We are actively curating verified news on Covid-19 to keep you posted on crucial information across cities. Click on your city name below to get updates from your city.

• Bangalore
• Chennai
• Hyderabad
• Ahmedabad
• Indore & Raipur
• Pune
• Mumbai
• Kolkata
• Delhi NCR

 

Bangalore

 

Description	Resource Link/Number	Instructions/Comments
TOI e-paper
Bangalore General Helpline Numbers	https://indianhelpline.com/BANGALORE/	Helpline numbers of police, fire department, ambulance, etc.
Task Force Helpline Number	(+91) – 9946499464	For senior citizen assistance, pregnant women medical assistance and to procure food & medicines for economically weak sections

 

 

Chennai

 

 

Description	Resource Link/Number	Instructions/Comments
TOI e-paper
Tamil Nadu Government Helpline Numbers	https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/mar/29/tamil-nadu-government-releases-helpline-numbers-for-assistance-during-lockdown-2123112.html
Tamil Nadu State Helpline Number	044-29510500
District Emergency Helpline Number	1077
Tamil Nadu State Helpline Numbers & Testing Centres	https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/covid19-coronavirus-helpline-tamil-nadu-isolation-centers-address-lab-test-details/articleshow/74608654.cms
Grocery Stores in Chennai by Chennai Corporation	https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/chennai-corporation-releases-list-grocery-shops-home-deliver-5-zones-121469

Hyderabad

 

Description	Resource Link/Number	Instructions/Comments
TOI e-paper
Telangana Govt. Helpline Number	104	Reference – https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s36c52 4f9d5d7027454a783c841250ba71 /uploads/2020/03/2020031151.pdf
COVID-19 Helpline Email	[email protected]
COVID-19 GHMC Helpline Numbers	(+91) – 9154686557 (+91) – 9154686558 (+91) – 9154686549
COVID-19 Secretariat Helpline Numbers	040-23450624 040-23450735
GHMC Call Center	040-21111111	To complain/inform if any foreign return travellers are not following home quarantine strictly.
Control Room Number – Food	(+91) – 9154170990 (+91) – 9154170991
Control Room Number – Ration	(+91) – 9948682495
Control Room Number – Civil Supply	040-23447770
Control Room Number – Accomodation and Food	(+91) – 9702385140 (+91) – 9701385138 (+91) – 9177997750
Police Helpline Number	(+91) – 9010203626
Collectorate – Hyderabad	040-23202813
GHMC Annapurna Centers List	https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s36 c524f9d5d7027454a783c8412 50ba71/uploads/2020/03/202 0032993.pdf
Donation to Chief Minister Relief Fund	(+91) – 9121006471 (+91) – 9121006472 meesevasupport@telangana. gov.in https://ts.meeseva.telangana. gov.in/Covid/CovidContribution .html	For any queries, contact via helpdesk numbers or email.

Ahmedabad

 

Description	Resource Link/Number	Instructions/Comments
TOI e-paper
COVID-19 Testing Centres – Gujarat	BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad MP Shah Govt Medical College, Jamnagar Govt. Medical College, Surat Govt. Medical College, Bhavnagar
Gujarat State Helpline Number	104
Helpline for COVID-19 (AMC area)	(+91) – 9726416131	Call for food packages, food kits, fumigation work, etc.
Gujarat State Tele-Helpline	1100
Vegetable Home Delivery WhatsApp Number	(+91) – 9408753064	Call for purchasing vegetables weighing more than 100kgs
Food Helpline for Senior Citizens	(+91) – 982519200
For Other Complaints	155303
Online Assistance or Information	Facebook: AhmedabadAMC Twitter: @AhmedabadAMC
BigBazar Home Delivery	https://twitter.com/BigBazaar/ status/1242359237168074755/ photo/1	Click to view the list of areas in Ahmedabad where BigBazar is providing home delivery services
Grocery Stores Delivery Service	https://twitter.com/AmdavadA MC/status/124349358082967 9616/photo/1	Click to view the list of areas in Ahmedabad where Reliance, Osia Hypermart, DMart, BigBazar are providing home delivery services

Indore & Raipur

 

Description	Resource Link/Number	Instructions/Comments
TOI e-paper
Madhya Pradesh State COVID-19 Helpline Number	0755-2527177
Indore COVID-19 Call Centre	0731- 2567333	Available from 8am – 8pm
Incharge of COVID-19 Control Room Indore – Mr Kumar Purushottam	9981120002
Incharge of COVID-19 Control Room Indore – Mr Anil Arora	9406803510
COVID-19 Helpline – Indore	0731- 2537253 0755-2527177 1075
COVID-19 Helpline – Chattisgarh	077122-35091
Indore Call Center Toll Free Number	104	Available 24/7
Indore TeleMedicine Whatsapp Call	7489244895
Raipur Control Room Helpline	9479191099 07714287199
Madhya Pradesh Control Room Helpline	7552704201

Pune

 

Description	Resource Link/Number	Instructions/Comments
TOI e-paper
COVID-19 Pune Helpline	1800-1030-222	Reference – https://www.pmc.gov.in/en/corona-vishanu
Pune Helpline and Blood Bank Numbers	https://indianhelpline.com/PUNE/
AMBULANCE	108
K.E.M HOSPITAL PUNE	9421018970 9850900000
JEHANGIR AMBULANCE (Chargeable )	88888810661066
POONA HOSPITAL AMBULANCE	020-66096000
POLICE CONTROL ROOM	020-26126296 26122880
CYBER POLICE STATION EMAIL : [email protected]	020-29710097
COMPUTER CELL	020-26121299 26121638
WHATSAPP HELPLINE (PUNE POLICE)	8975283100
PUNE POLICE WEBSITE	https://punepolice.gov.in/
SAKINAKA	28523936 28522334
ELDER SENIOR CITIZEN HELPLINE	1098
WOMEN HELPLINE	1091
FIRE BRIGADE CONTROL ROOM	101 020-26451707 26450601
HADAPSAR FIRE STATION	020- 26870207
YERWADA FIRE STATION	020- 26696400
KASBA FIRE STATION	020- 24578950
ERANDAWANA FIRE STATION	020- 25468373
SINHAGAD FIRE STATION	020- 24345152
PASHAN FIRE STATION	020- 20250985
AUNDH FIRE STATION	020- 25851788
Testing Centre – National Institute of Virology, Pune	020 2612 7301
Testing Centre – Armed Forces Medical College, Pune	020 2337 3158
Testing Centre – BJ Medical College, Pune	020 2612 8000
KEM Hospital	020-26217300 66037300 26217305 66037305
SAYADRI Hospital	8888822222 8806252525
Jehangir Hospital , Sassoon Road	020-66819999 66819966
Y.C.M Hospital, Pimpri	020 6733 2222 8895 455454
E.S.I Hospital , Bibwewadi	09520-4214112
Aundh Government Hospital	020-27280237
Southern Command Hospital	7507063567
Kamla Nehru Hospital	020-25508500
NOBLE HOSPITAL, Hadapsar	8007006611
POONA HOSPITAL , Sadashiv Peth	020-24331706 66096000 24331707

Mumbai

 

Description	Resource Link/Number	Instructions/Comments
TOI e-paper
Maharashtra State Helpline Number	020-26127394
Toll-free Helpline Number	1075 (+91) -11-23978046
COVID-19 Testing Centres & Private Labs in Maharashtra	https://www.neighbium.com/ complete-list-of-the-test-centres-in-india/	Click and scroll down to find your city and the list of availabe test centres near you.
At Home Test Collection – Metropolis	8422801801
At Home Test Collection – Thyrocare	9702466333
At Home Test Collection – Suburban Diagnostics	022-61700019
At Home Test Collection – HN Reliance	9820043966
Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai	1916 022 22694725 / 27 [email protected]
Best Bus Helpline Number	1800227550, 022-241466533
Police	022-22621855
Disaster Management Control Room	022-22694725/27
Free Consultation on COVID-19	022 27567269
Maharashtra Whatsapp Helpline During Lockdown	91-2026127394
BMC Helpline for Homeless/stranded Migrants Workers	1800221292
General Helpline and Blood Bank Numbers	https://indianhelpline.com/NAVI-MUMBAI/
DMart Grocery Delivery	https://dmart.store/covidhelp	Click and scroll down to find your city. Get information on DMart servicable locations in your city.
Nature Basket Grocery Delivery	8880077745
Reliance Mart Grocery Delivery	2261220220
BigBazar Home Delivery (Thane)	8454886242
Maharashtra Helpline Number	020-26127394
Kalyan Ambulace Service Number	(+91) – 9833383719 (+91) – 9321953651
BigBazar Home Delivery	7977140792

Kolkata

 

Description	Resource Link/Number	Instructions/Comments
TOI e-paper
Control Room Number at Nabana West Bengal	1070 03322143526
Toll-free Call Center Number	1800313444222
State Government Helpline Number	3323412600
West Bengal Health Service Helpline Number	3324312600
Control Room Number	03322361916 03322364062 9432022147 8697733404 8697733391/92 033-22215486 033-22215415
Senior Citizen Helpline Number	9830088884
Whatsapp Helpline Number	9830177000
Medical Emergency Helpline Number	9830079999
Child Helpline Number	1098
State General Helpline, Blood Banks, Hospitals & Fire Station Numbers	https://indianhelpline.com/KOLKA TA-HELPLINE-NUMBERS/
Kolkata Police Station Numbers	http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in/ KnowPoliceStation.aspx
Bengal COVID-19 Testing and Collection Centres	https://www.telegraphindia.com/ states/west-bengal/more-isolation-units-to-fight-coronavirus-at-govt-hospitals-of-bengal/cid/1753215
Helpline Number for Children Suffering from Stress Amid Lockdown	https://www.newindianexpress. com/nation/2020/mar/26/covid-19-bengal-releases-helpline-number-for-children-suffering-from-stress-amid-lockdown-2121879.html
FRANK ROSS – Medical Home Delivery	033 66666666 033 49494949
APOLLO PHARMACY	033 2570 8454
Spencers Grocery Delivery	https://mygate.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Kolkata _spencers.pdf	Click to view areas in which Spencers is providing home delivery services
BigBazar Home Delivery	https://twitter.com/BigBazaar/ status/1240629553564758023 /photo/1	Click to view in which areas BigBazar is providing home delivery services for groceries

Delhi NCR

 

Description	Resource Link/Number	Instructions/Comments
TOI e-paper
Delhi Helpline numbers and Testing Centres	https://timesofindia.indiatimes .com/city/delhi/covid19-coronavirus-helpline-delhi-isolation-centers-address-lab-test-details/articleshow/74605821.cms
COVID-19 Mitigation Plan Gurugram	https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s325b 2822c2f5a3230abfadd476e8b04 c9/uploads/2020/03/20200322 66.pdf	Click to view the comprehensive COVID-19 helpline numbers and information for Gurugram
Task Forces Helpline Numbers – Gurugram	http://gurgaon.haryanapolice.gov. in/helpline.htm
Testing Centres in Uttar Pradesh	1. King’s George Medical University, Lucknow 2. Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 3. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh
Officers Posted at Ghaziabad	https://uppolice.gov.in/frmOffici als.aspx?ghaziabad	Click to view the list of officers appointed in Ghaziabad along with their contact information.
Delhi Covid19 Relief centeres	https://tinyurl.com/yx6bx68u	Click to view the Google map of relief centeres in Delhi
E-commerce Food Delivery	https://www.indiatoday.in/techno logy/features/story/coronavirus-flipkart-to-resume-grocery-delivery-bigbasket-too-coming-online-10-key-updates-about-food-and-online-delivery-1659827-2020-03-26	Click to view the list of e-commerce food delivery companies operational in Delhi NCR.

 

Modern gated communities face complex challenges that go beyond traditional security concerns. Managing finances, maintenance requests, shared amenities, staff attendance, deliveries, and resident communication require a unified, intelligent solution.

Mygate has evolved into India’s most trusted comprehensive ERP platform for community management empowering societies with advanced tools for payments, accounting, helpdesks, amenities booking, staff management, and seamless communication. To fully unlock Mygate’s potential, communities must adopt key best practices that optimize every module and feature.

Best practices to maximise Mygate benefits for your gated community:

1. Automate and streamline payments and billing

Leverage Mygate’s automated maintenance billing, digital invoices, and multiple payment gateways to simplify fee collection. Ensure residents regularly update payments via app notifications and view transparent account statements, reducing manual errors and delays.

2. Implement the digital helpdesk for fast complaint resolution

Encourage residents to log maintenance and security issues using Mygate’s integrated digital helpdesk. Management committees should track and resolve tickets efficiently with automated escalation to improve resident satisfaction and operational transparency.

3. Use amenities booking to avoid conflicts

Enable residents to book shared facilities like clubhouses, swimming pools, and gyms via Mygate’s amenities booking module. Real-time availability calendars and automated approvals eliminate double bookings and streamline scheduling.

4. Manage staff and domestic help attendance digitally

Digitize attendance and verification for domestic helpers, security, housekeeping, and other staff through Mygate’s staff management tools. This improves accountability and provides real-time alerts on staff movements for enhanced operational control.

5. Centralize resident communication and notices

Use Mygate’s digital noticeboard and communication features to broadcast announcements, event invitations, urgent alerts, and policy updates. Integrated messaging through app notifications, SMS, and email ensures wide reach and resident engagement.

6. Manage visitor and delivery entries with integrated coordination

While security remains important, Mygate’s combined visitor and delivery management features reduce gate bottlenecks. Residents can approve visitors digitally and receive instant notifications, improving throughput and convenience.

7. Simplify vehicle and parking management

Register resident and visitor vehicles digitally with Mygate’s parking management module. This optimizes the use of parking spaces, facilitates visitor parking pre-approvals, and prevents unauthorized vehicle access.

8. Monitor operations efficiently with management dashboards

Management committees should regularly review Mygate’s comprehensive analytics dashboards covering payments, complaints, staff attendance, visitor flow, and amenities usage. Early identification of bottlenecks and trends enables proactive decision-making.

Conclusion

Mygate’s comprehensive ERP platform is far more than a security app. By automating and integrating core gated community operations payments, billing, complaint management, amenities booking, staff oversight, and communication Mygate empowers communities to run efficiently, transparently, and harmoniously.

Communities that embrace these best practices unlock Mygate’s full potential, transforming urban living into a smart, convenient, and resident-centric experience that scales seamlessly into the future.

FAQs

India is one of the most disaster-prone countries in Asia, unfortunately, the most ravaged in the last ten years owing to natural hazards. It ranked 85th out of 180 countries in 2019’s World Risk Report with 54% vulnerability to natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, droughts, and cyclones. 

At first glance, the data on nature wreaking havoc may not seem alarming or noteworthy. After all, we’d all like to think, “that’s not going to happen to me”. Consider the below numbers that put things in perspective:

• Data reveals that 68% of the country’s land is drought-prone, 60% is earthquake-prone, 12% is flood-prone while 8% is prone to cyclones. 
• In 2018, India ranked first globally in terms of the number of people affected by natural disasters; that number was 23,910,348. Kerala floods in that year caused a loss of property and crops amounting to Rs 8000 crore. 
• As many as 340,000 buildings collapsed in the wake of the 2001 Gujarat earthquake. 
• In 2019, there were 8 cyclones in India, notably Cyclone Fani, a category 3-4 hurricane that damaged property in 14 districts of Odisha.
• The most alarming statistic is that only 5% to 20% of these losses are actually insured, the rest are just unrecovered.

Loss of lives could still be averted as the Indian government is adopting sophisticated disaster forecasting and early warning systems. But the loss to property is inevitable. Naturally, one wonders about housing societies and how safe they are against such threats. Are they better off? What most home buyers, home loan applicants, and society residents know about insuring their homes against natural disasters? Let’s find out.

Low market penetration of home insurance

Asian Development Bank’s research paper on Impacts of Natural Disasters on Households in India (published in 2019) cites that in developing countries like India, (non-life) insurance penetration is as low as 0.93% and insurance density is $13.2 as opposed to the global average of $285.3.

The most commonly known and purchased insurances are life, health, and auto insurance. Indian insurance companies have claimed a similar figure, stating home insurance accounts for less than 1% of their policy sales.

What does home insurance cover?

Most insurances in India sell comprehensive home insurance policies which cover man-made calamities like theft, fire, malicious damage, riots, aircraft damage as well as destruction caused by an Act of God such as tornadoes, floods, lightning, storms, and earthquakes. Those living in apartment complexes are already covered by the society who purchases insurance for the buildings known as Housing Society Insurance. This is because housing society bye-laws have mandated general insurance for society covering it against natural or man-made calamities, but standard and optional coverage regarding covered components may differ for each provider. For instance, some insurance may only provide coverage for fire, storms,  riots, floods but may exclude earthquakes. It’s prudent to thoroughly check every coverage component and opt for a plan that insures you against all types of calamities, even if you may have to pay additional premiums for add-ons. However,  housing insurance is quite affordable in India. The annual premium could be between Rs 4000 to Rs 5000 for comprehensive coverage for one household with a 1000 sq feet home. Of course, there’d be deductibles, limits on claim amounts, and other conditions; better to compare five different policies before choosing the right one.

Structure cover vs contents cover

Housing Society Insurance provided by most companies covers structures of buildings, common areas as well as assets (like elevators, tanks, electric/mechanical installations). 

Structure cover includes the physical structure of the building while contents coverage includes the assets and equipment/ appliances inside the home. Buy structure cover only if needed because the society typically covers the structure and may or may not cover contents. In that case, homeowners should opt for content coverage on their own.

ADB’s research paper revealed that even 15 years ago, during 2005 Mumbai floods, medium to higher medium income group families reported average damage of Rs 69,000 in estimated repair or replacement cost of damage to assets and equipment in their households. Today the story is different because the losses would be more extensive. Due to steady rise in per capita income and middle/ upper-middle class affluence, the damage would be anything between Rs 4-8 lakh. This is because more homes these days are lavishly furnished and fitted with smart TVs and refrigerators, expensive washing machines, multiple ACs, laptops, smart consoles, and home security devices, to name a few.

Keep in mind that the insurance sum is determined not by the market value, but by reconstruction value of the structure, i.e. how much it would take you to reconstruct the home. 

Contents are valued at the market value of the same/similar products after depreciation. It’s generally recommended that you choose a replacement (full replacement value of an asset) settlement in place of ACV (Actual Cash Value, which is the replacement amount after depreciation).

Check with your society to see if the policy has the provision of reconstruction of a building or just the depreciated value of the building since some societies choose to pay low premiums for only the depreciated value. 

Home insurance is a choice that every homeowner should make only after due diligence. It’s even more critical if you’re buying a home through a bank loan as you’d not want to pay for expensive damage repair out of pocket.  Sometimes home insurance is mandatory with a home loan. Check local meteorological data to see what calamities you may be prone to and consider that while buying home insurance. Keep all insurance documents in a bank safe as once you file a claim, a surveyor would be sent to your home to assess damages. Follow all instructions given by the insurance company to follow protocol perfectly from your side while reading the fine print of the insurance agreement rather alertly to be aware of hidden clauses and conditions.

Dharavi is known around the world for housing one of the biggest slums globally. It’s a tiny area of just over 2.1 square kilometres but its residents are estimated to be over one million, making it one of the most densely populated places in the world.

Dharavi has many booming industries that thrive in its cramped quarters. The most popular is its leather goods industry but textiles and pottery products are also made here. Just around Dharavi you will find popular neighbourhoods, buildings and stores. Mahim lies to the West of Dharavi and here you will find great residential buildings to live in.

If you are looking to stay close to Dharavi or want to learn more about the place, we’ve listed the best housing societies to choose from as well as places to visit and things to do when you are in the neighbourhood.

Things to do in Dharavi, Mumbai

1. Take a tour of the Dharavi slum

Slumgods Tours and Travel will teach you a lot about the community in Dharavi. Here you can witness true Indian spirit where diverse cultures live harmoniously together. You can also see the thriving economy within the slum and the various products that get made.

2. Give back

Dharavi Art Room is an initiative meant to encourage the kids of Dharavi to explore books and art. This place hosts exhibitions and workshops, using art to empower underprivileged children and women. Dharavi Art Room accepts donations in the form of books, stationary, toys and more. They host many fundraising events too so look out for those.

3. Visit Design Dharavi Museum

Design Museum Dharavi is a unique exhibition space located in the heart of Dharavi. This place showcases the talents of Dharavi residents. It displays products made here and gives the makers a platform too to help empower and expand their business.

Places to visit in Dharavi, Mumbai

1. Maharashtra Nature Park

Mahim Nature Park, now known as Maharashtra Nature Park, is spread over 37-acres. It is a wonderful forest park that is home to a wide range of species. There are said to be over 12,000 trees here – types of gulmohar, teak, lasora, brambles and bushes. It is located right outside Dharavi and is a must visit for all nature lovers..

2. Aarey Energee

A nostalgic drink for most who have grown up in Mumbai, Aarey Energee tastes like childhood. At this stall you can still get all your favourite flavours of the sweet milky drink.
Choose from pineapple, pista, butterscotch, orange, vanilla, kesar elaichi, strawberry, chocolate and coffee.

3. Dharavi Market

Go to dharavimarket.com if you want to browse through all the amazing leather and PU products made in this bustling area. Instead of having to go to the stores around the area, you can now shop from the comfort of your home. From gorgeous bags and shoes, to belts and accessories, there are a ton of great quality products to choose from. It’s a great place to buy gifts as well.

4. Mumblu Tours

This walking tour through Dharavi will open your eyes to the lives of its residents. The guides are residents of the area and know everything from the daily struggles and strength of the people to the details about the different industries that operate.

FAQs about Dharavi, Mumbai

What is the distance from Dharavi to the Mumbai International Airport?

The travel distance or driving distance between Dharavi and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is 12.7 kilometres via the Western Express Highway.

What is the nearest bus station from Dharavi?

Dharavi has its own bus depot and a few bus stops. There are many bus stops around Dharavi such as in the Mahim and Bandra areas.

Is there any metro station in Dharavi?

No, there is no metro station in Dharavi.

What is the best place in Dharavi to hang out on weekends?

If you are in Dharavi on the weekend you must go for one of the many guided tours that teaches you about the resilience and entrepreneurial attitudes of the residents.

How to reach Dharavi from Mumbai airport?

The quickest way to get from Mumbai International Airport to Dharavi is by taxi or rickshaw which costs ₹250 to ₹500 and takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.

Is Dharavi a posh area?

Dharavi is not a posh area – it is one of the largest slums in the world. However, there are very decent and posh areas surrounding it, such as Mahim and Bandra.

Is Dharavi safe to stay in?

As Dharavi is a slum, there are no proper building structures and homes are usually built illegally. Its neighbouring area of Mahim, however, is very safe and nice to live in, with good residential buildings, stores, schools and places of worship.

What are the best hospitals in Dharavi?

The hospitals in and near Dharavi include New Sai Multispeciality Hospital & Research Centre, Lifecare Hospital, AAYUSH HOSPITAL, Si Hospital, Resham Hospital, Mahanagar Palika Hospital, Joshi Nursing Home and Kaya Sudhar Hospital.

What are the best schools in Dharavi?

Some schools in Dharavi are Municipal School, Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidya Mandir, B. S. I. A. S. School, Kamraj Memorial English High School and Junior College and Chhatrapati Shivaji Vidyalaya.

Which are the parks in Dharavi?

Parks in Dharavi include Maharashtra Nature Park, W.I.T Park, Shivraj Udyan and Shahu Nagar.

What are the best gyms in Dharavi?

Some of the best gyms and fitness studios in Dharavi are Vishal Fitness, Warang’s Beyond Fitness, BodyZone Unisex Gym, BodyGaraz, SHREE GURUDATTA GYM, Living Fitness, FLEX GYM and AFC GYM 7 GOLD.

What are the police stations in Dharavi?

The Dharavi Police Station address is police station, 6-Q-7,New, 90 Feet Rd, Sion Dharavi, Transit Camp, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Dharavi. The contact number is 022 2407 3988.

Ask anyone how expensive living in Pune is and you may get varied answers. The second-largest city in Maharashtra is naturally more expensive than smaller cities and towns. However, it is still considerably cheaper to live in Pune than in a place like Mumbai where rents in popular neighbourhoods are exorbitant. Pune is even considered to be more affordable than Delhi, especially for day-to-day requirements.

As with all cities, the cost of living varies depending on the locality you are staying in, your monthly expenses, and the lifestyle you intend to live. Other factors also affect your expenditure when you are in a city. These include the travelling distance from your workplace (public transport isn’t as efficient in Pune), whether you are living as a single person, in a relationship or have a family, and whether you are renting or own your property. The life you lead in Pune will also depend on how many incomes are contributing to your household.

If you are looking to relocate to Pune, here’s an idea of what to expect in terms of the cost of living.

An overview of the cost of living in Pune

Before going in-depth into the cost of living in Pune, here is a basic approximation of housing and household expenses for different types of residents: singles, families and couples. This will give you a general idea of the minimum spending you can expect in the month depending on where you fit in. Of course, other expenses such as travel, entertainment, shopping and leisure activities will be additional to the estimates listed below.

Cost of living in Pune: students and singles

1. Housing expenses

If you are on a budget and are single you will most likely prefer a paying guest accommodation setup or a shared apartment in which all the necessary amenities such as electricity or even food and laundry costs are included in your monthly rent. Renting out a decent unit like this in Pune in a good locality can cost approximately Rs 7000 to Rs 12000 per month, depending on the quality of the place, location and the conveniences provided. If you are looking to live in a 1BHK, expect to pay Rs 10,000 to Rs 18,000 per month – you will have to take care of other expenses such as food and electricity on your own. Sharing a larger apartment can bring your rent down by a few thousand rupees a month.

2. Household expenses

Your basic monthly house expenses will include paying a cook, a maid, apartment maintenance charges, electricity and internet bills, car or bike wash, grocery bills, food bills, etc. If you are sharing your living space, splitting these costs can bring your monthly expenses down by some amount. On average, these expenses would cost around Rs3000- Rs8000 a month.

Cost of living in Pune: family with kids

1. Housing expenses

If you and your family are moving to Pune, you will likely want to live in a decent 2 BHK apartment. This will cost around Rs 25,000 – Rs 40,000 per month, depending on the area you choose to live in. To buy a home in Pune, you will have to pay around Rs 1 crore onwards if you want a 2BHK in a posh neighbourhood. In a decent locality, you can find similar 2BHK homes for Rs 60 lakh to Rs 70 lakh.

2. Household expenses

Assuming you are a family of three or four, with school-going children, your monthly house expenses will include school fees, clothes, nanny salary, in addition to the regular expenses like a cook, a maid, apartment maintenance charges, electricity and internet bills, car or bike wash, grocery bills and food bills. This can cost up to Rs 30,000 per month.

Cost of living in Pune: couples

1. Housing expenses

Your rent expenses will depend on the size of the home and the locality you are renting in. For a good-sized 1 BHK flat in Pune, it costs around Rs 12,000 to Rs 16,000 per month on rent. Of course, the area of the apartment, amenities, neighbourhood and type of property all factor into the rent cost. If you are keen on buying property in Pune, a 1BHK will cost approximately Rs 40 lakh to Rs 60 lakh in a decent area. The more popular and posh areas of Pune are quite expensive when it comes to buying property and homes can go over Rs 1 crore in sought-after locations.

2. Household expenses

As mentioned above, monthly expenses will include paying your house help (cook, maid), maintenance charges, electricity and internet bills, car/bike wash, grocery bills and food bills. This should cost around Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month for a couple.

How much do things cost in Pune

Let’s get into the costs of various necessities in Pune so you get a clear idea of how to estimate what your cost of living will be in the city.

1. Accommodation costs in Pune

Accommodation costs vary depending on the number of bedrooms, square footage and location of the home. Usually, a 2BHK in Pune will go for about Rs18,000 to Rs 25,000 a month. In addition to this, you will have to put down a security deposit and may have to pay monthly maintenance. Here is an overview of the rents in Pune:

1 BHK: Rs 10,000 – Rs 18,000
2 BHK: Rs 22,000 – Rs 40,000
3 BHK: Rs 30,000 – Rs 70,000
Paying Guest (PG): Rs 7000 – Rs 12,000

2. Commuting costs in Pune

Pune doesn’t have a well-developed public transport system so it makes sense to rent or buy a home close to your workplace if you don’t have a vehicle of your own. City buses, fun by the PMPML are networked throughout the city, however, these are often crowded and unreliable. At around Rs 15 to Rs 50 a ride, it is very affordable. Auto-rickshaws are a popular mode of transport, at Rs 17 for minimum fare and Rs 11 for additional kilometres. Taxi fare starts at Rs 50 (minimum fare) and is Rs 18 per additional kilometre. Fuel costs are at around Rs 107 per litre.

3. Utilities costs in Pune

When it comes to monthly utility bills, you should include expenses such as mobile phone bill, internet bull, gas, electricity, building maintenance, etc. Your total utility bill for the month, therefore, will vary according to your need. In total, for one person, these bills can be estimated at around Rs 2000 to Rs 5000 per month.

4. Childcare and school fees in Pune

This will vary according to the type of school you send your child to. While a regular preschool costs around Rs 2,500 per month, an international board school can cost as much as Rs 10,000 a month for preschool classes. Here are some estimates of school fees in Pune for one child:

Preschool or Kindergarten, monthly: Rs 5000 to Rs 7000
Primary Schools, monthly: Rs 7000 to Rs 10,000
International Primary School, Yearly: Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh

5. Grocery costs in Pune

Pune tends to be less expensive when it comes to shopping for foodstuffs than bigger cities such as Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. If you love cooking meals at home, this can bring down your monthly food costs. If you don’t like cooking, but would still prefer to eat homely meals, getting a cook is a great option. This will cost you just Rs 2000 to Rs 4000 per month.

6. Eating out costs in Pune

If you go to a mid-range restaurant, expect to spend around Rs 500 to Rs 700 per person (without alcohol) for a meal. There are many great restaurants in Pune to suit all price points. Of course, you can get cheaper meal options for as little as Rs 50- Rs 100 at local eateries. Similarly, you can spend thousands of rupees in some of Pune’s fine-dining, posh restaurants if you are looking for a celebratory experience.

When the owners of different apartments come together to form an association that can work for the common good of members and achieve collective goals, they are said to have formed AOA. AOA full form is Apartment Owners Association. The association is charged with enforcing different rules and regulations and also providing welfare services to the residents. AOA is the primary body responsible for addressing the problems of the residents from time to time.

What are the things required to form the Apartment Owners Association?

Following are some of the prerequisites that need to be considered to form the apartment owners association.

• At least seven members should come together to form the apartment owners Association. The members include important stakeholders like owners and managers. The president presides over the association and is assisted by the vice president. The General Body manages the overall functions and the treasurer looks after the finances.
• Apartment association registration is one of the most crucial steps as it gives a statutory backing to the management body.
• A charter needs to be created by the association that guides the overall working as well as the memorandum of operating procedure. The charter highlights the overall objectives of the association and impresses upon the members to achieve them.
• The statutory functions of the body are guided by the different types of laws and bylaws of the association. These laws are used for effective governance mechanisms of the association. It is also pertinent that the charter and the laws be written down and signed by the members.

What are the documents required for AOA registration?

Some of the important documents that are required for AOA registration and flat owners registration online include:

• A document containing the society name as well as the address.
• A letter of proposal for establishing the association that is addressed to the Registrar and duly signed by the members of the executive body.
• A document containing the minutes of the first meeting of the general body of the association.
• A Memorandum containing the different terms, rules and regulations of flat owner association and other legal details pertaining to the association.
• A standard fee that needs to be paid to get the association formally registered.

What are the duties and roles of the AOA Management Committee?

The duties of the members of the association form a strong overlap with the roles that they are designated.

1. President

The president sits at the top of the hierarchy of the association and ensures that the funds that are collected are used for the overall welfare of the residents.

2. Vice president

The vice president assumes the charge of the presidentship in the absence of the president. In addition to this, he assists the president in the discharge of his duties.

3. Secretary

The secretary of the association is the chief convenor for the meetings of the general body. He is also responsible for discharging the administrative functions of the association. He also oversees the apartment association election process.

4. Treasurer

The treasurer is the chief financial officer of the association and is mainly responsible for accounting and disbursal of funds and other expenses.

AOA Members

A wide gamut of roles and responsibilities are reserved for the AOA members. It is pertinent for them to attend the general meeting and render their valuable opinion. By virtue of their valuable votes, they decide the structure of the main body. They play an important role in various welfare activities at the grassroot level. Apartment owners association bylaws help the AOA members to fulfill their roles and duties responsibly.

What are the benefits of registering AOA?

Following are some of the benefits of registering Apartment Owners Association:

1. Rules, laws and regulations

The registration of the apartment owners association gives the mandate to enforce certain rules, laws and regulations upon the members of the society at large. The registration process also gives the power to the body to impose fines or punish the members in case of violation of rules.

2. Maintenance activities and grievance redressal

Statutory backing for the apartment owners association allows it to start various types of cultural and maintenance activities on its own. Different types of grievances of the members can be addressed by the general body of the association with the help of other stakeholders once it is registered.

3. Safety and security

The process of registration allows the association to draft various types of rules related to the security of the area. This also allows the association to maintain harmony and a peaceful environment that is necessary for the amicable functioning as well as execution of routine tasks.

4. Legal backing

The association can also take legal action against the construction agency if it does not meet quality standards. For instance, the process of registration gives the power to the association to sue the construction agency if any anomalies are witnessed in the structure of the building.

4. Legal backing

The association can also take legal action against the construction agency if it does not meet quality standards. For instance, the process of registration gives the power to the association to sue the construction agency if any anomalies are witnessed in the structure of the building.

5. Maintenance of records

The association also gets the mandate to maintain a diary of records as well as ownership records after it is registered. This not only ensures transparency within the association but also helps in smooth conduct of other functions.

5. Maintenance of records

The association also gets the mandate to maintain a diary of records as well as ownership records after it is registered. This not only ensures transparency within the association but also helps in smooth conduct of other functions.

6. Taxes and transactions

In addition to this, the association also becomes eligible to pay various types of taxes after it has been registered. The association also becomes eligible to open a bank account after the process of registration that aids in various financial transactions.

What are the byelaws of AOA?

• It is highly likely that the decisions taken by the AOA may not take into account the opinion of each and every member since a majority vote prevails.
• Decision making process is stalled and the course of action and implementation is less smooth if all the board members do not consent to a particular motion under consideration.
• There is a possibility of a disagreement between the managing body and the general body. In this case, the decision taken by the general body is final and cannot be challenged.
• The bye laws that are drafted by the association do not have a binding effect like the laws of a cooperative. Although the association can impose certain penalties in case of violation of rules, they can’t expel members like the cooperative body.

Disadvantages of an AOA

Some of the important bye laws of AOA include:

• The registration of the act is done under the society act or the flat owners act.
• The minimum number of people required to form an association under statute should be 10 and each should have the age of 18 or above during the time of registration.
• Regulations concerning the eviction of certain members in extraordinary circumstances.
• Detailed rules and regulations concerning the payment of fees as well as the imposition of penalties in case of delay in payments.
• Clauses related to the qualifications of the members as well as the terms and conditions for their appointment and reappointment.

FAQs on Apartment Owners Association

Who has the right to cancel the AOA?

When the association fails to meet the requirements as well as the standards prescribed for them, the Registrar reserves the right to cancel the AOA.

What is the timeline to get the association registered?

The association should be registered within three months of its formation under the society registration act.

How are the members of the association selected?

Upon the unanimous consent by the members of the apartment, the members of the association are selected for a period of one year.