Economy & Market

The realtors experience will be limited to their markets.

Published

5 years ago

October 14, 2021

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Location, location, location. Is it all that matters in realty? Ram Raheja, Director & Head-Architecture at S Raheja Realty, knows that every area and every project is different and calls for a customised strategy. In the so-called sluggish realty market, S Raheja Realty delivers projects on time, with a range that has something for everyone. Ram Raheja shares his enthusiasm about his projects and his positive outlook with ICR. Excerpts from the interview.

Tell us a bit about S Raheja Realty.
S Raheja Realty is a part of the same Raheja group. My grandfather and his three brothers launched Raheja Brothers in the 1950s. Eventually in the 1970s, the company first split; now there are about seven to eight Raheja companies in the market. Raheja Realty started with my grandfather Girdharidas Raheja, then it was handled by his son Shyam Raheja and now, I run it. We are a third generation real estate group.

We have four very distinct sectors in our group, one being redevelopment in different parts of Mumbai. We have recently launched two sites, while another one was launched at the beginning of the year.

Then we have the other sector, which is corporate development. In corporate development, one example is the Hinduja Health Care in Khar; that was done completely by us, including land procurement, liasoning for approvals, construction, f architecture, interiors, finishing, up to giving the clients the complete finished product in the stipulated time period. Another example is in Mahim, where we have a 22-storey tower under construction.

Our third sector is mid-income housing. We call it luxury mid- income housing as we are building it in the most prime locations of cities, for example Palghar, Varanasi, etc.

In Palghar, we have just finished the Raheja Pride, Phase-I, which we launched last year. We finished it in about one Ã»and- a- half years, again a completely luxurious standard compared to anything you can get in the city. For this project, we have from imported tiles, modular kitchens, landscaped gardens and more.

The fourth sector of our group is building second homes, luxury second homes outside Mumbai. For example, we have finished a project in the Pune region. We also have a project under construction right now, Raheja Cascades in Lonavala.

We hear realtors speaking about the slow down in the market. Do you feel that the demand for real estate is subsiding?
It totally differs from area to area, project to project. There are areas which have a good demand and good supply. For example in Mumbai itself, you cannot take Mumbai as an entire one single real estate market. Mumbai has different areas which actually run their own market and where it has its own real estate sector, its demands, its own supply dynamics, its own economics. Lower Parel is a market on its own and so is Lokhandwala or Kalina. So, every area is unique in its own context because of the segregation of our city and the experience of realtors will be limited to their markets. The price ranges vary widely from one area to the other,sometimes within a ten-minute drive between each area. I would say the market is slow in areas where the supply is in excess and the demand is limited.

So choosing a location becomes all the more important today.
Yes, we are very careful in choosing the location, making sure that there is a need for housing with limited supply.

Tell us about the new projects that you will be launching soon.
We have another other 400 units in Palghar, which we will be launching soon. We have a large- scale project coming up in Lonavala next to our Raheja Cascades. Raheja Cascades was launched about a month ago and now we are launching Natraj and Gurukripa both in Kalina. We have a few more redevelopment projects that we will be launching next year. Then again, we do not launch until all our approvals and everything else is in place.

In general, what are the challenges faced by the realty sector in India?
The input costs for everything has gone up. Also, the markets have become very uncertain now. There is uncertainty in the stock market, uncertainty about the political scenario. This increases the cost of our products. It is difficult for buyers to make a decision in such a volatile environment.

What are your expectations from the government?
Speed and clarity in the approval and regulatory process.

A lot of realtors are trying to attract buyers by launching green buildings. What are green buildings?
It can mean a lot of things, that is why today you have certifications. It can mean that the materials used in the construction are green. One has to choose and decide on what aspect of the building could be made sustainable. Internationally you get cycle parking locations in a green building. Now in projects like these in India, rarely do people ride a cycle. So you know it just depends on what is actually viable in terms of making it a green building. You can have modern sustainable bricks, to traditional methods of cross-ventilation which is the most traditional form of saving energy, or you can create an architecture with better natural lighting. I would go back to the original form of architecture like that seen in the Hawa Mahal which creates cross-ventilation.

In a city like Mumbai, you can go into things like sustainable material, rainwater harvesting, solar panel, etc.

Growth of sustainable architecture/ Green buildings

The current penetration of green building in the country is 5% (1,909 buildings). However, it is gaining momentum and could account for 20% of all constructions by 2030. Today, Maharashtra tops the national figure with the highest number of green buildings, followed by the National Capital Region. Tamil Nadu holds third position.
The cost implications involved in developing green building properties are higher by 10-15 per cent than regular construction costs. However, they involve major long- term benefits
The demand-supply scenario
16,053 houses have been put on draw to 11.25 lakh applicants. This only shows that the city is facing an acute shortage of affordable housing and it has become imperative for builders to explore ways to stock mid-cap houses. Builders are now looking at developing the Charkop, Kandivli, Malvani, Palghar areas.

Ram Raheja is responsible for architecture and design departments within the organisation. He has over eight years of comprehensive experience in all phases of architectural services and design in India and abroad.

S Raheja Realty is an integral part of Indias real estate landscape. The promoters are three generations into real estate with a focus on luxury residential and commercial development in Mumbai. In the recent decade, they have ventured into affordable housing in mini metros and second tier cities, delivering quality lifestyles at affordable prices. Today, S Raheja continues to revolutionise the real estate industry with an intuitive vision to incorporate evolved architectural practices and develop projects that are sustainable and secure.

Project highlights: Cascade- luxury villa project;
Palghar Prime- affordable housing project, S2 Mahim & Hinduja Healthcare; Khar- corporate development; several re-development projects in Khar, Kalina & Bandra, Tier- II projects in Pune and Varanasi.

Concrete

Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication

Published

4 days ago

October 9, 2026

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Singh brings 20+ years of brand and marketing experience, and will lead integrated corporate brand communication initiatives at Wonder Cement

New Delhi

Wonder Cement, a leading cement manufacturer, has appointed Mahesh Singh as Vice President – Corporate Brand Communication. In his new role, he will oversee corporate brand strategy and communication, including digital and performance marketing, public relations, trade, events, exhibitions, sports and experiential marketing.

Singh brings over two decades of experience across marketing and communications, with roles spanning the automotive industry, agencies and entrepreneurship. He spent more than a decade with Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, working across integrated communication, media, digital, retail and consumer engagement. His stint also included helping build the company’s digital marketing capabilities.

He moved to dentsu X India as Vice President – Strategy & Planning, working across categories such as automotive, auto components, electric vehicles, FMCG, consumer electronics, BFSI, apparel and brand consulting. His responsibilities included media and marketing strategy, product launches, content, performance marketing and consumer activations.

Singh subsequently took an entrepreneurial route with Radiant Brands before joining Shriram Ltd (SPR Autotech) as Head – Marketing & Communications. There, his remit included brand and corporate strategy, communications, PR and ORM, retail identity, loyalty programmes and events.

At Wonder Cement, Singh will be responsible for bringing together the company’s corporate brand communication initiatives across digital, performance marketing, PR, trade, sports and experiential platforms. The role will focus on creating an integrated approach to communication across consumers, trade partners and other key stakeholders.

The appointment brings to Wonder Cement a marketer whose career has spanned the brand, agency and entrepreneurial sides of the communications ecosystem.

Wonder Cement, part of the RK Group, is a cement manufacturer with roots in Rajasthan and a focus on quality, trust and transparency. The company has grown to six manufacturing plants, and a cement capacity of 21.5 MTPA. With more than 2,000 employees and a network of over 5,000 dealers, its operations span manufacturing, distribution and customer engagement, with a focus on consistent product quality and efficient execution.

Concrete

JSW Cement commissions additional 1 MTPA grinding unit at Nagaur

Published

5 days ago

October 8, 2026

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With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA,
Mumbai

JSW Cement, one of India’s leading green cement producers and part of the diversified JSW Group, today announced the successful commissioning of an additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit at Nagaur, Rajasthan. The commissioning marks another significant milestone in the Company’s growth strategy.

With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA, while its total clinker manufacturing capacity, including clinker capacity at its joint venture, JSW Cement FZC, stands at 9.74 MTPA.

JSW Cement had commenced operations in North India in March 2026 with the Nagaur Integrated Plant, comprising a 3.30 MTPA clinkerisation unit and 2.50 MTPA cement grinding unit. With the commissioning of the additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit, the plant’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 3.50 MTPA, enhancing the company’s ability to cater to the growing cement demand across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion has been funded through a strategic mix of equity and long-term debt.

During the quarter ended 30th September 2026, JSW Cement has also commissioned the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) at the Nagaur Integrated Plant.

Nilesh Narwekar, CEO, JSW Cement, said: “The commissioning of additional 1.00 MTPA grinding capacity at Nagaur is a key strategic priority for us and will accelerate JSW Cement’s expansion into North India. We look forward to servicing the growing needs of the region and contributing to the economic growth of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the NCR area. I am delighted to share that the company has commissioned this grinding unit within the expected timeline, showcasing our project execution capabilities. Further, the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) are expected to substantially reduce our production costs going forward.”

Concrete

UltraTech becomes first Indian cement firm to cross 2 GW green energy

Published

6 days ago

October 7, 2026

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UltraTech Cement has crossed 2 GW of captive green energy capacity, with renewables and waste heat recovery meeting 48 per cent of its power needs.

Mumbai

UltraTech Cement Limited has surpassed 2 GW of installed green energy capacity for captive use, becoming the first cement company in India to achieve the milestone. The Aditya Birla Group company commissioned 116.55 MW of wind capacity at its Inter-State Transmission System-connected wind-solar hybrid project in Barmer, Rajasthan, along with 10 MW of Waste Heat Recovery System capacity at Sarlanagar Cement Works in Karnataka.

With these additions, UltraTech’s cumulative installed green energy capacity has reached 2,024 MW. This includes 1,580 MW of renewable energy capacity and 444 MW of waste heat recovery capacity, together meeting around 48 per cent of the company’s current power requirements.

The company said the milestone reflects the progress of its long-term energy transition strategy. In FY27 so far, nearly one-third of UltraTech’s 76 manufacturing units in India have maintained green energy utilisation above 50 per cent of their electricity requirements, while five units have crossed 95 per cent.

K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said, “Crossing the 2 GW green energy milestone is the result of a strategy we have pursued consistently over the past decade. Cement is an energy-intensive, hard-to-abate sector, and showing that reliability and growth can go hand in hand with a rapid shift to green energy sets a benchmark for the industry. With nearly half of our power needs now met through green energy, we are significantly less exposed to fossil fuel supply constraints and power price volatility. As we scale up renewables, waste heat recovery and battery storage across our operations, we are building an energy foundation for stable, long-term growth.”

UltraTech commissioned 430 MW of green energy capacity in FY26 and continues to expand its renewable energy and waste heat recovery portfolio.

The company is also progressively integrating Battery Energy Storage Systems across its operations to improve renewable energy utilisation and supply reliability.

In 2025, UltraTech operationalised what it described as India’s first on-site hybrid round-the-clock renewable energy project at Sewagram Cement Works in Gujarat. The project combines solar, wind and battery storage.

As part of its decarbonisation strategy, UltraTech said it has not invested in new captive thermal power capacity for either greenfield projects or brownfield expansions at its integrated units for more than a decade.

The company said its expanding green energy portfolio is helping reduce dependence on conventional grid electricity and fossil fuel-based power, while lowering exposure to fluctuations in coal and electricity prices.

UltraTech aims to increase green energy’s share in its total power mix to 85 per cent by 2030. As a member of RE100, it has also committed to meeting 100 per cent of its electricity requirement through renewable sources by 2050.

UltraTech Cement, the cement flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has a total grey cement capacity of 210.1 MTPA and white cement and putty capacity of 3.5 MTPA. The company is also a signatory to the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and has committed to the GCCA Net Zero Concrete roadmap.