| Syed Amir Ali Hashmi finds both residents and | | | | In six months, the Jahangirpuri-Central |
| real-estate prices in North Delhi upbeat -all thanks to | | | | Secretariat-Qutab MinarGurgaon Metro link is |
| better connectivity | | | | expected to get operational. |
| Aregion in the city that can boast of its own special | | | | This in turn will allow easier access to various South |
| charm is North Delhi. Much of it is due to the presence | | | | Delhi locations and will also improve connectivity to |
| of the scenic Delhi University campus. Another aspect | | | | Gurgaon. |
| to the charm is added by Azadpur Mandi, where | | | | It is widely believed that this will improve North Delhi's |
| thousands of tonnes of fruits and vegetables land | | | | status as a key residential zone and will drive property |
| before finding their way to different parts of Delhi and | | | | prices and rental values upwards. |
| neighbouring states. North Delhi is well connected with | | | | With increased accessibility to the CBD and other |
| other parts of Delhi through local buses and the Metro. | | | | areas, the capital and rental values have seen a |
| In fact, the superb connectivity offered by the Metro | | | | marked increase. Real-estate experts believe that |
| has had a very favourable effect on the real estate | | | | areas such as Model Town and Azadpur have seen |
| scenario here. | | | | an appreciation of about 30 per cent in capital value. |
| North Delhi encompasses an area of 60 sq. km. Major | | | | When it comes to the residential segment, houses |
| localities here include Alipur Road, Ashok Vihar, | | | | near Metro stations attract higher capital and rental |
| Azadpur, Civil Lines, Kashmere Gate, Model Town, | | | | values. |
| Mukherjee Nagar, Navjiwan Vihar, Pitampura, Prashant | | | | Shailendra, a real-estate agent, says that when the |
| Vihar, Rajiv Nagar, Rani Bagh, Rishi Nagar, Rohini, | | | | Metro reached DU's North Campus, the rentals went |
| Shakti Nagar, Shalimar Bagh, Surya Enclave, | | | | up by 50-70 per cent. |
| Vardhman Nagar, Vivekanand Nagar, Wazirpur and | | | | "The introduction of the Metro has meant that people |
| Inderlok. | | | | from other parts of Delhi are moving to this area. It has |
| Dr Prashant Bhasin, a dental surgeon who runs his | | | | also improved connectivity greatly. Business centres |
| own clinic in Shakti Nagar, was born and grew up in | | | | have come up as have some new hospitals. Fortis has |
| North Delhi. His grandparents as well as parents have | | | | come up in Shalimar Bagh, and there's Max Hospital in |
| called the Ashok Vihar area their home. | | | | Netaji Subash Place," says Dr Bhasin. |
| "I would say that in the last ten years the area has | | | | The developers are active here, too, now. Parsvnath |
| evolved to a great extent. | | | | Developers has launched two residential projects -near |
| The (development resulting from the) Commonwealth | | | | Civil Lines and Subhash Nagar Metro stations. The |
| Games has had a good effect here and the Chatrasal | | | | same developer is also coming up with La Tropicana |
| Stadium has been upgraded to international standards | | | | apartments and villas on Magazine Road, Civil Lines, a |
| and, yes, this will help the people staying here, | | | | project launched in 2005. |
| especially those interested in sports," says Dr Bhasin. | | | | The project boasts sophisticated designs for three, |
| North Delhi, he adds, has seen vast improvements in | | | | fourand five-bedroom apartments, penthouses and |
| the last decade. Along with many malls that have | | | | villas. |
| come up more recently, there has been widespread | | | | The company started construction in August 2009 |
| elctrification of the roads, facilitating the installation of | | | | after obtaining the requisite approvals including sanction |
| streetlights. Lanes where residents never used to | | | | of building plans by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. |
| venture after dark are well-lit and safe now, says Dr | | | | The M2K Group, which has malls in Rohini and |
| Bhasin. | | | | Pitampura, is coming up with Victoria Gardens, a |
| "In Shakti Nagar Extension, a cricket academy has | | | | freehold, residential project in the Model Town area. |
| come up, and we've had some swimming pools come | | | | A look at real-estate prices: One-room janta flats in |
| up in the area as well. One more stadium has come up | | | | Pitampura, with an area of about 200 sq ft to 250 sq. |
| on Lawrence Road. All this means that North Delhi has | | | | ft, are priced at Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. LIG flats, with |
| something for all ages and takes special care of kids' | | | | one bedroom and a drawing room, spread across 400 |
| needs too," says Dr Bhasin. | | | | sq.ft can be bought for Rs 30 lakh to Rs 35 lakh in |
| North Delhi is also one of the first regions to have | | | | Pitampura. MIG flats come for Rs 40 lakh to Rs 65.7 |
| witnessed improvements in connectivity to the Central | | | | lakh; super MIG (1150 sq.ft.) go for Rs 50 lakh to Rs 75 |
| Business District (CBD) due to the Delhi Metro. Ever | | | | lakh; and HIG flats (1150-1450 sq.ft) are going for Rs 75 |
| since the Vishwavidyalaya Central Secretariat | | | | lakh to Rs 1.25 crore. Plots measuring about 200 sq yd |
| Metro link became operational, many North Delhi | | | | in Pitampura are available for about Rs 2.25 crore to |
| locations have seen a rise in property prices. | | | | Rs 2.5 crore. |