Affordable housing is the key buzzword for India’s real estate sector at present. In this context, those living in Mumbai have plenty of options worth considering on the peripheries and outskirts of the city. Virar is one such prominent location which has been witnessing fast paced development in recent times. Several leading real estate developers have already forayed into this stretch with township and other residential projects which majorly offer affordable and mid-range housing units. This has made Virar the apple of the eye for several homebuyers lately. Key projects like Rustomjee Avenue D1 have come up here and many more are expected to be launched in Virar in the near future. Municipal limits in Mumbai are forever in expansion mode and this will only continue over the next decades. Virar is located in North Mumbai and is a rapidly emerging housing location where several big-ticket projects are coming up courtesy top developers. This is one of the few areas that have seen good growth over the last few years and demand for housing is steady here, something that developers are happy about. Affordability of housing units is the major growth driver for residential housing in Virar and there is sizable ready inventory of properties along with units under construction. Virar is also benefiting from increased homebuyer attention due to the shift of several companies and offices to the city’s western suburbs from South Mumbai. The ample availability of land in Virar is another magnet for real estate developers and helps in keeping prices competitive as well. Connectivity in Virar On the connectivity front, Virar scores big with its solid railway and road networks. One of the biggest upcoming developments for the area is the expansion of the Metro rapid transit corridor which has been planned by the MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority). There are plans to expand Line 9 of the Mumbai Metro to Virar which spans 105 kilometres between Mira-Bhayander and Dahisar. Once this corridor becomes fully operational, residents will find it a breeze to commute to Churchgate from Virar. They can easily take a metro at the interchange at Dahisar and the Airport. From Dahisar, commuters can take the Metro 7 line and go up to the Airport. From here, there is the Metro Line 3 underground network between Colaba, Bandra and SEEPZ. Virar is already well connected to several areas through the National Highways 17, 3, 8 and 4. The Western Express Highway can be accessed from Virar and it is also well connected through the suburban railway corridor’s western line with its own railway station. The Virar-Alibaug Multi Modal Corridor will cover 126 kilometres and will eventually link to the Bhiwandi Bypass, National Highways 4, 3, 8, 17 and 4B along with the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. This new corridor will fast-track development in a big way for the locality. It will also be sparking faster development of projects like the Navi Mumbai International Airport, MTHL and JNPT Port along with a Dedicated Freight Corridor. These developments could be a major shot in the arm for Virar in the future. Social Infrastructure Virar already has several well developed residential communities like Veer Savarkar Road, Manvelpada, Chandansar Road and Phulpada. The Jain Temple and St. Peter’s Church are major landmarks in the area. The Rajodi and Arnala Beaches are located nearby along with the Vatar Breach and Navapur Beach. There are several resorts nearby including the Arnala Beach Resort, Patil Resort, Green Paradise Resort, Kshitij Water Park and more. The Yazoo Park is a major amusement park in the vicinity at Global City which is just 10 minutes away from the railway station in Virar. The Great Escape Water Park is also located nearby. Keeping your kids happy will not be so much of a challenge if you’re planning to buy property in Virar as a result! Paragliding training is a key attraction in Virar as well across spots like Kaner Hills, Tungareshwar and Jivdani Hill. The Vasai-Virar Kala Krida Mahotsav is another mega sports event organized here. Here’s taking a look at some of the other social amenities available for residents in and around the locality: Educational Institutions:
- Tree House High School
- Matrix Academy School
- National English High School
- Xavier’s High School
- Carmel Convent High School
- VIVA Institute of Technology
- VIVA College
- Joseph College of Arts & Commerce
- G.M. Academy’s Junior College of Commerce & Science
Hospitals:
- Vijay Vallabh Hospital
- Sahayog Hospital & Research Centre
- Shree Balaji Hospital
- Global Hospital
- Sanjivani Hospital
- Shah Multispecialty Hospital
Shopping:
- Magnet Mall
- Mohana Shopping Centre
- Mirza Shopping Centre
- Viva Swastik Mall
- G. Shopping Centre
- Shoppers Plaza
Restaurants/Nightlife:
- The Post Office Restaurant & Bar
- Zeal 3 Seasons
- Star Planet
- Ocean Bar & Family Restaurant
- Saffron Grill
- Tannu Ki Rasoi
- David’s Restaurant
- Blu Bar
- Zeal On Sports Bar
- Modern Bar & Restaurant
- Quarter Deck Restaurant & Bar
- Clubone
As can be seen, Virar offers decent quality of life with all necessary social amenities and several attractions. Connectivity wise, it is already well linked to several areas in the city and upcoming metro and road infrastructure projects will definitely ease commuting for residents. There is ample scope for future appreciation as a result of these transportation projects and prices of housing units are in reasonable territory here, something that is a rarity in Mumbai! All in all, Virar certainly merits a closer look on your part if you’re planning to buy a home anytime soon. 
