Developers Must Build Homes With Health and Green Spaces in Mind: Dr. Sharadwat Mukherjee, Health Min, West Bengal. 

The quality of a home is not only about its location, size or amenities. Green spaces, maintenance, everyday comfort and the wider environment around a project also matter as more people move into cities and residential developments become a bigger part of urban life.

As housing demand grows with the movement of people from rural areas to cities, developers are playing a bigger role in shaping urban neighbourhoods and the way people live. You are not only building homes, you are practically converting the migration from rural India to urban India. It is happening every day, said Dr. Sharadwat Mukherjee, Health Minister of West Bengal. 

Speaking at the 24th edition of NATCON organised by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) in Kolkata, he said the industry needs to consider the difference between what is promised to a homebuyer and what the resident experiences after moving in.

Real estate projects are often marketed around location, lifestyle and the idea of a dream home. But for residents, the realities of living in that home include maintenance costs and everyday upkeep. The real home has a maintenance cost. The dream home has got a really smooth atmosphere, Mukherjee said. 

The remarks come at a time when larger residential projects are creating entire communities with internal roads, open areas, amenities and common facilities. For such projects, the planning of greenery and public spaces can influence the day-to-day experience of residents.

Mukherjee also urged builders to include trees and gardens as part of the planning of new developments. If you are telling us what are the mighty requirements for building dreams, building homes and buildings, our request is, have a tree and a garden all around, he said. 

Beyond the project itself, Mukherjee said developers can also play a role in supporting the communities where they build. Another thing which we always expect from the builders is corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. You are responsible in building homes, you are putting your money, but you are also responsible for sharing a little bit of your wealth, he added. 

The minister invited developers from across the country to consider West Bengal for future projects. We have the land with us. We have the vision with us. And we have a steady government with us, he noted. 

For the real estate sector, the message was that building a project involves more than putting up homes and selling them. The surroundings, greenery, maintenance and quality of everyday life can shape how residents experience a property long after construction is completed.c