Author: News

Dehradun: tiger-shree Rispana river being flattened, say concerned residents

DEHRADUN: Brazen violation of forest and mining norms can be seen near Rispana river where turned into plain land for construction activities as per concerned residents.

The latest incidence of brazen flattening of a has taken place near on Rajpur road where a private builder is starting a project on nearly 2 acres land. Residents of the area are claiming that the Jaipur-based firm has flattened nearly 7-8 acres land.

The area is across Rispana river and can be seen from MDDA Park which is lying locked for ‘redevelopment’ works. The area had rich shrubs and trees along with wildlife, which is under severe threat now, a few concerned wildlife, which is under severe threat now, a few concerned citizens have claimed, adding they are raising the issue through social media but no one is paying heed to their concerns.

There is no response from the district administration so far while one of the forest official claimed it to be a private land.

It is a fact that are being flattened. Also, it is an irony that during forest fire season, we, the residents of the area, have to inform the forest department to douse the fires, said Reenu Paul, founder of What’s also worrying in the entire project is dumping of the muck directly into the river, she added, “The entire rubble is being dumped into the Rispana. It will cause massive damage to the city during monsoons as it would lead to floods and also divert the natural course of the river in the city, added Paul.

A few residents alleged that trees have also been cut in the same patch of the which should have been looked after by the forest authorities.

The issue has gained traction on online forums with concerned residents expressing sentiments like, “Why do people choose Dehradun to make a home? If they say because of nice climate, good air – then we should know that if all the people cut trees, then how will Dehradun have all the things that attracted them in the first place Incidentally, the high court of Uttarakhand had already warned the state regarding flattening of in Mussoorie-Dehradun area owing to the fragile topography of the landscape.en queried about the matter, divisional forest officer of Mussoorie, Kahkashan Naseem said, “That area is not a forest land and this site is about 500 mtr away from the upcoming housing society. We have not given any NOC for flattening of . They might have acquired it from district adminstration.

Dehradun tiger-shree starts pilot project to conduct house tax surveys with drone 

Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) has started its pilot project in for conducting fresh surveys for house tax with drones.

Experts from a private firm hired by DMC said that teams are conducting manual measurements of the properties, while drones will soon be used for final surveys after clearance from the Dehradun DM.

For the use of drones, clearance from authorities like , police and district administration are mandatory. The world bank funded project will not only map the properties but will also take note of the road width and other amenities which will be fed in a dedicated mobile application.

The new survey will help to include properties where owners are living in other cities or abroad. The officials from DMC said that this will be the first full survey of residential and commercial properties in the municipal limits of Dehradun. Earlier, satellite images were used as a base map for charging property tax.

Dharmesh Penuili, tax superintendent, DMC, t “This will be the first-ever survey which will include all the properties which come under the purview of property tax. Earlier, a lot of people used to hide the size of their properties to evade paying more tax. However, under the new survey, nothing will remain hidden.

The mapping of properties will also take place in Haridwar, Rudrapur and Haldwani districts of Uttarakhand and will be carried out by the same

from the company carrying out the drone mapping in the state, said, “Once the survey is complete, a month’s time will be given to residents and other commercial property owners for any clarification after which the maintenance will be handed over to DMC for its future use.

Indian real estate

The Indian residential segment has seen a sharp turnaround over the years and despite umpteen challenges and roadblocks, the sector has efficiently outgrown them and has still been resilient. It is quite exhilarating to note that the Indian real estate sector has a visible spot in the list of regions being considered for investments by domestic and international institutional investment funds, VC’s, other investment companies, etc. Some of the key factors that have uplifted the value of the sector are increased migration, rapid urbanization, growing income levels, infrastructure development that will enable inclusion of Tier 2 and 3 regions, etc.

Metro cities like Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chennai, Goa, Delhi and Mumbai are the most preferred regions for real estate investments. Around the year 2000, several border pockets proved to be an option for buyers and investors looking for mid-size housing, with a minimum budget and this scattered the population from the metro cities. This led to a novel phenomenon that apart from metros, Tier 2 and 3 cities were also seen growing and contributing to the real estate sector. The peripheral locations of Tier 2 and 3 cities gave rise to affordable housing segment which was one of the key milestones defining the sector’s growth. After the COVID-19 pandemic and its repercussions, a major chunk of the population in India thought it right to own a piece of land, or a property they can call their own and there could have been no better alternative than to choose Tier 2 and 3 regions that offered properties at a nominal cost. The government’s infrastructure development has further bolstered the scope of real estate in these regions. Not just residential, even retail and commercial realty is booming in these regions like never before.

Tier 2 and 3 cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, Ranchi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Dehradun, Indore, Chandigarh, Vadodara, Nagpur, Nashik, Kolhapur, Visakhapatnam, Hubli, Dharwad, Mysore, Madurai, Vellore, Kozhikode, Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram among others have become hotbeds for investments and are gaining upper hand in terms of appreciation. Several NRIs, urban buyers, and millennials have been eyeing these cities for job opportunities. Affordable and mid-income housing have been driving the demand while few upmarket regions have been reserved for luxury. Hence, even NRIs are finding India to be a relevant country for investment. According to India Brand Equity Foundation, India is among the top 10 price appreciating housing markets internationally.

Many ambitious infrastructure projects have been planned for enriching the connectivity and accessibility of the nation. Apart from the existing infrastructure like golden quadrilateral, expressways, mega highways, railways, metros, BRTS, and airways, there are new projects in the pipeline. The Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) is to route through all the industrial hubs between the seven states of Delhi and Mumbai. The Gujarat International Finance Tech (GIFT) city is a unique IT, software, and knowledge hub that will facilitate start-ups, entrepreneurship, and new businesses. Bharatmala Project is a road project planned to connect West India with East India. The Navi Mumbai International Airport will help in alleviating the traffic of the current airport in Mumbai. The Government is leveraging waterways with projects like inland waterways where rivers like Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Mahanadi are being used to work upon. The Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link is a long bridge that will start from Sewri and connect Uran, Navi Mumbai. The Chenab river railway bridge will be the highest railway arch bridge in Jammu and Kashmir locations.

The level of infrastructure planning in the country is set to boost the real estate sector thus giving the chance for development. The nation can expect a variety of housing choices like bungalows, villas, plots, condos, luxury apartments, and affordable homes in these locations. Most of the millennials and urban buyers are moving to these locations for a job change, a better lifestyle, and future growth. Driven by increasing transparency and returns, there’s a growth in private investment as well. Construction is the third largest sector in terms of FDI inflow in India. A recent research report states that although the challenges of the European war and inflationary pressures pose headwinds for the real estate sector, the robust performance of the sector during H1 2022 and the consistent demand for homes signifies the strength, resilience and thrust of the Indian real estate sector.

Mountains Calling? Dehradun Could Be Your Next Perfect Weekend Destination 

I’m not a summer person, so unless you’re taking me to a hill station where I can at least pretend that summer doesn’t exist, I’ll be in my air conditioned room, thank you very much. The onset of summer also means respite from city life and pollution at a getaway somewhere that isn’t a 100 hours away, but also away enough. Especially for Delhi, that getaway is almost always Uttarakhand or Himachal. Think Mussoorie, but cut travel time by about two hours, as Hyatt Regency has launched its first property in Uttarakhand, in Dehradun, for those of us who like the luxury without having to brave long hours of a road trip for it.

Positioned as a luxury, pet-friendly hotel that overlooks the Malsi range of the Himalayas, the new property serves as an urban resort, with rooms across six categories (the presidential suite is ginormous and has the best view), fit for families and business conventions alike, we realise, in their expansive ballroom during the press conference. But what makes it the perfect getaway are the immersive experiences available to explore the beauty of Uttarakhand via local cuisine, music, a view, and what we all need on a lazy Saturday — the pristine spa.

But first, let’s talk food. Housing not one, not two, but five restaurants, the property does its best to ensure that you have your comfort nibbles available, but also are adventurous enough to indulge in local flavours. Seriously, though, missing out on Kumaoni dishes is missing out on life. Try the bhat ki churkani<and the pahadi kheere ka raita you’ll thank me later. However, if I have to pick one restaurant that I absolutely loved, it’s Beyul, their rooftop bar, lounge, and fine dining restaurant, which offers Tibetan fare with a side of North Indian options. Chef Tenzin Dolma makes beautiful chicken and lamb momos, and the thukpa bowl is a delight. Pair that with a good cocktail and the beautiful view, what a Saturday night that’ll be. All of the hotel’s focus is on using as much local ingredients as possible — even their bar has a platter with different Himalayan salts for your cocktail glass rims, while The Market inside the property sells artisanal local products that you can take back.

Spa trip, anyone? I listed this in href=”https://https://tiger-shree.com//healthandfitness/spa-trips-for-long-weekends strong long weekend as well, but the spa is so good that if you’re actually just driving down to Dehradun (I flew down from Mumbai, and it was so worth the trip), it is a solid factor among many others for you to come back for more. Six well-equipped spa rooms with a steam, sauna, and locker, right off the infinity pool. Dream come true. With intensive treatments meant to wash the city stress off you by using special formulations — my almond lavender treatment had real ground almonds for exfoliation and it worked wonders in undoing knots and tension in my shoulders — the spa at this property will help you truly unwind. I have never fallen asleep on a spa table before this, so you know what I mean by truly unwind.

If you’re looking for some adventure, the hotel arranges hikes, guided tours, local cultural experiences, as well as wellness activities such as meditation and a yoga session set against the backdrop of the beautiful valley. For me, given the stressful lives we lead, this property is meant for you to catch a break, whatever your version of that is. No more driving 10-12-hours for the weekend; instead, you drive less, you go to the hills, and you breathe in its luxury and warm hospitality.

Dehradun school closed after 11-year-old tests positive for Covid amid fourth wave scare

A private school in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun was shut for two days after an 11-year-old student tested positive for Covid-19, said Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Manoj Upreti.

Education Dept has directed Dehradun’s Brightlands School authorities to close the school for two days after an 11-yr-old student tested positive for COVID19. All schools directed to follow protocol of wearing masks, physical distancing&hand hygiene: CMO Dr Manoj Upreti,” ANI tweeted.

Meanwhile, on the covid front, India on Sunday reported 2,593 new Covid-19 cases, which is a marginal increase over the 2,527 infections registered the previous day, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Affairs said.

Also in the same period, an additional 44 Covid fatalities increased the nationwide death toll to 5,22,193.

The number of Indias active caseload has increased to 15,873, accounting for 0.04 per cent of the countrys total positive cases.

The recovery of 1,755 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,25,19,479. Consequently, India`s recovery rate stands at 98.75 per cent.

Also in the same period, a total of 4,36,532 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the overall count to 83.47 crores.

While the weekly positivity rate stood at 0.54 per cent, the daily positivity rate reported a considerable spike to 0.59 per cent.

As of Sunday morning, India`s Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 187.67 crores, achieved via 2,30,29,745 sessions.

Over 2.65 crore adolescents have been administered a first dose of Covid-19 jab since the beginning of the vaccination drive for this age bracket.

Dehradun railway station redevelopment on track; approval sought for 83.5-metre tall tower

The proposed station redevelopment project includes a revolving restaurant atop the tower with a 360-degree view of the Doon Valley.

A meeting to review the status of the redevelopment of Dehradun railway station was held between Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Rawat and vice chairman of Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) Ved Parkash Dudeja.

In the meeting held in Dehradun on December 15, Dudeja, apprised the chief minister on the status of development of the project and sought approval for the Detailed Project Report (DPR) involving a high-rise building of 83.5 metre height, RLDA sources said.

The present traffic problems for entry and exit at Dehradun station will be eased out under the redevelopment plan. Passengers can enjoy a 360-degree view of the entire Doon Valley in about an hour from the revolving restaurant atop the high-rise tower which will be the first revolving restaurant of its kind in Uttarakhand.

The proposed venture will cost Rs 125 crore for the station and Rs 400 crore for commercial development.

The CM advised MDDA to put up the proposal for cabinet approval in the next cabinet meeting scheduled in the third week of January 2021.

We have requested the state government for early approval to the DPR of the Dehradun Railway Station so that the request fro proposal (RFP) can be floated at the earliest. The redevelopment of the Dehradun railway station will upgrade the facilities in line with global standards. The redevelopment will also catalyse real estate development, accentuate the tourism potential and boost the local economy and will create a win-win situation for all the stakeholders,” said Dudeja.

Ranvir Singh Chauhan, vice chairman, Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA), Shailesh Bagauli, secretary, housing, Uttarakhand and Ashish Kumar Srivastava, district magistrate, Dehradun also attended the meeting.

The Dehradun railway station is being developed jointly by RLDA and MDDA, and an MoU was signed last year between both organisations in this regard.

The objective of the redevelopment is to upgrade the station with state-of-the-art amenities such as segregation of entry and exit, food and beverage outlets, dedicated underground parking, and pedestrian plaza.

The Request for Qualification (RFQ) for the development of the Dehradun station on a PPP mode was earlier invited by RLDA.

The DPR that constitutes a part of RFP, is currently under finalisation by MMDA, following which the RFP is planned to be invited in January 2021. The mandatory station redevelopment is scheduled to be completed in three years. The commercial component will be leased for 60 years and the residential component for 99 years.

The total area of land under consideration is about 14 acres wherein about 8 acres land is allocated for mandatory development of the railways such as station building and railway passenger amenities including offices. The remaining 6 acres land will be allocated for real estate development. The real estate component involves residential and commercial, such as malls, hotels, retail spaces, multi-level parking, and office space.

Small Project – BIG Solution for Dehradun Retired Couple..

In the southwest part of Dehradun, retired couple Mr. and Mrs. Mohan own a separated housing building with a large plot and generous portion of terrace space. Over the years, age of the structure and annual monsoon rains had impacted the home, primarily and extensively in the family’s downstairs dining room. The problems that come with interior damp walls and leakage were becoming a concern for the couple due to health reasons as well as the aesthetics. They began investigating new potential solutions for waterproofing, as prior applications of other popular and inexpensive products were not delivering the performance desired nor sealing off water ingress…

The Mohan’s learned of a new brand of waterproofing and heat resistant coatings, OBICCool by OBIC Solutions Pvt Ltd. Although unknown, the firm’s product was backed by an experienced team of IIT Bombay engineers, produced under the “Make in India” initiative and manufactured under stringent quality controls at an ISO 9000:2015 facility and this provided enough evidence and confidence to try this new product line…

The OBICCool product was somewhat more expensive than what they had used in the past, but they were anxious to see if it could truly deliver what it promised so they decided to have the coating applied in a 500 square foot potion of the roof where the water ingress into the dining room was coming from.

OBIC Solutions deployed its own application crews for the project. The area to be treated was first prepped and cleaned. The existing waterproofing material needed to be removed first and the surface made smooth. Once the surface was dry and ready for the next coat, white cement was mixed with same OBICCool 100C material. The purpose of this is to fill any cracks and gaps in the substrate and completely seal the roof with the second coat. An initial coat of OBICCool 100C, a nano-enhanced absorption coat was applied to seal off any porous areas in the cement surface. These steps took 2 and were performed by a crew of 3 members. The topcoats followed this process. The crew completed two topcoats in 6 hours. Normally, a four-layer system which uses a cement coat in between the absorption coat and the final topcoats is applied, however, due to budget constraints, OBIC Solutions was a solution using three coats along with the topcoats to successfully stop water ingress…

Government urged to provide land for the Dehradun ring road..

If the Uttarakhand government gives it 1,100 acre of land along the highway for a logistics park, a fruit and vegetable park, and a wholesale “mandi” that are to be created as part of the project, the Centre has agreed to pay for the full cost of establishing a ring road around Dehradun. Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister, received a guarantee to this effect when he met with Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways in New Delhi.

The construction of the Dehradun ring road is anticipated to solve the city’s traffic problems. Gadkari additionally requested that the Chief Minister conduct a project feasibility study for the Dehradun ring road.

The Union Minister also gave directions to expedite development on an all-weather road is being constructed for an estimated Rs 120 billion.

Twenty-two project-related works are in the process of being finished, and nineteen already have.

The 42.50 km Najibabad-Afjalgarh bypass, which Gadkari approved, will cut the distance between the Uttarakhand regions of Kumaon and Garhwal by 20 km and the travel time by 45 minutes…

Real estate players betting big on holiday homes

In view of the growing demand for holiday homes, several property developers in India are presently getting into the holiday home market as wealthy individuals are increasingly seeking to purchase second homes in coastal or hilly destinations.

Holiday homes, also known as second homes, serve as accommodations while on vacation. However, holiday homes have gained a new significance in the post-pandemic era with more people opting to relocate, seeking a more relaxing and serene place to live and work. Considering the growing demand for holiday homes, several property developers in India are presently getting into the holiday home market as wealthy individuals are increasingly seeking to purchase second homes in coastal or hilly destinations.

According to leading property consultants, these changes in consumer behaviour are actually being driven by the pandemic and the phased lockdowns that have prevented individuals from travelling to exotic holiday destinations. The work-from-home model is another significant factor driving the shift.

DLF, one of the largest and most renowned real estate developers in the country, is planning to construct residential developments in Goa and Kochi by this year. In the Northern region of India, Uttarakhand has been witnessing the highest demand for second homes whereas Himachal Pradesh is experiencing low levels of demand. Despite this, prominent realty developers are giving preference to sites in Himachal Pradesh, along with Uttarakhand, for constructing holiday homes.

In the past two years, homebuyers have invested and continue to invest in high-value holiday homes as an extension of their current homes, set in the lap of nature, away from metros, as they look for social distancing, health, hygiene, safety, and comfort all in one space, which has also amplified the luxury housing demand in the past few quarters. Hill stations have always been preferred holiday destinations and especially for quick getaways from the hectic and mundane routines,” says Aakash Ohri, Group Executive Director and Chief Business Officer, DLF Home Developers.

Hill stations amid the mountains, with deep gorges, untouched woodlands, and lush meadows have always been popular vacation spots, especially for those seeking a quick escape from the humdrum of city life. For the past two years, homebuyers in India have been increasingly flocking to high-end holiday homes nestled in secluded natural settings seeking social isolation, protection, and luxurious amenities all in one place. Moreover, the pleasant climatic conditions contribute to the popularity of holiday homes in the heart of nature.

“While Dehradun, Kasauli and Shimla have always been popular for quick getaways from Delhi NCR, cities close to these hill stays have also got a major boost. For example, New Chandigarh and Panchkula. Strategic location with a few hour drive from metro cities, great views of the Shivaliks, pleasant climate and calmness are the hallmarks of these cities,” Ohri adds.

It is noteworthy that many big and small companies across the country are currently investing in holiday homes in hill stations, beach resorts, etc. as a way to appreciate and pamper their employees for their hard work. There is yet another trend that is invigorating demand for holiday homes among commercial establishments.

“The trend for holiday homes is spreading like wildfire as people are preferring leisure within their bio bubble due to the coronavirus-induced pandemic. Because there seems to be no end in sight to the pandemic, the work from home culture is inspiring particularly millennials to invest in such properties. The demand is high from both commercial establishments and individuals. Offices that are offering workspaces to employees and individuals have the advantage of generating rental income later by setting up these holiday homes as rental properties,” says Shashank Vashishtha, Executive Director, eXp India.

Holiday homes are attracting the attention of many developers who are looking to invest in this segment in Tier II and Tier III cities.

New Delhi-based realty developer Eldeco also plans to enter the holiday home segment soon. “We will enter the segment with projects in Kasauli, Rishikesh and Goa. We will do a joint venture and develop high-end villas. With our presence in Tier 2 cities, we get a lot of demand from our existing customer base,” says Pankaj Bajaj, Chairman and MD, Eldeco Group.

In light of the positive sentiment, it seems logical to assume India’s holiday home segment is poised for solid growth. Furthermore, the demand for luxury holiday homes will continue to grow in the coming years due to favorable economic conditions.

How Delhi-Dehradun Expressway will give a boost to real estate

The new economic corridor between Delhi and Dehradun was announced by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in February. The 210-kilometer, six-lane express highway project, which is expected to be awarded by August 2021, will be completed by 2023. The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway will reduce travel time from the national capital to Dehradun from five to two hours.

A new six-lane road will be built from the Sahranpur bypass to connect with Haridwar in the new economic corridor. This route would cut the existing six-hour journey time between the national capital and Haridwar to just two hours. The real estate sector on the stretch is going to benefit from the development, and realtors are upbeat about the development.

Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is going to benefit real estate on the stretch; it will make more reputed developers come up with projects in tier II cities falling on this stretch as many buyers would love to have homes at places where prices are little less than Delhi. The travel time matters these days, and only 2.5 hours to Dehradun will help people buy second homes or holiday homes in this Hill city,” says Harvinder Singh Sikka, MD, Sikka Group.

Real estate development along corridors has become a trend and offers a lot of potential across India. Transport corridors like National Highways and State Highways across India have witnessed significant realty development during the real estate boom. The government has also helped in boosting and promoting industrialization in these areas. A combination of production units, public utilities, logistics, environmental protection facilities, residential areas, social infrastructure, administrative services and few industrial areas has been systematically planned along the corridors. These have further helped and accelerated economic growth.

Haridwar is one of the popular destinations, which will benefit from the Expressway. The city is already on the radar of people looking for holiday homes, and now more people will invest there. “People have always been worried about the time taken to move from Delhi to Haridwar, but with this Expressway, the frequency of travel will increase. The serene atmosphere of Haridwar helps people rejuvenate and get charged up for the hectic professional life. We hope that work completes on time, and with this real estate around this Expressway will prosper, which will add value to people’s lives,” says Nagaraju Routhu, CEO, Hero Realty.

Talking about the development, Abhishek Bansal, Executive Director, Pacific Group, says, “Weekend travels to Dehradun mean that retail sector, especially, malls will benefit from it. People love to shop and enjoy at places that are away from their work cities, and with only 2.5 hours of travel, people would throng Dehradun for the perfect getaway that it promises. We foresee a new wave of mall culture in the city as there would be a huge increase in footfalls, especially on weekends.”

Another boost for the real estate in Uttarakhand is the Metro rail corridor planned from Nepali Farm to Vidhan Sabha in Dehradun district. The 73-kilometer Deharadun–Haridwar–Rishikesh Metro Rail corridor in Uttarakhand was authorized by the Unified Metropolitan Transportation Authority (UMTA) in June 2020.

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