Paranjape Athashri

Paranjape Athashri stands in Whitefield, which grew into a major technology district on the eastern edge of Bangalore. For a family, that means a grown-up neighbourhood where schools, hospitals and shops are already spread across the area, rather than planned for later. For a retired buyer it means the everyday errands, a pharmacy run or a doctor's appointment, can happen close to home.

The area has a long history. It started as a village settled by European and Anglo-Indian families on land given by Chamaraja Wodeyar, the Maharaja of Mysore. It stayed rural into the late 1990s. The IT boom then brought Bangalore its first technology park, and Wipro, Dell and IBM opened offices nearby.

That growth cuts both ways. If your son or daughter works in one of those offices, they may live a short drive from you. The same offices mean heavy traffic at peak hours. No distances to a hospital, station or market have been published for this site. Ask for the exact address and time the trips that matter most, above all the one to the nearest hospital.

Paranjape Athashri offers two home types. One-bedroom flats measure about 865 to 1,100 sq ft and two-bedroom flats about 1,200 to 1,300 sq ft, quoted as built-up area. Carpet areas have not been published. Doors are wider than usual to take a wheelchair, and toilets have grab bars and hot and cold mixers.

The listed one-bedroom prices run from Rs. 41.52 Lakhs to Rs. 52.80 Lakhs, and two-bedroom prices from Rs. 57.60 Lakhs to Rs. 62.40 Lakhs. Those work out to about Rs. 4,800 per sq ft, against a listed rate of Rs. 4,500. Since handover started in 2015, treat all of them as a starting point and get a current figure.

A completed flat with its occupancy certificate carries no GST. Stamp duty and registration apply to every sale. Ask for a cost sheet that shows:

• The agreed price and the area it covers
• Car parking and whether it is covered
• Maintenance deposit and the monthly charge
• Any transfer fee charged by the association
• Stamp duty and registration on the full value

Paranjape Athashri has no RERA registration number published yet. Handover began in 2015, so it may predate registration. Ask Paranjape Schemes Construction for the number, or for a note on why none exists, and search the Karnataka RERA website (rera.karnataka.gov.in). The approval on file is described as BBMP/BDA; ask to see the approval letter itself.

Because the flats are finished and some will be resales, the checks are those for a completed home. Ask for:

• The occupancy certificate for your block
• The sanctioned plan showing your flat
• Title deeds and an encumbrance certificate covering the last 13 years or more
• Khata in the seller's name and the latest tax receipt
• The previous sale deed, if you are buying resale
• A no-dues letter from the owners' association

At registration, the sale deed moves the flat into your name. Apply for the khata transfer soon after, since the tax records and utility bills follow it. If the home is for a parent, decide early whose name goes on the deed.

Paranjape Athashri fits the whole community on 3.5 acres, with the apartment blocks grouped around a clubhouse, a community hall and a garden. The developer has not published how much of the site is open, how many blocks there are or how tall they rise, so ask for the site plan. Any images you see are as planned by the developer; since the project is complete, walk the grounds and judge them yourself.

The design is the real amenity. Inside the buildings, the passages are wide and fitted with railings, and the flats are laid out for wheelchair use. For an older resident, that means moving from the lift to the front door, and from the bed to the bathroom, without a struggle.

A day here is likely to be quiet. Mornings could mean a walk in the garden or a session in the gym, with the library for the afternoon. The community hall and clubhouse host gatherings, and a play area keeps visiting grandchildren busy. A bank and ATM on site saves a trip for cash. Rainwater harvesting is part of the campus. Ask the association which facilities are staffed and at what hours.