maaproperties

With companies, particularly in the IT and BPO industry, holding back their expansion plans due to slowdown fears, the commercial real estate market posted a lacklustre show in the second quarter of 2008.

Australian firm AMP Capital Investors will be investing Rs 200 crore in Gayatri Infra Ventures Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Hyderabad-based infrastructure company Gayatri Projects Limited (GPL).

The Nizampet-Bachupally stretch has become a major residential hub, catering to both rich and middle class sections. The area is strategically located between the National Highway 9 and inner ring road of Hyderabad.

Luxury villas are coming up in large numbers in the suburbs of Hyderabad. More than 25 such ventures are underway in various locations, from Shankarpalli to Shamshabad and from Medchal to Manikonda.

Aided by revenues from mid-income houses, net profit of property developers, such as Unitech and Puravankara Projects, rose in the first quarter of FY09, beating analyst expectations.

The Indian economy has registered growth of 8.7% for FY08 and is expected to grow at the same level in next decade. Hyderabad contributes 15% to the State's GDP and 78% of its revenue is generated through services sector.

The real-estate activity in Hyderabad has virtually come to a standstill, with builders preferring to shelve their plans, thanks to G.O. No. 288. The order, issued a couple of months ago, mandates that builders allocate 25 per cent

The basic market value of land in the urban areas, including those falling in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation limits, is likely to be increased by 8 to 10 per cent from August 1.

After infusing money into real estate projects, Red Fort Capital Advisors is now planning a new infrastructure fund with corpus in excess of $600 million by 2008-end.

Amid the debris of a battered Indian real-estate sector, some analysts say investment bargains may be emerging. Their favorites: blue-chip property companies DLF and Unitech.