Pune Cycle Plan – Memoir – Cycle Town Pune

I read an article on a Cycle Plan for Pune being contemplated by the Pune Municipal Corporation 
( url : https://punecycleplan.wordpress.com/ ) 

This reminded me on an article I had written a few years ago titled CYCLE TOWN PUNE 

CYCLE TOWN PUNE 
A Punekar Walks Down Memory Lane
By
VIKRAM KARVE

I wrote a series of articles around 6 years ago on the Pune of Yesteryear  

As I observed the chaotic traffic this morning – I recalled a piece I wrote called CYCLE TOWN PUNE – harking back to memories of the 1960’s and 1970’s when Pune was known as the Cycle Capital of India. 

In theory – it is possible to ride a bicycle even today – especially on BRTS Roads – which have dedicated “Cycle Tracks”.

But – in practice – it is not feasible to commute on cycles – since the cycle tracks are encroached upon/damaged and are unfit for cycling (even the pedestrian lanes are encroached and are unfit for walking).

Of course – cycling on roads had become dangerous due to the heavy and chaotic traffic.

But – this was not so in the Pune of Yesteryear – when – the bicycle was the primary mode of transportation – and – we enjoyed cycling all over – and – Pune was indeed a “Cycle Town”.

Let me share some memories of those carefree days of cycling.

I am sure you will enjoy these reminiscences – and maybe – this will tempt you to  hark back to your good old days and memories of your hometown too. 

Please do let me know if you liked this article and comment – I look forward to your feedback.

A PUNEKAR WALKS DOWN MEMORY LANE

CYCLE TOWN PUNE – A Memoir by VIKRAM KARVE

When I was a small boy (in the 1960’s) – and later in the 1970’s – we used to cycle all over Pune. 

Pune was a Cycle-Town.

In the 1960’s – Poona (as Pune was called then) – was known as the “Cycle Capital” of India – since Pune had the maximum number of cycles.

But – with the advent and proliferation of scooters – this honour of “Cycle Capital” was taken over by Delhi – and Pune became the “Scooter Capital” of India.

Let’s hark back to the 1960s – and talk about Cycle Town Pune

Those days 90% of the vehicles on the roads were Bicycles.

A few Scooters could be seen zipping by – and occasionally – an Ambassador or Fiat Car would appear on the roads.

Auto-rickshaws were beginning to make their appearance – and the PMT Bus was the second-most popular mode of transportation after the bicycle. 

If you do not believe me – you just watch the scene from the iconic Hindi Movie Sangam (1964) – where Raj Kapoor can be seen merrily cycling down Jangli Maharaj Road Pune (then known as “80 Feet Road” – the widest road in Pune those days).

As I said – in those days – Pune was a “cycle town”. 

You just picked up your bicycle – and you went wherever you wanted to. 

Today – I dare not try to cycle on the roads of Pune – unless I want to land up in a hospital with my bones broken – or worse still – in the morgue – with my body crushed to pulp. 

There is just no place for the poor cyclist to cycle in the murderous traffic of Pune. 

In fact – in Pune – the only place you can cycle are on the cycle-lanes on those small stretches of the BRTS routes – which thankfully have still not been encroached upon (of course – even here – you risk being knocked down by a motorcyclist) – or you can pedal away on those obscure cycle-tracks which take you nowhere.

Those days – in the 1960’s and 1970’s – cycling was the primary means of transportation (I cycled a minimum of 20 kms everyday during my college days)

Nowadays – for most young Punekars – cycling is a hobby – a sport – a recreation – a “passion” – or – an “environment friendly” thing to do.

Those days – in the 1960’s and 1970’s – cycling was the primary means of transportation. 

That’s why today you have all types of fancy bikes (which cost the roof) – and snobbish people want to show off their cycles as “status symbols” whenever they get off their expensive limousines and take a rare bike ride wearing funny outfits and contraptions like gloves, helmets et al.

There are Terrain Bikes, Sports Bikes, BMX Bikes, Racing Bikes – all sorts of hybrid combinations – which look good – but are most uncomfortable to ride. 

Sometime ago – I took a long ride on a youngster’s MTB – and got such a pain in my you-know-where that I thought I had got hernia.

In my younger days – it was not “snob appeal” – but it was “utility value” that governed the design of bicycles. 

The predominant cycle those days was the “Roadster” (in bicycle parlance). 

The Roadster was a utility bicycle designed for practical transportation – unlike the fancy bikes of today which are primarily designed for recreation and for showing-off. 

The “Roadster” Bicycle was designed for “Occupational Commuting” – and it was designed to give you a comfortable ride. 

As I said earlier – those days – you did not ride a bike to burn calories.

A cycle was the primary means of transportation – and you commuted from one place to another on a cycle. 

Of course – fitness was a by-product – as in my college days I used to cycle about 20 Kilometres every day breathing fresh unpolluted air and this was healthy exercise. 

We cycled in our normal clothes – and not in “biking wear” – and that’s why the Roadster Design Bicycle had proper mudguards and chain guards to keep it clean. 

In addition to comfort – the qualities we looked for in a cycle were sturdiness, durability and endurance.

A cycle was a permanent long term acquisition – not a “use and throw” item. 

Well – if you go to Bicycle Shop today – you may not find the humble “Roadster” displayed along with those fancy fashionable bikes.

In fact – there is a proliferation of high-falutin Cycle Malls in Pune selling all sorts of fancy and expensive bicycles.

But if you look on the roads – you will see that the redoubtable Roadster is still going strong.

And if you care to go to the mofussil – you will see that this humble Roadster Cycle is still the predominant mode of transportation. 

And – if you go to those good old cycle marts in Budhwar Peth in Pune – you will see that these unpretentious bikes are still selling in plenty.

When we were children – there were no “kiddie” or “children’s” bikes to pamper us.

We learnt how to cycle the hard way on the hardy adult roadster bikes – which entailed many falls and bruises – including one on my forehead – the scar of which is prominently visible even today. 

I learnt how to cycle when I was 7 years old – but I got my first cycle in 1968 – on my 12^th Birthday. 

Until then – I used to hire a bike on an hourly basis from one of the many “Cycle Marts” that adorned almost every street corner of Pune – or manage a ride my uncle’s cycle whenever he was not using it.

The moment it was announced that I would be getting a bike as a birthday gift – I was very excited.

My friends and I started our market survey.

Which cycle did I want?

There were so many brands to choose from. 

At the top end was the matchless Humber – the prized crème de la crème brand from Raleigh Cycles. 

The Humber Men’s Roadster had a unique double-fork – a duplex fork design which had two tubes for absorbing shocks better – and a frictionless chain for a smooth ride.

Owing to all these refinements – the Humber Cycle gave you the ultimate in riding comfort. 

Now my Dad had given me a budget of Rs. 200 – and the Humber which cost around 400 bucks was out of the question – as were other premium brands of cycles like Raleigh, Rudge, Buke and BSA. 

So I had to choose from Hercules, Phillips, Hind Superb, Hero, Eastern Star, Avon or Atlas – which were the popular bicycle brands those days. 

At first – I wanted to buy a Phillips Cycle which looked very handsome and every Phillips Roadster bicycle had embossed on its badge its famous motto: “Renowned the World Over”. 

But the dealer insisted that I try the latest model of Atlas (which he claimed was sturdy and comfortable – and it had the best bearings – and the cycle was long lasting, economical and ideal for a student like me).

So I took a “test ride” – and acquired an Atlas Cycle for the princely sum of a hundred and eight rupees (yes – Rs. 180 only).

I fitted my bike with a dynamo and light (for night riding) – a bell – a carrier – and a sleek stand – and a basket.

As I rode my brand new shining black Atlas cycle – I felt on top of the world.

Here is a picture of me and my large size 24” Atlas Cycle taken 48 years ago in 1968 (when I was 12 years old)

Vikram Karve with his Atlas Cycle (Circa 1968)

This Atlas Cycle rendered yeoman’s service (I told you that I said I cycled about 20 kilometers every day) – and my bicycle accompanied me all over on my cycling trips – including one touring UP and Bihar – where we just carried our cycles in the second class train compartment – and we got down wherever we wanted – and cycled away for our sightseeing – and caught a train again at the nearest station. 

No one dared to ask any questions – because we were “students”.

I used my rugged Atlas Cycle for over 15 years – and it was still going strong – when I gave it away to a needy student (this redoubtable bike was fully  operational when I last saw it when the cycle was 30 years old in the year 1998). 

Soon – I bought a brand new Hero Roadster Cycle for around three hundred bucks (Rs. 300 only) – which I used for cycling all around town – whenever I came to Pune on my weekend trips or holidays from Mumbai – where my ship was based. 

Though I had acquired a scooter by then – which I used for “family” outings – I still rode my bike for my solitary travels in Pune. 

Alas – my newly acquired wife refused to ride “double-seat” with me (à la Dev Anand and Mumtaz in the movie Tere Mere Sapne) – though my wife had been an avid cyclist and she rode a ladies cycle herself in college. 

By the way – riding double-seat – and without a light at night – were traffic offences.

If a cop caught you without a light at night – or riding double-seat on your bike – he would deflate your tyres as punishment – and you would have to walk all the way dragging your cycle along. 

For parking your cycle – there was cycle-stands all over – in cinemas – at railway stations – in parks – everywhere.

Till the 1980’s – in Pune – the bicycle was still the most popular mode of transportation – since – in Pune – distances were not that much – and – the traffic was not that heavy. 

But gradually – scooters were slowly taking over – as people were increasingly in a hurry to get wherever they wanted to go.

I quit cycling in Pune sometime in the end 1980’s – because cycling had become increasingly unsafe.

The traffic situation in Pune had become quite bad.

Heavy vehicles, buses, cars and scooters ruled the roost.

And after a few close shaves in the dangerous traffic – I decided to stop cycling on the streets of Pune.

Cycling keeps you healthy. 

Cycling also keeps you stress-free.

Those days – as I cycled to college or work – the physical effort while cycling helped remove my stress – unlike driving a car or scooter in the chaotic traffic of Pune – which drives you crazy. 

Almost everyone cycled to school and college – and – to work and back – all the way from the heart of Pune City – even to far-off places like the factories in Khadki and beyond. 

Cycling was a healthy affordable way of commuting.

Yes – cycling was primarily a means of travel – and not a competitive sport or a means of working out for exercise as it is now. 

Of course – exercise was a byproduct of cycling. 

I have decided to relive those good old days. 

So I am going to get myself a cycle – not a fancy bike – but an a old-style standard roadster bike – maybe I will try out the good old tried and tested Hercules Roadster Cycle this time. 

The only problem is that I will have to find a road to cycle on – besides a BRTS track nearby. 

I eagerly await the BRTS in Wakad so all of us can cycle down the bicycle track as people do on the BRTS route on Satara Road near Bibwewadi.

In the mornings and in the evenings – I watch the serpentine traffic moving at snail’s pace on the Wakad Hinjewadi Road.

I wonder how different things would have been if everyone rode bicycles to work like in yesteryear Pune. 

We would have a more healthy, unpolluted and stress-free Pune.

Happy Cycling.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
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Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

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© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

  

This is a revised and abridged version of an article that I wrote 6 years ago in 2010 in my series A PUNEKAR WALKS DOWN MEMORY LANE and earlier posted online on my blog in 2011 at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/08/cycle-town-pune.html andhttp://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/02/cycle-town-pune-memories-of-yesteryear.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/04/commuting-in-pune-50-years-ago.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/10/cycle-town-pune-memoir.html etc

Buying a Home : The Pollution Factor

BUYING A HOUSE IN PUNE - Part 18

THE POLLUTION FACTOR

Musings of a Clueless Novice Self-Styled Property Guru Part 18 

Continued from

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/12/buying-house-in-pune.html

POLLUTION AND YOUR HOME

Are You Buying a Polluted House

Home Buying Tips from a Clueless Novice Self-Styled Property Guru Part 18

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Disclaimer: 

I am a simple end-user novice and not an expert in Real Estate and these are my personal views. Please take my views with a pinch of salt and take your own views into consideration and do your own due diligence before you make any property purchase decisions.

There are many factors you consider while buying a house, in particular when selecting the location of your home.

I am sure you take into account various exoteric aspects like:

1. Class and Type of Locality (Status Value, Snob Appeal and Standard of Living Factors)

2. Amenities, Facilities and Social Infrastructure (Quality of Life Factors)

3. Connectivity and Proximity to your Workplace, Children’s Schools, Marketplace, Closeness to Residences of Relatives and Friends, Public Transport and Commuting Time (Convenience Factors)

4. Financial Factors like Price, Affordability and Investment Merit (appreciation and rental value)

5. Reputation of the Builder and Developer and Quality of Construction (Reliability Factors)

6. Architectural and Design Facets (Aesthetic Factors)

In addition to various exoteric factors, you may also consider some esoteric concepts like Vaastu Shastra and Feng Shui.

But tell me, do you think of POLLUTION when you buy a house?

Health is more important than Wealth, and pollution can affect your health. 

You can earn back lost money, but health once lost is lost forever. 

So while financial aspects like property rate and appreciation prospects are important, you must factor in the pollution aspect as well while making property buying decisions, especially if you are an end-user and from the long term perspective.

TYPES OF POLLUTION

There are 9 types of Pollution you must consider while buying a home:

1. AIR POLLUTION

2. WATER POLLUTION

3. SOIL or LAND POLLUTION

4. NOISE POLLUTION

5. ELECTROMAGNETIC POLLUTION or ELECTRO-POLLUTION

6. THERMAL or HEAT POLLUTION

7. LIGHT POLLUTION

8. OLFACTORY POLLUTION

9. VISUAL POLLUTION

In a nutshell, let us see the sources and effects of each of the above types of Pollution relevant to the context of residential property.

1. AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution can be in the form of particulate matter such as dust or in the form ofgases and vapours.

In cities, Vehicle Exhaust is the major cause of air pollution. With ever-increasing traffic, Diesel, Petrol and Gas Fumes are densely prevalent in urban areas.

Dust and Debris from ongoing construction work is a major source of air pollution especially in the newly developing suburbs of a city where extensive new construction, redevelopment or infrastructure building activity is in progress.

Air Pollutant Gases and Vapours may be present near Industrial Areas, Manufacturing Units, Distilleries, Chemical Factories, Steel Plants and Oil Refineries and even near places like crematoriums, brick kilns, Garbage Bins and Rubbish Dumps, Solid Waste Processing Units etc where items are burnt.

Air Pollution can seriously affect health, especially in children, causing and exacerbating various ailments, especially lung diseases and asthma.

2. WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution involves contaminated water, whether from chemical, particulate or bacterial matter that degrades water quality and purity.

When buying a house you must check up the source of water supply.

Is properly treated water from the municipal water treatment plant being supplied to the building or is it being sourced from bore-wells or some other place.

In Pune, there have been cases where possession of houses has been given without (or before) the connection of safe and treated potable water from the municipality.

In cases where the water is sourced from local or underground water bodies, soil pollution, infectious organisms and organic material decay may cause water pollution.

Water Pollution can also be caused by defects in plumbing (where sewage or contaminated water seeps into potable water lines).

The effects of water pollution on your health can be quite severe and cause diseases like jaundice.

3. SOIL or LAND POLLUTION

Soil Pollution sources include Garbage Dumps, Hazardous Waste, Sewage Spills, Pesticides and Dumping during construction activity.

Soil Pollution degrades hygiene and exacerbates other types of pollution including air, water and olfactory pollution.

4. NOISE POLLUTION

In Urban India, Noise Pollution is one of the most serious forms of pollution which is increasing at an alarming rate.

Sources of Noise Pollution include Road Traffic Noise, Air Traffic, Rail Traffic, Industrial Noise and irritating Noise created due to ongoing Construction Work.

In India, one of the main sources of Noise Pollution is Neighbourhood Noise.

Neighbourhood Noise can be due to proximity of Religious Places which may use loudspeakers for Devotional Music or Call for Prayers or during celebrations and festivities.

Noise Pollution due to Community Noise increases during the festivals, celebrations and marriages due to cracker bursting and loud music.

Marriage Halls, Recreation Grounds, Restaurants, Eateries, Liquor Shops, Bars and Discos, Night Life Entertainment Places, Cinema Halls, Educational Institutions like Schools and Colleges and Commercial Places are sources of Neighbourhood Noise too.

Living in a “Noisy Neighbourhood” can be a continuous irritant and annoyance which can affect your mood and take a toll on your health.

If your house is near a road, airport or railway line, be prepared for perpetual noise from various annoying sounds like honking of horns, flying aircraft, passage of trains and plying of vehicles.

If your house is near or above a parking lot or a busy road intersection, be prepared for unremitting house pollution.

In India, vehicular traffic is a big source of noise pollution.

Are you prepared to live in a noisy neighbourhood?

Or do you desire to live in a calm and quiet place?

You must consider both present and future Noise Pollution while selecting your home.

Today the place may seem quiet, but as the area gets developed the noise level may increase tremendously.

Today’s quiet neighbourhood may turn into a place of chaotic cacophony.

In most cities in India, noise pollution levels in residential areas is way above the safe norm due to poor urban planning and in some areas the noise may reach hazardous levels.

Noise pollution affects both health and behaviour – noise pollution affects you physically and mentally and causes you stress and hypertension.

Noise Pollution can damage psychological health, cause annoyance and aggression, hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and other harmful effects. Besides affecting your health and disturbing your peace of mind, Noise Pollution can seriously degrade your lifestyle.

5. ELECTROMAGNETIC POLLUTION or ELECTRO-POLLUTION

Electromagnetic Pollution or Electropollution is a relatively new form of pollution.

Electropollution occurs due to Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) from various sources like Mobile Cell Phone Towers, Electricity (HT) Power Lines, Radar, Microwave and Various Communication Lines and Transmission Antennas that are proliferating in urban areas which create Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) around your house.

Ongoing studies indicate that Electropollution may be hazardous to health in many ways.

In the past, most transmission antennas were located outside the city limits far away from human habitation, but nowadays with the expansion of cities and due to modern wireless communication needs like mobile phones, internet and wi-fi we live in an increasingly “wired world” and have transmitters all around us.

The least you can do when you buy a house is to look around and see whether there are any Mobile Phone Transmission Towers, Transmitting Antennas or HT Power Pylons and Electricity Transmission Lines nearby.

6. THERMAL or HEAT POLLUTION

Thermal pollution is excess heat that creates undesirable effects over long periods of time. Concrete Jungles due to Urban Sprawl is a major cause of Thermal Pollution in cities. It is also caused by Heat Emitting Devices like Airconditioners, Gensets, Electrical and Electronic Devices, Power and Refrigeration Plants and Air Pollution Particulates that trap heat and Deforestation.

7. LIGHT POLLUTION

Light pollution is garish over-illumination of an area that is considered obtrusive.

Sources of Light Pollution include illuminated signs and advertisement hoardings, Malls, Mulitplexes and Night Life Entertainment Places.

At night, stand in a place and look up at the sky. If you cannot see the stars in the sky clearly, it is indicative of light pollution.

In residential areas, light pollution can degrade your quality of life and affect your sleep.

8. OLFACTORY POLLUTION

Olfactory Pollution (Foul Smell, Unpleasant Odour, Disgusting Stench and Horrible Stink) can seriously affect your quality of life.

Smell the air in your house.

Go to your balcony and breathe in the air.

Does it smell pristine and pure?

There are many sources of odious and unpleasant smells like Disgusting Stench from Sewage Lines and Sewage Treatment Plants (STP), Nauseous Smell from Vapours due to Diesel and Gas Fumes from Petrol Pumps, Vehicles and Gensets, Toxic Smelling Industrial Odours, Perpetual Stench from Garbage Bins, Waste Processing Units and Rubbish Dumps, Repulsive Stink from Gutters and Drains, Putrid Vapours from Crematoriums and Burning Debris, Foul Odours from nearby vegetable, meat and fish markets etc

Here too you must consider the futuristic situation too and see what is coming up around the property in the future as the area develops.

9. VISUAL POLLUTION

Visual Pollution includes various “eyesores” and undesirable, unattractive views which spoil the landscape.

Visual Pollution affects the aesthetic value of a place and degrades the quality of life in certain areas.

In the premium high-end segment where home buyers pay for aesthetics, visual pollution can impact property values.  

Sources of visual pollution include anything obstructing or spoiling the view from your house like neighbouring constructions and buildings, debris, neglected and incomplete structures and abandoned buildings, advertisement hoardings, power lines and mobile towers, filthy environs and repelling surrounding areas and any such other “eyesores”.

While visual pollution may not have immediate health or environmental effects, it can affect your mood due the constant eyesores around you. After all, everyone wants a “room with a view”.

BUY RATHER THAN BOOK - The Pollution Point of View Home Buying Mantra

From the pollution point of view it is always better to buy a ready-to-move-in house in a fully completed project in a built-up locality where all buildings and infrastructure are completed and ready.

Let me exemplify the above point and also tell you a bit about the various types of pollution with the help of a apocryphal hypothetical illustrative example.

“A” booked a house in a pre-launch scheme, even before construction had started.

He did this because he thought was getting the property at a lower rate.

Of course, he suffered time and cost overruns due to execution delays.

That is why they say that if you are an end-user who intends living in the house it is always better to “buy” rather than “book”.

(Booking a house in pre-launch or under-construction stage may be a good idea if you are an investor looking only for appreciation. You are never going to live in the house and you may even sell it off before it is completed if you get the profit you desire. So you won’t be bothered with factors like Pollution unless this affects the property price or rental value)

When “A” booked the house the site was pristine tranquil quiet unpolluted place with pure air and a beautiful view and verdant cultivated fields all around. It was a perfect retirement paradise not far away and quite well connected to the city.

The project was delayed due to execution delays.

Since his retirement date was fast approaching, “A” was desperate to move into his house so he took possession and moved into his new home the moment his flat was ready (luckily his flat was in the first building of the project).

He moved into his flat while construction work continued full swing in the neighbouring buildings of the project due to which he suffered air pollution due the dust and debris and noise pollution due the noisy construction machinery. 

(“A” suffered asthmatic attacks and was driven crazy by the constant irritating noise which caused him mood swings).

The municipal water line had not yet been connected (since the project was not fully complete) so water was temporarily sourced from a borewell due to which “A” was subjected to water pollution and soil pollution. 

(“A” got a bout of jaundice due to this and his health was affected quite badly for a few months)

A Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) was soon commissioned under his flat and poor “A” was engulfed in the foul smelling stink 24/7 (Olfactory Pollution) 

(“A” felt claustrophobic as he had to keep his windows closed because of this terrible stink – despite this the foul odour from the STP was all pervading)

In due course, a mobile antenna tower cropped up in the adjacent plot opposite his balcony. “A” was thus subjected to Electropollution and also to Visual Pollution since the tower was an eyesore which spoilt the beautiful view.

Later, the place would turn into a dense concrete jungle (thermal pollution).

Soon, the place would be surrounded by commercial places, entertainment joints, hotels, lounge bars, restaurants and busy roads choked with traffic (further Noise Pollution, Air Pollution, Olfactory Pollution, Visual Pollution and Light Pollution)

“A” never imagined that his “dream house” which he had contemplated as a tranquil pristine “retirement paradise” home would turn out to be such a polluted house. He had never imagined that the all-pervading pollution would affect his health and lifestyle.

So, Dear Reader, if you are an end-user who intends to live in the house you want to buy, do consider the Pollution Factor along with all the other aspects. 

Do take a futuristic view of pollution, and remember, at least from the pollution point of view, it is better to buy a fully completed house in a well developed locality rather than book at the pre-launch or under-construction stage.

HAPPY HOUSE HUNTING

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Repost of my article in Home Buying Series written in the year 2011 and posted online a number of times including at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/01/buying-home-pollution-factor.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/12/buying-house-in-pune.html