City's best 'habitat' is just taking off

CHANDIGARH: In the present fast-changing information technology era, merely an IT Park to sustain a company's need wouldn't do. It would fall short of international lifestyle standards and the luxurious living demanded by IT professionals. Consequently, Chandigarh Administration, having realised this, proposes to set up a 250-acre mini township adjacent to Chandigarh Technology Park (CTP).Termed 'Technology Habitat', it would actually be an extension of the CTP and will also comprise residential complexes, institutional area, commercial area, sporting facilities and vast green belts. The habitat will be developed to provide infrastructure and facilities to occupants of CTP besides Chandigarh residents. SK Sandhu, finance secretary of Chandigarh Administration, says, "This is the first such project in the city catering to IT professionals who will make a beeline once companies start setting up bases here. Acquisition of land in some pockets is going on but will not hinder the process of auction." However, Sandhu affirms that none of the land is in the Sukhna catchment area or the reserved forest area. The proposal is targeted mainly at real estate developers, including India Builders Corporation, K Raheja Corp, DLF Group, Metrocorp, Punj Lloyd, L&T Constructions, Cushman & Wakefield, Prestige Group, Sahara and Shapoorji Pallonji to buy land and develop properties. The Administration has allocated 100 acres for phase II extension of the park while 30 acres has been kept aside for commercial area, which will house shopping malls, multiplexes and banks and another 30 acres reserved for community centre, sports complex and educational institutions. For residential blocks, another 30 acres has been set aside to house the IT professionals used to international standards. "A significant portion - about 60 acres - of the township will consist of the green belts, parks and also a water park with environment friendly features," a UT official says. The first auction is due by June with rates pegged at Rs 10 lakh per acre for developers. Sources indicate that the proposed land earmarked is 250 acres but can be extended further as the land availability is over 500 acres. Last year, Mohali-based Quark Inc, in a bid to generate jobs in the knowledge industry, had launched its $500 million 'QuarkCity' project in Mohali. In fact, QuarkCity will be the first township to get the much-coveted Leaderships in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum rating on completion by the US Green Building Council.