Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Orbit Corporation Limited

Orbit Corporation specialises in building spaces using the best available raw materials and integrating the best technology in construction worldwide. The group's properties are a perfect demonstration of aesthetics, ergonomics, spaciousness, environment friendliness, unmatched expertise, innovation and optimum utility of space.

Headed by the father and son duo of Ravi Kiran Aggarwal and Pujit Aggarwal, Orbit Corporation's corporate vision is to go beyond the obvious. World-renowned architects, structural consultants and landscape artists work on their projects using advanced innovative technologies and ethical practices. Orbit residences are built in prime locations of Mumbai, and typically feature panoramic views, high-end amenities, 7-star health clubs and vaastu or aura conformed homes. Structurally, Orbit differentiates itself with buildings that use proprietary technology and materials that result in higher durability and lower maintenance costs. As an example, Orbit is one of the only real estate companies to use stainless steel reinforcement bars and 304 grade stainless steel pipes for water supply. This enables the company to provide an unmatched guarantee on its quality of construction - the signature Orbit Assurance which includes a 20-year warranty on waterproofing, sound-proof multiple glazed Italian windows, and guaranteed on-time possession.

In the residential segment, their projects include Villa Orb, Orbit Arya, Orbit Haven and Orbit Sky Chateau at Napeansea Road; Orbit Heights at Nana Chowk; Orbit Eternia, Orbit Grand & Orbit Terraces at Lower Parel; Orbit Enclave at Prarthana Samaj & Orbit Residency Park at Andheri East. Eminent commercial projects the group has completed include JSW HQ and Orbit Plaza, both in Bandra-Kurla Complex. Orbit Corporation is also coming up with a world-class township at Mandwa, a 16-minute boat ride from Gateway of India.

( via - Times of india )

Committed to build

Mayur Shah of Marathon Group talks about the journey so far, and how Mumbai will change for the better

Established in 1969, the Marathon Group is known for setting several benchmarks in the real estate sector. With a product bouquet across residential and commercial projects, they are a realty group with a strong conscience.

The group is led by Mr. Ramniklal Shah, Founder and Chairman along with Mr. Chetan R Shah, Vice-Chairman, Marathon Group and Mr. Mayur R Shah, Managing Director, Marathon Group. The dynamic Mr Mayur Shah speaks about how they have established themselves in Mumbai as a company giving quality homes and offices at reasonable prices.
They have always had the edge in terms of being ahead of the curve. The inspiration of picking up mill land in Lower Parel, when some mills were still functioning, and turning this location into the favoured residential and office destination that it is today was way back in 1999. The timelines involved with solving all the stakeholders' problems and demands then stood them in good stead later, when other mill owners approached them to redevelop their land. Mayur Shah says, "It is an unimaginably long and trying job, but patience is the key. Most of the stakeholders had returned to their native villages, and we had to recall them just to hand over the compensation! After seven years of the mill having closed, it was a mammoth task."

When asked about the contentious issues mill land redevelopment has raised, he says, "It has been decided by the Supreme Court…but I would also like to point out that this land is not 'free' - in the sense the costs attached to it are inherent, and all these are being paid eventually by the common man! For instance, the owner has most often mortgaged it to a bank and has to pay off all these liens on it - and the bank has regular people's money in it. Workers are in any case not getting paid and yet they are compensated. In fact once it becomes functional again it can provide employment to so many people in its new avatar, rather than being just a graveyard of buildings and aspirations. If you want gardens then take up non-productive land which doesn't have all these costs attached." Among the projects done using the model are: Piramal Spinning and Weaving mill - Marathon Nextgen, Jay Bharat Oil mill - Marathon Heights and Mafatlal mills.

Talking of expertise, he says, "We use the same sophisticated techniques like MIVAN for our upscale project in Lower Parel and for the small 350 square feet homes in Marathon Nagari in Badlapur. The amenities might change, but never our commitment to good buildings. I would consider it a national waste if any building we made didn't last the test of time." One could not expect less from a civil engineer from University of Bombay and MS in structural engineering from Oklahoma State University, USA. The zero-defect performance of all Marathon projects is due in large part to this attitude toward perfection.

They have a wonderful rapport with their customers, both past and present as seen by the tremendous response to their recent project of Marathon Monte Vista. Even at the height of the downturn they were sold out for a 36-month delivery project, solely due to the goodwill in the market. They are currently building a 40-storey premium residential project in Mulund on customer demand - that 2% who don't wish to shift location but have the money for a better lifestyle.”

Mayur Shah says, "Our CSR commitment is clear; every year we will build houses for the lowest strata of society. We have built homes for the earthquake affected in Latur and later in Gujarat. 650 tenements in Kanjur Marg on freehold land that could have been used for other purposes, but we want to use our special expertise for the betterment of the country wherever possible. Marathon Nagari at Badlapur started from the same premise and then began to take on a life of its own…with other developers jumping on the bandwagon. And in this way, Badlapur is another location that we have created - within 1 ½ hour of commute from Mumbai, with all major infrastructure in place."

Creating a location seems to be a huge soft skill, and developing it well the hard one. This is what he desires of the government also, to give a thrust to infrastructure in those places that can help relive the pressure on linear Mumbai. He emphasizes the importance of developing peripheral areas like the Panvel to Pune belt, Kalyan - Dombivili and Vasai - Virar. The master plan for these areas should look after the large grid connectivity, which is beyond the scope of individual developers. The last mile connectivity to individual projects in far-off locations is a major concern, for instance, water, electricity and roads. This will ensure that the poor from slums in central Mumbai wont mind shifting to outside/cheaper locations if they can still get to work easily. Also if they get larger homes at the same price as a slum dwelling, the incentive to move would be higher.

Within Mumbai, augmentation of the existing infrastructure is a must as well as removal of bottlenecks related to land and approvals.
With the Marathon Group increasing value for customers and in terms of square feet, they are now looking at expanding their portfolio to include the western suburbs. According to Mr Shah, the MMR region is like 10 different cities, and the work for developers is cut out. Also with affordable housing the need of the times, his definition includes homes that sell for anything between 8 to 50 lakhs, depending on location.

( via - Times of India )

ET Realty Expo is back!

Real estate in India has been changing the skyline of even satellite towns in this 21st century. Besides, the metro cities, smaller towns too have attracted construction activity from big developers. Shopping malls, skyscrapers and new infrastructure is rapidly shaping the destiny of new India.

The real estate boom is a direct result of the return of NRIs, foreign direct investment, multinationals entering every nook and corner of the country to set up base. Whether it is New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Hyderabad, Pune, or even towns like Cochin, Jaipur, and Udaipur the dynamic developers are paving new paths, and the real estate industry has been seeing major changes.

Over the years, Economic Times Realty Expo, from the Times of India group, has been bringing developers from across India together under one roof. Under the banner of the ET Realty Expo, property buyers are being offered a wide range of residential and commercial properties across India. If you want to buy property in India, whether residential or commercial, ET Realty Expo is the one-stop solution for you.

Previous editions of the ET Realty Expo have proved so popular that many developers are participating again. For instance, Vijay Wadhwa, Chairman, Vijay Associates (Wadhwa Developers), had said during an earlier expo: "Considering the current sentiment of buyers, the exhibition will be crucial in promoting the projects and raising the awareness amongst the buyers. Exhibitions involve a lot of time and money, so it is very essential to pitch it rightly to the right target base and that is what ET Expo does. It is a more focused exhibition.” Pujit Aggarwal, MD and CEO, Orbit Corporation Ltd, had also commented during a previous expo that it was a "very well organised and well managed exhibition", with focused visitors and meaningful enquiries”. This year, Orbit Corporation is coming up with a world-class township at Mandwa, which is a 16-minute boat ride from Gateway of India.

Bringing its premium properties to the table, the Lodha Group is showcasing two of its prime properties in the exhibition. R. Karthik, senior VP, Marketing, Lodha Group says, “Our experience with the ET Realty Expo has been reasonably good in the past. It is a more focussed platform as it comes from a group that has positioned itself well. Also, the venue being a five-star hotel, the quality of customers that walk in are very clear with what they are looking for. It is a great opportunity for the serious buyers looking out for serious investment.”

Elaborating on his projects, he adds, “We are not showcasing our entire range but only two premium properties. On the suburban side we have Lodha Aqua in Dahisar and on the town side we have Lodha Bellissimo at Mahalaxmi.”

Navin Makhija, director, Vijay Associates (Wadhwa Developers) says, “Amongst our residential projects we are displaying Anmol Pride and Prestige, Aquaria Grande, Viceroy Park, Solitaire, Imperial Heights and Palm Beach Residency. The response has always been sales-oriented. The buyer has come back into the market thanks to the government measures to encourage real estate transactions.”

Today’s customers can look forward to cuttingedge spaces, both residential and commercial. As Indian architects bring the best of international practices and design to India, and foreign architects offer their expertise as well, contemporary buildings are being transformed into new-age wonders. These projects are designed both for multinationals, who are increasingly discovering the potential of India, and Indian corporates seeking to mark their place on the global arena. The ET Realty Expo also introduces new projects, involving hospitals, schools, townships and offices.

This year, ET Realty Expo 2009, is back in association with Times Property, on December 4 - 5 and 6 at Hotel Taj Lands End, Bandra. Like every year, this year, too, the ET Realty Expo will bring developers not only from Mumbai, but also from across the country and customers under one roof.

The exhibition is travelling across the country to 11 cities. Don’t miss it!

( via - times of india )

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