Neral - The calm amidst the chaos

Neral, a small town in Maharashtra situated in Raigad is surrounded by Badlapur and Karjat. A short journey from South Bombay, the town was once a barren land with minimal development. It lacked infrastructure and connectivity and was considered as a transit point to reach the hill station Matheran. However, things have started turning around for the town in the past decade owing to the several initiatives taken by the government to boost infrastructure. Neral is undergoing a transformation and is rapidly turning into a developing city which will boast of residential township, hospitals, schools and social infrastructure. This development has been catalyzed by the increasing population in the locality. According to the 2011 census data, the population in Neral was at 18,249 and it increased by 37% to 25,265 by 2015 since then the numbers have been rising. There is vast scope for further development in the area especially considering its proximity to the new Navi Mumbai Airport. Furthermore, the Panvel-Karjat local train network will reduce travel time from Navi Mumbai’s CBD and the international airport. The potential of these projects is immense, as the corridor is poised to be a real-estate hub. Additionally, a new state highway from Panvel through the Matheran hills to Neral - via Bheemashankar Mountains to Chakan is presently underway which will reduce the travel from Panvel to Karjat by 21 kms as opposed to the current 42 kms). Neral is also well connected with commercial areas of Kalyan to Badlapur by road and suburban rail network. Furthermore, according to housing.com, Neral provides ample employment opportunities owing to the nearby business districts. The SEZs in Navi Mumbai, major industrial hubs in Badlapur and Ambernath which are located within 25 km and the commercial hubs in Belapur and Vashi have opened up several avenues for job seekers who wish to stay close to their work. All these factors will propel employment generation which will lead to an influx of migrants thus creating demand for real estate in the surrounding locations like Neral-Karjat. Earlier, the typical buying pattern of homes was limited to factors such as convenience and short commute time; however, with the improving standards of living, customers are seeking a holistic living experience. They not only look at factors such as accessibility around the location and to major CBDs, airports and station but also educational and healthcare institutions and entertainment facilities. With the rate of development in Neral, the area will soon be equipped with schools, hospitals and entertainment facilities with upcoming shopping malls, supermarkets and theatres. With its lush greenery, clean air and initiatives to continuously improve infrastructure, Neral is an ideal home destination away from the hustle bustle of the city.