Track2Realty: Tata Housing has launched the second phase of its residential development – Inora Park. Phase II of the project comprises approximately 100, 3 BHK units, 1400 square feet and are priced starting at Rs. 68 lakhs onwards. Apartments are also available in 2 and 2.5 BHK.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Awards have often been the source of sulking within the business community. However, when it comes to real estate, one has got absolutely no reasons to sulk as awards are not just rigged but customised for the companies at a cost. Track2Realty finds while some buy it for recognition, brand promotion or just notional value; others dismiss the offer being aware that m0re than they needing the award, such trophies need their brand value for establishing credibility.
Track2Realty Exclusive: In its quest for getting professional and have a facelift, the real estate hired professionals from very many other industries. When the going was good some of these companies even shifted management control at the operational level to these professionals. And just when it seemed that the Indian realty is fast maturing from promoter-driven to professional-driven, the downturn in the last few years exposed the sector to an altogether new reality. Track2Realty noted that churn out at the top of these realty companies has been very high and professional-driven management is not a panacea to the woes of the sector.
Track2Realty: Tata Housing has made it to the Limca Book of Records 2013 for ‘Mumbai Wallbook’, the lengthiest wall painting activity held in Mumbai on May 20th, 2012. This first of its kind initiative on the theme ‘Design Your Dream City’ witnessed 556 artists coming together, on one platform, to design their dream for the city. Over 15,000 likes and conversations were generated on Tata Housing’s Facebook page a week prior to the event, and other social media platforms successfully engaged enthusiasts that ensured high footfalls at the venue.
Track2Realty Exclusive: While the real estate fraternity, legal experts and others had strongly questioned the basis of the CCI order and the enormous penalty of Rs 630-crore levied on the real estate major, the sector itself eventually approached the CCI through its industry associations against the cement cartel. Acting on the sector representatives’ complaints, the CCI imposed a penalty of Rs. 6, 307 crore on 11 cement companies for cartelisation.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Asking for industry status, the sector doesn’t want elements of accountability that comes with the package. Quite opposed to the very idea of regulation, even after self-regulatory attempts didn’t work out, realty doesn’t evoke confidence at the policy level and often ends up being at loggerheads with the government. Track2Realty finds that though policy advocacy is very much desirable in the sector, it is yet so debatable that the stakeholders have failed to evolve a consensus over its issues and agenda.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Consumer rights advocate Lakhendra Singh is even more forthright when he says if CCI has to establish its credibility in the collective conscience; it must make its economic analysis more scientific and full-proof. There can’t be different parameters of defining relevant geographic market and product category for different real estate companies. According to him, CCI instead of being seen as an anti-monopoly watchdog and inspiring confidence has, of late, been in the news for consumer activism.
Track2Realty: Godrej Properties signs a development management agreement for a project on Whitefield Main Road. The agreement is with United Oxygen Company Private Limited to develop their property situated near Hoody.
Track2Realty Exclusive: While the concept is being touted as the next big thing for the realty industry, there are both pros and cons to be weighed with integrated townships. There, of course, is the flip side too. Long gestation periods for these projects to take off and reluctance on the part of people to move to an isolated location are challenging from the developers perspective.
Track2Realty: Bengaluru’s office market clocked an absorption of approximately 9.6 mn.sq.ft. during 2012, falling short of the absorption in 2011 by 17%.