Friday, April 25, 2008

My article published in Times of India(TOI) - Hyderabad edition Times Property section 12th April 2008. Page 2

HYDERABAD attracts corporates

Ajit Nair looks at the city's landscape from the point of view of a corporate employee

Hyderabad is a 400 year old city with a history reminiscent of Qutub Shahi, the Asif Jahi and the Nizam dynasties who left their indomitable stamp on the city. Today, Hyderabad is a bustling metropolis with an urban population of 7 million and boasts of a unique mixture of the old and the new as it strives to become the home for Information Technology, Outsourcing, Biotechnology, Tourism, Education and International Business.All these factors have fuelled the demand for more accommodation,office/retail space as well as hospitality services. It is inevitable but true that life here is dependent to a large extent on the way Hyderabad is gearing up to meet the challenges in future. Over the last decade, Hyderabad has seen some frenetic investment activity leading to a huge boom in quality infrastructure like special economic zones, industrial parks, IT campuses, and a new international airport.This has also led to a big demand for quality housing in and around the city.The obvious question that arises here is - what amenities and infrastructure is the city providing to prospective employers and employee's vis-à-vis other cities in India? Spread across an area of 217 sq kms with 80% literacy rate, the city is seeing many new developments. Its 75,000 odd auto rickshaws are by and large the easiest and most economical mode of transport.The GPS connected prepaid taxis are also available at large.A new Outer Ring Road, elevated expressways and the new Hyderabad Metro rail are soon to be added in the list of developments. It has well connected broad roads and all public spaces like pavements, dividers and empty areas under the flyovers have been beautified with sophisticated greenery and decorative pieces. The area under the jurisdiction of the local Hyderabad municipal corporation has been expanded with greater powers thus ensuring better management (decongesting Hyderabad into different growth pockets), accountability and ensuring proper decentralisation of power.This has led to more ideas being debated on how to make the city a better living place. The local municipal corporation is working on making multi-level parking lots across the city of Hyderabad along with plans to construct simultaneous green zones for the public. The local administration has also placed special emphasis on developing communication facilities with plans to have dedicated connectivity and to make the city Wi-Fi enabled. Rigth now it is well connected to other parts of the country and outside by rail, road and air. Hyderabad also boasts of a fully self-contained inland container freight depot and air cargo complex.It has a new international airport with a capacity to manage 12 million passengers and has all the amenities that one usually gets to see in a class one international airport. The city has a well connected network of banks and financial institutions.The healthcare sector in Hyderabad has also witnessed an enormous growth of late with a train of modern state-of-the-art hospitals coming up at the city at affordable service rates. It’s plush malls, multiplexes and umpteen eating joints add up to the lively spirit of the city. Being a growing business and tourist centre, it has an expanding list of hotels ranging from the premiere ones to the very ordinary ones. All these factors make Hyderabad a truly cosmopolitan and booming city thereby shooting up the demand for property and real estate-both affordable and luxurious segments, which are well spread across the city. Coupled with it is the rising demand for new houses from NRIs. No wonder, the city has all the elements that can attract corporates to make Hyderabad their home for a profitable living.

My article published in Times of India (TOI) -Hyderabad edition Dated - 29th March 2008. Times property Special Report - Home Affair. Page 15.

Gadget Homes

Luxury has gone digital. Read on as Ajit Nair goes about putting together gadgets for a smart home!

Gone are the day's when people just cared about a house with walls and roof above. Today the community cares a lot and exhibit genuine interest in value adds that a home brings along with it. It is the age of Hi Tech and smart homes with a whole host of gizmo/gadgets that come into play. The gadget's being high on safety and comfort with features like closed circuit TV (CCTVs) systems that can transmit images from the patio, the backyard, or the front door, and a security system that monitors more than just break-ins and fires. Luxury has gone digital now. We have homes which have automatic temperature and lighting control system linked to all the important and necessary electronic/electric gadgets like the television, music system, the microwave, refrigerator, ovens in the kitchen and the important lights, these being switched on or off when not in use. Today's advanced homes are Wi-Fi enabled with instant/wireless internet connectivity anywhere in the house, the house have separate in house amphitheatre giving the residents a feel of a large screen movie watching experience never heard of before. Anything and everything to do with solar power is a must have in such homes as they are advanced and energy efficient (saving). Solar heaters/lamps are the most sought after devices in general. Of course, smart homes are not just about going digital or having a lot of gadgets and gizmos but technology properly utilized can make our homes more efficient, safe, comfortable, and fun. Some of the latest gadgets that being gas leak sensors, fire alarms/extinguishers, locker safes, foot massagers, recliners, data tacks (a device which is shock proof and a holding point for multiple pug ins), temperature control feature Jacuzzi's and weight scale which has add on features like body fat monitor and body water percentage calculator. To top it all you have touch screen enabled remote controls which handle multiple jobs like blinds and curtains movement control, controlling the house lights, Air Conditioning control etc. These hi-tech systems can now add a new dimension to convenience and comfort and it has been well received. With the changing times and social displacement an important event in any new urban landscape in India, homes have become more culture independent. These paradigm shifts can also been seen in the flats, villas and other independent constructions of today as they adopt/implement more and more up to date and latest gadgets in their respective homes. Developers today are constructing different kinds of buildings at the same time - from houses and condominiums and have attracted sizeable foreign investors. This has lead to the builders providing a lot of value add in the flat itself; a typical case being advanced security systems which include finger imprint systems, door sensors, movement sensors, and entrance videophones. Whether its security, entertainment, or lighting a smart home addresses all these issues. So one can definitely quote the quote that - Intelligence is a matter of interest.