Wakad lies on the western side of Pune, in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area. This locality has recently become very popular, and is witnessing tremendous growth in comparison with other localities in Pune Metropolitan Area.
At one time, Wakad was mostly known only for its Jatra, which is a religious event at the Mhatoba temple. But things have changed, and today Wakad enjoys the status of one of the most sought-after places for people to buy property. Its residential sector is booming like never before, and commercial development is going on concurrently.
There are many reputed educational institutions in the vicinity, namely Euroschool, the Good Samaritan School, Pumpkin Patch, Blossom Public School, Akshara International, Indira Kids, and Shishya Pre-Primary School. Apart from that, there are colleges like Sri Balaji Society, Indira Group of Institutes, and Dr. D. Y. Patil Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology.
Key Projects in Wakad :
Remonesa Courtyard One
Satish Bora Crystal Heights
Chandrarang Opus 77
Buchade Patil Shree Ganesh Residency
GRD Gaurav Pride
GRC Ethos
Giriraj Grandiose
Connectivity and Transit Points
The Pune airport is about 21 km from the locality of Wakad. The nearest railway station is the Shivaji Nagar Railway Station, which is about 14 km away. The Pune Junction station is at a distance of 17 km from here. This allows the locality to have good connectivity to nearby cities. In addition, the roadways are very convenient to travel in and around the city.
For intra-city travel from Wakad, the different modes of transport used are buses, auto-rickshaws, shared autos (tam-tams), and cabs. The buses that are run by the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) are widely used because of their frequency and good connectivity.
Major Landmarks
â—? Wakad Chowk
â—? Chatrapati Chowk
â—? Savitribai Phule Udyan
â—? Jagtap Dairy
â—? Kalewadi Phata
â—? Laxmibai Barne Udyan
â—? Dange Chowk
â—? Hinjewadi Chowk
â—? Sayaji Garden
â—? Kamalakar Chowk
â—? Datta Mandir
Factors for Growth In The Past
In the past, Wakad had rich black soil, and the land was extremely fertile. So farming flourished in this locality, and sugarcane, onions, and groundnuts were the main produce. Wakad soon came under the watchful eye of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). The area soon saw a fully-functioning drainage system, supply of electricity, and good roads. Because of this recent development, the civic infrastructure of Wakad is now among the best in Pune.
Its strategic location with respect to the booming IT industry in Hinjewadi boosted Wakad’s locality status. The biotech and infotech park at Hinjewadi played a very important role in placing Wakad on the map. The Pune-Mumbai Expressway, which passes from close by, provided the area with good connectivity.
Companies like Infosys, TATA Technologies, IBM, TCS, Cognizant, Tech Mahindra, Siemens, and Mindtree are all set up in the IT park, which encouraged a majority of their employees to relocate to a place closer and more convenient to their workplace. Wakad’s close proximity to these parks, and the availability of large vacant pockets of land, made it a residential hub.
Residential Trends in Wakad
In the last 4-5 years, according to the records at the PCMC, Wakad and its surrounding areas have received the maximum number of permissions for building with respect to various residential and commercial projects. This has resulted in more people looking up to Wakad as an ideal locality to get a house or set up an office.
The multi-storeyed apartments in Wakad are being sold for around Rs 5,848 per sq. ft., and are available for rent for about Rs. 13 per sq.ft. One can rent a builder floor apartment for approximately Rs. 14 per sq. ft. If one’s looking for residential houses, the units will cost around Rs 6,468 per sq. ft. for buying, and Rs. 14 per sq. ft. in case of renting.
Major Challenges
Water issues are on the rise in Wakad. There is shortage of water, which may also be due to the increasing population and industrialisation witnessed in the region. Some of the lakes in the area are being converted into residential or commercial zones, adding to the woes.
Traffic is also a major issue. The Wakad road is especially busy and chaotic during peak office hours. There are roadside vendors whose presence increases the congestion.
Factors for Growth in the Future
Wakad is conveniently located close to the routes that are proposed for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which are Nashik Phata-Wakad, Kalewadi Phata-Dehu Alandi Road, and Aundh-Ravet. The construction is still underway. Once this is completed, it would promise more growth around this area.
Owing to the expanding industries near this region, four-laning of the Wakad road will soon be completed. This will solve people’s traffic woes and encourage more people to relocate here. The number of residential projects is set to rise even more, thanks to the high demand.