Santhosh Kumar, CEO – Operations & International Director, JLL India
By Santhosh Kumar
For over a century, people across the globe celebrate March 8th as International Women’s Day and the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. This year’s theme for International Women’s day is ‘Be Bold for Change’ – and change is definitely called for. The world needs to raise its collective voice against gender bias, inequality and violence against women. We also need to give more encouragement for women’s advancement, celebrate their achievements and champion the cause of women’s education.
Closer home and the ground realities in India, working women need to know they can live, work and yes – entertain, peacefully and safely. Far from raising it for change, the voice of countless working women in India is stifled under the pressures of a daily work commute and the responsibility of managing their households. Not all residential locations are created equal – and certainly not for women in our largest metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Pune.
To identify the relatively safer and more convenient areas where women can live, work and relax in relative peace in these cities, we focus on some critical operative real estate factors, such as:
· Proximity to work places and shopping areas
· Proximity to schools
· Safety at home and during commute
· Adequate commuting options
· Good healthcare facilities
· Reasonably priced housing
· Healthy, green environment
Some locations have themselves been agents of change. Thane in Mumbai, for example, has evolved over the years from being a largely industrial hub to a location that sports large IT/ITes offices, offers a variety of malls and supermarkets, has reasonably priced housing within self-sufficient housing complexes, ample green cover and decent healthcare amenities.
Thane’s proximity to the BKC CBD has also enhanced after the opening of the Eastern Expressway, resulting in it becoming a location of choice for many working women in MMR today. Other locations which have evolved from humbler identities to become cosmopolitan hubs include Gurgaon in NCR and parts of Whitefield in Bangalore.
The changes in most cases present veritable case studies of improving social infrastructure that support women who seek a healthy work life / home life balance. They have developed in a manner that aligns with the growing demands of an ever-increasing women workforce.
Safety, especially for single working and senior citizen women, is a growing cause for concern in Indian cities. Not all new urban centres which have evolved on the periphery of the older cities can call themselves truly safe places for women. A lot more needs to be done by town planning and law enforcement agencies to ensure that women working late night shifts and single working and senior citizen women need not fear for their safety.
This list of areas is not exhaustive but is a fair representation:
| Mumbai |
Why They Score High For Working Women |
Capital Values (Rs/sq.ft.) | Rent – 2 BHK / (Rs per month)* |
| Western Suburbs (Andheri, Vile Parle) | Good connectivity to the Eastern and Western suburbs, good social infrastructure, excellent public transport, proximity to domestic / international airport, workplace hubs, malls and schools. | Andheri: 15,000-25,000, Vile Parle: 25,000-35,000 | Andheri: 40,000 -60,000 , Vile Parle – 45,000-65,000 |
| Eastern Suburbs (Mulund) | Good connectivity to commercial locations like Thane, Airoli etc., green and pollution-free environment, proximity to malls, good spread of residential options | Mulund: 12,000-15,000 | Mulund: 25,000-40,000 |
| Thane | Good, serene environment, proximity to malls, good spread of residential options, proximity to work hubs in the Western and Eastern suburbs and Navi Mumbai, good healthcare facilities. | 7,500-10,000 | 15,000-25,000 |
| Navi Mumbai (Nerul) | Green and pollution-free environment, proximity to malls, good proximity to key workplaces hubs like Vashi, Thane and Belapur. | Nerul: 10,000-12,000 | Nerul: 20,000-35,000 |
| Pune | Why They Score High For Working Women | Capital Values (Rs/sq.ft.) | Rent – 2 BHK (Rs per month)* |
| North-East
(Viman Nagar, Kharadi) |
Good connectivity & availability of public transport, proximity to workplace hubs, leisure and entertainment options, quality residential projects | Viman Nagar – 7000-8000
Kharadi – 5500-6500 |
Viman Nagar -18000-20000
Kharadi-12000-14000 |
| North-West
(Baner, Pimple Saudagar, Aundh) |
Safety during commute, good availability of public transport, access to high street shopping areas, quality residential projects | Baner – 7000-8000
Pimple Saudagar -6000-6500 Aundh -9000-10000 |
Baner – 16000-18000
Pimple Saudagar – 14000-16000 Aundh – 17000-22000 |
| South-East (Hadapsar, Wanowrie) | Availability of leisure options, established office corridor, safety, connectivity to workplace hubs, access to high street shopping, | Hadapsar- 6000-7200 | Hadapsar – 12000-20000, |
| Proximity to central area, connectivity to workplace hubs, access to high street shopping | Wanowrie – 6500-8000 | Wanowrie – 16000-21000 |
| Delhi NCR | Why They Score High For Working Women | Capital Values (Rs/sq.ft.) | Rent – 2 BHK / (Rs per month)* |
| Golf Course Road, Gurgaon | Proximity to workplace hubs, multiple apartment and condominium options with adequate safety features, easy access to shopping areas | 7,500-11,000 for older apartment projects of generally 2 and 3 BHK formats | 2 BHK – 25000-30000 (multiple women may share rooms individually or on double occupancy basis) |
| DLF-Phase 1 and areas near MG Road | Row housing options for PG accommodation, safety measures implemented by local RWAs, multiple apartment and condominium options with adequate safety features, easy access to shopping areas, proximity to commercial corridors, Metro connectivity | Row Houses: Independent Floors – 10,000–15,000
Apartments: 10,000-16,000 |
2 BHK independent floors: 20000-25000
2 BHK apartment: 30000-40000 (based on project location and quality) Multiple sharing basis |
| Parts of South Delhi, especially around Greater Kailash – I and II | Row housing options with adequate safety provisions implemented by local RWAs, access to public transport and Metro linkages to CBD, well connected to prime commercial corridors of Nehru Place and Saket and shopping malls | Apartments – 12000-16000/sq.ft. | 2 BHK: 50,000-60,000
2 BHK Row houses in CR Park & Kalkaji internal blocks: 30,000-40,000 Multiple sharing basis |
| Prime residential sectors of Noida (sectors 14,15, 40, 44 and 93) | Metro connectivity, condominium safety features, accessibility to neighbourhood shopping and connectivity to malls | Apartments – 6500-10000 per sq ft | 2 BHK: 20000-25000 in typical apartment projects |
| Bangalore | Why They Score High For Working Women | Capital Values (Rs/sq.ft.) | Rent – 2 BHK / (Rs per month)* |
| CBD area | Good connectivity, camera surveillance in some places, streets have high activity 24X7, access to public transport (Metro and bus connectivity) | 8500-10000 | 28000-45000 |
| Koramangala | Good connectivity, camera surveillance in some places, access to public transport (buses) | 9000-12000 | 20000-40000 |
| Parts of Whitefield | Good connectivity, camera surveillance in some places, streets have high activity 24X7 due to many BPOs operational, access to public transport (buses) | 5000-6000 | 18000-23000 |
Note: * Rents are for 2 BHK unfurnished apartments