Shriram Blue

Shriram Blue is reached from Seegehalli Road at Medahalli, in the Krishnarajapura part of eastern Bangalore, pincode 560049. Kadugodi and Sonnenahalli Colony are both named in the postal address, which tells you the neighbourhood you will use for everyday errands. The developer has not published distances to offices, schools, hospitals or stations, so none are quoted here.

Because the project is finished, you can test real life rather than imagine it. Drive from the gate to your workplace on a weekday morning, then come back in the evening rush. KR Puram is a busy part of the city's eastern side, and the time a trip takes can change a lot with the hour.

Spend an hour walking the streets near the gate. Note where the nearest grocery, pharmacy and clinic are, and whether a school bus stops close by. The retail spaces inside the campus should help with small daily needs, so check which shops are actually open. Ask residents how the approach road copes in heavy rain, and whether water supply has been steady since they moved in.

Shriram Blue gives you two choices, both with three bedrooms, and both sizes are built-up area rather than carpet. The standard 3 BHK measures about 1,650 sq ft on one level. The 3 BHK duplex measures about 2,150 sq ft and splits the home across two floors, usually with living spaces below and bedrooms above. Ask for the carpet area of the unit you see.

The standard home starts at Rs. 1.32 Crore, about Rs. 8,000 per sq ft. The duplex starts at Rs. 1.82 Crore, about Rs. 8,500 per sq ft. These are starting figures, and a higher floor, a better facing or an extra parking bay can add to them. Since the homes are ready, you can compare several units side by side.

A finished home with an occupancy certificate carries no GST. Registration and stamp duty still apply. Ask for a cost sheet that shows:

• The base price and the area it is charged on
• Floor-rise or facing charges, if any
• Car parking and the number of bays
• Clubhouse fee and maintenance deposit
• Any pending maintenance dues on the unit
• Stamp duty and registration

Shriram Blue has no RERA registration number published. Ask Shriram Properties for it, and if one exists, look it up on the Karnataka RERA website, rera.karnataka.gov.in. For a finished project, though, the documents that prove the home is legal and complete matter even more than the RERA entry.

Before you pay a token amount, ask to see:

• The occupancy certificate for your tower
• The sanctioned building plan, matched against your unit
• Title documents and an encumbrance certificate for the 9 acres
• The khata for the unit and the latest property tax receipt
• A no-dues letter for maintenance and utilities
• A draft sale deed, since a ready home registers on a sale deed

If you are buying from an owner rather than the developer, check that the seller's name matches every document, and that any home loan on the flat is closed before registration. After the sale, move the khata, electricity and water accounts into your name.

Shriram Blue has eleven towers of 12 floors sharing 9 acres, with 471 households around a common clubhouse and garden. The developer has not published the share of land left open, so walk the grounds and see how far your tower stands from the pool and the play spaces. Brochure images show the project as planned by the developer, so trust your own visit more.

Mornings can start on the jogging track or in the gym, with a swim before work. After school, children head to their play area, while older ones use the basketball court and the other outdoor courts. The games room and table tennis keep a rainy evening busy, and the party area handles birthdays and family events.

Landscaped gardens give you a quiet walk after dinner, and the in-campus shops save small trips out. Since the club and courts are already built, ask the residents' association how well they are kept up and what the monthly maintenance charge covers. Check the lift count for your tower too, and how long the wait is at 9 am.