Mumbai: With property rates hitting the
stratosphere, the affluent south Mumbai area has likely witnessed a decline in residential population, while the suburbs have had a rise, according to Census officials.
And ironically, the population of homeless people in
southern part of the metropolis seems to have increased.
"It has been observed that primarily due to rising
property rates, the residential population in south Mumbai has
gown down. Whereas the residential population in suburbs has
seen an increase of about 10-15 per cent," Census officials
said on the condition of anonymity.
South Mumbai -- which has upmarket residential colonies
as well as important public buildings such as secretariat,
Vidhan Bhavan, High Court, etc -- is fast turning into a
commercial hub, officials said.
"The residential population in Mumbai Metropolitan Region
(MMR) areas such as Vasai, Virar, Palghar, Kalyan, Dombivali
and Karjat, has also increased."
The real estate market in Mumbai continues to remain
stagnant as sale transactions are at an all-time low due to
the high prices and rising interest rates.
The homeless population has likely increased from the
earlier 25,000 to 35,000-40,000, officials said, adding that
such people were seen more in A, B and C wards. All the three
wards fall in south Mumbai.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 16:55