GROUNDED in REALTY:The Times of India

Living on the ground floor may not be as easy as it may seem to those living a few floors higher

In a city where homes are mostly preferred in the high-rise buildings, living on the ground floor is not so common among Mumbai residents. A city where about fifty years ago, some `grounded homes' (read: bungalows and shorter buildings) were available, today, however, the realty scene has completely transformed and high-rise structures are a common sight. Amidst this, several buyers opt for an apartment on the higher floors but there are some who are `grounded'.

Nonetheless, living in a home located on the ground floor can often be a luxury. A home at the ground floor in a well-established project could be desired by many.Shalini Talwar, a resident of a premium project in Andheri, picked her present home simply because it was located on the ground floor.“A premium property in a city where space is an issue, is something that would be preferred by all who can afford it. Similarly, when I was looking for a home, this property simply had an edge over others as there was scope of having an open space. The verandah seamlessly reaches out to the lush green landscape of the children play area and has been fully developed and staying here is not only convenient in terms of the green environs but also because none of our furnishings broke while shifting to this apartment.“

It is indeed a point well-made. A lot of residents complain about the damage incurred while shifting homes, as it is extremely difficult to carry big pieces of furniture and appliances. Mostly, workmen use stairs and many a times, thus re sulting in a lot of damage to personal items.

Devanshi Swarup, a software professional stays in a ground floor apartment in Navi Mumbai. However, Swarup does not seem elated by the idea of living on the ground floor. “Living on the ground floor often means that you would be subjected to noise and dust as compared to the higher floors. When I was on the lookout for a property, I was told about the advantages of a ground floor property, one being that I will not have to take the stairs in case there is a power failure. Also, it was slightly cheaper than many other properties.Therefore, I made up my mind to shift here but I am not totally happy about taking that decision.“

Juhi Jain, another resident, talks about her experience of living in a ground floor apartment some time back. “Our family was living in an old cooperative society in Khar. There were very few facilities and staying on the ground floor meant that you would be subject to a lot of public interference.We were fine as long as we were kids but desperately needed some privacy as we grew up. Also, because of the parking problem, there was always noise from the moving vehicles that would also result in increased pollution at our level. Eventually, our parents decided to move out. We are happy to have moved to a high-rise in the same area,“ says Jain.

While it is a privilege to live in independent bungalows and standalone homes in Mumbai, staying on the ground floor in cramped societies may often prove to be a problem for residents but as they say, every coin has two sides.