Harresh N Mehta, Chairman, Rohan LifescapesMumbai means different things to different people. For Rohan Lifescapes, it is the city where they started, grew, and indeed, wherein lies their future. With an estimated 1.5 million residential units required over the next five years, the group is passionate about giving maximum city the beautiful skyline it deserves. Just a few months ago, they made headlines with their proposed project in collaboration with international real estate tycoon, Donald Trump.
CW speaks to Chairman Harresh N Mehta about the group and what drives them...
The home page of your website says, "While Mumbai gives people a better life, we give Mumbai better homes". What is Rohan Lifescapes' philosophy? From mill lands to malls, and from shanties to skyscrapers, Mumbai's skyline is changing. In a few years, a string of high rise buildings will tower from the heart of the metropolis. The reason Mumbai is going vertical is because that is the only solution.
Rohan Lifescapes was established with the vision of Mumbai becoming a city that showcases a global skyline by creating landmark residential projects in the most prime localities. Over the years, the group has developed a few iconic projects in some of the choicest locations of Mumbai, partnering with the best associates from over the world. Rohan Lifescapes is giving Mumbai better homes by constructing high rise buildings with the best amenities that match international standards.
You claim to be a lifestyle brand with the aim to make the Mumbai skyline a global one. Please elaborate. Mumbai is a city of opportunities and sees a continuous influx of people from all over the country. Therefore, the only dimension to accommodate this ever growing population is the vertical, which is very evident in the city now. The country's commerce capital is transforming into a city of high rises. Our real estate industry is almost on par with the west in terms of the latest architectural designs, infrastructure and technology. Being a luxury brand, our aim is to provide the best of amenities to our customers, so that they can experience and enjoy an international standard of living while living in Mumbai.
Rohan Lifescapes has so far delivered 2.2 million sq ft of space. Please elaborate some of your landmark projects. Some of our landmark projects include:
Altimo: Altimo, located in one of the most beautiful and serene neighbourhoods of Mumbai, is the perfect blend of luxury and extravagance. The project promises world-class planning and design, with lavishly proportioned homes that offer all essentials of gracious living. Beautiful views of the Arabian Sea and Mahalaxmi make Altimo one of the most preferred residential buildings. The project is expected to be completed by December, 2013.
Aquino: Located in the residential neighbourhood of Prabhadevi, the project comprises a 30 storey building, with just one three bedroom luxury apartment with a blanket sea view per floor. The project is expected to be completed by December, 2013.
Aashiana: Aashiana has 31 storeys, providing clear views of the Hanging Gardens, the Queen's Necklace and the Arabian Sea. On offer are luxury duplex terrace apartments for people to experience the best of South Mumbai. The project is expected to be completed by December, 2011.
The Ruby: Located in central Mumbai on Senapati Bapat Marg, The Ruby, covers over 1 million sq ft of commercial space. Efficient space designing, innovative and sustainable technologies, and importantly, the strategic location, make it one of the most desirable commercial addresses in the city. Ruby will be the tallest commercial tower that the city has ever seen; it will rise 36 storeys high and have an impressive floor plate of 45,000 sq ft and floor to ceiling height of 15 feet.
Glory: The project comprises a 25 storey building with just two-three bedroom luxury apartments per floor (per wing).
Why has your project, Trump Towers, been stalled? As with all projects in Mumbai, this project too, is delayed due to a slowdown of the regulatory approval process.
The government is planning to get builders to sell basis carpet area rather than super built up area? What do you think of this? While the government's decision is welcome, it may increase prices.
Do you think the Indian construction industry is still lagging behind in terms of adoption of the latest technologies? We do subscribe to the latest construction technologies. In a market like South Mumbai, where the client is more quality driven than cost conscious, it is imperative that developers are more aware and bring in more innovative and evolved products into the field. With the flow of FDI, and improvement in technology, there has been a huge improvement in the way construction is being done, which in turn has reduced the time of construction on one hand, and made international talent more accessible, on the other.
Have green construction practices become mandatory for builders today or is it still a matter of choice for the concerned builder? It should be made mandatory as per government rules, and we would be happy to abide by them. We don't consider these as costs rather as investment towards a worry-free life for our flat owners. We have partnered with some prestigious names like 3XN and MDRDV, which do green, eco-friendly buildings.
Where does Rohan Lifescapes see itself in the future? In future, Rohan Lifescapes intends to dominate the South Mumbai real estate market through its sheer presence. As a first step towards fulfilling this vision, the management has already acquired more land than any other developer in South Mumbai, and we have a dedicated team working continuously to expand this portfolio. Going forward, we want to be seen as providers of the best designed spaces to live, work and play in this city. We want to be known among the top five developers in Mumbai.
Fact Sheet:Year of Establishment: 1999
Top management (Promoters): Harresh Mehta
Centre of operation: Mumbai
No. of employees: 175
Turnover: 100 crore
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