Gurgaon touching new heights

 Millenium City Touching New Heights

GURGAON: From a city of commercial high-rises, Gurgaon is slowly taking shape as a city of residential high-rises.
The city has almost 60 per cent of its population living in these high-rise condominiums which are sparsely spread in the existing 57 sectors across the city.

Most of the high-rise residential projects are concentrated around the Gold Course Road, Sohna Road and the national highway.

While Gurgaon has over a lakh plotted colonies either under HUDA or other private builders, there are only about 60,000 units in the high-rises and society flats.

The trend clearly proves that Gurgaon is growing vertically. Till 2007, most areas were barren land where builders declared high-rises projects. Also, under the new Master Plan 2025, there are more projects which are for high rises and housing societies rather than plotted societies. The only recent plotted colony which was announced was in Sector 73 by a private developer.

With growing land rates and the security forming major concerns, it is still time before Gurgaon sees more plots by HUDA.

The trend is towards condominiums for a better life-style like gated colonies, 24-hour power back-up and recreational facilities. Land is costly so when it is divided into several units (as in a high-rise) it corrects the high rates.

"Under the present day scenario, a high-rise offers a wider range of options to a buyer – from a mid-income housing project to crore-plus apartments to luxury apartments," says Dr Sanjay Sharma of Qubrex.

However, builders maintain that if provided with condominium-like facilities, those with the buying power might not hesitate in investing in even plotted colonies.

Said a DLF Ltd spokesperson: "There is clientele for both in the market. But, safety issues and other facilities comparable to high-rises or gated colonies are the only ways to attract buyers to plotted colonies."

"The recent crime which took place in DLF phase III where a woman was murdered despite the house being manned by a private security guard clearly shows that there is a lot that needs to be achieved as far as

security arrangements in plotted societies are concerned.

Who would not like to have a house of his own, but the costs and lack of security raise concerns," added Sumit Singh Virdi, a resident of DLF phase V.

Jayanti Raghav, a resident of Ardee City, added: "I was living on rent at a private home in Old Gurgaon area. However, there were always issues of electricity, poor maintenance and of course security concern for me and my son. I may be paying extra money to live in the society, but I do not mind it."

 
Read more: Millennium City touching new heights – The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/Millennium-City-touching-new-heights/articleshow/7056076.cms#ixzz17Xa2ycGQ