KUL launches 1st township designed by buyers: KUL Ecoloch

In a first ever realty project based on designs from prospective home buyers in India, Mumbai-Pune developer Kumar Urban development Limited (KUL) today announced the launch of an integrated eco-friendly township in Pune's IT hub at Hinjewadi.Called KUL Ecoloch, the award winning project is the result of a detailed survey - Design Your Home - conducted by KUL inviting the prospective home buyers to share their expectations of a premium home and a world class township and thus participate in the design process. “This was the first such initiative by any developer across the country to involve the home buyer in designing his dream home,” said Ms. Kruti Kumar Jain, Director, Kumar Urban development Limited. “Our architects and designers have taken into account each and every aspect that came up during the survey in which over 800 home buyers participated and sent in their own designs of their dream homes,” Ms Jain said.

The buildings are being designed by internationally renowned architect, Hafeez Contractor. Kumar Ecoloch has already been adjudged the Best residential project designed at the prestigious Cityscape Real Estate India Awards under Mixed Use Development (Future). It is being built on a 110-acre plot at Mahalunge, near Hinjewadi.

The survey truly reflected the buyers' aspirations and one of the main concerns that came up was the location and hassles of commuting to work. KUL, therefore, picked up the Hinjewadi plot in the highly employment catchment area where the resident s can easily walk-to-work. The project is coming in Pune's IT corridor, on the main artery road connecting Pune with Mumbai, between Hinjewadi phase I & the prestigious Balewadi stadium, and in close proximity to leading IT hubs of like Cognizant, Infosys and Wipro.

The survey also showed that people in general welcome green technologies and large spaces and amenities that townships provide, but the outgo on property maintenance appeared to be a thorny issue. KUL, therefore, planned clusters of five-to-six buildings with all the amenities on a smaller scale, thus reducing the burden of maintenance.

Cycle tracks, parks, swimming pools, celebration areas are all part of this township. But the interiors of flats are all custom-made. Families with different sizes, age groups have indicated varied needs. The Double-Income couples without children, for instance, prefer large bathrooms, with separate dressing areas. Families with grandparents living together have indicated that they would like to have larger usage spaces, as compared to bedrooms, for all family members to sit together. Similarly, Kitchens are large for people living with their in-laws or parents (as they often cook for themselves). A major feedback received during this survey was - that they will not like to wait for a home and want to move in as fast as possible. KUL came up with the answer to complete the deliveries within a year, rather than keeping customers wait for four to five years. For this, KUL designed low rise towers finish work speedily.

Ecoloch will have a full-fledged commercial club house besides a private residence only club that can accommodate 200 people at a time, a health club with separate sections for men and women, yoga centre, indoor games like cards, billiards and foose-ball, a tanning room along with its steam and sauna baths.

The township has banquet halls can accommodate 250 people and community spaces developed within precincts for smaller groups. Football, cricket, tennis, basketball, skating rink, badminton are among the outdoor sports facilities that this township offers.

Life will be much easier as Ecoloch will also have 3 ATM centres, a restaurant, a crèche, polyclinic, paramedical ambulance and even air conditioned bus stops. Party lawns, gazebos, parks, amphitheatre, barbecue lawns, guest rooms and even a special car wash area are among the other amenities. This mixed use development will house residences, offices, retail, schools, hospitals, luxury hotels and other supporting infrastructure including a market with vegetables, groceries and other daily requirements. In addition, Ecoloch will have an artificial beach along the river, making this the first township to have this feature. A golf course is also being planned on the banks. Provisions will be made for boating and other water sports without compromising the river. The net result of this unique user-guided project is that it has all the benefits that a large township has, including proximity to place of work, great intra-connectivity, green technology benefits and ultra modern security etc, but minus the high cost of maintenance.

About Kumar Urban Development Ltd (KUL): Kumar Urban development Limited (KUL) is a real estate development and construction company which focuses on residential and commercial development in the cities like Pune with presence in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Panchgani & Nagpur. KUL believes in Hard work, Trust and Performance and it also stands for knowledge, usefulness to society and legacy. As it continues to build homes and life spaces, it reflects age old values. KUL's expertise lies in maintaining international quality Design, Development, Construction and Marketing of Residential and Commercial Complexes.

Mr. Lalitkumar Jain, Chairman and MD of KUL have around three decades of experience in the real estate industry. The company's projects span across affordable, mid-segment and luxury homes to commercial and retail complexes, apart from IT complexes and SEZ. Since restructuring of the company in 2006, they have completed 2.18 million sq. ft. of Developable Area, including 10 residential (including one-redevelopment project) and 7 commercial projects. As on date, KUL has 14 ongoing projects across four cities with 3.91 million sq. ft. of estimated developable area and estimated saleable area of 3.42 million sq ft. In addition, the company has 50 Forthcoming Projects with 73.13 million sq. ft. of developable area and estimated 64.14 million sq. ft. of saleable area.