How often have you heard your grandparents and elders speak fondly about their leisurely walk to work and back? How often have you wished for that, or at least something remotely easier than the grinding 2 or 3 hour commutes through mind-numbing traffic or perilously hanging from packed trains and buses? Nowadays, unfortunately, urban discussions are never complete without people narrating their terrifying commute stories. It has actually become a competition of misery to portray one’s own commute as more dangerous and frightening than someone else’s!
This is precisely why urban homebuyers are meticulous about choosing a home – rented or owned – as close as possible to one’s workplace. Simultaneously, real estate developers too are consciously purchasing land and developing properties that are close to business hubs and large employment center. Some are even constructing commercial complexes near residential locations. Such projects are seeing high demand from homebuyers and renters as people have become conscious about living close to their offices. Cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai and Gurgaon are prime examples of housing and commercial developments co-existing side by side. There are plenty of benefits to be enjoyed from residences being situated close to commercial blocks and here are a few top ones.
Social Interaction and community celebrations
On an average, in any major city of the world, citizens spend 2 hours or more commuting to and from their workplaces. This is in addition to time spent in the workplace and time spent preparing for work and being involved in other allied activities. Many families lament the lack of quality family time where children and parents talk, play and spend time together in enjoyable activities.
There are numerous studies to indicate the levels of stress families suffer and how this fractures relationships and causes breakdown in families. As commuting times are reduced, family members can engage more and strengthen bonds. This reduces stress and improves quality of family life. By living close to one’s workplace our families benefit as our senior and younger family members get more of our attention and feel loved.
Fewer Vehicles and Pollution
Cities are choked by rising levels of pollution from rising number of vehicles. Higher population puts stress on public transport and quality is compromised. Thus, people prefer to commute in their own vehicles. But this further compromises our existing infrastructure and additional infrastructure is rendered inadequate, even before it is completed.
City development plans end up being more delayed and reactive, than proactive. However, if people lived closer to workplaces, we would see fewer vehicles, lesser congestion on roads and lower pollution levels. This invariably means better managed cities and adequately used public resources. Who would not like to breathe the clear fresh air rather than cover their faces with masks or scarves owing to the pollution?
Walk to Work is the Best Exercise
A byproduct of the fast-paced modern city life is more stress, less exercise and poor health – physical, mental and emotional. We are too tired after a stressful day’s work and tiring commute to have any energy left for any form of exercise. We begin each new year with a resolution to make time for exercise and within a week, the resolve is lost.
But, how much easier would it be if if we got in those 20-30 minutes of walking on the way to work? That is guaranteed exercise five days a week, every week of every month of the year! Living close to work ensures we get some much needed exercise and live healthier lives.
Enjoy the Finer Things in Life
A residence close to the workplace means less time commuting and more time to enjoy the pleasures of various amenities available in our residential complexes. In fact, most residents end up never using the lovely facilities, which attracted them to purchase a home in a society in the first place!
Often, we feel cheated out of these pleasures because we have no time to take in the stars from the rooftop observatory, or soak in the swimming pool, or relax in the jacuzzi/spa or engage in fun badminton, tennis, basketball matches with neighbours and friends or play with our children in the kids park or sandpit. The easiest way to make the most of these facilities and enjoy our homes is to reduce the distance between the home and office.
Better Standard of Urban Living
Quality time to engage with our families and our passions along with a healthy life is the key to a better standard of living. Healthy walks to work will give us time to think, contemplate and assess, time to explore various avenues in life, and time to spend with family. Simultaneously, we reduce vehicular traffic, pollution levels, de-stress public infrastructure and improve a city’s quality of life. The top cities of the world possess exactly these qualities, which make them so sought after.
At Ozone Group, we are proud to present our project Pole Star; one of the finest apartments for sale in North Bangalore. These RERA approved apartment towers offer a limited edition of Smart Homes. Technology is at the center of Ozone Pole Star which boasts highly innovative One Touch features such as gas leak sensors and digital door lock. Most importantly, Pole Star is located opposite the Manyata Tech Park near Nagavara Lake. Provided the convenience, especially for the working class, residential apartments near Manyata Tech Park are a much sought after location. Residents of Pole Star can enjoy a 10 to 20 minute walk from their home, through the Tech Park which houses a host of businesses such as L&T, SBI, ANZ, Cognizant, IBM and more. Pole Star is the very definition of living close to work so one can enjoy a more fulfilling life.
