Bharti-Walmart, a 50:50 joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and US-based Walmart, has roped in real estate company, Ansal API, to set up its cash-and-carry store in Lucknow.The ‘Best Price Modern Wholesale’ store in Lucknow will be spread over 60,000 sq feet in Sushant Golf City, a high-tech residential township being developed by the Ansals.
It seems the revival in the realty market has once again started attracting big ticket investments in the sector and even the corporate in the allied business want to reap the benefits. Nitco Ltd, known for flooring and interior aesthetics solutions provider, has now marked its foray in the real estate sector with the inauguration of its first commercial project- Nitco Biz Park.
Gone are the days when we were chained to our desk from 9 to 5. How we work is changing. The idea of a “Third Place,” a space that’s neither home nor office but where people want to spend a portion of their lives, was introduced as far back as 1989 in Ray Oldenburg’s book “The Great Good Place.” Today, thanks to the advent of wireless technology, the concept has evolved from being merely from a civic or entertainment space and now also applies to a flexible work space for mobile employees.
While the Indian realtors have often cribbed on the issue of under representation of the sector in respective budget, they have seldom admitted the fact that the real estate has been a divided house over their wants and needs. Navin M Raheja, MD, Raheja Developers suggests a way out and asserts that tax sops given to real estate will actually increase the government revenue.
Mumbai witnessed the highest absorption in the year in 4Q10 which was recorded at 1,328,582 sq ft (123,429 sqm) indicating robust demand. Demand for Grade A office space was broad-based and not restricted to the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sectors, which typically dominate Mumbai’s tenant landscape. Domestic and multinational occupiers from the consulting, aviation, IT/ITES and other industries were active in acquiring front-office and back-office space in 4Q10.
The Hyderabad commercial office market posted a strong increase in demand in 2010 with the foray of new occupiers such as United Health Group, JP Morgan Chase and Facebook, and the expansion of existing tenants including TCS, Accenture, Google, Mindtree and Cognizant. Majority of the leasing transactions were recorded in the peripheral districts of Hitec City and Gachibowli. During the year, the city also witnessed strong pre-leasing activity. Demand of SEZ space in the city increased as compared to IT Parks in 2010.
The period ending 4Q10 witnessed low to moderate activity levels in the CBD and SBD of Delhi NCR. The CBD, with its low vacancy levels, continued to cater to small office queries, while the SBD with significantly more office stock, catered to the larger corporate office space demand.
Bangalore continued to witness increased market activity in 4Q10. Transaction volumes have improved significantly compared to that in the previous quarter. The improvement in transaction activity can be attributed to the stabilising macroeconomic situation, positive business environment outlook and the strengthening domestic market conditions.
Through a hailstorm of bouquets, brickbats, controversies and triumphs, the Indian real estate sector has always been one of the mainstays of the country’s economy. At some level, every Indian is connected with it; in some way or the other, it affects every citizen of this country.
An increase in lending rates is almost inevitable, considering the high need to curb inflation. On its own, an increase in lending rates would probably not have a very significant effect on the market. However, the fact is that there are already a number of negatives such as overpricing at play in the residential real estate sectors of large cities like Mumbai and Delhi.