Nandagiri Hills: For rich and mighty

By Mouli Mareedu

Nandagiri Hills, neighboring Jubilee Hills, is one area affluent families in the city prefer to live. Located on a beautiful hillock, this sylvan colony has actually been allotted to IAS officials working in various State departments by the then Chief Minister late N T Rama Rao during his regime.

As the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) started developing the hilltop for residential purpose, many bigwigs started to invest crores of rupees to build massive mansions. K Krishna, a prominent advocate practicing at the Andhra Pradesh High Court, who is a resident of Nandagiri Hills, said he had obtained a plot in this area in an auction, which was conducted by HUDA.

“I was very passionate to have a big manor in Nandagiri Hills. I obtained this plot investing crores of rupees. I am very proud as I am one of the residents of Nandagiri Hills,” Krishna said.

“The Nandagiri Hills area was segregated from Jubilee Hills to provide accommodation for IAS officials when the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) formed the government for the first time,” said S Gouri Reddy, a businessman and resident of Nandagiri Hills.

Somamma, who runs a pan shop at Nandagiri Hills, said 30-years ago the area was full of jungles and no one showed interest to come there. “My friends and I used to come on the crest of this hill to graze our cattle as plenty of grass was available here,”Somamma said. Now, the Nandagiri Hills is divided into two parts - one is being maintained by Nandagiri Hills Housing Society, which has at least 50 plots and another one is maintained by HUDA, which has as many as 100 plots.

Y Ramakrishna, a granite businessman, said Nandagiri Hills started developing various aspects as HUDA was concentrating on this place and providing proper facilities. “One year ago, HUDA auctioned at least 100-plots and getting great response. Each plot fetched between Rs 6 crore to Rs 10 crore,”Ramakrishna said. Film actors Pavan Kalyan, Nagendra Babu, actress Bhomika Chawla, Karvy managing director Ugandhar and several prominent personalities live at Nandagiri Hills. “Nandagiri Hills started developing as HUDA took care of the colony. Nandagiri Colony has underground drainage, round-the-clock water supply, underground electricity cabling system and construction roads,” Krishnamurthy, a resident said.

Lounge in Luxury!

By Mouli Mareedu

D o you want to give an extravagant treat to your friends? Or, have a candle light dinner with your associate? Or, are you a food lover always hanging in food clubs? So, Lounge Habits family restaurant is the best place, where food lovers can walk-in, read, recuperate, refresh and relax.

Just like many hospitality firms, hotels, restaurants and food clubs that try to provide a pleasant ambiance and offer special packages to attract customers, the Lounge Habits restaurant has introduced packages and new concepts providing food and fun to prospective customers.

Sasikanth Chemalamudi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Habits Edutainment Private Limited says: “Lounge Habits has been launched with a new concept, edutainment facilitating education and entertainment for customers. Also, it is an escape from the hustle and bustle of today’s urban life.” “We are trying to package education and entertainment simultaneously along with delicious food. We observe people just relaxing in pubs and restaurants or shopping malls. To divert their minds towards latest trends, we started Lounge Habits with newest facilities providing food, games and fun,” Sasikanth avers.

An engineer from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani, Sasikanth was awarded by the Business Week magazine as one of Asia’s Best Entrepreneurs under 25. He initiated Lounge Habits in 2007 at Jubilee Hills, Road No 44, and also a branch at Sindhi Colony in Secunderabad. “We are planning to expand to as many as 15 lounges across Hyderabad, Pune, Noida, Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Bangalore and Calcutta in the next one-and-a-half years,” he states.

Habits Edutainment facilitate networks are - hobbies, leisure, serious learning and business. “We bring together people and give them a common platform to share thoughts and resources. Our Lounges (Lounge Habits), our Edutainment Programmes and our Technology Venture (Startup & SME Studio), all aim to create good impression among customers,” Sasikanth beams.

The Lounge Habits provides watch movies on home theatre systems, play XBOX/WII simulation systems, Board Games, Pool, Table Tennis and read books - over good food and great company. Each Lounge has an exclusive kid’s floor with toys, movies, games, puzzles and books.

Most interestingly, online networks meet off-line at these lounges. “We organize weekend hobby, leisure and edutainment events for all age groups.

These enable you to pursue your favorite activities in the company of similar individuals share thoughts and enhance experience,” he adds.

He says that mostl,y Information Technology (IT) and Business process outsourcing (BPO) professionals and their families’ visit the lounge and prefer to celebrate their birthday parties in this lounge.

Fascinating Filmnagar

By Mouli Mareedu

Surrounded by green canopy and swanky houses, Filmnagar is undoubtedly the city’s most glamorous colony where at least half of the actors, actresses, producers, directors and members of film fraternity, apart from businessmen and political leaders live.

The area, being the nerve centre of Telugu cinema, houses several studios including Rama Naidu Studios and Padmalaya Studios where several flicks in various languages are filmed on a daily basis. Filmnagar, lying adjacent to the placid Jubilee Hills, has virtually developed in all aspects after the State government distributed land to film fraternity, in an attempt to boost the tinsel town.

“Filmnagar has 30-years history. It was started in 1978 when Andhra Pradesh government distributed land to film fraternity to encourage Telugu film industry when it shifted base to Hyderabad from Chennai when Marri Channa Reddy was the chief minister. The area has been christened as Filmnagar when many film stars, directors, producers and other film industry bigwigs started staying here,” said Kaja Suryanarayana, Hon. Secretary, Filmnagar Co-Operative Housing Society.

Initially, the society was set up with 600 members by issuing membership to various personalities in film industry. “As Filmnagar completed 30 years, we celebrated it with grandeur with all film fraternity organising various cultural programmes,” Suryanarayana said.

Veteran south Indian actress Jayasudha said 30 years ago the Filmnagar area was full of jungle and rocks. Sometimes, people were scared to enter the locality. Now, many film actors prefer to stay here as the area has been developed. Though Filmnagar is developed residentially and commercially, a few film personalities are now trying to come out of this colony as it has become congested.

The Filmnagar Co-operative Housing Society, Telugu Film Producer's Council, D Ramanaidu Kalamandapam and Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce are located in the colony.

Filmnagar Daiva Sannidhanam is a famous temple in the area which is located at the centre of the colony. “The temple was established in 2004 according to film fraternity’s interest. Special poojas are performed everyday and many actors visit the temple. Many devotees throng the temple to offer prayers during Saturdays, Sundays and holidays,” said V B Rajendraprasad, Filmnagar Temple Trust Board Chairman and film producer.

Comedian Ali said he was very happy for being a resident of Filmnagar. “I have been staying here for the last 15 years. The Filmnagar temple is famous and well-known personalities visit the temple. Most of the muhurat shots of films are shot here at this temple,” Ali said.

Directors K Raghavendra Rao, Kodanda Rami Reddy, actors Madala Ravi, Mohan Babu, TDP MLA Paritala Sunita, producers Edida Nageswara Rao, Maharshi, K S Rama Rao, and K Ashok Kumar and many more are residing in the colony.

Apollo Hospitals Educational & Research Foundation (AHERF) is located in Filmnagar which provides education and research facilities to doctors and health care facilities to the patients as well.

Sreemitra sets benchmark

By Mouli Mareedu

Set up in 2004, Sreemitra Townships Private Limited has built 38 prestigious projects across the state and won honours for providing flats and villas at affordable prices.

The nosedive at the stock markets has undoubtedly hit the real estate business, but the realtors are optimistic that the sector will see boom as many people are looking at residing in Hyderabad. Surveys conducted by several major realty firms reveal that the real estate business will have marvelous augmentation in the near future as the city is becoming major hub for international business activities and many people also preferring to reside in Hyderabad.

M Anji Babu, Executive Director, Sreemitra Townships Pvt. ltd. said the present ups and downs in the real estate business were created by some so-called realty firms to protect their business and money. “According to my estimates, the real estate field will have an overwhelming response in the near future as many people prefer to purchase a dream house and stay in Hyderabad,” Anji Babu said.

Headquartered in Hyderabad, Sree mitra Townships Private Limited is one of the leading realty firms in the State. It has also expanded its business activities to Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Rajah mundry. Till date, Sreemitra has successfully completed as many as 38 prestigious ventures in the shortest span of time. Incorporated in 2004, the Sreemitra Town ships Pvt. ltd. has evolved into a progressive and dynamic company with a well-merited reputation for innovation and style.

An ISO 9001: 2000 and ISO 14001: 2004 certified Sreemitra Townships Private Limited, recently obtained the prestigious British Standards Institute - Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (BIS-OHSAS) 18001:2007 certificate from British organisation, Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc, Southfield, Michigan. This award has been bestowed on Sreemitra for development of land for residential purpose and construction of flats and villas for the middle class at affordable prices.

“The prestigious certificate BIS- OHSAS 18001:2007 for Sreemitra proves its standards and brand image of the company in the field of real estate business. First time, the certificate was issued to Sreemitra in Andhra Pradesh as the company maintains quality and good customary relations,” Anji Babu said.

Talking about Sreemitra’s ongoing ventures, Anji Babu said that the Sreemitra Townships Private Limited was launching its sensational new venture, Horizon Hills, in Piglipoor Village, Batasingaram Gram Panchayat, which is less than one km from the Hyderabad - Vijayawada Super Highway on way to Pochampally Road. “The Horizon Hills will facilitate the middle class people to purchase plot at cheaper rates. We will offer plots at Rs 2000 per square yard in the project," he said.

Some landmarks in the vicinity of Sreemitra's Horizon Hills are - Ramoji Film City, Sanghi Township, Multi-theme parks Rhythm and Mount Opera, Vignan Educational Academy, St Mary’s College of Engineering and Technology, Nizam Institute of Engineering and Technology, St Mary’s College of Engineering and Technology Netaji College of Engineering and Technology Annamacharya College of Engineering and Technology and SLC's College of Engineering and Technology and Institutions.

Another landmark project is ‘Puravidha Annexe’, which is sprawling on a 105-acre area located at Shamshabad near Hyderabad - Bangalore National Highway - 7. “The venture will also have plots and each square yard will cost Rs.5, 000,” Anji Babu said.

Project highlights are - 10 minutes drive from Shamshabad International Airport, layout developed as per vasthu and approval from concerned authority, well connected by APSRTC and MMTC, black top roads, electricity with street lights, underground drainage, avenue plantation & children's park and round the clock security.

Sreemitra also have a few on going projects at Vijayawada, Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam. “We are planning to expand business activities to Chennai, Bangalore and Pune. There are plans to start a few projects in those cities from next year,” Anji Babu revealed.

The Sreemitra Townships Private Limited would start social service by setting up Sreemitra Charitable Trust for weaker sections. “Even though we are in business, we do not treat people with a business mind. We have a goal to make every effort to weaker sections and are planning to establish hospitals and educational institutions to provide free health and education,” Anji Babu added.

mouli@deccanpost.in, moulimareedu@gmail.com

Bejewelled Yousufguda

By Mouli Mareedu

Yousufguda, known for its secular credentials, is an out and out commercial area and houses the famous Chandana studio and Krishnakanth Park

Yousufguda is one of the major colonies in Hyderabad and the colony is known for its secular credentials. Many Hindu and Muslim communities reside here. This colony is divided into two parts - Yousufguda basti and Yousufguda checkpost. Both areas are commercial and more shops are being added on the main road of the colony.

Yousufguda has a great historical past. Many Nizam Nawabs regularly visited 'Shaleesh Mahan' where the Nawab's pet animals like horses, cats and dogs were looked after. People living in the colony started calling the area ‘Yousufguda’ in memory of Yousuf Khan, who stayed and administered the colony during the Nizam Nawabs tenure.

“My forefathers have always narrated that the area saw development under the guidance of colony administrator Yousuf Khan. Construction of roads, setting up of candle light posts and excavation of a huge lake all were done by him during the Nizam Nawab rule,” senior citizen of the colony D Maruthi Rao said.

Rao said that the lake was modernised as a park by former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and renamed Krishnakanth Park. “It was a good idea to revamp the lake as a public park. I regularly visit the park and take a nap as there are many trees there. The Krishnakanth Park is one of the biggest parks in the city with better facilities such as swimming pool, water fountains and kids boating,” a retired IFS officer, Seetaram said.

The Andhra Pradesh Special Police (APSP) first battalion office and quarters are also located here and it gives training to new entrants. “The first battalion office of APSP was shifted to Yousufguda from Golconda in 1955 for the convenience of the citizens. As many as 1,800 families of Special Police department are staying in this locality. The administrative office is also located in the place,” said senior APSP personnel, Mutyam Ranganath.

C Buchi Reddy, vice-president, Yousufguda Colony Welfare Association said Nalla Pochamma temple, which is located at Yousufguda basti, is a famous 100-year temple. Another colony landmark is the Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy indoor stadium, which has a 2000-spectator capacity. In 2003, the Afro-Asian games were held here. Many young children come here to learn Badminton, Basketball, and other sports and games.

Houses for all classes

By Mouli Mareedu


Jai Mata Di to provide low-cost houses within easy budget for the middle class.

The booming business of Information Technology (IT) and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) based companies in Hyderabad, there is certainly a need to meet the housing requirements of people working in them. Apart from the housing needs, there is growth for commercial and hospitality properties too. To meet the growing demand, many real estate firms are coming up with innovative construction plans, suiting all budgets.

Jai Mata Di Villas Private Limited, one of the foremost real estate companies in Andhra Pradesh, is fully geared to work towards fulfilling the dreams and needs of its customers by delivering aesthetically appealing, functionally efficient and decidedly up-market real estate solutions.

Murali Retineni, Executive Director, Jai Mata Di Villas Private Limited says the company aims at providing residential houses to customers at cheapest price in the near future.

"The company's future project (yet to be named), will offer houses at low-price. We will make feasible a 150-square yard house at Rs. 1.5 lakh for the middle class and lower middle class people," Murali said.

Explaining the future project of the company, Murali said that the venture would come up on a sprawling 100-acre area near the Ramoji Film City-Chouttuppal on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada national highway.

As of now, the Jai Mata Di has completed at least 10 multi-structured apartment complexes and 5 real estate ventures like Majestic, China Town, Hallmark, Oscar City and 5th Avenue in different areas of Hyderabad and Vijayawada.

Murali said that the company was now taking up Grandeur venture, on a 200-acre extensive area at Kondannagudem near Kothur-Shadbagar Express Highway road in Hyderabad. "In the project, 400 independent villas will be built on a sprawling 200 acre plot amidst impressive and breathtaking landscape. This sophisticated, serene, recreational and kid-friendly weekend retreat is a perfect blend of contemporary sophistication, best-in-class amenities and natural elegance," the Executive Director said.

"In the Grandeur project, the cost of houses are -267 sq yds - 900 sq ft at Rs 25 lakh, 267 sq yds- 1200 sq ft at Rs. 28.5 lakh, 350 sq yds-1200 sq ft at Rs. 31 lakh and 350 sq yds-1400 sq ft at Rs. 33.5 lakh," Murali revealed.

Construction work on the venture started recently and it would be completed within two years. The project is very close to the Bangalore national highway, six-track express bypass road, Rajiv Gandhi International airport, Shamshabad and 11. 7 km long P V Narasimha Rao express flyover.

"We are aiming to bring the company into top 5, in the country, within the next five years and provide quality construction at low price to customers as per their requirements," Murali added.

Living in luxury

By Mouli Mareedu


Vertex Homes’ ventures are not just meant for living life in comfort, but also to make one’s style statements. Kukatpally is developing fast with a lot of educational and commercial establishments coming up in and around the colony. Consequently, the reality business also gets boost.

Vertex Homes Private Limited is one of the leading realty firms in Hyderabad Having expertise in residential and commercial development. Now the firm is planning to enter into hospitality sector soon. The Vertex Homes Private Limited was incorporated in 1994 headquartered in Hyderabad. As many as nine land mark ventures - Vertex Prestige, Vertex Privilege, Vertex the Classic, Vertex Pride, Vertex Paradise, Vertex pearl, Vertex Plaza and Vertex Cute - were completed by the Vertex Company at various places in Hyderabad.

VVR Varma, Managing Director, Vertex Homes said Kukatpally and its neighbouring areas have tremendous growth, especially in the real estate and other businesses. Various major companies are planning to start their business activities there. “Kukatpally has started developing commercially and residentially as the area is close to the IT hub, Madhapur, where Information Technology (IT) and IT Enabled Services (ITES) companies are located.”

“We chose Kukatpally to development residential and commercial buildings as many IT professionals, business persons and above middle class people prefer to live in Kukatpally. Even as the realty sector faces slightly hard time due to financial hindrances in the IT field, the property business will have fabulous growth in near future in the area,” Varma felt.

“Our company is aiming to build 2.5 million square feet area in future. We strive together and thrive together to attain top ten position in the real estate business,” Varma said.

Varma said the Vertex Pleasant sprawling in 4.5 acres is located at Nizampet Road, Kukatpally. All apartments will have 270 flats in this project. Each flat will have 1,200-1,600 square feet plinth area and it will cost between Rs 50 and Rs 60 lakh. “The location of this venture definitely makes it superior to all other residential ventures commencing in and around the city. It is 10 minutes pleasant drive from the Hitec City, 20 minutes drive from Hyderabad Central, 15 minutes drive from ISB/Microsoft and two minutes drive from the proposed IJM, Forum Crystal (Prestige Group) shopping mall,” he added.

Educational institutes like DAV Public School, Kennedy International School, Vignan Public School, Vikas Educational Trust and Sanghamitra surround this area. Appreciation value of this area is more than expected and it is increasing day by day.

Another milestone project is Vertex Sadguru Krupa located at Nizampet main road in Kukatpally sprawling on a 7-acre area consisting of 396 flats split into six towers of nine floors each. In this project, 1,000-1,850 square feet flat will cost Rs 60 lakh. They offer amenities like gated community, Home Automation (high-end digital security system), Reticulated Gas Pipeline, WI-FI enabled, sewerage treatment plant, excellent landscaping and park and independent apartments with no common wall. Large scenic windows maximizing visibility of green areas, aesthetically designed common areas, flower gardens, gazebos , wide driveways , two car parking per apartment, adequate water supply, ladies recreation area, two shuttle courts, four-floor club house, a swimming pool with changing rooms and A/C gymnasium and cafeteria are other features of the project.

Another residential project is Vertex Lakeview, which will have independent villas and commercial venture is Vertex Paradigm. Vertex corporate office is being constructed at Madhapur by Vertex Homes Private Limited.