Kandivali West, Mumbai

Built and developed since 1907, Kandivali is one of the oldest suburbs of Mumbai. A leading locality in the city, it has been a sought-after residential area for Gujarati communities since the early days.

The area is situated around 40km from the Mumbai city. Its century-old railway station bears the same name, and is the second station to Borivali on Western Railway. The distance from this station to the international airport is just 15km.

This quintessential residential area is well developed with basic physical and social infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, banks, grocery stores, shopping malls, and cinema halls. One of the most noted areas in Kandivali West is Mahavir Nagar. This area started developing largely after the year 2000, and came to be known a lot more after Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana was set up here. The club is open to general public, and hosts many cricket and football matches.

Kandivali also possesses a handsome population of Dawoodi Bohra Muslims. This community settled here about 60 years ago, and now prosperously live in a large colony named Badri Apartments.

The region is also home to one of the world’s largest empty capsule manufacturers, Associated Capsules. On 2 September 2013, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai opened a hospital named Shatabdi Hospital here. The region also has Bank of India, Kandivali West Post Office, Big Bazaar, Charkop Sector-8 bus stop, and Gold’s Gym.

Connectivity and Transit Points

Kandivali Railway Station, which is very busy, is connected along the Western Line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway. From this station, one can get an easy access to Mumbai city with trains travelling to and fro quite frequently. Kandivali West has a very old bus depot named Poisar Bus Agar, located on the SV Road. Along with Link Road, SV Road serves as the primary road connectivity in the locality.

Besides buses and trains, one can also hire auto-rickshaws for local travel. Typically, the auto charges are standard, thus avoiding the pain of paying extra. For luxurious travellers, cab option is also easily available.

Major Landmarks

â—�       Kandivali Railway Station

â—�       Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana

â—�       S.V. Road

â—�       Link Road

â—�       Mahavir Nagar

â—�       Associated Capsules

â—�       Shatabdi Hospital

â—�       Poisar Bus Depot

Factors for Growth in the Past

Kandivali Railway Station, which was opened in the year 1907, is the oldest and most significant growth factor for the region. Even today, the railway station is very busy, with lots of people flooding in from other distant areas.

Kandivali West has also been a strong residential locality for over 60 years. This led to the development of its infrastructure, such as residential buildings, bus depot, post office, malls, banks, reputed educational institutions, industries, religious places, and hospitals.

Further, proximity to the international airport has attracted a lot of real estate investment in the area. Various small, medium, and large sized industries such as Akurli Industrial Estate, Gundecha Industrial Estate, Charkop Industrial Estate, Bajaj Industrial Estate, Jai Bonanza Industrial Estate, and Times of India printing press are located in Kandivali.

Residential & Commercial Market

Residential Market Trends

The region enjoys healthy demand for residential properties in Kandivali West, with majority of the building types being apartments (87 per cent) and the second being individual houses (9 per cent). In the first quarter of 2014, the average price per sq.ft. stood at Rs 13,100.

Commercial Market Trends

Kandivali West has a developed commercial market. The average rent for commercial properties in the region is about Rs 150 per sq.ft. Commercial plots are sold at an average price of Rs 26,200 per sq yard.

Major Challenges

Since Kandivali West is a sought after destination both for commercial and residential purposes, the area suffers from overpopulation. This also accounts for slow-moving traffic, air pollution, and less parking space. People who don’t live in a gated community face difficulty in finding parking spaces. Although the region has underground sewage and drainage system, it still gets slushy during rainy seasons.

Factors for Growth in the Future

The area has tremendous potential for real estate investment. A metro line has also been proposed, which is expected to be completed in the near future. The area is also expected to see the construction of more shopping malls and other entertainment centres.