“External” amenities and a “Functional” neighbourhood!

 31.05.10

Vishnu Shankar Jarugumilli

www.crorepatihomes.net

Hardly any apartment or villa complex comes nowadays without amenities. And by amenities builders mean luxury (not any more) features like swimming pool, club house, children’s play area, party areas, indoor and outdoor games facilities etc. The idea is not just to build on the brand quotient by throwing in these features but also offer an opportunity for relaxation to families and their children within the confines of the gated complex. Not surprisingly, these features are so popular that complexes without these features are hard to sell or will have to be sold at lesser price tags.


But there are other amenities which buyers should not overlook if they truly need a peaceful living and these are not expected to be available within the complex but in the lanes and by-lanes of their earthier neighbourhood.

A normal Indian family consisting of 2 adults and 2 children will need a lot more within the reach to enjoy day to day living. I will list some of them.

  • Provision stores.
  • Vegetable vendors.
  • Auto stand in walking distance.
  • Stationery shop for children’s urgent needs. You don’t know when your 3rd standard son will ask for a wildlife chart paper.
  • An alteration tailor for your wife.
  • An electric bulb shop to get that tube light replacement urgently in kitchen.
  • Gift shop to buy an urgent gift for your daughter’s friend on a birthday.
  • Cycle puncture shop for your son’s cycle.
  • An idly-dosa Darshini.
  • Fruit juice and ice –cream parlour.
  • A scooter and car mechanic nearby.
  • An ATM.
  • A magazine and newspaper vendor.
  • A doctor’s clinic particularly if you have small children or senior citizens.
  • A medical shop.
  • Flowers and pooja items shop if your wife has a daily religious routine.
  • Bus stops pertaining to your children’s school bus routes.
  • A catchment area nearby from where the house maids and drivers emerge for your complex.

    • These are only some of the things which come to my mind immediately. There are many more which we feel the need for, in our daily lives. These needs will have to be met only by your neighbourhood. And ideally these should be available in less than a KM distance. The builders can’t plan for and assure you these “External” amenities. A swanky complex on the outskirts built extravagantly by the builder may take your breath away instantly. But a “functional” neighbourhood offering these “External” amenities will make living more enjoyable in the long run.


    Some areas in Bangalore have transformed into functional neighbourhoods quite effortlessly in the last few years. Some of them are Arekere mico layout on Bannerghatta rd, Brigade millennium road in JP Nagar 7th phase, AECS layout in Kundanahalli, some areas of Whitefield, Sahakar nagar and large stretches of Yalahanka among others.


    However many areas beside the Outer ring road between Silk board and KR Puram, long stretches of Sarjapur road, Mysore road beyond Rajarajeswari nagar , areas around Jakkur, the whole of Devanahalli and many areas around Electronic city and Hosur road are still anything but “functional” though all these places boast of some really great gated communities.

    Buyers will do well in to keep in mind this aspect as well when buying their dream home with hard earned money.