Explain To Me

While driving back home on the National Highway – 8, we realised how smooth the drive was. There was no damage to the road despite the rains. It suddenly dawned on us that the roads were in a good shape because they were under the management of the toll authority that had built them with their own cash and the only way they could earn money was to have fully functional roads. How does one acheive full functionality - by using world class material and worksmanship of repute.

Move over to the slip and sector roads, they are so badly damaged and get in this state twice every year, you can’t help but wonder that there is something horribily wrong. I think the contractors and public authorities are hand in glove. They use substandard materials and keep fat margians to themselves. Some of it is sent to the public authorities. The road conveniently gets damaged again and the cycle restarts so that the  new guy who comes can earn some cash.  Does this explain why using BAD MATERIAL helps?

What can we do. Well, we can begin by demanding explaination for this anamoly. Use RTI, use your contacts, use the parliament but get information in the open and then face these cheats with the data.

Lodge police complaints of cheating in case you find some wrong doing.

Ask for building of roads to be given to private partners.

Action Around Sector 48, Sohna Road, Gurgaon Picking Up

Bestech recently announced the launch of Park View Spa – Sector 47. Unitech has announced Villas & Commercial Space in Sector 48. The R-Mall, ILD Commercial are almost ready for possession bang opposite the Central Park 2 (CP2). The plot next to Uniworld Garden also opposite CP2 will be the place where Uniworld Garden – 2 has been launched.

My guess is that CP2, Sector 48 should will have great sorrundings  – if you discount the sewrage treatement plant and the sector road cutting 1/4th of the project from the rest. The bigger question now is when will Bakshi invite investors for taking over possession. I personally cannot handle any more delay as debt is beginning to pile up and hurt.

Stuff Picked From Gurgaon Scoop – Central Park 2

It seems the central park 2 project is not moving ahead after all. In Sept 2004, the company, M/s Sweta Estates Pvt Ltd did a prelaunch for Central Park 2 in Sohna road.

At that time, they neither had licenses, nor owned the complete land. It was expected that the compnay would launch the project soon and construction would start. Seveal things have changed since then : All those who booked the apartment at a rate of Rs. 2050 p.sq.ft are stuck. Since Sept 2004, neither has the project been launch, nor has the construction started. Several times, the company told property agents that the project would be launched soon, first at Rs. 2500 pr sf st, then at Rs. 2700 per sq ft.

The property agents in turn, increased the price of resale. Present prices are floating at around Rs. 2600+ but all the transactions are happening only becuase of the property agents, there are no genuine buyers for the project The construction of the sample flat has been on for the last 6 months. If a company cant construct one flat in six months, how can it make 1600 flats in 3 years ? When the project was launched, it had 1600 flats and the price decided was according to that.

Now, while the website still mentions 1600 flats as on 22nd Feb 2006, the company has quietly modified its desgns to make 1700 flats in the same plot without reduing prices for previous bookings !! The much touted launch has now been AGAIN postponed till April 2006, and by that time, might get postponed again.

For your records, between prelaunch and launch, Central Park 2 has made a record in Gurgaon being the most delayed project ever.

The major builders who built Central Park 1 – Gesco – has backed out of the project becuase of unethical dealing by Bakhsi’s in the project.

Now, the Bakshi group has no builder who can make Centrla Park 2 for them so it is very likely that the project will either never finish, or become a good example of poor constrction quality. Beware ! Investors have had a field day making money in good projects, this one might let them down.

Central Park -2, Moving On, Moving Along

It seems that the rates have begun to improve. I am told that the last transaction happened at Rs. 2700 per sq. ft. This is an improvement from 3 months ago, when the rates had fallen to Rs. 2250 per sq. ft. With the builder reducing the transfer charges to Rs. 50 per sq. ft. from the earlier Rs. 200, things have begun to look better.

Factors that have affected the project:

Improved market sentiment

Better home loan terms

Project getting closer to completion

Reduced transfer charges

Investors having money and picking up invetory to cash in – in fact Bakshi himself has sold inventory in CP-1 and bought in CP-2

The things that still remain tricky / suspect

Builder may not deliver even till December 2009

The sewage treatement plant may dampen things

The road cutting off CP-2, Phase-1 from rest of the project

Bakshi’s reputation till now

Chances of additional demand on account of escalation

Overall perception

High cost of flats due to big size and luxury tag – the down turn is not attracting a lot of buyers even at the current price levels

Chalets, Naldera, Himachal Pradesh – A Trip Worth Making – At least Once

These are out of the world villas in the middle of nowhere. A bit expensive but worth the money. Watch out for very ordinary service and casual approach to things. The net doesn’t work. The swimming pool is being cleaned. The grill in the garden is placed only every alternate day – but today we have decided not to do it because there are not enough guests, etc., etc.

But the swimming pool when you can use it is great – it is covered and heated. Luxury at its best. The food is nothing to write home about, but who goes to such places for eating.

The best are the hammocks tied to the pine trees. Tranquil and lovely.

The price is a bit steep but you could try booking in advance for a great trip. We drove to Naldera – I would say a long drive from Delhi. If you have children drive down to Chandigarh or Kalka and then catch the toy train to Shimla. From there hire a local cab to Naldera. Fun ka fun and chutti ki chutti.

They have some old books and magazines that you can borrow. The kids love this as they can go down and choose – makes them feel like adults. The landscaping is great.

The place is well maintained and the toilets are clean – the biggest factor for me when judging a place.

Loud Horns – Ban Them!!

We were in Chandigarh a few days ago (on our way back from Shimla). While driving out from the Sukhna Lake parking lot, there was a white car no – PB10CG6824 that had the loudest horn in the world. Despite giving this guy the way he still blew the horn (it sounded like a industrial horn) which stunned my 8 year old and she started crying complaining of temporary deafness.

These kind of guys should be checked.