REVIEWS Omkar Alta Monte

Overview

Before I begin this review let me tell you this is perhaps the best marketed redevelopment project ever… and this makes this review VERY interesting. I remember meeting a friend who suggested this property to me at 7000 psf. almost 4 years back. I heard Omkar and I was like.. “you know this is a 10 year old developer, I don’t know if he will deliver”. Fast forward to the present: Omkar Alta Monte stands out and competes with the best brands in the market. Lets look at the reason as to why this is happening!

According to a Mid Day report in Feb 2010 “while rules state that the builder has to return 25 per cent of a cemetery plot that goes into redevelopment, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority’s FSI calculation let Omkar Realtors give only 8 per cent in a Malad project”

The project in question is Omkar Alta Monte, being developed by Omkar Realtors. The builder had acquired a plot of 46,993 sq. metres for his project, which included the rehabilitation of 15,000 slums built on it. A part of the land was a Hindu cemetery admeasuring 5,987.60 square metres.

According to Appendix 4 of the Development Control Rules 33 (10), a developer who utilises cemetery land for redevelopment is supposed to return 25 per cent of the original plot area after the project. This means for the above plot, Omkar Realtors had to give back 1,496.90 square metres to the SRA.

Omkar it seems wriggled out of this controversy and now as they say the rest is history.

A brilliant marketing campaign changed the perception about the product. Its not as if dog creches, large swimming pools and luxurious living spaces were unheard of, its just the way in which the entire proposition was presented. Add to that Omkar capitalized on L&T’s construction forte and used that advantage to the maximum.

Quick Fact Check:

• The project consists of 4 towers with a ground + 7 podiums and an 8th floor amenity level. The towers are 45 to 55 floors plus.
• An earthquake resistant RCC construction with a flat slab structure.
• A well designed external facade by International architects.
• Automated Parking Card reader for security and exclusive access
• Looks good on paper – Lets see if this is actually validated.

Location Check:

Malad is a suburb, 34 km north of Mumbai its distant on paper however its fast becoming an IT HUB with many organizations opening their facilities. A quick check on the location and you will realize its convenient and comfortable but not perfect. The tower is imposing and visible from a distance even in its current under construction mode. Located on the western express highway these residences overlooking the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, are a 5 minute drive from Oberoi Mall and only 30 minutes away from the airport (non peak hours) . (Disclaimer: Apartments facing the east get a very bad view.)

There are at least 5 malls and the largest of them is Infinity Mall in a 5 km radius.

With a walkscore of 88 most of your needs are sorted. Oberoi Mall is your answer to all your questions.

The minuses are that a few grocery stores would have been an advantage and add to that its located towards KURAR village which is a slum zone which invites miscreants.

The philosophy of the master plan is minimum area maximum amenities. Since the plot area is small the developer has opted for multiple levels for recreational activity, 7 levels of parking, 5 acres of split landscaped area, and I should give him credit for the same. Since the intention is good. 

Construction for me is destined to be precise and immaculate since the same is being handled by L & T. They are using Mivan technology so this section is pretty sorted.

On the design bit, I find everything to be force fitted. These are not your regular natural floor plans and designs. The layout is unconventional. Bedroom sizes seem to be a little cramped. (second bedrrom100 sq.ft….. well someone said this is a luxury development?)

Yes the apartments come with decks which is a good thing but overall the plans should have been better.

On the amenities bit: Move over your regular gardens, swimming pools, play areas…sky lounges, infinity pool and qua gym, elevated jogging track are aspirational features which todays urban youth would happily lap up. Over and above the project has a tennis court, gym, basket ball court. SO that is pretty fair. Agglomerated marble in living - dinning room and kitchen, CP fittings Jaquar "Continental" or equivalent should give your house a thrusting look and feel. Each apartment has the provision to keep outdoor A.C. Units which is good additionally the product comes with video Door Phone Provided
internet Wi-fi Connectivity, ready to use home automation, parking Card reader with proximity sensor.

This is a feature heavy product: Thumbs up on this section.

What do we like

Location of the Project

Decks

L&T Construction

What we dont like

This project is marketed as a luxury project but I find the space is missing (the room size’s for 2 and 3 bhk are very small. The room sizes and utility areas are cramped

SRA Development ??

Final verdict

This is one of the best Slum rehabilitation product in the Mumbai market. If you want an address to flash, you don’t travel by train and aspire to live a luxury lifestyle this is your project; It works. As long as the pricing differential between this product and Kalpataru Radiance/ Ekta Tripolis/ Lodha Fiorenza is 30 %. If not go for the latter.