When Ratan Tata talked about his Nano dream, some enterprising builders promised the car free with a high-end apartment. Now, the Tatas are all set to reverse the equation — they are making Nano apartments that auto makers could well offer free with their hot wheels.

Tata Housing, a Tata Group company, on Wednesday unveiled its pan-India Shubh Griha brand, launching a low-cost housing township in Boisar, 98 km from south Mumbai and six stations after Virar on the western line. The upcoming complex, spread over 67 acres, is about 2.8 kms from the Boisar railway station and will have 1,000 small flats, the smallest measuring 283 sq ft of super built up area (SBUA) at Rs 1,380 per sq ft.

“We are looking at first-time buyers earning a steady Rs 3 lakh to 5 lakh a year. Hordes of people travel daily between Mumbai and Boisar to work and this will be a good opportunity for them to shift to Boisar instead of living in rented accommodation,’’ said Brotin Banerjee, MD and CEO of Tata Housing. Possession will be given in 2011.

Banerjee said Tata Housing will start similar projects under the ‘Shubh Griha’ brand in the national capital region (Delhi) and Bangalore in the current fiscal. It also plans to replicate such projects in Chennai and Kolkata followed by other Tier-I and Tier-II cities.In the first phase, the company will construct 1,000 apartments priced at between Rs 3.90 lakh and Rs 6.70 lakh excluding stampduty.

However, the these flats are tiny in size - a small one room kitchen unit will have a super built up area (SBUA) of just 283 sq ft while a large one room kitchen will measure 360 sq ft SBUA. The biggest flat (465 sq ft SBUA) will contain a bedroom, hall and kitchen. The difference between SBUA and actual carpet area of these flats would be 20% to 25%, said Banerjee.

However, Banerjee said the Boisar township will also contain amenities such as hospital, school, post office, market, community hall, play garden and open landscaped area.

Application form booklets will be sold for Rs 200 each at State Bank of India branches and flats will be allotted by a lottery. “We have a clause that prohibits the buyer from selling for at least nine months after allotment, to discourage speculators,’’ said Banerjee.

The Boisar project is being developed by Tata Housing in a joint venture with an unidentified land owner. The company expects a Rs 100 crore turnover from this project.

Source: TNN