India's growing cities are now at a stage where the Metros were few years ago. This is both a challenge and an opportunity for the city administration to ensure collective growth without repeating the mistakes made while developing Metros.

FIRST Sm@rt Cities Council and Indicus Analytics have compiled a list of India's most promising cities and as expected, Thane has made the list. Thane featured in the top as it ticks all boxes in a promising city's checklist.



However, to get a first-hand account of the same, we caught up with the Mayekar's, who belong to Thane's rising middle-class and have family member's that cover major age groups. They welcomed us for a Sunday brunch at their apartment at Ghodbunder Road and shared with us their thoughts on why Thane is among India's most promising cities.

Dattaram Mayekar moved to the city 50 years back and since then, he has grown with the city. He is ageing but is proud that Thane is getting younger by the day. His two sons are happily married and stay with him. Sunil, the elder son works as a bank manager whereas his wife, Sunanda is a home manager. Their children, Suyash and Twinkle keep the family vibrant and are heavily pampered by their newlywed uncle, Mangesh and his wife Swati, who are both young IT professionals.

Thane for Children

"My school is arranging a trip to Delhi but our geography teacher told us that unlike Thane, there are no lakes there," said nine-year-old Twinkle while mentioning about her school's extracurricular activity and what she loves the most about Thane. Thane's 33 lakes are a hit among children. Twinkle also likes ample space available within residential complexes, playgrounds, academies and greenery in the city. She also mentioned how her bus zooms past hustling cars to ensure that she reaches her school within fifteen minutes after leaving home.




Thane for Youngsters

Eighteen-year-old Suyash might be discovering himself at this age but has nothing left to discover within Thane. He mentioned, "I like to go on bike trips with my friends and Thane allows us the advantage to move freely within the city as well as outside it. Be it amusement parks, water parks, the scenic Ghodbunder road or the Yeoor hills, Thane has a lot to offer. Education wise, I am pursuing my engineering degree and I am glad that Thane has come up with world-class post-graduation colleges as well."

Thane for Young Adults

"Both of us are essentially creative people but our jobs are let's say not that creatively inclined. So, we try to indulge in our creativity by watching a lot of plays and cultural performances. It won't be wrong to call Gadkari Rangayatan and Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar Natyagruha our second home," said Swati, echoing her as well her husband's sentiments.

"Actually, I like movies but she forces me to watch plays," said Mangesh referring to Swati in a playful manner. He added, "Having our office within a perimeter of 5 km works great for work-life balance. Fortunately, Thane has that kind of scope for employment. Thus, a lot of young couples like us find ample time to enjoy a good family life. Weekend trips around Thane are both relaxing and rejuvenating."



Thane for Adults

"I have grown up in Mumbai and my parents stay in Bandra. Thane's connectivity with Mumbai makes it convenient for me to visit them anytime I want. With the upcoming Metro and Mono Rail projects, I am sure Thaneites will be able to travel much easily," said Sunanda.



Sunil, the banker states, "With banks offering economical home loans and real estate developers coming up with spacious and modern apartments, Thane is growing exponentially. Understand that civilizations are built around people. Once people start living in a vicinity, a market develops automatically. Thane has now risen beyond this phase and is now competing with the Metro cities in terms of standard of living. If you speak purely in numbers, Ghodbunder Road has witnessed 300% growth in last five years. Average property rate on this road was around Rs. 3,500 per sq. ft. in 2009. Now, in 2015 it is around Rs. 10,500 per sq. ft."



Thane for the Elderly

This discussion prompted retired government employee, Dattaram Mayekar to go in a pensive mood. He recollected his yesteryears and shared his memories about the time when Thane was less crowded and a distant place.

Speaking about the city in which he spent his golden years he said, "Thane is a demanding city, you have to love the city only then will it love you back. If Mumbai is the city of dreams then Thane is the city of reality. Everything associated with Thane is real and authentic. What fascinates me is its growth story. From a place, which had intermittent electricity and water supply, Thane has become a real estate hub featuring all luxurious amenities. Modern projects provide facilities that I never imagined I would get to experience. These projects feature lush-green gardens, better security and surveillance, pollution-free environment and better access to medical aid and healthcare facilities."



The Mayekar's will be moving to their new abode and speaking about it, Mr. Dattaram mentioned, "Sunil has booked a new home recently and we are still trying to figure out who is more excited about it, me or Twinkle. Especially, because it has a dedicated area for us, like the kids' zone and a senior citizen area. The project goes by the name Orovia and it is developed by the renowned Vijay Group and Suraksha Reality. It is located at Ghodbunder road, so every family member can continue availing the benefits associated with this prime location. Orovia's project amenities have something special for people across age groups.

Right from the mesmerizing view of river Ulhas, Kavesar Lake and a garden, to modern amenities like a Clubhouse featuring gymnasium, spa, swimming pool, indoor games area and a mini theatre, everything is so luxurious. If Thane is a beautiful painting, then Orovia is its painter's signature that makes it credible and appealing."

On that note, we left the Mayekar's wishing them a happy life ahead and being convinced, that Thane is indeed among India's most promising cities.