Wakad as it is : A resident speaks

The Location  : Located on the North west of Pune, Maharashtra ,India this was a small village few year ago. It is sorrounded on West by Hinjewadi the Biggest IT hub of Western India North by the twin industrial towns of Chinchwad and Pimpri and on the Southern side by Baner.

The Buzz : Wakad is a hot destination for Real estate developers and resettlers in Pune primarily because of the following reasons :

1. Proximity to Hinjewadi : The IT park of Hinjwadi hosts the Whos Who of Indian if not the Global IT Industry.  Infy, TCS, Wipro are either already operating or are set to have their largest development center here. Siemens, Tech Mahindra, Tata Technologies, Cognizant, Zensar are laready operating in this IT park. With a work force exceeding more than 200,000 this probably is set to give Banagalore IT parks a run for their money in terms of software and Biotech parks. Wakad adjoins this huge IT and biotech park and is hardly 2 km from it. With lot of migratory IT professionals coming , this currently is the nearest residential village which can cater to their housing needs. 
2. Small farm lands  : Most part of Wakad village was farm land owned by small to medium farmers. They did not part with their land in one go. Thus the  Realty developers have acquired small pieces of land here and there and come up with medium to good residential societies. The investments of real estate players have paid off as the rate of housing in per sq feet in Rupee terms has almost trebled up in this area in last 3 years ( From 800-1200 in 2005 to 2400 to 3800 as on 09May 2008)  . Rapid booking of new dwellings coupled with plans of IT companies’ plan to increase capacity is attractive realty developers in hordes to this locality. There are high rises and bungalows erupting on any pice of land which can be acquired by developers. This seems like another miniature Gurgaon in making for all its farmers.
3. Proximity to Mumbai- Pune -Bangalore High/Express ways  : The villages is bound on its west by Mumbai -Bangalore Highway. A 10 minutes drive puts you on the Mumbai Pune express way and this gives the unique advantage to this locality. As in Delhi , the inhabitation has grown all along  NH8, huge malls, societies, multiplexes have on the highway, this also seems to be going that way. With good eating joints, petrol pumps, Schools, Hospitals coming on Highway it has very fast access to these sought after facilities.
4. World class Hospital  : Aditya Birla hospital has  really great world class doctors. I have visited this place twice. Once for my 3 yr daughter who was very professionally attended by Dr Nisha Deshpande , MD. The second time was for a skin ailment I ‘ve had for almost 6 yrs. The doctors in Army and Max New york said they could do nothing about large dark patches which were spreading on my leg. Here Dr Pradyumna was able to quickly able to diagnose it without biopsy . His treatment for 15 days has improved the ailment by atleast 45-50 %  
5. International Sports Complex at Balewadi  : Common wealth Youth games are to be held @ Balewadi sports complex which is hardly 2.5 km from Wakad. This will open up huge world class sports facilities nearby.
6. Multiplexes and Shopping malls : There are 3 major townships coming in Hinjewadi which are The Blue Ridge by Paranjpes, The Megapolis by Kumar Builders and one by Goel Ganga group. These will be replete with multiplexes, shopping malls and Schools. Cushman and wakelfield’s a multiplex @ Chinchwad ,near Chapekar Chowk  is already under progress.
7. Schools  : Mercedez Benz international school is in Hinjewadi with bus coming to Wakad .Indira groups school is just on the highway , Orchid of Baner is almost 5 km from this place.
8. Reasonable pricing : Where as established reseidential localities near to IT parks have a price of Rs 4000/ to 6500/= psf in Pune this place still has reasonable valuations which are half as compared to Aundh or Baner.  The buildings in Aundh are architectural nightmares with just towers having parking places in stilt. Amenitites are a concept unheard in Aundh. A reasonable market and proximity to Hinjwadi propelled its prices and there are few good show rooms and eating joints. The restaurants coming near Wakad are of much better design and themes. Check Mezzanine, Lemon Tree , Tamanna and Saundarya. The restaurant in Aundh , Baner are like poor cousins to these joints. 
9. The Pimpri market : The house hold items at near by Pimpri are almost 30 -40 % cheaper than Aundh / Baner market. I had found that Plywood, Fevicol, hardware items sell @ a huge discounts in Wholesale shops in Pimpri.
10. Traffic avoidance : Being just 3 kms from Hinjevadi, its not more than 10 minutes drive from work place. Considering that on peak times the pune traffic wriggles @ most 8kmph , any tenement taken 10- 15 km away will take you atleast 1-2 hrs. If time saved is money earned then this village makes a lot of sense for those working in Hinjewadi.