Celestial City Ravet - facts and prospects - according to the builders Mr. Moti Panjabi, CEO, Rama Group and Mr. Anil Pharande, CEO, Pharande Spaces

Where is Ravet?

This weekend i went to Ravet. I was curious to visit Celestial City,(www.celestialcity.in) joint venture of Rama Group and Pharande Spaces.

"Where is Ravet?"
"How to go to Ravet?,"
i asked a couple of fruit vendors at Dange Chowk and ignoring the warning "For Ravet you have to walk 2 -3 Klms", i took a share-rickshaw going to Punawale.

"Walking 2 -3 klms would be nothing if you could manage to cross the new romantic Ravet bridge alone!," i told myself.

Nano Homes, Nano Spaces and Royal Casa at Ravet:

Somehow, i managed to cross Ravet Bridge. Certainly, visited Nano Homes and it's neighbor Nano Spaces.

Congratulated the salesman for reading property buyers' mind when he said, "Tata Nano's on road price in Pune is Rs. 1,30,150. But to park that car at Nano Homes, you have to pay Rs.1,50,000 + Rs. 9,000 stamp duty = Rs. 1,59,000. Why? Because, Nano Homes is about flats! Not about parking!"



Admired "vision" of the builder of Nano Spaces when salesperson told me that "We also have Multiplex and Mall inside!"
"Inside! Where?," i asked him.
"Exactly here, where we are sitting at the moment. This is BRT Junction!," he said.
"Really! Means your project is also "why go out?" type?," I said.
"Right!," he said and assured me that visiting Celestial City would be a pleasant walk of 2 - 3 klms!



Now, there was no time to visit Runal Developers' Royal Casa, which is in the opposite direction of Celestial City, towards D. Y. Patil Collage, Pradhikaran, Akurdi.

"Banana is the secret of my energy!," i reminded myself and walked towards a fruit vendor standing at the junction of the Ravet Bridge and Ravet - Expressway road.

Current Property Rates in Ravet, Near Pradhikaran:

"All gone! But there were quite a few bananas when i went in there!," i asked the vendor standing by the empty cart.
"I am Haribhau. I keep good stuff!," he said.
"But where are the buyers? Couples on the bridge? No! Not for sure. They have something better to taste and eat! Who purchased all your fruits?" i asked him.
"Look at this road. Continuous traffic. From Pimpri - Chinchwad towns to Expressway. I come here by noon and by 3 - 4 PM all fruits are gone. They stop to buy Haribhau's quality stuff," he said. "You were in for a long time. Purchased?" he asked.
"No! Just had a look. Visiting Celestial City at Ravet. Is it far away, Haribhau?," i asked him.
"Want a plot?," Haribhau whispered. "I deal in plots too. Have a look. You will be happy!," he whispered again.
For a moment, i was not sure whether he was talking about a plot of land or something else.
"Land? Haribhau, is your surname Pawar?," i asked him seriously.
"Yes! How do you know?," Haribhau Pawar asked me.



"Rate? 300 rupees?," I was curious.
"That was before this bridge was built. Now, rates have gone up," Haribhau said.
"If i buy a plot at 300, at what rate can i sell a flat?," i asked Haribhau as if i am a builder.
"Same rate they sell! How much in Nano?," Haribhau asked.
"Per sq.ft. Rs. 2,484 and Rs. 2,554 in Nano Spaces and Rs. 2,367 and Rs. 2,295 in Nano Homes," i told him without opening the brochures.
"Sonigara Aangan is Rs. 2,500. Runal Rs. 2,600! You know?," Haribhau knew his market well.
"Don't tell me! Do people pay this rate?," i asked.
"Yes! People have a budget. For bananas people's budget is 10 rupees. Always. You keep your flats in the budget," Haribhau tried to explain the pricing of properties.
"Celestial City is for Rs. 2,400 per sq.ft.," i told him. "Haribhau, now, let me go and see their bananas!," i said and took his leave.


View Ravet, PCMC - New Found Land in a larger map

Ravet - Lost & Found:

After the water treatment plants of PCMC, the road narrows, takes a sudden turn and you enter into a different world, left behind in the last century. However, you can see a few signs of this century, like abandoned retaining walls of the wide road, zooming trucks, cars and SUV on that narrow road. Strange mix of two time zones!

Ravet Village- Left Behind:

Why these people drive so fast on this narrow road? At this time in the evening, some one like me, may be coming from the opposite direction. At this time in the evening, walking on the narrow road, I might be trying to recollect small bits and pieces of the sweet memories of my girl friend.



At this time in the evening, on the narrow road, looking at the farmers working in the rice fields, i may be trying to remember the address of her home in Ravet.



How can any driver guess when i might cross the road suddenly, worried what if she has left Ravet Village, like many others and shifted in the bungalow in her rice fields?



At this time of the evening, on the narrow road by the rice fields, anything can happen! For example, instead of rice fields you find brick furnaces on the both side of the road or the road itself becomes as wide as a highway.

Ravet - New Found Land:

Surprised to see a few workers busy on the half done road, when i asked the surveyor "What is so special about this small patch of the road? Till now, I have seen construction of the road abandoned at most of the places!"
"We have to stop the construction of the road when farmers go to court. So, we are working on the "free" patches of the road," he said.
"Farmers don't like JNNURM or what? It's up to Aundh. Isn't it?," taking a photograph of the road, i asked him.

Celestial City Ravet - Why go in?

Big hoarding on the right side of the road and a watchman's cabin reminds me that my pleasant walk is over and i have reached Celestial City Ravet. Looking at the well done, paved entrance road, i ask myself, "Why not go in!"

Mapping 4 Parts of Celestial City Ravet:

Trying to remember that Celestial City has 4 roads and a railway line, i start walking on the paved road.


1) Part 1:
Assuming that the Multiplex, office space and a shopping mall, 1st part of Celestial City, will be on the first road, which i did walk down, and which connects Celestial City to Mumbai Pune Expressway and Chinchwad - Pimpri Towns and Aundh by BRT system.


2) Part 2:
I started going towards the site office, telling myself to look at the right, "Here will come the 2nd part of Celestial City which will have luxurious 2 BHK and 3 BHK Flats."

3) Part 3:
As i came near the site office, i realized that, "Here will come the 3rd part of Celestial City which will have a sports club, fitness center, restaurants and "Signature Homes"! Because of the crossing of 2 D.P. roads, this plot has a triangular shape."



4) Part 4:
On the other side of road, behind the new compound wall, will be the4th part of Celestial City, which will have 1 BHK, 2 BHK & 3 BHK Flats. Total number of flats in this part will be 700. At the property rate of Rs. 2,400 per sq.ft., booking of these flats is opened. This part is called "1st Phase of Celestial City."

Behind this 4th part, a DP road is expected, which will go to Akurdi Station. And beyond the DP road, is the railway line.

Why did Celestial City Ravet open the bookings of 1 BHK, 2 BHK & 3 BHK Flats on 26/11?

Now, it was 6 PM. So, i decided to have a look at the plot of the 1st phase of Celestial City and then visit the site office and sample flat. Arch of the main entrance of this phase is too good. One of the best. Very sophisticated. I went inside.

Mr. Mahale, civil contractor and engineer, was personally supervising the works of compound wall and entrance. He told me about the plot, the layout plan and the grand launch event on the evening of 25th November.


It was a news for me. It means Celestial City was launched on 25/11! Actually, I had read about Kailash Kher's event in Pune Times. But the date was not mentioned in that story.

The ad about opening of booking of Celestia City released on 26/11 had pissed me off. Launching a residential real estate project on the 1st anniversary of terrorist attack on Mumbai was absolutely insensitive and insulting. Result is, i used unusually harsh language and completely sarcastic tone in my blog on the launch of Celestial City Ravet.

In a way, it was good meeting Mr. Mahale, who had instantly expressed his desire to book a flat in Celestial City in the very first meeting with the builder.

Dharmendra and Damle on the property rate at Celestial City Ravet:

At the site office, the view was amazing. In a huge pandal, more than 25 tables were occupied by the property buyers. Around 50 families were visiting 4 sample sample flats, one after another. I don't know how, but Dharmendra and Damle, (who may go in Limca Book of Records for selling 1,000 flats in the 2nd half of 2009 in Pune real estate market,) managed to say hello to me.

"How are you doing? It must be a tough job to convince the property rate of Rs. 2,400 per sq.ft. "Competitive property rate" was the USP of your previous four projects. Isn't it?," i said to Dharmendra.

"Yes, this time it's a job. But not a tough job!," he said.
"After realizing the value you are getting for your money, Rs. 2,400 per sq.ft. is not a high property rate," Damle said.

"Value means Multiplex and Shopping Mall "inside". Right?," i asked him.

"Let us visit the sample flat to see what specifications we are giving," he said.
"Rama Group's sample flats! Sure!! After a long time. Last was at Swiss County at Thergaon - Wakad annex. Let us go," i said.



All of us went into one sample flat. Pointing at each high-end specification, both of them started explaining:

"1) Flooring - Baked at 1200 degree. Not the usual 600. Result - you can not only see your reflection but your face clearly in the tiles.

2) Designer tiles' dado in the toilets - beautiful bathing experience every day.

3) Sanitary fittings and plumbing fixtures in the toilets - single lever, leading brands, sophisticated commodes without water tank.

4) Electrical Switches - feather touch operation and long lasting

5) Terrace - stainless steal and glass railings, see the design and quality of these anti-skid tiles

6) Dry balcony, optimum space utilization and Vastu

7) 100 % parking, Aqua gardens and convenience shopping along with other amenities in the first phase," ending his list of "value for money," said Damle.

"All this in the all inclusive budget range of Rs. 20 lakhs to Rs. 33 lakhs for 1 BHK, 2 BHK & 3 BHK Flats!," said Dharmendra.

Celestial City - 1 BHK, 2 BHK & 3 BHK Wallet Homes:

"Yes, very impressive if you are happy with the carpet area of your flat!," i said.



I had seen the floor plans of Celestial City. The carpet areas of all flats were too small.

1) 1 BHK Flat - 448 sq.ft. = Rs. 19,85,000

2) 2 BHK Flat Comfort - 604 sq.ft. = Rs. 25,42,100

3) 2 BHK Flat Cozy - 567 sq.ft.= Rs. 23,89,100

4) 3 BHK Flat Cozy - 714 sq.ft. = Rs. 29,00,500

5) 3 BHK Flat Comfort - 824 sq.ft. = Rs. 32,82,500!

May be the smallest carpet area of a 2 BHK & a 3 BHK Flat in the entire Pune real estate market! At least, for sure, smaller than Silver Mist and Swiss County Too, Rama Group's most popular projects in Wakad! Have a look at some of the famous carpet areas in Pune real estate market:

1) Silver Mist, Pimple Saudagar - 2 BHK - 672 sq.ft.

2) Silver Mist, Pimple Saudagar - 2.5 BHK - 812 sq.ft. & 866 sq.ft.

3) Swiss County Too - Thergaon - Wakad annex - 2 BHK Flat - 653 sq.ft.

4) Swiss County Too - Thergaon - Wakad annex - 3 BHK Flat - 815 sq.ft.

5) Mont Vert Seville 2 - 2 BHK Flat - 615 / 617 sq.ft.

6) Nanded City Pune - Sarang - 2 BHK Flat - 637 sq.ft.

7) Nanded City Pune - Madhuwanti - 2 BHK - 690 sq.ft.

8) Nanded City Pune - Lalit - 2.5 BHK Flat - 825 sq.ft.

9) Nanded City Pune - Mangal Bhairav - 1 BHK Flat - 406 sq.ft.

10) Darode-Jog-Greenland-County - Narhe-Ambegaon - 1 BHK Flat - 386 sq.ft.

11) Darode-Jog-Greenland-County - Narhe-Ambegaon - 1.5 BHK Flat - 426 sq.ft.

12) Darode-Jog-Greenland-County - Narhe-Ambegaon - 2 BHK Flat Compact - 546 sq.ft.

13) Darode-Jog-Greenland-County - Narhe-Ambegaon - 2 BHK Flat Comfort- 641 sq.ft.

"Ravi, Aren't we giving 'Value for Money'?," Dharmendra asked me.

Dharmendra asking about 'value for money builder offers' had a great significance for me.

Dharmendra has sold Kunal Icon in Pimple Saudagar at the property rate of Rs. 700 per sq.ft..
Dharmendra has sold Park Street at Wakad at the property rate of Rs. 1, 600 per sq.ft.
In the last 6 months, Dharmendra has sold Nano Homes, Swiss County Too, Silver Mist and Costa Rica at Wakad.
Dharmenrda knows well exactly what value you get for each rupee you pay to the builder.
Dharmendra was asking my honest opinion.
As any real estate salesperson expects from his colleague.
I was not at all prepared for this question.
Actually, i wanted to ask Dhramendra, "Don't you think that Ravet stands exactly at the same position where Pimple Saudagar was at that point of time?"

"No doubts about money. But more than "value", i see the "wallet". These are "Wallet Homes". Homes that can fit in your wallet! Sounds better than "affordable homes". Can't say "Budget Homes" because you are giving small flats with attractive, high end specifications in a property buyers' budget. Looks like all these visitors are happy about it," i said looking around and asked, "Who is the architect of your project?"

"Come on, let me introduce you to the men behind Celestial City," Dharmendra said and took me to his bosses.

Homes for the citizens of PCMC!

Mr. Moti Panjabi, CEO, Rama Group and Mr. Anil Pharande, CEO, Pharande Spaces were sitting on a couch, looking quite happy and relaxed.

"Congratulations! Huge response!," i gave obvious compliments.
"Did you see the sample flat?," Mr. Pharande asked.
"Yes! Impressed. Who is the architect? Dilip Chabria? Flat looks like Dilip Chabria's designer version of a Tata Nano! Very attractive specifications!," I said.

"Has any builder in Pune given all this in 20 lakhs to 33 lakhs budget? No! But we have given. Our goal is to build best possible homes for 15 lakh citizens of our home town, Pimpri Chinchwad. Best quality flats, in their budget!," Mr. Pharande said and added that he is the current president of CREDAI PCMC and Mr. Panjabi was the past president.

"Budget is fine, but, Sir, i find it a little difficult to accept the property rate. Rs. 2,400 per sq.ft.at Ravet is too much. At Wakad, you launched Cost Rica only at Rs.2,300 per sq.ft.!," i said to Mr. Panjabi.

"Costa Rica is a simple project with minimum amenities. This, Celestial City, is a big township with lot of amenities. Here infrastructure costs are more. However, our pricing is as competitive as always. Land cost Rs. 300 + Corporation fees and premiums Rs. 300 + Construction cost Rs. 1,200 + Add to this Rs. 300 per sq.ft. for infrastructure development, administration expenses, power and water charges are 3 times for us, marketing & advertising expenses, and of course, interest! Rs. 2,400 is a competitive and reasonable launch price. By opening booking at this rate, Rs. 2,400 per sq.ft., we are passing the benefit to those who book at this stage than paying interest to the bank. We always follow this policy," Mr. Panjabi not only explained the current property rate but also suggested the price rise!

"And what do you mean by this location? Isn't it as good as Wakad?," Mr. Pharande said.
"Nothing is as good as Wakad! If you look from Hinjewadi," I said.

"You are looking from the wrong direction! Look at Hinjewadi from here and you will change your opinion! Look at any direction from this location and you will say that Ravet is the best location from all angles. You Puneri people don't know how strategically located Ravet is! Let us go to the site and i will explain," Mr. Pharande said and getting up.

Standing at the main entrance of the first phase, Mr. Pharande pointed at various important landmarks 1) Pradhikaran 2) Akurdi Station 3) D.Y. Patil College 4) Aditya Birla Hospital 5) Indira Institute at Wakad 6) Bajaj Auto 7) Expressway & of course 8) Hinjewadi and told me the distance from Celestial City at Ravet!
For me, after walking 2 - 3 Klms in the unknown land left behind in the last century, it was a home coming. I was back in the future!


While coming back to the site office, to impress him with my knowledge about his project, i said, "Actually, this paved road would be the DP Road, Right?"
"Yes! Infrastructure is the big plus point of my home town, PCMC! On the way, you must have seen that the construction of a wide road has already started. Look there. new water line work is going on. PCMC will not face water problems for the next 50 years. Here we have ample power. All this is possible because we have PCNTDA Pimpri Chinchwad New Town Development Authority. A development authority who's job is to develop the infrastructure before the city expands. Is this the type of infrastructure you can get in Ambegaon, Sus, Phursungi, Wagholi or in any fringe village of Pune, where most of the projects are coming today?," Mr. Pharande asked.

"May be 100 acre townships in Hinjewadi can provide water, electricity and other services but has anybody thought about how costly it would be to live in those townships?," he added.

"Infrastructure services is a serious issue in Pune real estate market. At PCMC you have land and a development body like PCNTDA, is a big advantage. How come you didn't mention this in your ads? In Pune, "integrated township" is not considered as a good idea. For us, "malls and multiplex in the township" means nothing more than an excuse for the builder to demand higher property rates. Instead of "Why go out?" you should have said "Why go in?," i said.

"Now, you have understood! You go and write this on your blog!," Mr. Pharande said! I wished him good night and took his leave.

By the time i reached the main road, it was totally dark. So, i asked the security, "Where is Ravet?"
He said, "I don't know."
"Where is Expressway?," i asked.
He said, "I don't know."
So, i asked him, "Where is Chinchwad?"
He said,"I don't know."
Before, i was going to ask him my next question, a young lady asked me, "Where is Celestial City?"
I looked at the security, he said,"I don't know."
Am i lost in a new found land or what, i wondered for a moment!

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