Woodrose Club status update

Woodrose Club, our first venture into the clubs and resorts domain, is well under construction. Selective membership to the club will be open for the public by early 2004, and it is expected to be operational by mid-2004.

The 50,000 sft, full-fledged club has been designed to international standards based on an award-winning design.

A modern day option:
enclaves and townships

Increasing pressure on space and infrastructure facilities within the city is prompting developers and citizens to look outside the city limits for a better standard of living at a more reasonable price.

Though Bangalore has not seen much of private township development, the opportunities will be aplenty once the work on the new international airport near Devanahalli begins. On both sides of the six-lane national highway linking the city with the airport, there is the likelihood of residential, commercial and retail development, under the auspices of different townships.

The development of some townships is also expected by the side of the Bangalore-Mysore expressway. Though much delayed, the viability of this tolled corridor project hinges on the successful real estate exploitation on the stretch. The promoters are mulling over an all-encompassive cluster of townships, at regular intervals, to cater to the demands of people living in Bangalore as well as Mysore.

BDA’s member for town planning, H.B. Mukund, says the guidelines for townships / layout / group housing are clear. Unlike the Government of India’s FDI policy on real estate, where at least 100 acres of land development is a must for townships, the BDA lays down no such rule for minimum size. However, the other set of directives is comprehensive and covers all key aspects related to quality of development.

In a layout, 50% of the space has to be mandatorily reserved for residential use, while 15% has to be earmarked for parks and playground spaces. The remaining 35% is meant to be used for roads and civic amenities like a hospital, post office, school, etc. The private developer is given the liberty to develop the last category of space almost entirely for putting up roads, if necessary. This rule is also applicable to larger townships.

—Excerpted from Times Property, 19 September

City to have six new parking complexes


The city is developing in all directions along radial and arterial roads. It has witnessed an enormous increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. This has led to a strain on road space and its utilisation.

After a series of infrastructure projects including flyovers, underpasses, over-bridges, and subways that were launched in the city last year, Bangalore is set to overcome the problem of parking to a considerable level shortly.

The Bangalore City Corporation (BCC), will unveil three major multi-storey car parking complexes in the beginning of 2004 and start work on three others, of which two would be fully computerised.

The BCC Commissioner M.R. Sreenivasa Murthy, IAS, said the work on three parking complexes at J.C. Road, K.G. Road and Magarath Road are already half-way. Along with these, there are proposed parking complexes at Jayanagar VI Block, Gandhi Nagar, and the Dickinson Road-Dispensary Road Junction, for which tenders have been floated. Work will start by January next year.

He also said that the BCC was looking for places for parking complexes in the vicinities of M.G. Road, off Commercial Street, Anand Rao Circle, and Residency Road. He said these places, being commercial hubs of the city, need parking complexes.

The parking complexes can hold between 200 to 400 cars and will cost between 6 to 40 crores.

— Excerpted from Times Property, 14 November

Bring greenery indoors

Plants add liveliness and freshness to interiors. With limited outdoor space available to the average city dweller, often it makes sense to bring some of the greenery indoors.

Use plants and flowers that fit in with your chosen style of decoration. Plants also have psychological and physiological benefits. Dust is reduced by as much as 20% where plants are kept. Strategically placed plants quiet down an office, as they have been found to have sound absorption capacity.

Palms, tall and wide-spreading plants, clusters of small plants, indoor trees, and flowers all add a new look to interiors.

The matching of plant texture, height, and spacing is important. Texture of the plant refers to its leaves: their size, shape, edging, number, arrangement and thickness. Small plants must be placed in front.

The amount of light in a room and the direction of the windows can also affect the choice of a plant. Avoid putting plants right next to a window.

When acquiring a plant, keep in mind its maintenance.

—Excerpted from Times Property, 10 October