Behala, Kolkata

Overview:

Comprising a number of small regions, Behala is one of the largest suburban areas in the city of Kolkata. Many industries, which were set up here, encouraged a flow of job seekers into the region in the 1980s. This started the development effort in the city. Today, many renowned schools, colleges, and hospitals like Vidyasagar Hospital, South Suburban Hospital, James Long clinic PVT LTD, and Vivekananda Hospital are situated here. Behala, situated in the South-West of Kolkata is a developed locality in the Indian State of West Bengal. It comes under Kolkata Municipal Corporation. It is one of the oldest residential area of the city. It is also home to Sourav Ganguly, former Indian national cricket captain and Sovan Chatterjee, the present Mayor of Kolkata. It is also an important industrial area of the city. There are many factories and industries located here which include the manufacturing units like chemicals, plastic and plastic recycling, spray painting, metal plating and galvanizing. Bangashree Pally, Sahapur, Tollugunge, Kalitola, Srishti, Barisha, Talpukur, Muchipara, Sukhdebpur, Gopalpur, Majherhat, Kalighat are its neighbouring localities.

When it comes to commercial activity in the region, Diamond Harbour Road in Behala is a major commercial area. It is home to a large number of merchants who are involved in different kinds of trade.

Connectivity and Transit Points

Behala is known for its good connectivity. The private and government buses in the area make accessible important cities like Howrah, BBD Bagh, Park Street, Sealdah, Kidderpore, and Bidhannagar. Some of the major bus terminals in the locality are situated at Thakurpukur, Sakher Bazar, Behala Tram Depot, Parnasree Pally, Barisha, and Silpara.

Trams used to be a popular mode of transport in the region. But now, with the metro project underway, the tram service has been stopped. Auto-rickshaws and taxis are now common, and are used by commuters on a regular basis. For the networks of alleys that are not accessible by any means of transport, cycle rickshaws are one’s best bet.

The major rail transit point in Behala is Majherhat Railway Station, which is located 3.3 km from the city. This station can be used to board trains to other major areas around Behala. The upcoming metro network in the region will further improve connectivity here.

The airport serving Behala is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, which is about 25 kilometres from the heart of the city. It is one of the two major international airports operating in the state of West Bengal. The airport has both domestic and international flights.

Major Landmarks

State Archaeology Museum

Sabarna Roy Chowdhury Family houses

Sabarna Sangrahashala

Behala Flying Club

IIM Calcutta

Factors for Growth in the Past

Behala’s growth can be attributed to the population explosion in the region during the 1980s. The sudden rise in population during that time had triggered massive development in the area. The development effort then, had opened up new opportunities for people around the region, and many began to migrate to Behala in search of jobs. Then, after it was announced that the metro service would extend to the city, the area’s infrastructure received a jolt and the area grew in size and stature.

Factors for Growth in the Future

With the completion of the metro system in Behala, the region will see a rise in real estate prices and increased demand for the same. Many reputed builders like Bengal Greenfield Housing Development Company Ltd, Eastern Urban Development Pvt. Ltd., Merlin Projects, Swabhumi Group, and Orbit Group have ongoing projects in this region - enough proof of Behala’s growing stature.

Residential & Commercial Market

Residential Market Trends

Apartments take up a sizeable chunk of the real estate market in Behala, followed by builder floors and houses. Apartments saw a gradual price hike this last year, increasing from Rs 3,300 per sq. ft. in Q2 2013 to Rs 3,700 per sq. ft. in Q2 2014.

Builder floor apartments in Behala also witnessed a rise in property value, from Rs 2,250 per sq. ft. in Q2 2011 to Rs 3,560 per sq. ft. in Q2 2014. Residential houses in Behala are being sold at around Rs 3,550 per sq. ft.

Commercial Market Trends

Commercial spaces in Behala, especially the Diamond Harbour road, can be taken on rent at an average rate of Rs 10-13 per sq. ft.

Major Challenges

Traffic is known to be very stressful in Behala, especially for someone travelling long distances in the area. Auto-rickshaws are known to increase the traffic woes during peak hours. Noise and air pollution are also high, because of construction work and traffic.