TOP INTERIOR DECOR DISASTERS TO AVOID

Styling your home can be time and money consuming so make sure you do it right. Here is the list of the major interior decor faults to avoid.

Decorating our homes can be a daunting task for most. While the market is filled with several options in myriad styles, not many of us are equipped with the aesthetic sense to do a good job with our interior decor on our own. Consulting an interior designer or decorator is the best way to ensure that yourhome is a welcoming space for guests and family while still reflecting your personality. For those who still want to take the task into their own hands here are the suggestions some basic things to look out for so that we may avoid major interior decor disasters.

Excessive matching

We emphasises the importance of maintaining a balance in your decor. Just because you like a particular colour does not mean you should decorate the whole house in that colour. Decking up the whole house with a single colour or matching furniture set would make the house look extremely garish. Try using contrasting shades or accents to break the monotony. Your favourite pattern will stand out more if used in small doses.

Clutter

So you love picking up souveniers from your travels or have a huge collection of knick knacks that you want to display in your home? Make sure that you do not over do the showing off. Just because you have a ton of family heirlooms does not mean you need to keep them all over the house. Remember that it’s your home, not an antique store. We suggest that ideally we should only use half of our most loved display elements. Choose the items that work well with your decor theme and have the most sentimental value.

Poor lighting

Lighting has the power to change the whole mood of a room. The ubiquitous fluorescent tube lights are great for reading or cleaning but if you plan to entertain guests in your home, warm white light as of LEDs would be a better option. Having multiple bright overhead lights is a major decor disaster to be avoided. Try using a balanced mix of floor lamps, overhead lights, reading lamps and accent lighting in order to create focal points in your decor. Placement and the type of lights used is an important decision which, if ignored, can spoil even the best decor.

Excessive use of plastic

Indian homes are very commonly filled with plastic products ranging from artificial flowers to plastic furniture. Using plastic in your interior decor must be done very carefully as it tends to lend a cheap look to your home. Unless you want a retro look try to avoid excessive use of plastic in your home decor.

Mismatched furniture and furnishings

Just as going all matching-matching can spell interior decor disaster, similarly mismatched furniture can also ruin the whole look of your house. Choose a theme and buy furniture and furnishings that complement the theme. People often replace old furniture pieces without much thought to how the new ones go with the existing decor. The least you can do is to ensure that your wooden furniture pieces have similar look and colour. Unless you have a strong artistic sense, try not to mix and match several styles as your home might end up becoming an example for interior decor disaster. Another common decor blunder that most of us are guilty of is ignoring the clocks in our home. An unattractive clock amongst beautifully done interiors can become a terrible eye-sore.

Remember style is always a subjective issue. People will always differ in their opinion about what’s trendy and what’s not. But knowing the most basic do's and don’ts of interior decor will help save you from major interior decor disasters.

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Source - housing.com

Add an accent chair, to boost your home’s decor

Something as simple and practical as a chair, can be used as an eye-catching décor element at home. Read on, for tips on transforming this practical piece of furniture, into an accent piece

A stylishly crafted chair, with an eye-catching colour and design, serves to create a unique style statement in a home’s décor. “An accent chair, can add a dash of glamour and elegance. With an apt piece, you can add character and depth to a room, or contribute to a theme, besides providing a functional seating option,” says Pooja Malhotra, co-founder of The Fuchsia Lane (Mumbai), who works with her partner Gopika Parekh.

Accent chairs are available in a variety of designs – from contemporary to classic to eclectic, like chaise lounge chairs, royal chairs, quirky chairs, winged chairs, chairs with graphic illustrations or printed photo and regal silver ones or opulent gold-painted ones, encrusted with semi-precious stones.

How to choose the best chair

Before choosing a chair, one needs to identify its purpose and utility. “For example, a winged chair is ideal as the main dining chair, or it can be used as a reading chair too. You can also add a foot stool, for extra comfort,” suggests Parekh. A winged chair or a rocking chair can also be combined with a sofa set.

“These pieces can be made quirky or bold, with bright-coloured fabrics or prints that match a particular theme,” adds Parekh, whose firm has designed chairs with swan-shaped backrests and seats with Burma teak and a chair where the seat is painted by an artist.

In the living room or entertainment room, depending on the space available, one can also opt for recliners, which are available in manual and automated options, in different colours. Fancy chairs need not be to be kept, only in corners or in the entertainment area. Rather, one should experiment with different options, feels Punam Kalra, and interior designer from Delhi.

“For example, in a dining space, all the chairs can be of different colours. To add a quirky touch, various fabrics (plain, patterned and striped) can be patched together and used for upholstering a chair,” Kalra offers.

Mix and match

Even a simple chair can be given a refreshing new look with upholstery. The seat and back can be in different colours – either plain, or striped, or with floral motifs. Choose the scale of the pattern, according to the size and style of your room. Light-coloured fabrics look classy but they may become soiled easily.

An accent chair, should also fit into the existing theme of your room and make it aesthetically appealing.

Mahima Shah, a homemaker from Mumbai, shares how: “The sofas in my living room, are beige in colour. To add contrast, I have two ornate maharaja chairs, with bright orange upholstery. In my bedroom, I have an armless wooden chair with a high backrest, which has my wedding photo imprinted on it.”

Tips to choose stylish chairs

1. Choose an accent chair, according to the size and the dimension of the room where it will be placed. A huge, ornate chair, with a high back, will look unappealing in a tiny space.

2. The chair should stand out in your home’s décor and be an enjoyable aspect at home.

3. Besides its design, ensure that the chair is comfortable, in terms of the height and depth of the seat and the inclination of the backrest.

4. For a rich look, choose velvet or silk, with embellishments or brocade cushions.

5. Chenille, cotton and jute are practical fabrics that are easy to maintain. Leather ages beautifully but is not easy to maintain and can be expensive.

Use that wall

When the floor area is less, it is a novel idea to convert your walls into storage spaces. You can mount wooden shelves or slabs that can store a lot of things like books and showpieces.

Paint these in bright colors to give your room a bright and cheerful look. Not only do mirrors make a classy option to decorate your space, but are also extremely illusional. If you use mirrors in different forms in the house, they can help you give an impression of a larger house than it actually is.

Multi-functional furniture

The furniture occupies the maximum space in the house, hence its important that its chosen wisely. Leather or velvet sofas and couches take a lot of space and make a place look claustrophobic. Go for tables with glass tops, because of their transparent quality, they don't obstruct vision and make a space look bigger.

Declutter

Don't keep things that need to be discarded. It's a good idea to donate unused furniture and other clutter, and will free a lot of floor space and make your room look bigger. Keep desk clear of papers, glasses and unnecessary articles as that tricks the eye into perceiving that there is more room available.

Accessorize

When you are hanging the curtains on the windows, hang them close to the ceiling. It gives a taller look to the house.

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5 Must-Have Smart Home Appliances for Home Buyers

In an era where everything from your phone to books is a smart appliance, it is only understandable that one would also be looking for a ‘smart’ home. What exactly this entails is a lengthy narration, but here are a few appliances that we think could essentially make your life much simpler and more comfortable.

Moving to a new home can sometimes be daunting. When working adults leave home for office, the kids are still learning their way around the new environment. Another instance is, if you go away on a weekend getaway or vacation, you tend to worry about your home security in the new neighbourhood. In such situations, a Smart Home Security System comes in handy.

1) A Smart Home Security System

Moving to a new home can sometimes be daunting. When working adults leave home for office, the kids are still learning their way around the new environment. Another instance is, if you go away on a weekend getaway or vacation, you tend to worry about your home security in the new neighbourhood. In such situations, a Smart Home Security System comes in handy.

With the help of such a device, you can keep watch over your house and your kids’ safety all the time. You can get a 100 percent wireless Wi-Fi security camera equipped with night vision, to give you crystal-clear high-definition video around the clock. In most cases, these cameras are the size of your fist, are weatherproof and work smoothly even after continuous usage. Some of these home automation systems use cameras that are battery operated, so you can set up the camera wherever you want to without worrying about finding a power outlet or the hassle of inconvenient power cords. You can not only watch live streamed or recorded videos but also control this system with an app on your mobile phone from anywhere.

2) Internet-Enabled Smart Switch

A Wi-Fi enabled Switch lets you turn on or off your electronic devices from anywhere. These switches provide a wireless control for TVs and stereos, lamps and heaters, fans and coolers, all by using your existing Wi-Fi network. All you have to do is download the free WeMo App on your smartphone or tablet, plug the switch into an outlet at home and plug any device into the switch. These smart home appliances give you wireless control of your other electronic devices and gadgets.

The switch also operates over mobile internet, which means you can control home devices from anywhere in the world. The app makes it easy to set schedules for appliances and electronics in your smart home. Use your smartphone or tablet to program a fan to turn on or off at a certain time of day, at sunrise or sunset. So now you can switch on your music system to go full blast every morning to wake you up! Or you can program your AC to start cooling when it is time for you to come home from work or school.

3) Smart Cleaning Robot

Our busy lives often don’t give us enough time to do our house cleaning. When we do make time rarely, we easily get tired of dragging the heavy vacuum cleaner to all corners of the house. In such cases, a robot vacuum cleaner comes to rescue you. These home automation robot vacuum cleaners look like a sleek black disc. Using a pair of rotating extractors instead of brushes, this robotic device acts as your own house-cleaning UFO, ridding your floor of all kinds of dirt and debris. At the bottom end, there’s a discreet compartment where all the dirt collects. All you have to do is empty this when it’s full; it easily pops out and clicks back in place.

One can also schedule such robotic cleaners to clean at a specific time. Say, if you want it to vacuum every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3 pm, it’s just a matter of pressing a couple of buttons to schedule this. You will be amazed at the ability of this cleaner to clean along corners, around furniture legs, under the beds, rough edges and all kinds of nooks and crannies, letting you relax while it takes care of all your house cleaning chores!

4) Smart Lighting

Imagine coming home after a hard day’s work. As you sit down on your favourite armchair and switch on the lights, your favourite songs start playing in the room. These newly arrived LED Bulbs make this scenario possible. These pearl white, easy-to-install speakers make for quirky LED lamps in your room. Just plug these smart home appliances into your regular bulb holder and play music through any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone, tablet or laptop. Both the light and speakers operate independently, so you can switch off the bulb while still playing the music or vice-versa.

There is also an infrared-connectivity-based remote for changing the sound track. So once you set your soundtrack with your smartphone initially, you can control the music directly using the remote control after that.Unlike other Bluetooth-based speakers, this doesn’t require any charging and runs on electricity. The LED bulb comes with low power consumption and features two colour modules – cool white for high brightness and light yellow for soothing mood lighting. Here’s an appliance that’s both smart and cool!

5) Wi-Fi Enabled Air Conditioner

Indian summers can be very tough! The hot and humid climate along with the harsh blazing sun sucks the energy out of people. However comfortable your new home may be, one just cannot escape the heat waves. A smart solution would be to get yourself the newly launched Wi-Fi enabled air conditioners.

Your home automation is incomplete without these Wi-Fi enabled ACs which use your home’s Wi-Fi network to connect with your phone and also works on 2G, 3G and 4G data networks. They can be controlled from anywhere through your phone, if you have a working internet connection. The AC connects to your phone like it would to a remote. The ‘away’ mode on the AC tracks your smartphone’s current GPS location and accordingly switches the AC off to conserve power if you are out of range. You can also use your phone to turn on your air conditioner before you reach home, so when you reach home tired and sweaty from school/college/work, you are greeted by a cooled room. These smart ACs are here to stay!

With even one of these devices tucked under your belt, life is sure to become immeasurably more comfortable and fun. You personalise your desktop, phone’s wallpaper, workstation desk and bedroom décor. With these smart home appliances, you have the opportunity to personalise your entire lifestyle as well!

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Smart Storage Solutions for a Compact 2BHK Home

Do you feel like there is no space to store your things in your compact apartment? Does it feel like your dishes in the kitchen and books in the living room are always lying about, for want of a designated space? Don’t worry, if your answers to these two questions are in the affirmative – we are here to help you!

We present to you 10 smart storage ideas for small homes that will help you keep your things better organised while saving space.

1) Use Bed Designs With Storage

It’s a great idea to get a cabinet or shelf built around the head of your bed, in your master bedroom. Make good use of all that empty wall-space there! You can go as creative as you want with the design. A cabinet like this acts as perfect storage space for things like books, photographs, paintings, pen holders, little showpieces, stuffed toys, and the like.

You could also create a concealed storage space below to get a bed design with storage, to store extra blankets, bedspreads and seldom-used coats.

2) Get a Metal Open-Storage Rack for Your Kitchen

If the cabinets in your kitchen aren’t enough to store all your pots, pans and plates, you could invest in a metal-frame open-storage shelving unit. You could use this to showcase all your decorative kitchen utensils too.

Include a few knick-knacks here and there on the shelf, to make it add to the kitchen décor rather than a plain old storage rack.

3) Put Up A Bookshelf Near Your Front Door

Does your apartment lack a proper storage unit near the front door? In that case, you could put up a bookshelf in the entryway, near the door.

Paint the bookshelf in a nice, pastel colour and add or remove a few planks at places to make the shelf a perfect storage solution for your keys, cellphone, timepiece, coats, shoes and socks. What’s more, this compact furniture piece looks cool, too!

4) Use the Space Around Your Television

If you have a wall-mount TV in your living room, you could use it as a focal point and build a cabinet around it to create extra storage space.

This space is perfect for indoor plants and small showpieces.

5) Put Up Hanging Mason Jars Over Your Kitchen Counter

Fix the lids of some mason jars on the ceiling over your kitchen counter. Screw the cleaned-out, glass mason jars to the lids. These are perfect for storing pasta, grains and kitchen herbs.

What’s more, they look cool, and act as wonderful kitchen décor items, too!

6) Include Under-Sink Storage

Use the empty space below your kitchen or bathroom sink to create a little wooden cabinet. This is a great storage solution for soaps, sponges, extra mugs, cleaning detergents and all those odds and ends from your kitchen and bathroom.

It brings in a sense of neatness to your space as well!

7) Cupboard Under the Stairs

If you have a staircase in your house, the area under the stairs can act as a fine storage space.

You could have concealed cabinets or shelves built under your stairs where you can store just about anything lying around in the house!

8) Create Storage Space Behind Doors

The backs of the doors of your bedroom and closets can provide a precious few inches of storage space, too!

Have metal hooks installed behind your bedroom door so that you can put up dresses and coats. Similarly, install hooks, pen holders or small metal racks behind your closet doors, so that you can easily store things like jewellery, purses, hair brushes, and the like.

9) Get Multi-Functional Furniture

It’s a great idea to get pieces of compact furniture that can perform a variety of functions. For instance, get a wooden cabinet for your bedroom that you can use to put up your lamps, flower vases and other knick-knacks on. You could also turn it into a showcase for some of your cherished possessions, like books, photo frames, artwork, and the like.

Similarly, an ottoman in your living room can double up as a holding place for books and magazines.

10) Designate Small Baskets in Your Closet

It is all too easy to get your bedroom closet messy. Do not waste all that gorgeous storage space by cluttering it up!

To avoid chaos inside closets, invest in a number of small baskets within, each one designated for a certain purpose. Use these baskets to store formal wear, mittens and socks, accessories and items of kids’ storage separately. This will help you make the most of the space available inside your closet.

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Pocket friendly Rental Option Drive Tenants to Majiwada

Majiwada's rental market in Thane continues to flourish recording a 10 percent YoY growth during Jul-Sep 2016, revealed in report. The growth can be attributed to the availability of affordable rental properties, prloximity to key commercial and industrial hubs, seamless road connectivity and impending Metro project.

Strategically located at the junction of Nashik, Bhiwandi and Western suburbs via the Ghodbunder road, the micro-market of Majiwada in Thane enjoys the advantages of the economic growth witnessed across these regions. The region is primarily inhabited by business owners as the locality is close to Bhiwandi Industrial region and premium housing options by renowned developers such as Lodha Group and Rustomjee among others. While the region may not offer any properties less than Rs 1 crore in the capital market but rental values here are affordable.

According to the latest report, the region was among the frontrunners in the rental market coupled with Ghodbunder Road and recorded a ten per cent YoY growth during Jul-Sep 2016 quarter. Experts opine that in the last one year, Majiwada has been recording healthy growth in the rental market as compared to the capital market with ample supply of affordable rental properties and better infrastructure providing an impetus to the customer sentiments.

Why are rental values low ?

Local realtors attribute various reasons for the low rental "ask" rates in Majiwada. "The high availability of rented accommodation is keeping the rental market stable. Hence, instead of keeping the property vacant, owners prefer to give it on rent, even at a lesser value offering tenants the scope to negotiate rental "ask'' rates, says Kalpesh Patel, Owner, Ideal Properties.

Tenant profile

The region is considered by working professionals employed in BKC and Vashi who are unable to afford the rents in Western Mumbai areas such as Kandivali and Malad which command rental "ask" of Rs 30,000-35,000 per month for a 2BHK unit. Moreover, the luxury of renting spacious homes in affordable range is what you get in Thane and not in Mumbai, adds Patel.

A 1 BHK flat of size around 400 sq ft in Majiwada is available for rent anywhere between Rs 15,000 and Rs 18,000 per month, while a 2 BHK flat of size 600 sq ft can be leased for around Rs 18,000-25,000 per month and a 3BHK flat from 1400-1650 sq ft can cost you between Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000 per month. In addition, there are a few 4BHK flats which command a starting rental value of Rs 40,000 per month. However, 2BHK continues to be the most supplied and favoured configuration among tenant community.

Connectivity and civic infrastructure

Talking about connectivity, the region has three important roads, namely, the Eastern Expressway, Ghodbunder Road and Thane-Bhiwandi Road connected by three flyovers. This has resulted in smooth travel to Mulund and other regions on Mumbai. In terms of social infrastructure, the region boasts of several educational institutes, malls, hospitals and neighbourhood markets.

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What decor theme works for you?

An overview of furniture and design concepts and principles for residential interiors

When it comes to designing residential spaces the designer face es many challenges. but no matter what the size, it has to be comfortable and that's where true design capabilities are tested. We all want to make our home a listable space. which depicts our personality: It is a very personal. ised subject. Styling of interiors depends on the theme one selects.

Real Estate Advisor reveals that 2BHK units are in demand by consumers. This configuration is popular not only in the capital market, but also the rental market as well. A total of about 43 percent of consumers opted to purchase 2-BHK units while 35 percent chose the configuration for renting purposes. The average prices for Residential Properties currently under-construction in Andheri west range between Rs 18,000 and 20,000 per sq ft, while projects in Andheri east are priced a notch lower at Rs 16,000-18,000 per sq ft.

Contemporary modern

This design is characterized by straight clean lines, minimalistic contemporary outlines. and mild ral shapes. The contemporary modern style expresses creative ways to use materials like plastic, plywood, and aluminum in industrial product design. Its pieces are highly versatile and can complement Innumerable design styles.

Industrial

It is characterized by the industrial revolution era. It emphasizes on the abundant use of exposed steel. wooden elements and exposed brickwork giving It a highly rustic and mature look. Industrial decor ranges from modern rustic with cleaner lines to rugged vintage with intricate ornamentations. De pending on ones taste. one can opt for a lighter. fashionable look or a darker, antique design.

NeoClassical

Characterised by warm, relaxing and positive decor. it is commonly referred to as a combination of classical and modern designs. The Interior design Is based on white and beige coloured foundation. with blue or gray as a primary ac-cent colour Materialwise. this decor Incorporates unfinished wood in its tables or chairs, combined with chic linen upholstery for lounge seats and sofas. There are many options for decorative ac.

Bohemian

This design is characterized by a carefree. adventurous spirit with rich patterns and use of vibrant colours. The key is to purposefully present a "messy' look. Layer on decor (pillows, rugs, upholstery) for a warm ambiance. When Furnishing. one must look for pieces that possess ethnic or nomadic vibes. Moroccan, middle stern, south western or tribal.inspired designs am trending in this type of design. Composition-wise, bohemian chic goes well with textile. wood, animal hide, and metallic accents.

Urban Modern

It Is characterized by a Elision of various opposing and complemen lary traits. Minimalist modern. glamorous chic ethnic inheritances. and edgy experimental designs all set up an urban modern design concept.

Vintage

This design is characterized by us-age of vintage elements for decor The furniture designs are characterized by their aged appearance. with distressed wood composition covered in sanded milk paint to show signs of wear and tear

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5 TIPS TO WINTER PROOF YOUR HOME

With the onset of winters, we often prepare ourselves for the chilly months by shopping for cozy blankets or heaters and blowers. However, in the process, we miss out on naturally preparing our home to brace the winters season. we brings you essential tips that can make your home winter ready.

With October coming to an end, we can already feel the slight change in temperature. From replacing the old pipes and heating systems to installing a new geyser in the bathroom requires a lot of preparation in advance. The chilly wsinter winds and storms can cause serious damage to your home. Therefore, it is essential to make your home winter proof beforehand to safeguard your family against serious health issues. Similar to a plant, your home too requires the right care and maintenance from time to time. By following some easy-to-remember tips and tricks, you can prepare your home for the cold weather.

Check the plumbing

It is essential to check that all the pipes and fittings are functional. In areas where the mercury dips below freezing point, pipes can easily freeze and burst. In order to avoid such a mishap, you can install a heating cable that would prevent your pipe against freezing during winters. These heating cables are typically wrapped around the pipes to keep them heated during winters. In case a pipe is rusted, you can always replace it with a new one. The best option would be to seek assistance from a plumber and get all your old pipes replaced.

Install the heating systems

Heating appliances such as furnaces, space heaters, and fireplaces play a crucial role as they help in keeping your home heated during the winter season. In case your room heater requires a replacement, get it done before hand. While hunting for a new heating system, remember to check its quality and select the one that requires minimal maintenance equipped with the latest heating technology.

According to Rohan Goregaonkar, Creative 7 Design Studio, "Avoid excessive use of heater and turn off the heater once the room temperature is moderate. The doors and windows are kept closed during winters in order to keep the room warm. Heaters produce carbon monoxide gas which is trapped inside the house that might be extremely harmful." Furthermore, it may also result in serious health issues.

Check the drainage system

It is important to ensure your drainage system is functioning well. Remove the debris as it might lead to clogging of the drains. To make your drainage system function well, check your pipes and replace them, if required. Avoid using poor quality pipes as they have a low shelf life. Do not compromise with the quality of the fittings to save some extra bucks. To be on the cautious side, always go for the best quality fittings.

Make your home odour-free

Since the windows and doors are closed during winters, there are chances it can lead to accumulation of bad odour in your home. Furthermore, in case your home has a prolonged sewage issue, there are chances of a smelly house that will have a negative impression on new visitors. The heating systems too can generate an unpleasant odour to your home. In order to make your home smell fresh, make use of room freshener's and get your heating systems checked as that might be the major cause of the foul smell.

Seal your windows

If windows are not sealed properly, there are chances that cold air can easily pass through the room. To make your home insulated during winters, the best option is to fill the cracks and gaps of the windows. In order to seal your windows and make them airtight, apply caulk around the corners of the window. A caulk is a flexible material which is used to seal cracks, gaps and joints. You can do it on your own, however, to be on the cautious side you can always take help from the handyman services. Furthermore, you can also cover your windows with black curtains as they help in preventing excessive heat loss and keeps your home warm during winters.

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TOWARDS AFFORDABLE LIVING

The proposal to hike the FSI for satellite cities is being perceived as a favourable move for the ‘affordable housing' agenda. We have the details...

When the government of India spoke about the need to create affordable housing stock in urban India, all eyes were on tier-II and III cities and rightly so! The sheer land cost has been so astronomically high in the metros like Mumbai that any fancy idea of creating mass housing in the city would have been cynical.

Does this mean that the contribution of Mumbai in creating affordable housing would be negligible? Not really! If only the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has its way, Mumbai with its expanding boundaries, can also contribute to the stock of affordable housing units. The MMRDA has proposed to hike the base Floor Space Index (FSI) in the MMR to 0.4-0.6 depending on the size of the plot from the current 0.2-0.4. The vision is to have more real estate development in Mumbai's satellite cities and towns.

The proposals are a part of the new ly framed draft region plan for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) for 2016-2036. The MM RDA has invited suggestions and objections before finalising the fi nal version of the draft development plan.

MUMBAI'S REALITY:

Out of the 4,355 sq km spread area of the MMR that comprises of eight municipal corporations, nine municipal councils and more than 1,000 villages in Thane and Raigad districts, the MMRDA is eyeing the regions of Thane, Kalyan, Dombivali, Bhiwandi, Panvel, Pen and Uran, to grant extra FSI for affordable housing.

The MMRDA has also recommended a new `Station Area Development Scheme' promoting residential and commercial development close to the metro or suburban railway stations by granting a higher FSI of 1. The additional FSI is proposed at a premium of 30 per cent of the ready reckoner rates. The question is whether the move would be a tempting proposition for the developers or not.Well, if a report by the consultancy firm Cushman & Wakefield is to be believed, urban affordable housing offers a $12 billion opportunity to the private sector where the demand for homes in the MMR region is in the price range of Rs 50-70 0 lakh.

A GOOD MOVE:

Welcoming the move, Arvind Nandan, director South Asia with Colliers International, says it is ironical that the city with the highest density in the world has the lowest FSI norms. Calling it archaic, he says there is absolutely no other way now, as the city needs an affordable housing stock and the people are living in sewer pipes, roads and even those who have bought houses have not got what should be a fair share of the built space.In such a situation, where 60 per cent of your city (by land and by population), is occupied by slums, which are completely unauthorised and illegal, and one-third of the city is occupied by the mangroves and eco-friendly areas, what you have been left with is a very small part of the city that has habitable and developable land.

“I would rather say the thought should have been at its execution stage already by now and not just at the planning stage. You have to start building up to the possible capacity and at the same time, upgrade the infrastructure to feed that extra load. By having extra housing stock in the periphery areas, many other micro-markets would come up to share the pressure. Today, the biggest migration attraction is Mumbai and there is a need to grow both, horizontally and vertically,“

CHALLENGES GALORE:

Despite the additional FSI, the input cost of the project may not come down due to the proposed premiums and the increasing TDR rates. Moreover, FSI is just one of the steps to allow more living spaces but then, equally important are other aspects, which if not addressed, will pose a big constraint for creating affordable housing units.

For example, most of the suburbs have a cap on the permissible height due to the prevailing civil aviation norms and it is presently challenging to be able to consume the additional FSI with the current height norms. Sandeep Ahuja, CEO of Richa Realtors points out that the sector has to move beyond the debate over what is affordable since it is not a relative term. According to him, in a city like Mumbai, a vast majority of the people earns between Rs 2.5 and 3 lakh per annum and this is where the focus has to shift now there is enough housing demand in this set of buyers. “The basic focus should be to create mass housing stock and not just 200 or 300 apartments in the affordable segment.The role of the government is very critical here,“

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

Some of the analysts hence suggest a TOD (Transit Oriented Development) kind of development along the extended Mumbai region to make sure that there is less load on the property market of main Mumbai. Vikram Kotnis, managing director, Amura Marketing Technologies points out that historically, TODs have been the driver of growth for big city suburbs where the demand is clearly reflected in the higher rentals and rates for properties closer to the tube and train stations, key highways, etc.

Commute and travel time hassles have been successfully addressed with the help of TODs in places like London, NY, Singapore and now it's time to implement it closer home in Mumbai. “Across big cities, people typically do not want to move five-six kms beyond the city's boundaries, especially where infrastructure is still catching up. In the case of Pune, we have seen great budget projects, which are under-performing, but there are projects at Hinjewadi that are doing phenomenally well, simply because the infrastructure and economic centre moved to the outskirts. Similarly in Mumbai, most working professionals will not travel from Badlapur to Fort,“.

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