The bigger picture of Nashik

The bigger picture of Nashik

Nashik is growing,but the people here want the growth in a planned manner and the one that will suit the needs and fulfill the dreams of the generation next of the city

    Nashik, in all the likelihood, soon will be known as the best place to live. Reasons for it too are aplenty. While the serene environs and vicinity to Mumbai and Pune are its main forte, the urge of Nashikites to make their city numero uno in all the aspects is clearly felt, which was seen in the recently held Nashik Vision programme organized by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Association of India (CREDAI), Nashik.
An impressed MP, Sameer Bhujbal reiterated, "Nashik is growing and that is evident. But the concern of all, is that this growth need not be in a haphazard way. Today our city has a good number of industries, top class educational facilities, hotels, hospitals, recreational facilities and every other thing for a decent living. While new developments will continue to happen in and around the city, people should come together every often to express their views about them and at the same time also stand up against those who are acting against the progress to serve their personal gains."
    Attending to the views of people from different sectors at the programme, District Guardian Minister Chhagan Bhujbal clarified that pleasant weather, fresh air, vegetables in abundance and unpolluted environs used to be the soul of Nashik, which was still there to a larger extent despite the overall growth. He, however, added that in a bid to preserve the same environs in the future, it was necessary that manufacturing units were set up on the outskirts of the city or at the tehsil places that were already connected with good four-lane roads.
    Taking into account that industrial growth in Nashik is necessary, the process of acquiring 3,500 hectares around the district is underway, and another 5,000 hectares has been notified for the same. If factories are taken at tehsil places where agricultural activity is lesser due to water shortage, it will not only see development of such dry belts but also a balanced growth of the overall district. Nashik, meanwhile, can remain as a residential hub and the industries that are coming should be of the kind of IT, medical and education that would not hamper the ecological balance of the city, added Bhujbal.
    He also added to facilitate the growth of the rural areas, most of the tehsil places were well connected by good quality roads.
    President of Nashik Industries and Manufacturers' Association, Dhananjay Bele said, that after a long time, the district had got a good leadership, following which dreams of many Nashikites have been realised. But citizens of Nashikites want something more than this and create a city for the future generation. NIMA has come out with a slogan Chala Talukyakade (come to the teshil places) for industries to ensure more and more industries at set-up at Sinnar, Dindori, Gonde Vadi Warhe, there and spruce up the infrastructure there.
    According to educationist Ratan Luth, now that the city has grown, emphasis should be laid on earning more generation which is possible through sprucing up the tourism industry. The effort should be on attracting more people towards Nashik, for education, tourism, residential and other purposes. If the roads are good and the transportation facility is at its best, people can opt for affordable homes that are further from the city.
    Dr Aniruddha Dharmadhikari of Saibaba Heart Institute said that Guardian Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has informed that he has spoken to state health minister Suresh Shetty, who has promised to personally look into providing all medical facilities under one roof in Nashik city.
    "While Nashik continues to witness steady growth in all the sectors and tourism has also increased with thousands coming here for pilgrimage, wine tourism and other business tours, once the required medical facilities are made available in Nashik, medical tourism will also flourish here," added Dharmadhikari.
    "The real estate growth in Nashik is slow, but steady. The property rates have increased a lot, but they are less as compared to rates of properties in Mumbai and Pune. Today, people from Mumbai, Pune and other cities are preferring Nashik as their second home after retirement. Abundant water, good climate, proximity to Mumbai and Pune cities are the plus points of Nashik. Hence, there is no impact of slowdown in realty sector in Nashik." Says Sunil Bhaybhang, former president of CREDAI Nashik. Earlier, buildings upto 24-metres heights were permitted in Nashik. These could accommodate upto seven storeys. In 2010, norms were changed and the maximum height permissible was increased to 40-metre. With the increase in height, buildings can now accommodate upto 12 floors, which means stilt parking and 12 floors.
    Nashik, no doubt, has all the ingredients of a great city and the people here are only poised to take it to greater heights in the future.
    The regular exhibitions, on property, industry, agriculture do attract a large number of people from all across the state and the country.
    Political leaders and other prominent people, meanwhile, think on taking Nashik to newer heights during such occasions. The upcoming property exhibition Shelter Nashik 2012 is one such event.