Indian real estate has been disrupted with structural policy tsunamis and Covid-19 brought the sector to a grinding halt. The complete economic lockdown led to work from home and remote working options impacting commercial real estate. However, a media report found that as the economy gradually opened up in Q3 2020, business activities resumed and the Indian office market began witnessing gradual recovery. Project completions grew by 59 per cent and net absorption increased by 63 per cent, as compared to the quarter earlier. This momentum was sustained through Q4 2020 with a net absorption of 8.24 million sq ft, an increase of 52 per cent when compared to the third quarter.

However, Q1 of 2021 was sluggish comparatively, owing to the advent of the second Covid-19 wave in the country. Yet, the sector has always been resilient. In fact, the country launched its first REITs during this unprecedented crisis of coronavirus followed by the Union Budget 2021 announcing liberal policies for investment by foreign portfolio and institutional investors.

According to recent media reports, the Indian realty PE investments jumped 16 times on-year to $3.24 billion in March 2021. This not only highlighted the potential of the Indian commercial sector but also created some rippling effects of positivity in the economy.

Mumbai landscape

Mumbai presents a myriad of possibilities for investment and growth to NRIs, HNIs and corporate investors within its commercial districts. The MMR market has around 100 million sq.ft of office assets out of which leading players have developed a major deal. However, as the city witnessed linear growth in terms of geographical boundaries, infrastructure, and trade, it continued to attract a huge influx of migrating population on the back of rapid urbanisation. This led to the need to decentralise and decongest the commercial hotspots.

The ‘Future of Work’ is now expected to be very different to that of the pre-pandemic era. Trends such as “work, live and play” and “walk to work” continue to gain traction steadily and Mumbai, as India’s commercial capital, needs to be able to accommodate that. The mounting success of the city adds to the active working population, skyrocketing property prices, etc., while compromising the liberty of space, aesthetics and additional amenities.

This has nudged the developers to explore the new suburban districts wherein corporates began to dabble with the concept of value offices and satellite offices in sync with the growth of residential real estate. As a result, the city witnessed the ‘rise of suburbia’ in the peripheral satellite towns and metropolitan regions like Andheri, Malad, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Panvel.

The government's push to improve connectivity, slew of infrastructure projects announced further augmented the development. Today, suburbs like Thane have emerged as a preferred commercial destination due to the advantage of parallel connectivity, good commercial offerings, attractive price points, leisure of large spaces for expansion and favourable social- civic infrastructure to offer value offices.

Respected and valued players with a rich legacy in commercial real estate development offer the modularity and scalability in commercial office spaces at these suburban hotspots. The location is expected to be selected while placing significant consideration on well-planned roads, designated pavements, green cover, robust power and internet supply and aspects of sustainability.

Many amenities

These kinds of offices, also called ‘value offices’, maximise value for customers, employees, stakeholders, and society on a continuing basis. These kind of commercial properties are largely gaining traction due to the availability of tech-specs like advanced CCTV surveillance, architecture and interior décor, presence of high-speed elevators, service elevators and parking elevators that bring ‘Ease of Working’.

Another aspect that is quickly gaining traction and today, also a key influencing factor in purchase of a commercial space is the ecosystem around the located property. The socio-civic fabric of the location contributes a great deal to the purchase decision and in fact, to the overall productivity of the company. Having a hospital, high street retail and other recreational amenities allow employees to either bond outside of work or carry out personal responsibilities at their convenience. Integrated township developments which encompass these features are the most suited places for the 'Future of Work'.

The new normal will require commercial real estate players to foster the needs of corporates, entrepreneurs and even budding professionals. As trends of “walk to work” and “live, work and play” become the reality of tomorrow, the sector needs to jump on the bandwagon by creating a progressive ecosystem that enhances the living quotient of residents and the working quotient of the workforce operating from here. This is an added value proposition offered to build value offices.

The writer is MD, Hiranandani Group, and National President - NAREDCO