GHAZIABAD HAS A VAST POTENTIAL – ANIL MITHAS
GHAZIABAD SHOULD BE DEVELOPED AS A GATEWAY TO UP AND UTTARAKHAND – ANIL MITHAS
Ghaziabad, often termed as the Gateway to North India as it is situated next to national capital Delhi, has an ancient history which dates back to 2500 BC. Spread in nearly 2000 square kilometers, Ghaziabad is surrounded by national capital Delhi on one side and Noida, Hapur, Modinagar, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Baghpat, Saharanpur etc. on the other. Excavations carried out at the mound of Kaseri, at the banks of river Hindon some 2 km. north of Mohan Nagar have shown that civilization existed here, as early as 2500 BC. Mythologically, some neighboring towns and villages of the city including Garhmukteshwar Pooth Village and Ahar region have been associated with the Mahabharata and the fort at Loni, is associated with the legend of Lavanasura of the Ramayana period.
The present city of Ghaziabad was founded in 1740 AD by Vazir Ghazi-ud-din, who named it Ghaziuddinnagar after himself. Some historians claim that Vazir Ghaziuddin may have been Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroz Jung II, the then Prime Minister of the Mughal Empire and brother of Salabat Jung.
Although connected by railway since 1865, it was not until 1940 that the first modern industry appeared in Ghaziabad. That business was Amrit Vanaspati Co. Ltd. and it was followed by eight other major concerns, including Modern Industries, Federal Chemical Works, Ghaziabad Engineering Company, Asia Chemicals and the Webbing and Belting Factory Ltd. However, it was in the post-independence period that industry really expanded, with a further 22 factories opening in the four years after 1947. This development can be attributed to the influx of people from the newly formed Pakistan and the relocation of businesses such as Guru Nakak Engineering and Punjab Oil Expellers from what was now the Pakistani province of Punjab. John Oakey and Mohan Ltd., one of India's largest concerns manufacturing coated and bonded abrasives, and originally functioning under the name of 'National Abrasives' at Rawalpindi was shifted here under the proprietorship of 'Dyer Meakins' in 1947.
Subsequently, the Mohan Meakin breweries were also set up in the year 1949. This period also saw the development of Ghaziabad as one of India's most famous centers of the Oil Engines industry.
In 1967, the municipal limits were extended up to the Delhi-UP border. Starting early 1970's, a large number of steel manufacturing units also came up in the city making it one of the primary industries of the city. This period also saw the emergence of the Electronics industry, with the setting up of Bharat Electronics Limited and Central Electronics Limited. Over the years, planned Industrial development saw participation from major industrial houses of the country including Mohans (Mohan Nagar Industrial Estate, 1949), Tatas (Tata Oil Mills), Modis (Modinagar, 1933; International Tobacco Co. 1967), Shri Rams (Shri Ram Pistons, 1964), Jaipurias etc. and also significant participation through foreign capital in concerns such as Danfoss India Ltd. (estd. 1968); Indo- Bulgar Food Ltd. and International Tobacco Company (estd. 1967).
If Noida was notified in 1976, Ghaziabad too was carved out as a district in the same year. But its population is nearly five times more than Noida. If Noida is a planned city, Ghaziabad is a self grown city. Despite government apathy for civic amenities and sluggish power supply, Ghaziabad has emerged as a major industrial hub of North India as well as Uttar Pradesh on its own. Today it houses more than 15,000 small, medium and large scale industries which include cotton, woolen, silk, synthetic, soft drinks, tobacco, paper, rubber plastic, petroleum, chemical, metal, not-metal, machinery, tool parts, transport equipments etc mills. They provide employment to lakhs of youth.
Owing to rapid industrial growth Ghaziabad has emerged as a major hub of transport business also.
Proximity to Delhi and rapid industrial growth has unleashed a big boom in the real estate sector also. Today Ghaziabad is a rapidly developing city with sky scrapers and malls. The urban areas of Ghaziabad include Indirapuram, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Vasundhra, Surya nagar and the old and richer area with big houses rather than apartment including Kavi nagar and Raj nagar. The first town developed by Britishers in Ghaziabad was Ghantaghar, which is the zero mile stone of Ghaziabad.
Direct connectivity with Delhi and Noida has prompted unusually high growth in areas close to National Highway – 24. Today Indirapuram, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Vasundhara, Suryanagar are considered to be the costliest in Ghaziabad. Over the past ten years these areas have seen rapid price rise and robust capital appreciation. Though Ghaziabad is believed to be suitable for mid and affordable housing segment, but areas like these have seen large number of luxury projects also.
As land availability shrinks near NH-24, large numbers of projects are coming up on NH-58 now at the Raj Nagar Extension corridor. These projects offer affordable housing at very reasonable rates.
The Ghaziabad real estate sub-market caters to large population from industrial sector and low-income workers aspiring for better housing facilities. In such a scenario areas like Kaushambi, Vaishali and Indirapuram will continue to hold ground but low profile areas of Sahibabad, Raj Nagar Extension etc will also continue to register growth.
The Metro connectivity is expected to strengthen city’s real estate market further. The plan to expand metro from Dilshad garden to Lal kua has been passed and possibly by 2019 it would be functional and the expansion from Vaishali to Mohan Nagar via Vasundhra is still being negotiated.
A proposal has been made to widen National Highway 24 (NH-24) from six to eight lanes on the stretch between the Ghaziabad-Delhi border and Dasna. As a large number of residential and commercial projects are coming up along the highway. There is one good news too. The central government has approved a plan for an elevated road between Sarai Kalekhan and Ghaziabad-Delhi border on NH-24. It will provide unhindered connectivity to Ghaziabad residents till border and save their precious time.
Mr. Anil Mithas, CMD, Unnati Fortune Group says that development in Ghaziabad can mainly be attributed to private entrepreneurs who, despite all odds, managed to make this city the main industrial hub of Uttar Pradesh. No wonder, today Ghaziabad is one of the top revenue earners of Uttar Pradesh. Now the time has come when the state and the union governments must take serious steps to streamline and rationalize development in this area by farsighted and inclusive planning.
He also said that today besides lack of basic facilities like water and power, Ghaziabad faces major environmental threats also from haphazard industrial development. The Hindon River has already turned into a dirty drain and air pollution is setting new records every day. It’s high time; government must take some sincere steps to check uncontrolled pollution and make Ghaziabad clean and green.
Ghaziabad has a vast potential as it connects north India with large areas of Western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, but unfortunately this potential hasn’t been exploited. Uttar Pradesh and central governments must come up with concrete plans in this regard.
Source: http://www.unnatifortune.com
GHAZIABAD SHOULD BE DEVELOPED AS A GATEWAY TO UP AND UTTARAKHAND – ANIL MITHAS
Ghaziabad, often termed as the Gateway to North India as it is situated next to national capital Delhi, has an ancient history which dates back to 2500 BC. Spread in nearly 2000 square kilometers, Ghaziabad is surrounded by national capital Delhi on one side and Noida, Hapur, Modinagar, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Baghpat, Saharanpur etc. on the other. Excavations carried out at the mound of Kaseri, at the banks of river Hindon some 2 km. north of Mohan Nagar have shown that civilization existed here, as early as 2500 BC. Mythologically, some neighboring towns and villages of the city including Garhmukteshwar Pooth Village and Ahar region have been associated with the Mahabharata and the fort at Loni, is associated with the legend of Lavanasura of the Ramayana period.
The present city of Ghaziabad was founded in 1740 AD by Vazir Ghazi-ud-din, who named it Ghaziuddinnagar after himself. Some historians claim that Vazir Ghaziuddin may have been Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroz Jung II, the then Prime Minister of the Mughal Empire and brother of Salabat Jung.
Although connected by railway since 1865, it was not until 1940 that the first modern industry appeared in Ghaziabad. That business was Amrit Vanaspati Co. Ltd. and it was followed by eight other major concerns, including Modern Industries, Federal Chemical Works, Ghaziabad Engineering Company, Asia Chemicals and the Webbing and Belting Factory Ltd. However, it was in the post-independence period that industry really expanded, with a further 22 factories opening in the four years after 1947. This development can be attributed to the influx of people from the newly formed Pakistan and the relocation of businesses such as Guru Nakak Engineering and Punjab Oil Expellers from what was now the Pakistani province of Punjab. John Oakey and Mohan Ltd., one of India's largest concerns manufacturing coated and bonded abrasives, and originally functioning under the name of 'National Abrasives' at Rawalpindi was shifted here under the proprietorship of 'Dyer Meakins' in 1947.
Subsequently, the Mohan Meakin breweries were also set up in the year 1949. This period also saw the development of Ghaziabad as one of India's most famous centers of the Oil Engines industry.
In 1967, the municipal limits were extended up to the Delhi-UP border. Starting early 1970's, a large number of steel manufacturing units also came up in the city making it one of the primary industries of the city. This period also saw the emergence of the Electronics industry, with the setting up of Bharat Electronics Limited and Central Electronics Limited. Over the years, planned Industrial development saw participation from major industrial houses of the country including Mohans (Mohan Nagar Industrial Estate, 1949), Tatas (Tata Oil Mills), Modis (Modinagar, 1933; International Tobacco Co. 1967), Shri Rams (Shri Ram Pistons, 1964), Jaipurias etc. and also significant participation through foreign capital in concerns such as Danfoss India Ltd. (estd. 1968); Indo- Bulgar Food Ltd. and International Tobacco Company (estd. 1967).
If Noida was notified in 1976, Ghaziabad too was carved out as a district in the same year. But its population is nearly five times more than Noida. If Noida is a planned city, Ghaziabad is a self grown city. Despite government apathy for civic amenities and sluggish power supply, Ghaziabad has emerged as a major industrial hub of North India as well as Uttar Pradesh on its own. Today it houses more than 15,000 small, medium and large scale industries which include cotton, woolen, silk, synthetic, soft drinks, tobacco, paper, rubber plastic, petroleum, chemical, metal, not-metal, machinery, tool parts, transport equipments etc mills. They provide employment to lakhs of youth.
Owing to rapid industrial growth Ghaziabad has emerged as a major hub of transport business also.
Proximity to Delhi and rapid industrial growth has unleashed a big boom in the real estate sector also. Today Ghaziabad is a rapidly developing city with sky scrapers and malls. The urban areas of Ghaziabad include Indirapuram, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Vasundhra, Surya nagar and the old and richer area with big houses rather than apartment including Kavi nagar and Raj nagar. The first town developed by Britishers in Ghaziabad was Ghantaghar, which is the zero mile stone of Ghaziabad.
Direct connectivity with Delhi and Noida has prompted unusually high growth in areas close to National Highway – 24. Today Indirapuram, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Vasundhara, Suryanagar are considered to be the costliest in Ghaziabad. Over the past ten years these areas have seen rapid price rise and robust capital appreciation. Though Ghaziabad is believed to be suitable for mid and affordable housing segment, but areas like these have seen large number of luxury projects also.
As land availability shrinks near NH-24, large numbers of projects are coming up on NH-58 now at the Raj Nagar Extension corridor. These projects offer affordable housing at very reasonable rates.
The Ghaziabad real estate sub-market caters to large population from industrial sector and low-income workers aspiring for better housing facilities. In such a scenario areas like Kaushambi, Vaishali and Indirapuram will continue to hold ground but low profile areas of Sahibabad, Raj Nagar Extension etc will also continue to register growth.
The Metro connectivity is expected to strengthen city’s real estate market further. The plan to expand metro from Dilshad garden to Lal kua has been passed and possibly by 2019 it would be functional and the expansion from Vaishali to Mohan Nagar via Vasundhra is still being negotiated.
A proposal has been made to widen National Highway 24 (NH-24) from six to eight lanes on the stretch between the Ghaziabad-Delhi border and Dasna. As a large number of residential and commercial projects are coming up along the highway. There is one good news too. The central government has approved a plan for an elevated road between Sarai Kalekhan and Ghaziabad-Delhi border on NH-24. It will provide unhindered connectivity to Ghaziabad residents till border and save their precious time.
Mr. Anil Mithas, CMD, Unnati Fortune Group says that development in Ghaziabad can mainly be attributed to private entrepreneurs who, despite all odds, managed to make this city the main industrial hub of Uttar Pradesh. No wonder, today Ghaziabad is one of the top revenue earners of Uttar Pradesh. Now the time has come when the state and the union governments must take serious steps to streamline and rationalize development in this area by farsighted and inclusive planning.
He also said that today besides lack of basic facilities like water and power, Ghaziabad faces major environmental threats also from haphazard industrial development. The Hindon River has already turned into a dirty drain and air pollution is setting new records every day. It’s high time; government must take some sincere steps to check uncontrolled pollution and make Ghaziabad clean and green.
Ghaziabad has a vast potential as it connects north India with large areas of Western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, but unfortunately this potential hasn’t been exploited. Uttar Pradesh and central governments must come up with concrete plans in this regard.
Source: http://www.unnatifortune.com