Features

Spotlight on Powai: A Proliferating Landscape

27 Dec 2016 by Akanksha Maker

While in conversation with Nicholas Dumbell, general manager at Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre, at the Executive Lounge of the hotel’s 36th floor, I peered over the expanse of Powai Lake. The view was unparalleled: an emerald sheath of water lay still as scattered clouds drifted by, altering the hues of sunlight. Dumbell pointed to an isolated island in the middle of the waterbody, and iterated the sighting of crocodiles in winter.
“In the early 2000s when the hotel opened, our guests and staff have been known to spot leopards as well,” he said.

It was hard to believe this was Mumbai, and only earlier that morning I was struggling to get past suffocating traffic. We continued to discuss Powai’s cityscape that towered at a distance, with a group of identical buildings to the right of my vision. “And that’s Hiranandani Gardens,” he said pointing out to the skyscrapers, a few of which were embellished with green domes.

LAND POWER

Synonymous with this suburb since its inception is the Hiranandani family, who can be credited for laying the foundation of Powai. It all started in 1985, when Niranjan and Surendra Hiranandani purchased 250 acres of land here to kickstart their real-estate business. An urban township with condominiums, apartments, penthouses, bungalows and commercial complexes, Hiranandani Gardens invited denizens of Mumbai looking to breakaway from its clutter. The upmarket township successfully created a haven for young Indians and offered a high standard of living at an affordable price.

A neo-classic architectural marvel, the complex
is strategically located opposite the serene Powai Lake. Niranjan Hiranandani, co-founder and chief managing director at Hiranandani Group elaborated on how it has evolved into an ideally planned urban habitat that is home to more than 4,000 families. “The township houses academic institutions, medical facilities, retail, hospitality and other utility services. Offering an ideal mix of corporate spaces, which includes an IT Special Economic Zone, it has been the launch pad for many leading business entities to grow in western India.”

A number of other builders such as Raheja and Godrej followed suit and invested in this upcoming north eastern suburb during its nascent stage of development. Powai’s attractive real estate invited an array of international companies such as Amazon, J P Morgan and Deloitte to bring their corporate
and back offices here. In fact, Indian conglomerate Larsen and Toubro’s (L&T’s) plant is one of the first landmarks you see upon arriving in this suburb from Mumbai International Airport, or the other areas from south Mumbai. Sanofi, L&T Realty and Tata Consultancy Services are some of the other Indian players here. “The Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ) lies at a short distance (from Powai) and Powai Lake’s bank is home to hospitality ventures. The economic growth of the area has spread to neighbouring localities such as Andheri and Vikhroli, which has helped evolve Powai into the central business hub of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR),” added Hiranandani.

STARTUP VALLEY

There is no dearth of corporate opportunity in Powai. But an interesting ecosystem fell into place a few years ago, from the seeds of entrepreneurial passion laid by Indian Institute of Technology. Known for its high educational standards, the sprawling 550- acre campus of IIT Bombay located here churns out quality candidates who get accustomed to the breezy lifestyle of Powai. A startup culture was awakened when graduates realised their business acumen and founded diverse tech startups across the area.

Companies such as Ola Cabs and housing.com
that were conceived here have soon achieved monumental heights, expanding their presence across the country. Powai Lake Ventures, a network of Mumbai-based angel investors, started operations from their namesake area, with the sole purpose of backing up Mumbai-based startups. The convenience of proximity demanded the company to offer its support to budding firms in the region to begin with, creating a win-win scenario for all Powai-based new organisations.

The modest beginnings of these enterprises that started small at coffee shops, have inspired an entire generation of aspiring businessmen. This phenomenon led to the christening of the area as “Powai Valley”, resonating with the original IT
and entrepreneurial hub of the USA — Santa Clara Valley. Firms catering to food-tech, home services, automobiles and sharing economy soon sprouted
all over Powai. While atypical corporate spaces
were the norm, the youth preferred to work at alternative co-working spaces such as coffee shops, where all they needed was a desk, a power-socket and of course, wifi. A number of cafes identified the growing need of informal offices and began targeting the startup crowd.

Speaking to the co-founder of Thyme Bistro, one such F&B outlet that has positioned itself as a “franchise model that is youth and corporate crowd centric”, gave a better understanding of the startup culture here. Nityanand Shetty’s vision was to provide an option to budding companies apart from the usual options such as Starbucks and Cafe Coffee Day, that don’t serve freshly cooked food. “Powai is home to a lot of startups and young entrepreneurs. The big business districts are shifting from south Mumbai to areas such as Bandra Kurla Complex, Lower Parel and Powai, and the concept of Thyme goes well with this trend. Adjoining areas such as Vikhroli, Bhandup and Kanjurmarg (on Mumbai’s outskirts) have also become corporate hotspots in the recent times. Understanding this, there was a need to create an “enterprise den” in order to cater to this audience,” said Shetty.

Along with young entrepreneurs, a large chunk of the expatriate population also engages with startups and lives in Powai. This self-sufficient hub provides them with a comfortable and modern environment that matches up to their home countries; relatively new infrastructure, spotless boulevards, Greco- Roman style buildings and of course, the stunning view of the lakefront with the hills.

HOSPITALITY MAGNET

In 2000, the 600-room Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre was established in Powai to attract staycation seekers along with a large number of MICE movements. It soon became the landmark for Mumbai’s denizens who travelled here, to experience its restaurants or accommodation. With sprawling spaces that boast of natural landscapes and lake views, the hotel made its mark in hosting conventions too. The hotel also has Marriott Executive Suites within its premises, that are serviced apartments typically targeted towards long-stay guests who are in the process of finding accommodation or prefer to reside in the comfort of a well-established hotel group.

Wyndham Hotel Group is another hospitality firm that invested in Ramada Powai Hotel and Convention Centre here. Hospitality giant, General Hotel Management will make its Indian debut with The Chedi Mumbai in central Powai soon too. The hotel industry is abuzz with this news and is excited to welcome this Singapore-based group in the heart of Mumbai’s enterprising north eastern suburb.

The upcoming luxury property will be positioned as a staycation destination as well as a conventions’ hub. The Chedi Mumbai plans to compete with Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre and Ramada Powai Hotel and Convention Centre, that enjoy a similar positioning.

This bold move further catalyses Powai’s stance
as a lucrative hub for business. Giulio D’Alberto, general manager at The Chedi Mumbai, showed confidence in this decision and expresses faith
in the region’s potential. He said, “Powai has
grown prolifically and exponentially in recent
years to become one of Mumbai’s most upmarket commercial and residential hubs. It has the city’s most cosmopolitan and modernised cultures with
a highly sought-after residential address, especially for the expatriate community. Its well-planned infrastructure, proximity to international and domestic airports and commercial business districts, social amenities and network, all contribute towards Powai’s popularity as a hub for work and play. With over 150 multinational offices such as TCS, Deloitte, CRISIL, Jardine Lloyd Thompson, Nomura, Larsen and Toubro and startups moving in, Powai definitely has a very promising future.”

D’Alberto further said that the demand for residential properties in Powai can be attributed to its well-connected road network, fast-paced urban life, and desirable social infrastructure. “This locality is steadily attracting young entrepreneurs. The reasons are primarily due to the relatively new infrastructure and lower commercial rents. This is the perfect
place to be for the urban youth who appreciates state-of-the-art infrastructure, plenty of eating and unwinding options within walking distance of each other, space, greenery and tranquillity while yet enjoying the much needed Mumbai energy.”

Once a centralised village, Powai took giant
leaps in a short span of time to achieve the status of being a commercial hotspot. With the Hiranandani family purchasing land to the advent of Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre, the birth of enterprising startups and now a luxurious offering by General Hotel Management, Powai’s chronology is an inspiring success story of how an urban jungle
can emerge from unproductive land. Urban amenities, lush landscapes, a buzzing nightlife with international and homegrown eateries make this one of the most sought after suburbs by the
modern consumer. ■

WHERE TO EAT

From independent coffee shops to established F&B chains, Powai is bustling with cafes, fine-dining restaurants and fast-food options for its diverse denizens. Here is where you can head for some culinary indulgences.

Fratelli Fresh

Located within Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre, this fine-dining Italian restaurant is quite popular, not just in Powai, but amongst all of Mumbai. It holds food festivals often and offers its guests a range of
fresh seafood and meat preparations that pair well with its extensive wine collection. The restaurant’s scenic location allows for some panoramic views from its glass windows. Try its salmon carpaccio (`920 plus taxes) and tuna tartar (`870 plus taxes) to begin an extended Italian evening. Finish with its paper thin mozzarella cheese pizzas (`800 plus taxes) and scrumptious tiramisu (`400 plus taxes). marriott.com

Suzette Creperie and Cafe

This French creperie has outlets in Nariman Point and Bandra but its space in Powai is much larger. Run
by a Frenchman, it serves authentic crepes, organic salads and delectable smoothies prepared with fresh ingredients. A lovely glass kitchen lets guests look at chefs preparing their food amidst the aroma of just baked baguettes and coffee. You can make your own salad or crepe too but don’t forget to indulge in its melted Belgian chocolate crepe (`270). A healthier option is its Estragon crepe (`470) that has grilled chicken, dijon mustard, tarragon yogurt sauce and emmenthal cheese. suzette.in

Neel Indian Kitchen and Bar

Serving dishes from across the length and breadth
of India, the restaurant attempts to put India’s
diverse culture on a plate. Unlike other typical Indian restaurants, Neel doesn’t focus on any particular regional cuisine. From authentic Kashmiri and Konkani dishes to popular street foods of Rajasthan and West Bengal, Chef Mukhtar uses traditional ingredients like mulhatti, pan kajadh, khas ka jadh, dagad ka phool, kebab chini and chandan in his preparations. neel.asia

WHERE TO STAY

Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre

Opened in 2000, it is India’s first Renaissance branded property, attached to the only Marriott Executive Suites in India. Divided amongst its two towers are room categories that offer panoramic views of Powai Lake — Deluxe Lake View, Concierge, Tower 3 Bay, Tower 4 Bay. Junior, Premier, Duplex and Tower Presidential suites. Serving a lavish buffet every day is its Lake View Cafe, while Fratelli Fresh is its Italian outlet. The hotel also houses an Indian restaurant called Nawab

Saheb that’s only open for dinner, Emperor’s Court serves Chinese, Mumbai Express is its deli, and A Bar that plays groovy beats and also houses pool tables. Positioned as a convention centre, it’s a premium venue for meetings and weddings. marriott.com

Meluha – The Fern

Located within Hiranandani Gardens, in Central Avenue is this boutique property of 141 keys. Room categories are Club, Executive and Standard, with two additional suite types. A 4-star hotel, it doesn’t offer any leisure facilities, but its rooms are well equipped to suit the needs of business travellers with work-desks, an LCD television and direct dial phone services. It’s accessible to restaurants and jaunts of the region, and is close to a range of entertainment and lifestyle options. It has a cafe and bar, a business centre and a gift shop though. Facilities also include in-room dining and airport pick- ups. fernhotels.com

Ramada Powai Hotel and Convention Centre

A part of Wyndham Hotel Group, Ramada Powai Hotel and Convention Centre features Superior and Deluxe rooms and suites. In-room facilities include private safe, LCD television, work-station, data-port, mini-bar and tea/coffee making facilities. It houses two F&B outlets namely Uno Bar and Grill, and SKYY lounge and bar
for those looking to spend time within the hotel. A spa, fitness centre and Ozone swimming pool are provided as leisure facilities. Positioned as a meetings destination, it has a sprawling convention centre in a separate building with two ballrooms, a meeting room and lush outdoor lawns suitable for large-scale conferences and events. ramadapowai.com

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