iParmar's River Residency Registered for 5 Star Green Rating with GRIHA

iParmar's River Residency, the iconic 34 acre integrated township in Chikhali, PCMC, scores another “First”.

It  is the first integrated township in PCMC to register for a 5 Star rating from GRIHA — Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment— the National Rating System for Green Buildings. This rating, based on a several criteria at the planning, construction and post-construction stages of a project, acknowledges the Environment Conservation and Energy Preservation initiatives which are an integral part of the project.

As per PCMC norms, this rating will also confer substantial Property Tax benefits to home owners in the project, resulting in significant savings year after year.

2011 was a year of highs for Pimpri-Chinchwad residents

For the 18 lakh residents of the industrial town of Pimpri-Chinchwad, 2011 was a year of highs on the development front. This year, many projects were either kicked off or taken to their logical end. As an icing on the cake, Pimpri-Chinchwad received the ‘Best City’ award from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, right at the end of the year. The award was bestowed on Pimpri-Chinchwad for its performance on JNNURM projects.

“To become the best city among 65 others is an achievement in itself. Even the state chief secretary joined us to receive the award from the Prime Minister,” said municipal commissioner Asheesh Sharma, whose every step is being watched closely by civic-conscious citizens. Little wonder then massive boards have sprung up congratulating him and mayor Yogesh Behl.

Sharma said except for the Pavana pipeline project, which is mired in controversy following protests by villagers from Maval taluka, most of the projects have been completed by the civic body. “The biggest achievement is on the sewerage front, where we are now able to treat cent per cent sewage. Once a couple of more STPs are operational, our capacity will go beyond 100 per cent,” he said. For the slum-dwellers too, there was a lot to cheer about as the PCMC doled out 1,200 flats under BSUP. “We will soon distribute 9,000 flats of the 18,000 planned,” Sharma said.

On the roads front, traffic at two key spots that had become major irritants is now smoother. Work on the Bhosari bridge, which had been limping for four years, was finally over and the bridge thrown open to the public in May. “Earlier, it took more than half-an-hour to cross a small stretch of road at Bhosari chowk. Now, you can cross the same area in a matter of seconds,” said Sachin Godambe, a resident of Dhavde Vasti, Bhosari.

Work on the bridge work at Chapekar chowk in Chinchwadgaon, started two years back, too was complete last month, ending another chronic traffic nightmare for residents. “Moving around in Chinchwad become less chaotic in a matter of few days,” said socialite Saroj Rao. The work on the bridges collective cost the PCMC around Rs 130 crore. In addition, work on Empire Estate chowk flyover and Dange chowk overbridge also started this year. The former will benefit Pune-Mumbai highway users while the latter will ease travel woes towards the Westerly bypass.

The process to set up the Moshi Industrial Convention centre also started this year. “This will be the biggest in Asia and spur industrial growth here,” said Sharma.

On the health front too, things improved. The PCMC began distributing health cards to citizens undergoing treatment at its hospitals. It is the brainchild of the civic chief, who has been insisting that patients should not be made to wait for treatment at civic hospitals. The plan for setting up a cancer screening centre has also moved forward this year. “This will probably be the first to be set up by a civic body in the country,” said Behl.

At YCMH — which caters to patients from five talukas — the pace of progress is in the fast lane. “Besides the health card, MRI scan facility and C-Arm facility started at YCMH. It is the first in Pune to have a casualty ward with 40 beds,” said YCMH superintendent Dr Anand Jagdale

Investing in Incredible Pune

India has witnessed major development and rapid transformation in the recent past, which is a proven advantage to the economy. This development has led to rising trends in lifestyle, purchasing power and property value.

The property market across the globe is at a low, with investments yielding between 2% to almost negative returns. The Indian real estate scenario, in contrast, is far more promising with an appreciation value anywhere between 25-40%. So, when it comes to investing in property, it comes as no surprise that many NRIs are now putting their money into India. In addition to making good business sense, their underlying emotional attachment to their home country makes it inevitable.

The appreciation of property values in cities like Pune, one of the fastest growing in India is valued at a minimum 7%, with its bordering cities and annexes, such as the twin townships of Pimpri-Chinchwad (PCMC), Chakan and Chikali growing at a whopping 30%. Driven by a number of factors, such as flourishing industry, a vibrant automobile, steel, IT and service sectors, the demand for housing continues to rise in PCMC, which boasts of state-of-the-art infrastructure. Chakan and Chikali are now commercial hubs with easy access and connectivity to Mumbai. Keeping this in mind iParmar’s River Residency has been designed and created to suit living and investing needs.

Whilst the rise in property values has seen a corresponding rise in the number of NRIs investing in Indian real estate, there are other contributing factors as well: Several Non Resident Indians plan to return to India in the future and purchasing property now just makes better sense. But it’s not only NRIs with plans to come home who are buying property; a large number of the Diaspora, are also emotionally tied to India, with family members still living here, and with e-solutions now easing the way, India’s property market is fast becoming part of its shining story.

As in every business decision, due diligence is a must, if one is to reap the many benefits of this burgeoning market. So, going with a reputed builder with an established track record is always recommended: Not only are you assured of a quality construction packed with modern amenities and specifications, you also get the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ve spent your money wisely and well. 

Pimpri-Chinchwad receives three national awards

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation received three awards under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) of the Union urban development ministry for being the

• Best city for 2011, 
• Best improvement in water supply and waste water sector and 
• Best city in effective enforcement of pro-poor awards.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave away the best city for 2011 award, while Union urban development minister Kamal Nath gave away the best city in effective enforcement of pro-poor scheme award. State chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad, Pimpri Chinchwad mayor Yogesh Behl and commissioner Ashish Sharma received the awards in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Pimpri Chinchwad is one among the 65 cities selected under the JNNURM scheme and, at present, 14 projects under its aegis are being implemented in the twin township. It is mandatory for all cities under JNNURM to execute approved projects and undertake reforms as per the tripartite agreement between the Union government, state government and the civic bodies to avail of the funds granted.

The best city for 2011 award consists of Rs 5 lakh, a memento and citation.

The civic body has laid water supply networks and built sewage treatment plants for which it has received the first prize in the category - improvement in water supply and waste water sector. The award consists of Rs 3 lakh, a memento and citation. The civic body has installed water meters, took efforts for equitable water distribution, started online bill payment system, call centre for complaints regarding water supply, reduced water leakages through supervisory control and data acquisition system and set up water treatment plants using advanced technology.

Also, the civic body has provided houses at low rates under the basic services to urban poor programme under the JNNURM. It has provided the urban poor with roads, water supply, drainage, solid waste management, education, health and medical services and facilities. The civic body has received best city in effective enforcement of pro-poor award that comprises Rs 3 lakh, a memento and citation.

PCMC to widen road stretch leading to Hinjewadi IT park

PUNE: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is planning to widen the 900-metre stretch of the road from Wakad chowk (on the Westerly bypass) to Shivaji chowk easing the traffic problems from Wakad to Hinjewadi IT Park.

The road stretch, which falls within the PCMC limits, is to be widened to 30 metre with six lanes at a cost of Rs 7.97 crore. The civic standing committee approved a resolution to this effect last week.

The PCMC has already planned a bus rapid transit system (BRTS) route reaching Wakad chowk from Kaspate Vasti. While the BRTS road up to Wakad chowk will be 45 metre wide, the 900-metre road ahead is to be widened to 30 metres. M T Kamble, joint city engineer, PCMC, said, "The civic body will not have to spend an additional amount on widening the stretch since it will be included in the works for the BRTS. The road widening will reduce traffic congestion and benefit residents of the twin township and other nearby areas.

The standing committee resolution states that social organizations, local corporators, traffic police and others have demanded that the road from Wakad chowk going to the IT park be widened to reduce traffic congestion and accidents.

A civic official said that the 30-metre-wide road will have six lanes. This road will be widened by another 15 metre in the second phase after the civic body gets possession of the necessary land. The road widening will be completed before the onset of monsoon next year, he added.

R B Nale, assistant police inspector, Hinjewadi traffic police chowkey, said, "The road from Wakad chowk on the westerly bypass near the flyover to Hinjewadi is unevenly wide. The vehicular traffic flow is very high from 8 am to 11 am when the IT employees from various parts of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad go to their workplaces at the IT park. The bridge over the nullah is narrow from Wakad to Hinjewadi and is a bottleneck. The people from Pune city coming from Baner side use the road below the flyover while the people from Pimpri Chinchwad city use the flyover to go to the IT Park. As a result there is traffic congestion when the vehicles reach the bridge over the nullah. The traffic police alternately allow the traffic from the flyover and that below the flyover to proceed towards the nullah bridge."

Nale said, "Half of the road from Wakad chowk to Hinjewadi lies within the PCMC limits and the remaining half is in the possession of the Maharashtra Industries Development Corporation. The road needs to be widened by both the authorities to reduce the traffic congestion."