On May 3, 2012, I had written an article titled ‘How Real is Real Estate?’, which began with an anecdote: A man once saw an ad in a local paper in Mumbai that said Flats for Rs.50/- only. He rubbed his eyes, and then read it again. There was no printing mistake, but when he went to the address, located somewhere beyond Mumbai, he discovered that the ad about real estate was not real.
While trundling back home dejected, wondering what one could get for Rs.50/- in Mumbai, he came across a fruit vendor who was selling a watermelon for that amount. He purchased and brought it home, but on cutting open the watermelon, out came a genie who offered to fulfil his wishes. The man immediately wished to have an ownership house in Mumbai. The genie smiled and with a wistful expression replied that if fulfilling that wish were possible, why would he himself have been residing inside a watermelon all these years!
There is an oft repeated phrase – Mumbai is bursting at its seams. However, the seam has been seamlessly extending, and hence it is difficult to ascertain precisely where is the seam. Mumbai to Greater Mumbai, and then Thane District, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Kalyan, Karjat, and extending beyond Virar, so what is the real Mumbai?
From Mumbai to MMR
Mumbai’s sustained evolution and significant growth continues to amaze one and all. The original 16 odd km length (Colaba to Mahim, Colaba to Maheshwari Udyan) increased by about two-and-a-half times to a 40 km length (Colaba to Dahisar, Colaba to Mulund) to incorporate the suburbs. Now, as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), it would have a typical length of 120 km, a three-fold increase from the suburbs stage size (Colaba to Palghar, Colaba to Raigad) to incorporate the extended suburbs or exurbs as well.
While there has been substantial residential and commercial development in the city itself due to its economic opportunities, several suburbs and exurbs within the MMR have also witnessed rapid urbanisation and real estate development. The interesting trend has been the opportunity to further transform the existing, already established suburbs through new development, redevelopment, and mixed-use development.
The writer is a Corporate Trainer, Communication & Marketing Consultant
