Chennai real estate after tsunami Chennai woke up to gutsy morning
Chennai Real Estate After Tsunami
Chennai woke up to gutsy morning
on 26/december /2004, a day after Christmas. Chennai has a pleasant weather
in December. Mornings are chilly, afternoons are mildly warm, evenings
cool, and nights cold. Marina, the lovely beach of Chennai was bustling
with activity. Walkers were having their busy schedule, joggers were sweating
out, Eliot’s beach was filled with banter. Boys were playing cricket,
and the fisher folk were involved in their sojourn. At half past 8 in
the morning, giant wave rose dived towards the shoregilping the walker
joggers, cricketeers, and fisherfolk. Wave after wave charged the shore.
The coast line was in tatters. Tsunami had originated from Indonesia as
early as six in the morning,travelled acrossPhillipines, Malaysia, Andaman
Southern peninsular India, and Sri lanka. The sea was inexplicably furious,
and its hunger was enormous, Millions fell a prey to the wrath of the
sea.
The terror struck Chennai
saw its people moan and wail. The Government evaucated the people from
the coastal belt. The madras Metropolitan authorities enforced strict
regulations as to the predicament of the construction in the coastal ares
Construction should be carried out at a distance of 300meters from the
sea. The buildings near the sea were badly hit. The beautiful beach houses
and resorts were in rags. The east coast road which was dotted by such
retreats wore a weary deserted look. Inhabitants at Kottivakkam ,Palavakkam,and
Neelankarai were awe struck. Though no damage wass done to their habitudes,,they
were in tenter hooks. The MMDA took the cudgels. It appointed valuers
and meticulously maonitores the rules.
Price of the properties inthese areas tumbled by 5-10%
Lesser known areas like Gudavancheery,Velachery,Vandalur, and Tambaram which had a low profile and equally low price tag rose to prominence. Realtors flocked to thes areas. Surveyed the areas, which came tobe labeled as safe pockets.
Cultivable lands were plotted, metal roads were laid, infrastructure was developed in no time. A plot of 2750 sg ft bought by a Chennaite for 1.25 lakhs,who was working elsewhere,a few years ago. He came to Chennai with the intention of selling it in late 2005,for 1.95 lakhs. When he enquired about the rates in Chennai he was flabberghasted,Realtors were ready to buy it for 6 lakhs -a neat profit 4.75 lakhs. His mind prompted to postpone the sale. He went back to his work spot-a happy man. His plot will surely fetch him 12 -15 lakhs. Let us wish him well.Thanks to Tsunami. Meantime the coastal areas again came to limelight. Human spirit is stoic and human memory is weak. Apprehensions and terror faded from human mind. The buying spree started, Prices increased by 10-15%.Now the cost per sq ft is 2400-2800Rs.Santhome ,MRC Nagar,and Besant Nagar score 3500-3800 per sgft.
C.V Subba Rao of Ceebros
,quoths"land demand is unmet"
Naresh Jain of Vijay shanthi builders quips "land is a rarity wihin
city limits"
Dinesh Hemdev sums up "Every inch of land is Valuable".
If any house comes for sale,the realtors beseige the owners,Each one vying
to clinch the deal. Recently a rich man died bequeathing his property
in Chamiers road to his three sons,The sons put the property for sale.
The brokers tiraded thm with bids 8,12,14, crores. The sons were totally
beguiled. The three of them decided on price of 16 crores.But as a practical
joke the tagged it as 30 crores,chuckling and grinning at human fallacy.THeir
joke became trus. The deal was concluded for 28 crores. The sons were
spell bound and stunned. A very specctacular deed!! Another sprawling
bungalow was sold for 36 crores.Old timers who made little investments
in 1950's and 1960's, if alive will be exhilerated,if dead will be turning
in their grave to see their progeny minting gold out of their saving,
Areas near Anna salai are exorbitantly expensive,quoting 10000-12000/sq
ft.
Chennai, atraditional,orthodox
city is losing its garb ofcosrvatism. A few years back it was a country
cousin ti its counterparts Mumbai and Delhi. Banagalore inrecent times
has over taken Chennai inits moderniyty. Varnatic music- the classical
is now matched by pop music, ethnic food outlets face stiff competition
from Mac Donalds and Pizza huts,Bhakthi is outclassed by erotic,
Setting up of I.T corridor in Tatramani,establishing of multinational
manufacturing units, have added to the price boom.Investment in properties
poses no problem to 25-35 age group,as they earn a lot and spend alot.
This was not found a few decades ago.
Tje Tsunami which devestated Chennai,has unfolded many pockets -very much
unknown to the commoner, areas to the south of the metropolis. Tsunami
was a temporary one The permanacy lies inthe property price upheavel.A
permanent syndrome.
