Gurgaon to soon get farmhouse colonies

So far, you had known Gurgaon as an industrial hub for its high-rise buildings. Now, it is set to add more to its real estate kitty. Even as the Haryana government is in the final stage of formulating a policy for 'farmhouse colonies', Ramprastha Group, a Gurgaon-based developer, plans to start a farmhouse township here.

According to the state government's draft policy, a farmhouse colony would be a cluster of 20-30 farmhouses, each with an area of 1-2.5 acres, spread over at least 100 acres.

"A separate policy for farmhouse colonies (low-density eco cities) through grant of licence is under consideration… instead of sporadic development of farmhouses, planned development of a colony with a focus on eco-friendly design principles would be a better option," says the draft policy. The colony would have the required infrastructure - water, electricity and security, besides proper roads - all within its boundaries.

Such farmhouse colonies will be developed as gated communities with six-feet-high boundary walls around it. However, the individual plots will be demarcated by barbed-wire fencing and hedges, and no boundary walls will be allowed. Besides, no commercial exploitation of these sites, such as through use as banquet/party halls, will be allowed, the draft adds.

At present, most farmhouses in the state are located in and around Gurgaon. Other farmhouse areas include Faridabad, Rohtak, Hisar and Ambala.

Nikhil Jain, CEO of Ramprastha Group, which mainly has residential projects in the National Capital Region, says his company will invest Rs 700-800 crore in its farmhouse township. Currently, it is in the process of buying land. "We will complete the project in two years, once the final policy is out. The blueprint for the proposal has already been released and the company is waiting for the final policy."

The idea to set up farmhouse colonies has its roots in the increased demand for change of land use (CLU) for farmhouses. According to the existing policy, an individual interested in setting up a farmhouse on his farmland in the agricultural zone can apply for CLU permission with a minimum area of two acres.

However, people with no prior farming background also prefer to set up such farmhouses. This has led to several issues, such as farmhouses becoming more of party destinations, holiday homes or property investments along the outskirts of urbanisable areas. These, combined with security issues, could have become hurdles for the state's successive development plan revisions.

According to an expert tracking the farmhouse sector, infrastructure has been a major concern for the existing farmhouses in Gurgaon and nearby areas that are constrained by lack of proper connecting roads and essential amenities.

WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE?

• 20-30: Cluster of farmhouses in each colony
• 1-2.5 acres: Area of each farmhouse
• 100 acres: Minimum area required for setting up a colony
• Boundary: To be developed as gated communities; demarcation of individual plots only through wire-fencing, hedges
• No commercial exploitation: Use of property as banquet/party halls not to be allowed