Inner-city congestion prompts move to decentralise
Endless lines of cars on choked roads, interminable traffic jams and trains with people compressed like sardines - all these shortcomings of urban living are inducing Indian city-dwellers to shun commuting and look for jobs nearer home.
Becoming increasingly aware of the problem, administrators, employers and real estate developers are all giving up the notion of central business districts, and are moving to decentralise large metropolitan centres.
Gone are the days when cities planned stand-alone business districts that were the hubs to which office workers travelled to work and back. Basically, the very nature of work has changed.
Today, a new generation of business demands has brought about a sea change in the location and ambience of the workplace.
Modern-day offices, especially in the information technology sector in India, are not only located in either midtown areas or in the suburbs, but also have quality support infrastructure like high-speed lifts, canteens with good food at highly subsidised rates, gymnasiums and well-manicured gardens.
The trend began in India about a decade ago, when after the first flush of liberalisation, multinationals realised that they were paying more in most cities for mediocre, poorly managed premises that did not match the profile of the occupants.