Track2Realty Exclusive: The problem remains that many SEZs are seen as real estate scams. Lack of clarity on the country’s land acquisition policy is also a major stumbling block for SEZ projects. EAS Sarma, former Secretary to the Government of India has alleged that most of the SEZs in the country have become real estate ventures lined to money laundering.
Track2Realty-Agencies: Shriram Properties the Bangalore-based realty arm of the Shriram Group, is understood to have up lined up discussions with key global players including Mapletree and Ascendas to sell its Gateway SEZ, a 1.3 million square feet information technology special economic zone in Chennai for $150 million.
Track2Realty Exclusive: A recent commerce ministry discussion paper highlighted that there is a perception that many developers do not set up the proposed SEZ and continue to hold on to large parcels of land with the intention of benefiting from its alternative usage and land price escalation.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Signs of consumer activism backfiring have already started appearing. For instance, visibly upset with the increasing instances of protests by Noida Extension home buyers, which often obstruct traffic and law and order arrangements in the city, the district administration in November, 2012, asked the buyers’ association to not to protest in groups.
Track2Realty Exclusive: When the issue of Maharashtra Government levying 5 per cent Value-Added Tax (VAT) surfaced and the MCHI-CREDAI and a couple of other developers’ and trade associations moved to the court, a consumer group called FORAM–Flat Owners’ Rights protection Action committee in Maharashtra – was formed with consumer interest groups coming together and seeking to fight the vexed VAT issue on flats in Maharashtra.
Track2Realty Exclusive: In Noida Extension buyers took to streets against the developers for allegedly using all available options to ensure that the original set of buyers were divested of their flats, which could then be resold at a higher rate. In a majority of the cases, the consumers were faced with a Hobson’s choice.
Track2Realty: India has been ranked as the second most risk prone location for hosting Datacentre Operations according to the annual ‘Datacenter Risk Index 2013’ survey released by international consultants Cushman & Wakefield in association with hurleypalmerflatt and Source8. The ‘Data Centre Risk Index 2013’ identifies risks likely to affect the successful operation of data centre facilities in the 30 most important global markets.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Cause of the dissatisfied home buyers may be legitimate, ways to get means may not be. Home buyers overt activism, often to the extent of blackmailing the builders, taking to the streets and media trial before even the case is filed in the court has not gone down well with the system. So much so that even Competition Commission of India (CCI) has become careful in its order to investigate the frivolous complaints against the developers.
Track2Realty Exclusive: There are certain precautions one must take in documentation when going for a resale property. Om Ahuja, CEO–Residential Services, Jones Lang LaSalle India says all the documents that are applicable for a primary residential property sale would be required for a clear resale flat transaction, as well. The seller should be able to produce all original documents.
Track2Realty: Cushman & Wakefield has expanded its Greater China operations into Taiwan by opening its first office in Taipei. It has appointed Jack Lin as the Managing Director of Taipei office. Prior to joining Cushman & Wakefield, Jack was the Managing Director of Taiwan Sotheby’s International Realty where he set up the luxury residential brokerage business. Together with Jack, Steven Chen was also appointed as the Director of Agency. Steven has more than 16 years’ experience in the real estate industry and was previously at Savills.