Kandivali, a largely residential suburb, located between Borivali and Malad on Mumbai’s western line, is in the throes of an urban makeover with developers eagerly cashing in on its proximity to the arterial Western Express Highway and improved infrastructure to lure homebuyers and retail players with a slew of projects.
When Avinash and his wife Shantashree moved from the elite suburb of Bandra to a bigger flat at faraway Kandivali about five years ago, he feared the worst. And not without good reason, after all if it wasn’t for the space constraints imposed by his cosy but small two-room apartment, he had no reason to relocate from Bandra, the suburb where he grew up and more importantly, where most of his social contacts still resided. “I had heard stories of Kandivali’s commuting hassles, lack of basic amenities and frequent leopard attacks on people at the neighbouring Sanjay Gandhi National Park,” recounts Avinash with a wry smile. It was only a few months after he had shifted with his wife to their new abode at a suburban apartment complex at Kandivali (East), did he realize that the horror stories he had heard were far from the truth. “I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. In fact, I have since advised quite a few of my acquaintances to move out here,” he admits.
Kandivali over the decade has undergone a complete urban transformation and now rates as one of Mumbai’s fastest developing suburbs and a preferred retail destination with plush shopping malls like Growel’s 101, Shoppers’ Stop and Raghuleela Mega Mall. Its landscape is now adorned with a huge number of high-rises and housing complexes that includes landmarks like the sprawling 21-lakh sq. ft. Evershine Millennium Paradise, a self-contained residential township with over 100 buildings, Challenger Towers, a clutch of six multi-storied buildings that reach for the skies and Raheja Willows, K Raheja Universal’s residential complex on Akurli road that offers a choice between 2 & 3 BHK apartments in three towers with premium amenities. Other prominent projects include: Thakur Village, Thakur Complex, Kalpataru Gardens, Oberoi complex, Sun City complex and Gundecha Builder’s Valley of Flowers.
The Lokhandwala group has come up with two townships in Kandivali- Whispering Palms and Spring Leaf. The former is a luxurious township of earthquake-resistant homes, spread over 27 acres of land and just minutes away from the WEH, while the latter too is a residential complex of 2 BHK and 1BHK apartments, with extra amenities like a tennis court, a play area for children, swimming pool, health club, besides ample parking space for residents.
While the eastern part of this suburb has witnessed the bulk of construction activities given the ample land available and a booming demand, Kandivali (West), with its large Gujarati population, is the ideal destination for the suburban crowds with its cleanliness, excellent connectivity, affordability and well-defined distance between its residential complexes and commercial areas.
Shopping for groceries and provisions is easy and affordable with the Charkop market and Apna Bazar close by. While Shoppers’ Stop is the major retail shopping attraction, cinemas like Cinestar, Fame and Mayur cater to the tastes of the local moviegoers. This suburb also boasts of some of the best medical facilities in the city with a concentration of about 15 hospitals in the vicinity and a clutch of marriage halls that also abound here. As an increasing number of young, upper middle class property buyers look seriously at Kandivali as a residential option, the property rates of the suburb have shot up by about Rs 1,200 in past 4 years. Currently, the rates fluctuate between Rs 1,800 and Rs 2,800 per sq ft, depending on the area where the property is constructed and the facilities that the builder offers. Kandivali will also get more accessible once the fifth and sixth railway lines are added between Bandra and Borivali - a Mumbai Urban Transport Programme, which is expected to be implemented by 2007.
Attracted by the cosmopolitan mix of its residents and array of shopping, entertainment and lifestyle options close at hand, Kandivali is fast becoming the numero uno choice among young married couples and DINK (Double Income No Kids) families looking to buy or rent affordable home without having to compromise too much on their quality lifestyle.
“After living as a tenant at Andheri (East) where I couldn’t stand in my balcony let alone go for a leisurely stroll in the evening thanks to the intense pollution and traffic congestion, moving to this flat at Kandivali (East) has been one of the best decisions of my life,” concurs Adrian De’Souza, an IT professional with a software firm. “Earlier I lived at Andheri because it was closer to my office. After relocating I do spend more time traveling to and fro from work but it’s well worth it because Kandivali offers a lot more in terms of open spaces and entertainment options,” he affirms.
Mahesh Joshi, who moved with his family of four to Kandivali four years ago, was on the lookout for a larger flat that also afforded a quality lifestyle for his growing kids. Says he, “When I began my search, I explored many apartments in suburbs like Versova and Marol, but was disillusioned by the high prices and the sheer congestion. Kandivali, on the other hand, has a lot more greenery and open spaces for children to play in. Moreover, I was quite impressed with the area’s shopping and entertainment options and the upcoming flyover that will connect Kandivali east to the west. All these factors cemented my decision to move here and now on hindsight I am happy I took that decision.”
“Kandivali has been one of the biggest success stories in all of Mumbai’s suburbs,” says Dhiren Shah, Shah Property Consultants. “Customers are definitely showing a preference for its many integrated townships like Evershine Millenium, Valley of Flowers, Thakur Village and so on. Moreover, some of Mumbai’s leading builders like the Kanakia’s, Lokhandwala, Oberoi, Sheth group, Dynamix and Gundecha have their projects here. We are already witnessing a change in our customer profile for Kandivali projects from middle-class to upper-middle class. With the current rates for residential properties hovering between Rs 1,800-Rs 3,000 psf, the future looks quite promising.
Realty Plus
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