Director Archives - Page 8 of 17 - Media Bulletins Today News Bulletin in English

NCR witness 111% jump in new launches

Apr 8, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Ansal Housing, #Director, #kushagr ansal

Delhi NCR market has performed much better than all other major cities in terms of new launches as the region witnessed a jump of 111% in Q1 2021 over Q4 2020. The next close city is Chennai that saw a jump of 74% in the same period, and Pune with 57%. According to JLL Q1 Residential Market Update – Q1 2021 report, “The markets of Delhi NCR and Chennai witnessed a substantial increase in launch activity during the quarter. New launches are still at 84% when compared to the pre-Covid levels of Q1 2020. Developers across the markets under review remain focused on the completion of under-construction projects and clearing their existing inventory.”

Many realtors point this change to the increasing confidence in the market, reflected in the sales figures. According to the JLL report, recovery in NCR was 92% of pre-COVID levels, and sales volume in Q1 2021 increased to 23% over Q4 2020. “The continued increase in sales indicates that demand and customer confidence is returning to the market; this is due to historically low home loan interest rates, stable housing prices, attractive payment schedules and freebies from developers, as well as government incentives. The start of the vaccine campaign has also helped to attract consumers back to the market,” says Ashok Gupta, CMD, Ajnara India Ltd.

There were 33,953 new residential units launched in the first quarter of 2021, up 27% from the previous quarter. With 69 per cent of new launches in the sub Rs 1 crore categories in Q1 2021, the growth focus on mid and affordable segments continues. Harvinder Singh Sikka, MD, Sikka Group feels that “Stamp duty reductions, more home loan rate reductions by most banks, and continuing discounts and deals have helped the residential sector make a successful comeback. Several new projects were launched in the October-December timeframe, fuelled by strong sales and positive consumer sentiment.”

Compared with Q1 2020, NCR added approximately 6,750 units in Q1 2021, a Y-o-Y increase of 9%; out of the total, approximately 52% of the new supply was in the affordable segment, according to ANAROCK’s Q1 2021 data. The data also revealed that the top 7 cities saw around 62,130 new homes launched in Q1 2021 (as opposed to 41,220 units in Q1 2020) – a significant increase of 51% Y-o-Y. “With improved demand and supply in the affordable housing market, the real estate sector, which has been going through a rough patch for the past few years, is gaining traction in Delhi-NCR. In 2020, affordable housing accounted for 40% of demand. Nearly 38 per cent of the overall affordable housing demand in the country came from Delhi-NCR. Gurugram accounted for 32 per cent of total demand in the Delhi-NCR region. Homebuyers have been much more circumspect in their decisions. There is an increasing preference for affordable housing premium projects built by developers with impeccable track record. The new launches by established developers, who have the capability to execute high-quality products, are thriving in the post-covid period,” says Mr. Pradeep Aggarwal, Founder & Chairman, Signature Global, and Chairman, National Council on Affordable Housing, ASSOCHAM.

With 43% share, mid-segment housing saw the maximum new launches in the quarter, while the affordable housing segment accounted for 30%. According to the Anarock data, the supply of luxury housing (priced >INR 1.5 Cr) also rose by 31% in Q1 2021 against the corresponding period in 2020. “Throughout 2021, housing affordability is expected to remain extremely favorable. If the current perks and benefits continue, we should expect more development in the coming quarters. The uncertainty surrounding employment and income stability is expected to decrease in the coming quarters, based on the expected economic growth trend. Increased consumer trust will have a direct positive effect on the housing market. Maximum demand would be driven by end-users,” says Kushagr Ansal, Director, Ansal Housing.

Business World

Amway reiterates focus on addressing childhood malnutrition on World health Day

Apr 7, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Ajay Khanna, #Chief Marketing OfficerAmway India, #Director, #Dr. Y. Suresh Reddy, #SRF Foundation

New Delhi: Building on its global expertise in the nutrition and wellness domain, Amway India, one of the country’s leading FMCG direct selling companies, celebrated World Health Day with a national webinar on building a better tomorrow with a focus on nutrition in children. Organized in association with its NGO partner SRF Foundation, the virtual platform brought together policy experts, subject-matter experts, and industry leaders to discuss current challenges and opportunities in improving nutrition and health amongst children, especially those under 5.

As per the latest National Family Health Survey (NHFS), 18 of the 22 states and Union Territories (UTs) have recorded an alarming rise in the malnutrition condition of children under five. While each of the surveyed states and UTs reported 22 per cent or more stunted children, at least eight out of 342 surveyed districts registered more than 50 per cent prevalence of child stunting. Deliberating on such critical issues and the need to address inequities in access to health and nutrition, present at the conference were Ms Jyotika Kalra, Member, National Human Rights Commission, MrsRajbalaKataria, Joint Director, Women and Child Development Department, Haryana, Dr Sujeet Ranjan, Executive Director, The Coalition for Food and Nutrition Security (CFNS), Mr Ajay Khanna, Chief Marketing Officer, Amway India Enterprises Pvt. Ltd, DrSirimavo Nair, Professor in Foods and Nutrition, Faculty of Family and Community Sciences, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Mr Basant Kumar Dube, District Immunization and Child Health Officer, Nuh and Dr Y. Suresh Reddy, Director, SRF Foundation.

Speaking at the conference,Ajay Khanna, Chief Marketing OfficerAmway India said, “The WHO theme* of World Health Day 2021 of building a fairer, healthier world is a clarion call to strengthen action in the best possible way to make lives healthier and better for every child in the country. Amway India is one of the foremost proponents of holistic nutrition and wellness. With our vision of helping people live better, healthier lives, we endeavor to make a tangible societal impact through multiple social initiatives. Aligned with Government of India’s National Nutrition Mission, Amway had introduced its globally acclaimed campaign, ‘Power of 5’ aimed to raise awareness on the issue of childhood malnutrition and bring in the much-needed behavioral shift among mothers and communities at large. Leveraging the success of our pilot project in Kirari village, New Delhi, we are launching the second phase of this project with SRF Foundation in Nuh district, Haryana. Under this two-year program, we intend to benefit over 51,000 people including 15,000 children in the age group of 0-8 years. I truly believe that with similar meaningful partnerships and collaborations, we can achieve the vision of a healthy India.”
*World Health Day (who.int)

Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Y. Suresh Reddy, Director, SRF Foundation said, “Despite significant economic growth, India still bears an unacceptably high burden of malnourished children. We are focused on channeling our efforts to support and help as many children as we can. With this collaboration with Amway India, we have initiated the process of spreading awareness at the grassroots level regarding basic nutritional and hygiene practices. We are thankful to the team at Amway India for their unwavering support.”

About Power of 5 Campaign

Amway launched its globally successful community-based program ‘Power of 5’ as a pilot in India in collaboration with MAMTA HIMC. The program is targeted at the mothers and caregivers of children under the age of 5 years and aimed to improve the nutritional knowledge and practices inclusive of complementary feeding, hygiene practices, growth monitoring and dietary diversity through extensive educational interventions. The campaign further aims to identify and manage the malnourished children, and those with infections, by developing synergies among the service providers of associated departments (Integrated Child Development Scheme, Health and Sanitation) for improved services and timely referrals. The Power of 5 programme has benefitted over 40,000 beneficiaries including children below 5 years, frontline workers, parents, caregivers and community members. Through various interventions such as training programmes, awareness sessions, nutrition education programmes, Amway and MAMTA HIMC have been raising awareness amongst families about malnutrition in children under the age of 5 years.

Business World, News

SIRO Clinpharm partners with ACROSS Global Alliance; aims to bridge the gap in the pharmaceutical service provider market

Apr 7, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #CEO for ACROSS Global, #Director, #KaranDaftary, #SIRO Clinpharm, #Steven Bukvic

Mumbai, India: SIRO Clinpharm, a Clinical Research Organisation in India announced that they have become a partner of ACROSS Global Alliance (ACROSS) and will help represent India in working towards the common goals and objectives of ACROSS in bridging a gap in the pharmaceutical service provider market. ACROSS is a global alliance of clinical research organizations (CRO’s) also known as Partners along with special service providers known as Qualified Vendors. The Partners form the core of the ACROSS organization. SIRO Clinpharm will have the opportunity to provide its core services and expertise in India’s geography.

Commenting on this partnership, KaranDaftary, Director, SIRO Clinpharm said,“The relationship provides mutually beneficial outcomes for both parties, with SIRO Clinpharm having the opportunity to assist ACROSS’s clients in India, whilst ACROSS and its Partners can assist Siro Clinpharm’s clients with their overseas (i.e., outside India) clinical expertise in over 96 countries worldwide. This partnership opportunity enables Siro Clinpharm to actively participate in Global Clinical trials, where India is one of the regions that would be covered, in collaboration with other ACROSS Partners.”

The ACROSS Partnership model mimics the success of the multiple airline industry alliances, with ACROSS being a focused, central coordinating body that oversees the conduct of seamless global clinical trials with minimal overheads, thus passing on cost-effective solutions to the benefit of its clients.

“ACROSS was keen to strengthen its presence in the Indian market and after careful analysis of the CROs operating in the Indian market, comprehensive due diligence and a full assessment of service offerings,SIRO Clinpharm was identified as a perfect fit for its expansion in India,” said Steven Bukvic, CEO for ACROSS Global. “SIRO Clinpharm has a well-established team of professional experts with a dynamic and forward-looking mindset that compliments ACROSS’s approach to the global pharmaceutical service provider market”.

Their comprehensive expertise and unique services will benefit the clients and strengthen ACROSS’s presence in India. With a seasoned team of more than 200 professionals from science and medical backgrounds, SIRO Clinpharm will also actively participate in global studies by offering their knowledge in the pharmaceutical, FMCG, and medical device industries.ACROSS has a well-defined process for the onboarding of Partners and Qualified Vendors along with a robust quality management system to ensure smooth conduct of studies. By being a Partner of ACROSS, Siro Clinpharm is ready to provide diversified high-quality, state-of-the-art services for clinical trials.

Education, News

Heritage Xperiential’s Grade 4 students go on an expedition, publish digital book “Trees of Gurugram”

Apr 7, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #co-Founder, #Director, #Manit Jain, #The Heritage Schools, #The Heritage Xperiential Learning School, #Vishnu Karthik

New Delhi : The Heritage Xperiential Learning School’s Grade 4 students recently went on an expedition “Nature our Teacher” and have published their digital book on Trees of Gurugram. The purpose of this expedition was to understand the species of trees that flourish in the city of Gurugram and the impact they have on the environment and the other organisms around. The students conducted a survey on the trees and birds of their society while the digital book captures data from this survey conducted in Gurugram, along with its visual representation and a brief analysis.

The booklet called ‘Tree Book’ that was created as an end product of this research showcases the unique features and uses of some of the commonly found trees in Gurgaon. It enables readers to recognize that each tree is exceptional not only its physical features and appearance but also in terms of the wealth of benefits it offers other living beings.

The results evident to the students was that every organism is dependent on biodiversity for its survival. There are resources that humans need on a daily basis that can only be provided by nature.

The students observed that the greatest threats to biodiversity were deforestation, over-exploitation, pollution, habitat loss due to construction and development.

“Like all Heritage Xperiential trips, this expedition too had a real audience and an authentic purpose which was to make residents of Gurgaon aware and mindful about the variety of trees that exist in their surroundings and the criticality of supporting this biodiversity. I am proud of our Grade 4 students who actively participated and produced the insightful digital book. Their growing confidence motivates us to hold more such events that enable them to learn so much more than textbooks and course books,” said Manit Jain, Co-Founder, The Heritage Schools.

Like other expeditions this expedition too integrated and applied knowledge from other subject areas like math, literacy and visual arts even though it was centered around science. Math was applied in the form of data collection and analysis and taking measurements. Literacy practices were applied in the form of comprehending, extracting and compiling key facts about the trees under study from various sources. Visual arts were integrated through still life sketching of the trees as a whole and also the various parts of the trees by zooming in on them while making their observation.

On the development, Vishnu Karthik, Director, The Heritage Group of Schools added, “In science, students learnt concepts of biodiversity, ecosystems, adaptation and interdependence which were central to this expedition by observing nature closely and experiencing these big ideas first hand. There is no greater happiness for us at Heritage Schools than knowing that our children are growing and learning well from practical life experiences. We shall continue to encourage such trips that are exciting, fun and great for mental stimulation.”

The biodiversity survey was carried out across all localities where Grade 4 students of the Heritage Xperiential School reside. The students conducted a survey on trees and birds in 3 separate transects including parks, streets and parking areas.

Business World

Realtors plan precautionary measures at construction sites

Apr 6, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Chief Operating Officer, #Co-founder & Director, #CREDAI MCHI, #Director, #Mr Ashok Mohanani, #Mr. Abhishek Jain, #Mr. Anuj Khetan, #Mr. Pritam Chivukula, #NAREDCO Maharashtra, #President, #Satellite Developers Pvt Ltd, #Tridhaatu Realty Hon. Secretary, #Vijay Khetan Group

With daily surge in Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra, the State Government has imposed new guidelines with regards to the continuation of construction activity. Here are the guidelines:

a) Construction to be allowed only for sites where labourer’s are living on site. Movement to and fro from outside must be avoided, except for the purpose of material movements.

b) Every one engaged in the activity to get vaccinated at the earliest, as per criteria of GOI and till get vaccinated must carry a negative RT-PCR test result certificate, which will be valid for 15 days. This rule will come into effect from 10th April, 2021

c) Defaults will lead to a fine of 10000/- for the developer of the construction site and repeated defaults may lead to closure of the site till existence of notification of COVID 19 epidemic.

d) lf a worker is found positive he or she would be allowed medical leave and cannot be discontinued during this absence for this reason. He or she will be entitled for full wages that he or she might have earned had he or she not contacted corona.

Soon after the announcement, the real estate industry quickly rushed into the action mode and ensured that they took necessary precautionary measures to battle out the pandemic crisis. Taking the experience from the last year, some of them have already implemented these measures for the safety of the labourers much before the State Government imposed the guidelines.

Mr. Ashok Mohanani, President, NAREDCO Maharashtra

”We are working closely with all the NAREDCO members and following all the necessary Government guidelines. Infact, all our members have been doing this much before from the time Covid-19 crisis disrupted the real estate sector last year. Labourers are the most vital and the integral part of the real estate industry and taking utmost care of them is our paramount responsibility. We are ensuring that regular sanitization of the construction sites are done and proper accommodation is provided to the labourers at the sites. We are also conducting regular health check-ups and vaccination awareness programs for the workers. We have made the RT-PCR test mandatory for all the migrant workers who are coming back from their hometown as per the Government guidelines. We are ensuring that they complete their tests before joining the construction sites.”

Mr. Pritam Chivukula, Co-Founder & Director, Tridhaatu Realty

Hon. Secretary, CREDAI MCHI

“Unlike the last year lockdown, we are relieved that atleast construction activities can go on where labourers are already present at the site. The Government has mentioned that the labourers need to get vaccinated at the earliest and till their vaccination they need to get their RT PCR test done. This won’t affect the large and medium-sized developers as they are already taking the necessary precautions at the sites. Although this will affect the small developers and also the redevelopment projects as they do not have enough space for labour camps.

There is no stringent lockdown like last time as essential services and other basic requirements are easily available. We at MCHI-CREDAI are getting the health check-ups done for the labourers along with the vaccination awareness program. We will comply with the Government guidelines and get the RT PCR test done for most of the labourers till 10th April. We are in talks with local urban bodies for conducting free tests for the labourers. For project sites in the outskirts of the city, we are planning to tie-up with private organizations to conduct the Covid tests. Most of the labourers are in the age groups from 20-40 and as per the GOI directive, the vaccination below the age of 45 has not been initiated yet. Hence we are writing to the Government to grant permission to conduct the vaccination for these labourers on priority and if feasible to conduct the vaccination drive on the construction site itself.”

Mr. Abhishek Jain, COO - Satellite Developers Private Limited — Mr. Abhishek Jain, COO – Satellite Developers Private Limited

Mr. Abhishek Jain, Chief Operating Officer, Satellite Developers Pvt Ltd

“Proper health and hygiene for all our workers have always remained a top priority and all necessary initiatives are taken from our end. We have provided shelter to the workers in labour camps and have also provided resources for their daily food along with masks and sanitizers. Also, as per the government guidelines, we are getting their RT PCR test done before the said timeline.”

Mr. Anuj Khetan, Director, Vijay Khetan Group

”We at Vijay Khetan Group have always prioritized the health and safety of our workers at all our different construction sites. We have arranged for hygienic boarding and lodging on site for our workers along with distribution of face masks and sanitizers. The Covid 19 pandemic, while draws the world’s attention on the importance of vaccines, we have ensured to give paid leave to all the eligible workers for vaccination. Also, for the workers, we are getting RT PCR tests done as per the government guidelines. We are maintaining thorough sanitization at all our sites for the safety of our workers and stakeholders.”

Education

IIM Udaipur completes 100% placements for its One Year MBA in Global Supply Chain Management

Apr 1, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Centre of Supply Chain Management, #Director, #Head, #IIM UDAIPUR, #Prof Janat Shah, #R Chandrasekhar

Udaipur: IIM Udaipur has successfully completed 100% Placement for the One-Year MBA in Global Supply Chain Management for the Batch of 2020-21. The batch received an average CTC of 19.27 lakhs per annum with the highest package being 34.98 LPA.

The institute’s 8th GSCM batch has received offers from 9 firms, with 5 recruiters partnering with the institute for the first time. The companies included Accenture Strategy, BNY Mellon, Bristlecone, Cognizant, Delhivery, DP World, Jain Irrigations Systems Ltd., ThoughtWorks, and Walmart Labs. In sector-wise break-up, around 37% of the offers were made by Consulting firms followed by 26% offers by Logistics, 26% from Tech and remaining 11% offers from BFSI and Manufacturing.

IIM Udaipur students bagged some of the most sought-after consulting roles in Supply Chain, Operations, Sourcing & Procurement and Project Management at Accenture Strategy, Bristlecone and ThoughtWorks. Other prominent profiles offered to the students spanned across the domains such as Product Management, Operations Excellence, Supply Chain and Business Development.

Prof. Janat Shah, Director, IIM Udaipur, said, “Despite the challenges the global pandemic imposed on all sections of business, it is very assuring to see the batch achieve 100% placements. It is indeed a reaffirment of the intrinsic value the program delivers to the students. It is remarkably so at a time when India is taking ceterstage as a Global Manufacturing Hub, wherein a course like the 1 year MBA in GSCM would be able to provide industry a source of managerial talent it needs to infuse.”

IIM Udaipur has continued its growth despite the challenging covid times by attracting new and renowned names from the industry. The top 10 percentile of the batch secured an average CTC of ₹34,97,647; the top 20 percentile secured an average of ₹30,83,907; and the top 50 percentile received an average CTC of ₹23,33,363.

R Chandrasekhar, Head, Centre of Supply Chain Management, IIM Udaipur, said, “With a focus on building leadership capabilities, the full-time One-Year MBA in Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM) offers the opportunity to students to learn from the very eminent faculty and reputed practitioners of the supply chain management domain. I am also really thankful to the members of the GSCM Advisory Board for their unstinting support and strategic guidance. As the global business scenario recovers from the pandemic, there is a great opportunity for business managers to manage the complex supply chains essential for the growth of India and the global economy.”
About IIM Udaipur’s GSCM program: One Year MBA in Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM) offers a solid foundation in Management Fundamentals and intensive specialization in GSCM. It is a full-time residential program which started in 2013.

Business World

NCR market registers a rise in demand and variety of luxury homes

Mar 31, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #and New Gurugram, #Director, #Dwarka Expressway, #Manesar, #Mr. Amit Thakran, #Sohna Road, #Value Homz

By Mr. Amit Thakran, Director, Value Homz

The luxury continues to redefine itself with changing times; the definition depends on the prevalent social ecosystem. Similar is the case now when a global pandemic continues to loom and dominate our lifestyle choices, buyers of luxury spaces the UHNI and HNI are seeking homes that provide sustainable luxury and a promise of wellness and security. Be-spoke experiences, multi-functional spaces, integrated home technology systems have come to be classified as mandatory requisites from luxury buyers. These buyers are now more conscious about entering into an agreement with reputed brands to have complete assurance of their investments made.

One of the country’s major real estate markets – Delhi-NCR, has witnessed distinguished luxury realtors constantly looking to upsize their offerings due to the pent up demand and low home loan interest rates. This has led to never seen before variety in the kinds of homes available for buyers-from modern villas, penthouses to townhouses and bespoke apartments. As per recent research by Anarock, the NCR market in 2020 saw luxury housing sales better than 2019; 23,220 units were sold in which the luxury segment had a percentage of 4%, while in 2019, this was close to 3% of 46,910 units sold. This conveys a ray of positivity for the luxury developers.

The same report also highlighted that Gurugram in NCR had seen maximum housing sales and launches in 2020. This trend can be attributed to the fact that the city has one of the largest numbers of white-collar workers, with a homogeneous mix of industries. Adding on to it, development of new areas and improved infrastructure like Sohna Road, Dwarka Expressway, Manesar, and New Gurugram have also played a vital role in attracting the big names of the real estate market to come and construct their unique edifices here.

These newly developed areas on the peripheries have also proven to be a lucrative choice for the buyers and investors due to the availability of untapped resources, far from the clutter of the dense city. The lifestyle and quality of homes promised here in the luxury segment are becoming the selling points. In order to continue this positive trend of sales, circle rates in Delhi NCR should be rationalized as market prices are 30-40% lower than the circle rates. NCR Developers and the real estate associations have also written to the Government for reducing stamp duty like states of Maharashtra and Karnataka have done.

If a measure like stamp duty reduction is introduced for the Delhi NCR market, regions like Gurugram will bring significant growth in the overall economy, where demand for luxury housing is at an all time high and ample availability of luxury inventory already exists.

Business World

Tier II-III cities are key drivers for realty growth

Mar 24, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Ansal Housing & President, #CREDAI Haryana, #Director, #kushagr ansal

By Mr.Kushagr Ansal, Director, Ansal Housing & President, CREDAI Haryana

Tier-II and -III cities are hotbeds for growth; as per a recent report by consulting firm Kearney, these cities are opening up opportunities for businesses and industries to expand. For a long time, these cities with abundant resources have been untapped. The country’s major developers flocked only towards the metro cities to establish world-class infrastructure. However, the pandemic has reversed the wave and initiated a trend among the real estate stalwarts to rethink their strategies and shift their focus from metros to Tier II-III cities.

Meanwhile, the sector is optimistic about the real estate scenario, particularly in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, especially after a KPMG survey that found that 22 per cent of consumers in Tier-II cities and 30 per cent of consumers in Tier-III cities believe their spending would increase or remain the same as before the COVID-19 pandemic spread. Currently, the top seven cities account for nearly 70 per cent of India’s residential market, with tier II and III cities accounting for the remaining 30 per cent.

Now, with pandemic emphasizing the value of a home, people have started becoming more cautious about the regular choices they make. It begins right from their homes; Tier-II cities have limited options in organised living, and only a few seasoned players were able to identify these cities ahead of the time. Self-sustainable integrated townships are becoming the centre of attraction, demand for organised living is on the rise, and people are keen to spend more for a better lifestyle.

The government and industry bodies have also realised the urgent need to distribute industries, capital, and population to these towns to utilise resources. There have been multiple schemes like Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT, construction of a network of new expressways, airports, transit systems for these cities’ uplift.

The face of real estate is constantly evolving, and the return of investments promised in Tier II-III cities is much higher and stable due to the developing infrastructure; this leads to developers venturing into more than one segment of real estate. As per the announcements made in the Union Budget 2021-22, the setting up of a Development Finance Institution (DFI) backed by government support and initial capital contribution will pivot better opportunities for the sector.

Also, the price fluctuation in Tier II-III cities is slightly slower than the metro cities, making them an ideal choice for investors looking to enter a long-term investment agreement, especially in volatile market conditions like now. Although tier-II cities will have lower real estate prices than tier-I cities, residents will enjoy benefits such as wide-open spaces, the freedom to remain close to home, low noise, etc. The majority of tier-II cities now have strong infrastructure advancements such as metro stations, excellent public transportation, and critical services such as schools, hospitals, banks, and shopping markets.

Many companies are relocating to tier-II cities as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. It is expected that demand in these cities will increase by the second half of 2021 due to improved employment opportunities, infrastructure development, and enhanced connectivity. Nonetheless, there are a few stumbling blocks. For example, attracting FDI for projects in these cities has proven difficult. On the other hand, the government can help by enticing people to invest and develop living and working bases in these high-potential tier II-III cities through policies, tax initiatives, and benefits.

Business World

Sohna is emerging as top real estate destinations

Mar 23, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Ansal Housing, #Director, #kushagr ansal

Sohna has risen steadily on the livability index over the last few years; the city and its vicinity show promising progress on many of the key parameters of the livability index that have made NCR a promising urban centre and satellite area. It scores well on key factors such as current and potential access to other cities, health and education services, the location’s proximity to business growth and development centres, civic amenities, etc. By 2031, the total population of 6.4 Lakhs is estimated to reside in South Gurugram. Increased habitability has a beneficial impact on perceived wellbeing and the overall socio-economic climate.

“Today, Sohna micro market has both affordable and big ticket residential developments, besides prominent commercial and hospitality developments in South of Gurgaon and neighbouring micro markets. As a result of this Sohna has emerged as a real estate hub, particularly affordable mid-segment hub for both end- users and investors , offering variety in the form of group housing, builder floors and villas. The biggest advantage is that property here is much affordable compared to neighbouring micro markets. This lower entry point makes it attractive market for investors. According to Anarock report, prices here have appreciated in double digit since 2014. So much so that it has beaten Noida West , another affordable housing hub in the NCR,” says Pradeep Aggarwal, Founder & Chairman, Signature Global and Chairman, National Council on Affordable Housing, ASSOCHAM.

The affordability of housing is currently highly-priced as the cost of the majority of residential houses here varies between Rs.37-58 lakh for 2-BHK and Rs.61-89 lakh for 3-BHK. “In NCR, Sohna Road has emerged as one of the top-performing real estate markets as it has witnessed an appreciation of around 19% since 2013. The appreciation is much more than the appreciation in other markets of NCR, which is an indication of the livability and affordability of the area. Sohna Road has emerged not only as one of the best investment destinations, but also as the place where people can immediately move in,” says Ankit Kansal, Founder & MD, 360 Realtors.

Connectivity, in particular road connectivity, education, and infrastructure initiatives, which provided access to the location from across major business destinations, are the criteria on which the livability index has emerged favourably. Such criteria provide a strong framework for the location to grow its future potential. It is also connected very favourably to different primary employment locations, be it the service sector or the manufacturing and development sites.

As economic activity in services picks up and hits its critical mass towards southern vectors within Gurugram, some capital appreciation for existing housing or new launches, including South Gurugram, may be seen within accessible limits. The relative benefit of affordability will remain but will be steadily decreased. “The area is developing faster than expected as some of the government’s recent schemes and initiatives have given an impetus to the development of affordable units. The market here is at a nascent stage and most of the projects are in the under-construction stage. Coming years will see the delivery of many previously-launched units and a majority of these projects are group housing apartments,” says Kushagr Ansal, Director, Ansal Housing.

South Gurugram emerges as an autonomous self-supporting city, with robustly planned and maintained infrastructure and civic requirements by the civic authorities of the location and the construction of adequate retail and recreation centres within the region to reduce sites dependent on Gurugram and NCR nodal locations. The proof of the location’s potential can be measured by the fact that the Delhi-Mumbai Freight Corridor covers it, ensuring that secondary and tertiary industries are developed (or already existent). As the property prices are as low as half of the prevailing prices of the Gurugram, the area’s popularity is also rising as it becomes one of NCR’s economically sensitive real estate destinations.

News

Discovery Channel reveals human civilization’s first building blocks were set in place in AlUla by ‘The Architects of Ancient Arabia’

Mar 22, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Research at Royal Commission for AlUla, #Digital & Creative, #Director, #EMEA Pay TV & Global Brands at Discovery, #Executive Producer/Editor of the documentary, #Henry Windridge, #Rebecca Foote, #Robert Kirwan, #Senior Director: Marketing

Discovery Channel takes a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most important discoveries of modern history as expert teams uncover clues that reposition the global understanding and significance of ancient Arabiain a new one-off documentary ‘The Architects of Ancient Arabia’.

Narrated by Academy Award®, Tony Award®, Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award winner Jeremy Irons, ‘The Architects of Ancient Arabia’ journeys into Saudi Arabia’s deeper past, following teams of leading international and Saudi archeologists and a local historian as they reveal new wonders in the previously unexplored land. Using multiple modern technologies to record tens of thousands of sites, they choose some to explore in greater detail, to begin piecing together a new chapter in the story of human civilization.

AlUla is a largely unknown oasis valley in the vast desert of the North West Arabian Peninsula, once a prosperous and important crossroad on the incense route and home to 3,000 years of powerful successive civilizations. Some of the most important survey and excavation work in modern history has been taking place in the region, revealing the deep past of AlUla.

Specialist teams are seeking to decipher the activities associated with ancient stone structures they are excavating across the county surrounding the AlUla oasis, with their findings aiding to deepen the historical legacy of the country, and of ancient Arabia. In the documentary, the archeologists unearth evidence for an ancient ritual,completely unexpected and extraordinary as they continue to piece together AlUla’s rich history in time to welcome guests from around the world.

Henry Windridge, Senior Director: Marketing, Digital & Creative, EMEA Pay TV & Global Brands at Discovery, commented: “An untouched desert Kingdom, Saudi Arabia has retained some of the most stunningly well-preserved evidence of ancient civilizations. As the global leader in real life entertainment, Discovery is delighted to be able to continue its longstanding commitment to the region by uncovering the history of this ancient masterpiece and sharing it with viewers around the world.”

The documentary was made by Discovery in association with The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and produced by Powderhouse Productions.

Robert Kirwan, Executive Producer/Editor of the documentary,said: “The weeks we spent in AlUla filming alongside the archeological team were a life-altering experience for me and the rest of the crew. The startlingly spectacular landscape is like nothing I’ve ever seen. And the stone structures, literally thousands of them dotting the area, have sat untouched for thousands of years. We were walking among the ghosts of unknown ancients, and we could feel their presence, their yearning, to have their story told.”

‘The Architects of Arabia’ reveals startling new discoveries which reset the timeline for the emergence of complex societies. The thousands of mysterious stone constructions built atop of otherwise barren desert may well hold the missing link to AlUla’s part in a major turning point in the history of mankind.

These discoveries have been the source great interest from the archaeology community globally and will be unpacked in much more detail over the coming months in the form of published peer-reviewed articles and papers that will change the current understanding of the significance of the Arabian Peninsula.

Archaeologist at work in AlUla

Rebecca Foote, Director, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Research at Royal Commission for AlUla commented: ‘We already know things about the major sites like Hegra, but I hope that the team’s work and this documentary begin to fill in gaps in our knowledge in the late pre-historic period, when societies are becoming more complex.”

“Archaeologists are just beginning to reveal the secrets and stories held within the desert of this stunning landscape, there is much more to discover and we’re excited to be able to share our work and this place with the world through this documentary.”

‘The Architects of Ancient Arabia’ will air exclusively on Discovery Channel in India on 31 March at 7:00pm and on 3rd April at 2.25pm.

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