how one will be able the midriff that cannot be They will immediately invoke answering the intercom with to jhelo the eunuchs who dismissed as ‘lifestyle’. Based the grace of ‘Gharib nawaz’ ‘Bibiji nahaan rahi hai!’ descend to extract their on this network, the eunuchs and ‘Paak Rasool’ once they pound of ….okay, I wanted to chalk out their ‘manpower’ If you tell the media, it is realise you are not Hindu. use ‘flesh’ but you know what allocation and income just another non-event in an I mean. They will melt your defence estimations. When questioned event-filled city. with railings against society’s by the Building Committee, The standard eunuch practice heartlessness as a result of the durwans have a convenient 4 is to arrive en masse at the which they have been ‘reduced alibi: ‘Babu, inke saamne koi The conclusion then is fairly blessed house. In the good old to doing this.’ bhi kuch kar nahi sakta!’ End simple. Add the eunuch days, they held a respectful of chapter. extortion to the diagnosis fees, distance at the building They will impress upon you doctor payments, caesarian entrance. No longer; my the power of their blessings There is another theory. operation, hospital charges, mother-in-law on the 15th for the newborn, cleverly It is not the durwans but naam-karan ceremony and floor of a Southern Avenue diverting attention from the nurses at the maternity mother’s recovery. high-rise answered the the fact that they are in fact hospital who act as the doorbell to find a reception extorting you. informers – of the baby’s Chalo, even this would be committee of six. She gender, weight and general ok, but for something else. They will threaten to return stammered for the next three health, each of which is then Our friends now also turn with an even larger team – minutes. turned into a negotiating up at shaadis, engagements, they actually do – who, they point. ‘Pehla ladka hua hai, housewarmings and office The eunuchs are nothing quietly drop the line, are badhaai ho amma! Gareeb ki inaugurations. without nuisance value. ‘beyond our control’. dua le, maa!’ If I were the ad agency for They will consciously raise a 2 the eunuchs, I would position racket until you get terribly 3 The big question: how do their campaign around a embarrassed about drawing The other big question: How they get to your doorstep? simple line: ‘Whenever you neighbourly attention and can you as a citizen protect think of happiness, think of saltaao without creating a fuss. My hunch is that the yourself? u s .’ durwans of our buildings are They will descend on your If you shut the door on them, collaborating insiders. For That will make you think. apartment just when the they play piano with your a suitable commission, they husband is away. doorbell, until you collapse Mudar Patherya would love to share relevant information with your head in your hands, read your horror stories on this They will start with a demand with the eunuch group – plead with your husband for subject at mudar@trisyscom. so high – gold, saris and cash - financial status, number of assistance (‘Abhi aiyye!’) and com that at some point you will feel

January 2014 /real-ties/56 Opposite Mirania Lake, NEW LAUNCH near Science City INIA

Land area: 1.5 bigha Number of flats: 37 Completion time: January 2017 Number of blocks: 1 Unit sizes: 2,180; 2,450; 4,630 sq ft Location: E.M.Bypass/P.C.Connector Number of floors: B+G+21 Open space: 80 percent Developer: J. C. Infratech

The developer speaks: “The project offers an exclusive premium residential lifestyle living with internationally benchmarked architecture. Contact: Attractive pricing makes it a worthy buy. Inia 033 40401010/ is strategically located at Topsia which is well-connected across the city. A 40 ft lobby 66201010 with a water curtain is a unique feature in the project. All apartments are south-facing Email: sales@ with three sides open. The infinity pool on nkrealtors.com the terrace along with a Sky Gym provides a modern lifestyle edge to the project.” TM Want to be here? real-real-

tiestiesKolkata’s only real estate magazine I Vol 9 I Issue 4 I January 2014 real- Steal the limelight in style and join the bandwagon of over 45,000 show-stealers from the corporate world, real estate, retail sector, HNI and more. tiesKolkata’s only real estate magazine

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