8MARCH 2024TOP STORIESDWARKA EXPRESSWAY TO SPIKE REAL ESTATE PRICES IN GURGAONThe inauguration of the Dwarka Expressway by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to catalyze real estate prices in the Gurgaon area, according to real estate experts.Various developers, including Sobha, Raheja, Signature Global, M3M, Godrej, and Hero Realty, have ongoing projects along the corridor, with some planning to launch additional projects due to expected increased demand resulting from infrastructure development.Anshuman Magazine, chairman of CBRE for India, South-East Asia, the Middle East & Africa, noted a promising reduction in unsold inventory levels in these sectors, from a notable 25-30 percent eight to 10 years ago to a mere 7-8 percent now, following the completion of the expressway.CBRE anticipates property and land prices in the vicinity to appreciate in the coming years, offering attractive returns on investment for early investors. The real estate segment surrounding the expressway is predominantly residential, with some retail projects.Pradeep Aggarwal, chairman of Signature Global (India) Ltd, highlighted that the expressway's phased development is significantly contributing to the advancement of city locations, attracting attention from both homebuyers and investors. The new expressway is expected to enhance connectivity for areas such as the Southern Peripheral Road (SPR), New Gurugram, and Sector 37D at Dwarka Expressway, consequently driving price appreciation and promising a bright future for the real estate market in the region. ZERODHA LOOKING TO RAISE CAPITAL FOR ITS MUTUAL FUND PLATFORMZerodha's asset management company (AMC), Zerodha Fund House, is reportedly in talks with multiple investors to raise $100 million in funding.According to sources familiar with the matter, the discussions are in the early stages and may take several months to finalize. If successful, this would mark the first instance of external funding for a company within the Zerodha Group. Founded in 2010 by brothers Nithin and Nikhil Kamath, Zerodha has operated as a bootstrapped entity since its inception.The potential funding round comes as Zerodha intensifies its presence in the mutual fund sector amid increasing competition. Last year, Zerodha's AMC arm launched three mutual fund schemes following the final approval from SEBI to commence operations in August 2023.Zerodha Fund House operates as a joint venture between Zerodha and invest tech platform Smallcase. The company aims to offer transparent and affordable mutual fund offerings, focusing primarily on passive investments.Nithin Kamath, Zerodha's co-founder and CEO, highlighted the motivation behind starting a mutual fund, emphasizing the need to increase participation in Indian markets. The move to raise external capital also comes amidst competition from platforms like Groww and the entry of Reliance-backed Jio BlackRock, which has allocated a $300 million war chest to capture a significant share of the Indian asset management market.
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