Why Kolkata’s Population Is Moving Towards The Suburbs

Kolkata is facing a unique real estate situation of sorts. There are loads of apartment complexes and other residential units coming up in the city. These include condominiums, mass housing enclaves, apartment blocks and gated communities and even luxury villas and exclusive housing projects. The sheer diversity of projects on offer promises much to prospective customers of these projects. However, in what is a natural occurrence, people in Kolkata are moving away towards the suburbs and outskirts of the city. This is a natural trend that is being witnessed all across the city especially on the northern and southern fringes.

More and more people are shifting to the suburbs and outer areas as the main city gets more and more congested, clogged and chaotic. Kolkata as a city was always unplanned and this did have to end in total chaos at some point of time. As a result, the mass exodus of property buyers from the heart of the city to its external fringes is being majorly witnessed as mentioned earlier. Why this exodus? Average citizens from all walks of life are considering moving away to homes in the suburbs and locations connected to Kolkata by the train, bus and road networks.

The city has expanded rapidly and its boundaries and frontiers have always been in a state of flux and constant evolution. The main city has become overtly congested, what with the narrow roads, lack of proper parking space, huge traffic levels and other woes. The city gets worse in the rainy season as well with high levels of water accumulation. Alongside, there is almost no space left to build a house in major areas of the city. This is not a problem if you venture into the outskirts or suburbs. Venturing into the suburbs is now a common activity even for those who have to commute to workplaces and offices in the central business hubs of the city.

This aspect proved to be a deterrent for many individuals and professionals earlier. As a result, many people did not quite like to venture into the outskirts or suburbs owing to these reasons. However, connectivity options have been greatly enhanced in today’s times. All major suburban areas and outskirts now have thriving transport networks, auto rickshaw routes, bus routes, governmental buses and of course, a solid train network. In some places, metro railway stations are not too far away as well. This makes it easier for people to commute to faraway areas and business centers in the heart of the city without any problems.

Alongside, suburban areas have witnessed skyrocketing development in recent times. There are many suburbs that have been transformed into major residential hubs these days. The demand for property in these suburban locations is very high because of prices that are still affordable and viable. Alongside, people are moving to the suburbs in large numbers in order to avoid congestion, pollution, traffic related problems and shortage of space. This makes certain areas very hot destinations currently in the Indian property market.

The Indian property market is very saturated now and the same situation has been prevalent in Kolkata as well. Prices have stabilized in areas at the heart of the city and other premier locations. As a result, many people are finding it unaffordable to buy these properties. They have no choice but to look for affordable housing options. These are only available in suburban areas and of course, the outer fringes of the city. There are some areas like Budge Budge, Maheshtala, Garia, Boral, Kamalgazi, Sonarpur, Rajpur, Baruipur and parts of the EM Bypass which have been witnessing rapid development owing to a sharp influx of customers into the area. Developers and real estate companies are also leaving no stone unturned to draw more and more customers to areas on the outskirts of the city. There are multiple projects being undertaken by top notch developers in these locations. These include entry and mid range projects which are priced within the INR 20 lakhs to INR 40 lakhs mark and also a few premium housing projects which cater to upper tier customers.

Areas like Sonarpur and Baruipur have developed beyond recognition. These areas have top notch transport networks and other amenities. Alongside, the EM Bypass has developed beyond belief. Multiple big ticket projects are coming up on various parts of the EM Bypass. Areas like the Jadavpur Connector and Kasba which are in close proximity to the actual Bypass, have now transformed into mini townships of sorts with top notch properties being sold, easy access to major amenities and other benefits. Alongside, these areas have also witnessed mushrooming hospitality endeavors, projects and other places of leisure and recreation. This is very much the trend in most areas on the outskirts.

Additional infrastructure usually comes hand in hand with big ticket real estate projects and properties and this has been witnessed all throughout the city. Areas like Garia and Boral are also developing rapidly owing to availability of flats in the same range of INR 20 lakhs to INR 40 lakhs as mentioned above. Prices are slightly more when it comes to the EM Bypass and areas like Maheshtala and Budge Budget still have properties priced at much lower rates. Additionally, one can still find viable plots of land in these areas and locations. This is one of the biggest advantages for investors looking to build their house. Building a house of one’s own is otherwise impossible in Kolkata.

Behala too, is another area which is witnessing the launch of multiple big ticket projects in recent times. This is another area where developmental winds are holding sway in full force. Behala still offers multiple affordable options to end users and investors especially in areas like Chowrasta, Thakurpur and even close to Joka. The mass exodus to the suburbs and outer fringes of the city is slated to continue even in the near future and developers are extending their reach to areas which are outside the main city in the bargain.