A busy suburb in the northeastern region of Mumbai, Ambarnath literally translates to Lord of the Sky. It is one of the fastest growing localities in this part of the city. Even though Ambarnath is stated as a single locality, the area comprises Ambarnath East and Ambarnath West. Lying close to Mumbai-Pune Highway, it serves as a great locality for residents and industrial units alike.
Although it has transformed into a modernised location, the area still maintains its traditional heritage. It is well-known throughout the country for its magnificent Shiva temple, completely carved out of stone and dating back to the 10th century. Originally named Hallyacha Pada, Ambarnath has a very rich and unique history.
The two divisions of Ambarnath are completely different from each other. Ambarnath West is a completely industrial zone, housing more than a hundred small and large-scale chemical industries, including the large manufacturing facility of WIMCO. In contrast, Ambarnath East is a calm residential hub. Once boasting of a skyline stacked with beautiful villas and independent houses, Ambarnath East has swiftly moved on to multi-storey apartments.
Gaining recognition as a self-contained township, Ambarnath prides itself on having all the necessary infrastructure needed for modern day-to-day living. The Shiva Temple, Methodist Church, GIP Tank, One Tree Point, Ayyappa Temple, Shantisagar Water Resort, Chikloli Dam, Barvi Dam, and Labour Statue are some of the places worth visiting here.
Ambarnath boasts of a variety of top-notch schools like Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bhausaheb Paranjape Vidyalaya, Gurukul Grand Union High School & Junior College, and Rotary School. Keeping this in mind, one could say that Ambarnath is an excellent place for working professionals and families alike.
Key Projects in Ambernath :
Ahuja Prasadam Phase II
Orchid Petals NX
Dipti Skycity
Connectivity and Transit Points
Connectivity has never been a problem in Ambarnath. The entire layout has an excellent network of well-laid roads, properly maintained by the government. The Pipeline Road or State Highway 80 (SH-80) runs through the locality, connecting it to SH-76 on the west, towards Thane, and NH-222 on the east, connecting to the newly formed state of Telangana. Kalyan-Badlapur Road is another major road that runs through the area, finally merging with SH-80. These highways make commuting very convenient for people.
A major section of the commuters prefer travelling by rail when it comes to public transport. Mumbai has a vast railway network, and Ambarnath lies on the central line. Since there are frequent trains to central Mumbai and Pune, working professionals find it easier to travel via this mode of transportation.
Taxis are also preferred here, since the fares are extremely economical. As far as air travel is concerned, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport facilitates domestic as well as international travel, and is situated at a distance of 60 km from Ambarnath.
Major Landmarks
Shiva Temple
Indian Ordnance Factory
WIMCO
Naval Materials Research Laboratory
Star Big Cinemas
Labour Statue
Factors for Growth in the Past
Tourism has played a substantial part in Ambarnaths economic development in the past, before industrialisation took over. This was propelled mainly by the presence of the historical Shiva Temple, where the annual festival of Maha Shivratri is celebrated in an extravagant manner, attracting tourists in large numbers. This movement gradually excited the interest of many commercial and residential builders, who set up a plethora of projects in the area.
Later on, a hoard of industries came up and led to the areas economic as well as real estate growth, vastly supported by the design of the locality.
Major Challenges
Even though Ambarnath prides itself on being self-sufficient, there are certain issues that the local government needs to act upon. One of the most important challenges that this place needs to overcome is its garbage disposal system. Due to the lack of a proper system, disposal of garbage is not done properly, and some of the streets remain piled up with filth and waste.
Factors for Growth in the Future
Although Ambarnath has come a long way since the past decade, it still has a lot of room for further growth. The local government has proposed several new projects to enhance the realty demands in the locality.
Suryodaya Housing Society, which is supposed to be one of the largest residential communities in Asia, is set to be launched here. With an area of four square kilometers, it is speculated to host more than 655 plots, divided under 4 different sections. The completion of this large-scale project will give the real estate market in the locality a facelift.
Another important development is the proposed international airport in Panvel, which will be situated at a distance of 35 km from Ambarnath. This airport is closer than the existing one, and will reduce the travel time by half-hour, making it easier for the residents to commute to the airport.