COVER STORY Chhattisgarh’s new hi-tech administrative capital is setting new goals for Indian cities and their planners. Nishka Rathi explores the stories and the ideas behind India’s first
greenfield integrated smart city.

Making India Cities - Disaster Free! 
India is highly exposed to a range of natural hazards… These physical factors, combined with the country’s high population density, poverty, rapid urbanisation, and environmental degradation, make India most at risk of disaster-related displacement in all of South Asia. A robust disaster management plan is required to ensure that in the occurrence of such situations, a fool-proof plan to equip the city or region to bounce back at the earliest is framed and communicate

According to available estimates, by 2030 the supply of water in India will be half its demand. If the consumption of water continues at the current pace, experts predict that our cities will be dry by 2040. The Indian Government is now moving swiftly to arrest this looming calamity by ensuring public awareness on wastage, better water management across states and bringing forth a stable irrigation policy. Rinku Banerjee reports.

Naya Raipur is fast growing as a smart city. Yet within its hi-tech concept lies a concern for environment. Nishka Rathi delves into the green heart of this smart city.

In our March edition’s cover story, one can see a glimpse of the super speed Bullet Train and other focuses lay upon the work being done to make our country future ready.
We have highlighted, the Auroville Earth Institute in Pondicherry, the Mayo college in Rajasthan, Brain Museum in Bangalore and interviewed Rahul Nahar of Xrbia Developers where we have discussed their work, contribution and collection in detail.
Along with these in our other sections, you will get expert advice on home loan, value of your body’s important function, rich food of old Delhi, tradition in Assam, Zodiac, Numerology, and Good times and much more.


PUBLIC SPACES If you ever were to give an example of fine luxury and grandeur to a friend, you could take them to the Maharaja’s Palace in Mysuru. This official residence of the Wodeyar dynasty is a visual spectacle.

VAASTU BASED CITY For almost 800 years it was one of the busiest and most happening parts of the sub-continent, attracting traders, craftsmen and migrants from different areas. Lothal, the once vibrant port and hub – and developed on Vaastu principles – is likely to see a revival with the government planning a maritime university and a museum.

PUBLIC SPACES MANY historic monuments over the years have become an integral part of the nation’s culture. Today, we takea walk though the timelines of two such structures that have become a vital part of India’s history.

PUBLIC SPACES Assam. The land of beautiful hillside and valleys, gardens and scenic landscapes, also hides a secret: a dark secret about black magic and cursed objects. Mayong Central emporium is a collection of such objects and artefacts.

Age no bar for enterprising young Indians, Battle drones, Polaroid pop and some cool gadgets, Avacado cheese taco boats.

PUBLIC SPACES Railways form nerve centre of Indian economy. It has a rich history. Join us as we take you on a joyride to the one place where all the history is preserved with love and care.

INFRASTRUCTURE The Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, which is rapidly coming up in the state, is set to transform urban India dramatically.

Reviving an ancient city:
Today, Amravati is being developed as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, after the breakup of the southern state, and the formation of Telangana, which has Hyderabad as its capital. Our cover story this time features on this historic city and how the state government is unfolding ambitious plans to develop Amravati.

Designing cities in modern India continues to be a passion for many architects. One such renowned personality is the focus of our expansive feature-Dishu C. Kukreja, who is armed with M.Arch degree in urban design from Harvard University, and manages CP Kukreja Architects.

Eminent tax expert and chartered accountant, Namann Pipara, analyses- and simplifies- the new GST regime, which is being introduced from July. "I am very confident that India owing to its entrepreneurial spirit will adopt the new tax regime successfully within reasonable time," avers the professional.

Transforming India

INDIA is on the path of a revolution that promises to transform the country – both in urban and rural areas – dramatically in a few years. And to witness this unfolding revolution is indeed a great privilege, which many of us have had the good fortune of experiencing.

Our cover story this time focuses on the third anniversary of the National Democratic Alliance government. Good governance and development are two sides of the same coin and our Prime Minister is well aware about this.

The cover story talks about his dynamic and bold moves and how it has impacted the Indian economy and development across the country.

An interesting interview we have in the issue is with eminent architect and designer Prem Nath, whose firm entered its 50th year of operations. For me personally, interacting with this respected architect has indeed been a great learning. It shows how hard work, perseverance, and passion for perfection, along with child-like energy lead to success.

Another interesting interview that we feature in this issue is one with Alphonsus Stoelinga, the Ambassador of the Netherlands to India. For fans and followers of Anna Hazare, there’s an insightful interaction with him at his village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra.

Of course, we also have all our regular features covering a wide range of topics. These will as usual stimulate your reading buds. Enjoy!

Time to improve rural education SCHOOLS in rural areas may not boast of sophisticated facilities that some of the modern institutes in cities have, but many of the village schools in India have nurtured students who have come out with flying colours in board exams, got through tough entrance tests and have got admission to prestigious institutions.

One of the biggest challenges in a country the size of India is to feed the 1.3-billion-plus people. For a country that has been ravaged by severe droughts in the past, and where memories of starvation deaths in pre-Independence days are still fresh in our minds, India has indeed made rapid progress in agriculture. Today, we are a leading agricultural nation, exporting food grains and a host of other commercial crops. From being an importer of wheat – under the PL-480 plan – in the 1960s, we have enough to feed our people. And while agriculture’s share in the GDP has fallen significantly in recent years, thanks to the emergence of the services sector, it still provides livelihood to more than 700 million Indians.

Looking ahead: the next 15 years EDITOR’S NOTE AS we welcome a New Year, it is time to ponder over the highs and lows of the year just gone by. 2015 has had its share of ups and downs, but I believe overall it has been a good year for India. At a time when major global economies – including the Euro area countries, the UK, Japan, the Asean-5, Russia, Brazil and South Africa – are grappling with recessionary pressures, India has done exceedingly well. India is today the fastest-growing large economy, expanding at a faster clip than even China. Several innovative programs of the government, such as the Make in India initiative, have brought in billions of dollars in foreign direct investment.

Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016 EDITOR’S NOTE AS winter sets in, we are also preparing to bid goodbye to 2015, an eventful year for India. It was also the year when Indian Railways, one of the biggest transporters of people and freight in the world, embarked on a new journey. Our cover story highlights the dramatic changes that are being planned by the government to transform this organization, which is the lifeline of the nation. If the plans materialize over the next few years, Indian Railways will be introducing bullet trains – linking cities such as Ahmadabad and Mumbai - develop a high-speed diamond quadrilateral, set up dedicated freight corridors and establish world-class railway stations..

Wildlife conservation –
Our Lifeline
Editor’s Note
Preserving, protecting and
conserving our wildlife is a
major concern as the threats
increase with every passing
day. Sadly, there continues
to be a spurt in the number
of animals and birds being
poached by global criminal
syndicates, who kill these
creatures for their hide, fur,
bones, claws, teeth and flesh.
In this month’s cover story,
we focus on India’s wildlife
conservation efforts, the
enormous assets that the
country has and also the
constant efforts by poachers to
kill or maim animals and birds

The Art-Beat of India

Before I elaborate what this month’s Urban Vaastu has in store for you, I’d like to thank all our readers for your whole-hearted support and encouragement throughout the year. We celebrate our first anniversary in October and look forward to informing and educating you for many more years to come.

E-Commerce Reveloution in India
The e-commerce revolution in India has indeed transformed the way millions of consumers
shop groceries, fruits and vegetables, electronic goods, music and books, book their tickets,
order food, make hotel reservations and carry out many other transactions. Though this
transformation began a few years ago, it has accelerated over the past few months especially
with a large number of new e-commerce portals sprouting up.
This has brought the world closer now as buying and selling of a wide range of products and
services is just a click away. The world is in our palms, and a flick on your smartphone can get
you what you desire. (Of course, the basic fact remains that you need money for doing this).
Consumers save time, energy, money and other resources.
And that the e-commerce revolution has occurred in a ‘smarter’ world is no surprise.

The Monsoon effect ‘Woh kagaz ki kashti, wo barish ka pani…’ The melodious ghazal by Jagjit Singh touched millions of hearts and made one feel nostalgic. Even today, monsoons have a way of bringing back bitter sweet childhood memories. They have a way of reminding us about those carefree times when the first downpour would bring excitement, even as the dark overhead sky thundered, as if telling us to rejoice in its glory.

Tackling the health crisis

There is an epidemic out there in Indian cities, but unlike epidemics of the past, this is not related to a communicable disease. Worryingly, the  cardiovascular disease epidemic that is
raging across urban India is increasingly attacking the young, especially those at the peak of
their productive lives – men in their 20s, 30s and 40s, professionals who’ve acquired the best
of qualifications and are working in leading corporates.
High-stress levels, irregular work hours, sedentary lifestyles, improper food habits including
consumption of junk food, excessive smoking and drinking and lack of exercise are factors that
are seeing an increasing number of Indians succumb to cardiovascular diseases. Sadly, for a
country that has for centuries nurtured and encouraged stress-busting concepts including yoga
and meditation, it is a travesty that an increasing number of young people are becoming victims
to these ailments.
But even as an increasing number of Indians are succumbing to lifestyle diseases, the country is emerging as a major hub for medical
tourism, with thousands of patients from around the globe seeking remedies for a range of ailments. Foreigners are seeking treatment
for several diseases, getting organ transplants done and also routine surgeries and procedures because of the excellent quality of tertiary
healthcare in India and the presence of an army of skilled doctors and medical professionals.

Our cover story focuses on India’s dynamic healthcare sector, which has made great strides in recent years.

Our cover story in this issue focuses on the amazing changes that are occurring on the home automation front in India, as information technology and telecom companies roll out new products and services. And real estate developers are also designing smart homes that will make these once esoteric concepts a reality.

Despite the remarkable technological changes that are occurring in the designing of homes, ultimately a building should be architecturally beautiful so as to “move you in mind and spirit… challenge and stimulate your intellect,” and “leave you both calm and in awe,” as our columnist, Hong Kong-based cybercture pioneer James Law, so eloquently writes in his column, describing true beauty in architecture.
.
One city in India’s neighbourhood that is extremely tech-savvy and ‘smart’ is Singapore, where almost everything works with clockwork precision. Our travel feature this time focuses on the city-state, which is not only a shopper’s paradise, an efficiently administered metropolis and a green haven, but also a commuter-friendly place.
Other interesting features in this issue include a piece on Mumbai’s central suburbs, on Gandhinagar, Gujarat’s green and well planned capital, and on the concept of industrial corridors. Plus, we have our usual features focusing on Home and office space and Heritage and culture. So sit back, relax and enjoy reading

The summer exodus
FORTY…41…42.5…43. The mercury is on a relentless rise and temperatures in most parts of India are soaring. Millions of Indians would be busy packing their bags and preparing to head out to the mountains and cooler climes of hill stations. School children and college kids would have finished their exams and are eagerly looking forward to that long vacation.
Summer time is holiday time in India and millions of Indians will be enjoying their dream holidays. Indeed, it might come as a surprise to many of our readers that a mind-boggling 1.2 billion domestic tourists travel across the country every year. In contrast, less than 7.5 million foreign tourists visit the country.
India’s domestic tourism sector – comprising hotels and resorts, tour operators, taxi and car rental firms, retailers, vendors at informal bazaars and of course airlines – is booming as the travel bug bites millions of Indians. Our cover story this month focuses on this remarkable business that has transformed dramatically in recent years.
In our Urban Spaces section we talk about Mumbai’s western suburbs, where new projects keep popping up with amazing frequency. Our guest columnist this month, Shobhit Agarwal, managing director of the capital markets division of international property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle (now known as JLL), writes about the new curbs imposed by the Reserve Bank of India on inflows into the real estate sector from a few countries.
In our Heritage and Culture section, we have inspiring write-ups on Lord Hanuman and on Goswami Tulsi Das, the composer of Ram Charita Manas. In the Home and Office Spaces section, read about how to do up your study rooms, while Dr Ravi Rao’s Vaastu Tips has special advice for those planning these rooms.

IN an era when the institution of marriage is under enormous strain,  especially in the western world, it is heartening for us in India that this beautiful coming together of two individuals and the concomitant social covenant – entered into with the blessings of elders and the endorsement of relatives and friends – continues to strengthen our society.  A marriage is still considered a sacred act and most parents eagerly look forward to the day their sons and daughters enter into a blissful alliance with their  respective partners. Most parents, irrespective of their economic background, start saving for their children’s weddings by investing in gold and other ornaments from an early age. Undoubtedly, the ratio of wedding expenses to incomes must be among the highest in India by any yardstick.
Our cover story in this month’s edition of Urban Vaastu focuses on the Big Fat Indian Wedding. Continuing our focus on growth hubs in urban India, we take a look at central Mumbai, one of the most vibrant property markets in the country. We also feature Ahmedabad – both historic and contemporary. And in our travel section, read all about that great European city, Paris. April will see millions of Hindus celebrate Ram Navami, which marks the birth of Lord Rama, the Maryada Purshottama (the perfect man). In the interview section of the magazine you will get to know the views of Pinaki Misra, the MP from Puri – and chairperson of Parliament’s standing committee on urban development – on a host of contemporary issues confronting the sector. We also feature an article by Anshuman Magazine, a real estate industry veteran and head of the India practice of CBRE, a leading international real estate services firm.James Law, the internationally renowned architect – who is also on our
advisory board – has an interesting piece on how to choose and get the best out of an architect.

MARCH may bring the curtains down on the financial year of the Indian
government, various state governments and of the corporate sector, but for
millions of students, it is just the start of an anxious period, when the knowledge that they have acquired over the past few months in classrooms will be tested.
India’s education system is undergoing dramatic changes, with governments renewing their focus on this crucial subject. India has had a mixed record in education – some of our prestigious institutions, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institutes of Management have produced the brightest of professionals, many of who are heading multinational corporations, research academies, or even university departments. At the same time, India’s track-record when it comes to providing primary and secondary education, especially to the
poorer sections of society, is dismal.
In the current issue of Urban Vaastu, we focus on the education scenario in
the country, highlighting both the positives and the drawbacks. We appeal to our readers to spend some time in sharing your knowledge with the under-privileged;instead of giving a rupee to a needy person, it would be far better to provide useful insights, to help them stand on their own feet and support their family.
In this issue, we have introduced a travel column; Kunal Patel, an eminent architect, who is also on the advisory board of Urban Vaastu, will take
time off from his busy schedule to describe some of the wonderful journeys he has undertaken around the globe. The first column that he signs off covers his memorable visit to Istanbul.

Our cover story focuses on the pitiable state of our sports infrastructure. We talk to experts to find out the reasons for the continuing neglect of facilities for different sports.
In the January issue of the magazine, we featured an interview with globally
renowned architect James Law and spoke of his remarkable work. This time, we carry the second part of the interview, where he tells us that India needs to build a strong basic foundation to ensure the success of its ambitious Smart Cities plan.
Our guest columnist, Anuj Puri, the chairman and country head of JLL India,
focuses on the growing number of ‘green buildings’ that are being developed across the country. He believes greater awareness is the key to raise demand for green projects in India. In the architecture section of this issue, you will find an interesting piece on clock towers, which were once popular in many leading cities.
The advisory column highlights the many challenges that a home buyer faces while acquiring that dream home. We also provide useful tips for the potential home buyer. The Celebrity Home feature provides you an insight into the lovely Ahmedabad home of world billiard champ Geet Sethi and his wife, Kiran Bir Sethi, a designer, educationist and social entrepreneur.
Plus we feature many other interesting and informative articles on Indian
heritage and culture.

INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to invite American President Barack Obama to be the chief guest at this year’s Republic Day parade in New Delhi is a landmark move that will bring two of the world’s leading democracies even closer.
Ties between the two countries have been on an upswing, despite some minor hiccups along the way, in recent years.Bilateral trade between the two nations, currently around the $100 billionmark,is projected to rise to $500 billion over the next few years. Both leading economies are dependent on each other to a great extent. America needs engineering, information technology, medical and research professionals from India to ensure that its universities, space academies, research bodies, hospitals
and corporates – from established ones to start-ups – continue to grow and
pioneer new innovations. It also needs cheap drugs from India, textiles, software services, business and knowledge process services, besides a range of other products and commodities.
India as a huge market of 1.25 billion people also offers tremendous
opportunities for US companies eager to expand their operations.
India’s funding needs are also humungous, especially in the areas of urban
development, infrastructure, financial services, civilian nuclear technology and even in the social sectors. Besides, India also needs cutting-edge technology to improve efficiencies in several sectors. If these two great democracies work together and collaborate in several areas, the world – besides hundreds of millions of their citizens – will gain significantly. Our cover story focuses on the opportunities that this new equation throws up.

WHILE India is undergoing rapid urbanisation, with millions of people migrating to cities from rural areas, there is a corresponding increase in crimes that occur in our cities. 
Our cover story in this issue – Smart City, Smart Crime, Smart Policing, – takes an in-depth look at this growing problem. Kidnapping, crimes against women, terrorist attacks, extremist violence and land grabbing are some of the major crimes that confront some parts of urban India today. Many of the police forces in our cities are getting modernised, with the state governments spending billions of rupees in upgrading their weapons,
communication systems, transport and other infrastructure.
The central government is also coordinating the efforts and beefing up the
security forces to ensure that citizens are protected from a variety of crimes. We speak to several experts to find out solutions to this problem.
In our Heritage & Culture sections, we have two interesting articles. One
looks at the mystery of the visit of Jesus Christ to India and his travels across the sub-continent. The other elaborates on the importance of the
Bhagvad Gita on the occasion of Shukla Ekadashi, which marks the
birth of the Gita.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the capital markets
regulator, has cleared the way for property-backed investment vehicles. We analyse the impact of the entry of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), both on the real estate sector and the capital markets. We also feature an interview with Mr Kirti Shah, Partner, M&A Tax and Regulatory Services at Desai Hari Bhakti, on the investment potential and possible returns from REITs.

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URBAN VAASTU focusses on the creation and expansion of planned urban spaces across India and International as well. The thought has been there for few years and it gives us great satisfaction as we have begun this journey from October 2014.Till date we have released 42 editions.

The main aim of the magazine is to cover the futuristic plans of many sectors like Infrastructure,Real Estate,Building materials,Education,Hospitality,Power,Facilities,Railways,Police,Policies and the Governments vision for creating the rising urban spaces and How better planning and perfect implementation will help the country to go further.

There are experts as columnists, world renowned corporate consultants and a variety of seniors from various fields in the Advisory and the Editorial board from across India and abroad.

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