Elevated Living

Olivia by Nahar provides opulence, comfort and accessibility in the MMR through quality VT and much more.

photos courtesy of Nahar Group

In this Industry Dialogue, Manju Yagnik (MY), vice chairperson of Nahar Group and senior vice president of National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO)-Maharashtra, shares insights with your author (SSP) on various facets of Olivia by Nahar, a multi-story tower recently added at Nahar’s Amrit Shakti at Chandivali, a township that exemplifies the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” concept.

SSP: Luxury housing in metros like Mumbai is synonymous with high-rise projects that offer great views. How does Nahar’s Amrit Shakti exemplify this?

MY: An ideal mix of luxury, convenience and nature, Nahar’s Amrit Shakti (NAS) is one of the well-planned, integrated townships in the city. Today’s homebuyers have a huge checklist to find their ideal home, and NAS covers almost every bit of it. To begin with there is the location — Chandivali — which is right in the center of the city, giving it easy accessibility to all the important parts of Mumbai. Apart from that, NAS is also surrounded by lush green pastures, allowing its residents to stay close to nature and away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The township includes 40 high-rise towers that exude luxury and give residents amazing natural views right in the middle of the city. We have seen a consistent rise in demand from customers precisely because of the ethnic luxury that NAS has to offer.

SSP: What are the key expectations of home seekers from such a project in terms of lifestyle amenities and accessibility via modern, high-speed elevators?

MY: Living in densely populated areas has lost its appeal in the past two years as a majority of buyers consider investing in less-populated areas, especially in township projects that offer multiple amenities. The desire for privacy, space and control over allowing and restricting visitors into one’s home is becoming stronger. Until now, it was important for buyers to have a project with a swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, a gymnasium, etc. However, there has been a shift toward having many more amenities, such as walking tracks, a dedicated clubhouse and proximity to schools, medical shops, hospitals and grocery stores. Similarly, a housing project with more open space, in the form of a park or a football or badminton court, may attract more buyers.

SSP: Which specific location advantages does Olivia offer in terms of connectivity, social infrastructure, etc.?

MY: With a number of commercial spaces emerging in the Andheri East suburb of Chandivali and excellent infrastructure and connectivity, the area is quickly gaining popularity among Mumbai residents. Olivia, a part of NAS in Chandivali, hence proves to be a go-to location for Mumbai homebuyers. Residents of the township enjoy a variety of amenities within walking distance, such as:

• The Cambridge-affiliated Nahar International School, boasting an approximate 1Lsq. ft campus
• Nahar Medical Center, with 20-plus specialties and more than 75 medical professionals
• Retail areas for daily commodities

The neighborhood also has a serene and beautifully constructed Jain temple. Other major highlights include Nahar Business Center. With a hybrid work culture gaining momentum in the post-pandemic world, Nahar Business Center provides flexible co-working space to its residents. It is easily accessible from both the eastern and western express highways, existing and upcoming metro stations, the international airport and the domestic airport.

SSP: What is the importance given to each aspect of Nahar Olivia, including its vertical transportation (VT)?

MY: Olivia has been conceptualized with a view toward creating a high-quality lifestyle for its residents that is very close to nature. Our vision was for our customers to break away from the cramped living of Mumbai and experience a sense of opulence, along with spacious living both inside and outside the home. The abundance of space is evident right from the entry point of the project, which has a grand, double-height, air-conditioned lobby complemented by abundant parking. We have also installed state-of-the-art VT for residents, which is not only important for their own safety, but also saves them time during their commutes.

SSP: What are the specifics of the VT units provided at Olivia?

MY: Olivia has three, 24.8 hp (18.50 kw) Omega elevators. The capacity of each elevator is 1360 kg (approximately 20 people) traveling at a speed of approximately 1.7550 m/s. During emergencies, the elevators can comfortably accommodate stretchers.

SSP: How does this project differ from other high-rise projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), and what are the Unique Selling Propositions (USPs) that set it apart?

MY: One of the key USPs of Olivia is that, unlike any standalone project, it is part of the NAS, which gives its residents easy access to all the facilities and amenities of the township. It has one of the largest vehicle-free podium gardens, which is a unique and splendid feature with multiple azure water bodies and a fascinating sculpture garden. Olivia residents can also enjoy quality time with their families in one of the biggest leisure and sports clubhouses of Mumbai, Nahar’s Nectarfield, which is spread across approximately 50,000 ft2.

SSP: NAS is a well-known township that has been developed in stages through the decades. How have different aspects of the buildings across the project evolved over the years, such as the materials used, positioning of amenities and even VT?

MY: In terms of its scale and location, NAS was a first-of-its-kind township project in Mumbai. Our vision was to not only develop this 125-acre township into one of the best living solutions in Mumbai, but also to transform Chandivali into a “suburb” in the center of the city. Nahar Group has created a strong brand name in the industry by focusing on delivering high-quality projects to our residents. This includes a combination of strategic planning, using reliable materials and deploying state-of-the-art technology. We have developed this township in stages by creating a social infrastructure that includes a school, a medical center, a grocery shop, a medical store and a Jain temple. These features, along with state-of-the-art VT, have only elevated the overall living experience of our residents over the years.

SSP: From a time when people saw modern buildings with lush greenery and lifestyle amenities only on their trips abroad, they are now able to buy such homes and reside in them with projects like NAS. To what extent does this exemplify the Atmanirbhar Bharat concept?

MY: There is no doubt that Indian real estate has jumped leaps and bounds over the past two decades. With the emergence of social media, customers are now well-informed on the latest international fads in terms of modern amenities, green living and smart homes. Keeping in mind the changing aspirations of modern customers, Indian developers have quickly adapted to modern-day construction trends and adopted them strategically to match the Indian ecosystem. Be it standalone buildings, township projects or high-rise buildings, the quality of construction in India is on par with — if not better than — that of most international markets. The industry has truly taken a leaf out of the Prime Minister’s book by adopting the concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat and aims to continue building on this over the next decade.

We have also installed state-of-the-art VT for residents, which is not only important for their own safety, but also saves them time during their commutes.

— Manju Yagnik, vice chairperson of Nahar Group and senior vice president of NAREDCO-Maharashtra

About Manju Yagnik

Manju Yagnik has been associated with Nahar Group for more than three decades. Having graduated from Kurukshetra University, she decided in 1990 to enter the real estate industry by joining Nahar, a job that was challenging but matched her passion. She is known for her core expertise in project planning, product development and marketing strategies. Her dynamism is evident in her process-driven and results-oriented approach. Yagnik keeps a pulse on changing market scenarios and utilizes her knowledge effectively. From creating unique land spaces to formulating custom initiatives to understand consumer behavior, being a decision-maker and managing people, she has spearheaded every activity in this group since she joined it. Her areas of expertise include land acquisition, planning, marketing, customer service and interacting with architects, landscape designers, structural specialists, construction companies and vendors across the globe. She has successfully designed marketing and communication plans for non-resident Indians (NRIs), and met them by visiting the U.S., Hong Kong, Singapore, the U.K., U.A.E. and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries around the world. Currently, more than 30% of Nahar Group residents are NRIs.