March 8 is International Women’s Day and it celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. The theme this year is ‘Be Bold for Change’.
Working women in India are face the pressures of a daily work commute and the responsibility of managing their households. It’s important for working women to know the neighbourhoods that can help increase their lifestyle value, has better connectivity to work and home to save time and enables them to entertain safely and without malice.
So in this article, we explore neighbourhoods in some of India’s leading cities that offer the best value for money for the working women. A lot more needs to be done by town planning and law enforcement agencies to ensure that women working late night shifts and single working and senior citizens need not fear for their safety.
So what are the critical operative real estate factors that help identify such areas for working women?
According to Santhosh Kumar, CEO – Operations and International Director, JLL India, these are:
- Proximity to work places and shopping areas
- Proximity to schools
- Safety at home and during commute
- Adequate commuting options
- Good healthcare facilities
- Reasonably priced housing
- Healthy, green environment
Based on these factors, below is a list of areas that are not at all exhaustive but definitely a fair representation:
| MUMBAI | Why They Score High For Working Women | Capital Values (Rs/sq.ft.) |
| Western Suburbs (Andheri, Vile Parle) | Good connectivity to the Eastern and Western suburbs, good social infrastructure, excellent public transport, proximity to domestic / international airport, workplace hubs, malls and schools | Andheri: 15,000-25,000, Vile Parle: 25,000-35,000 |
| Eastern Suburbs (Mulund) | Good connectivity to commercial locations like Thane, Airoli etc., green and pollution-free environment, proximity to malls, good spread of residential options |
Mulund: 12,000-15,000 |
| Navi Mumbai (Nerul) | Green and pollution-free environment, proximity to malls, good proximity to key workplaces hubs like Vashi, Thane and Belapur. |
Nerul: 10,000-12,000 |
| Thane | Good, serene environment, proximity to malls, good spread of residential options, proximity to work hubs in the Western and Eastern suburbs and Navi Mumbai, good healthcare facilities. |
7,500-10,000 |
| PUNE | Why They Score High For Working Women | Capital Values (Rs/sq.ft.) |
| North-East | Good connectivity & availability of public transport, proximity to workplace hubs, leisure and entertainment options, quality residential projects |
Viman Nagar: Kharadi: |
| North-West (Baner, Pimple Saudagar, Aundh) |
Safety during commute, good availability of public transport, access to high street shopping areas, quality residential projects |
Baner: |
| South-East (Hadapsar, Wanowrie) | Availability of leisure options, established office corridor, safety, connectivity to workplace hubs, access to high street shopping | Hadapsar: 6000-7200 |
| Proximity to central area, connectivity to workplace hubs, access to high street shopping |
Wanowrie: 6500-8000 |
| DELHI NCR | Why They Score High For Working Women | Capital Values (Rs/sq.ft.) |
| Golf Course Road, Gurgaon | Proximity to workplace hubs, multiple apartment and condominium options with adequate safety features, easy access to shopping areas | 7,500-11,000 for older apartment projects of generally 2 and 3 BHK formats |
| DLF-Phase 1 and areas near MG Road | Row housing options for PG accommodation, safety measures implemented by local RWAs, multiple apartment and condominium options with adequate safety features, easy access to shopping areas, proximity to commercial corridors, Metro connectivity |
Row Houses: |
| Parts of South Delhi, especially around Greater Kailash – I and II | Row housing options with adequate safety provisions implemented by local RWAs, access to public transport and Metro linkages to CBD, well connected to prime commercial corridors of Nehru Place and Saket and shopping malls | Apartments: 12000-16000/sq.ft. |
| Prime residential sectors of Noida (sectors 14,15, 40, 44 and 93) | Metro connectivity, condominium safety features, accessibility to neighbourhood shopping and connectivity to malls | Apartments: 6500-10000 per sq ft |
| BANGALORE | Why They Score High For Working Women | Capital Values (Rs/sq.ft.) |
| CBD area | Good connectivity, camera surveillance in some places, streets have high activity 24×7, access to public transport (Metro and bus connectivity) | 8500-10000 |
| Koramangala | Good connectivity, camera surveillance in some places, access to public transport (buses) |
9000-12000 |
| Parts of Whitefield | Good connectivity, camera surveillance in some places, streets have high activity 24×7 due to BPOs, access to public transport (buses) |
5000-6000 |
The changes in most cases present veritable case studies of improving social infrastructure that support women who seek a healthy work life / home life balance. They have developed in a manner that aligns with the growing demands of an ever-increasing women workforce.
Safety, especially for single working and senior citizen women, is a growing cause for concern in Indian cities. Not all new urban centres which have evolved on the periphery of the older cities can call themselves truly safe places for women.