In the same way that Bandra is called the Queen of Suburbs, Mulund is considered the Prince of Suburbs by most Mumbaikars. The area is Mumbais first planned suburb. Mulund East is the part of Mulund that lies to the east of Mulund station, which lies on the Mumbai Suburban Railways Central Railway line.
Mulund East, along with Mulund West, contained a large concentration of big industries and factories that included pharmaceutical companies like Glaxo, Johnson & Johnson, and Hoechst Wellcome, and engineering companies like Chicago Pneumatic, ACC, and Bombay Oxygen. The industries in the area were the main reason for the areas prosperity and cosmopolitan lifestyle.
Flanked by Thane Creek on one side, and with Sanjay Gandhi National Park on the other side of Mulund West, Mulund East has a cool, comfortable climate and a green, airy atmosphere. The suburban feel of the place is only enhanced by the quiet, relaxed lifestyle of its residents. There is no dearth of natural beauty in Mulund East.
Mulund East does not provide as much in terms of malls and entertainment centres as Mulund West, since it is a predominantly high quality residential area with many apartment complexes. However, it is only a short distance away from Mulund West, where there are several high-rise malls, theatres, and hangout spots.
There are many schools in Mulund East, including reputed high schools like Vidya Prasak Mandir English School and JA Meghani English High School, as well as well-known colleges like RADAV College and and V K Menon College. To cater to the healthcare needs of its residents, the area has hospitals like Fortis Hospital, Saidhan Hospital, and Ankur Hospital.
Connectivity And Transit Points
Mulund East is flanked by other major suburbs of Mumbai like Mulund West, Airoli, and Thane East, and has the Mulund-Goregaon Link road, making it extremely well connected to most parts of Mumbai and the rest of the state. The network of railway lines and roads makes travel from and to Mulund East by train, bus, or car easy.
Eastern Express Highway passes through the area, and is one of the largest highways in the country. LBS road is the other arterial road that runs through Mulund East. Mulund has a fleet of BEST buses that ply its roads, and the Mulund Bus Depot is one of Mumbais major depots. Travel from Mulund East to places like Andheri, Bandra, Thane, and Borivali is possible through BEST buses, while NMMT buses can be used to go to areas like Vashi. There are also a few TMMT buses that one can hop onto for travelling to areas like Shivai Nagar, Laxmi Park, or Vrindavan Society. The Mulund-Airoli bridge is an important part of Mulund, because it connects it to Navi Mumbai by road.
Mulund Railway Station is on the Central line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway, which connects it to South Mumbai. It is a stop for slow and semi-fast local trains. It is connected to Thane Railway Station, which is the most crowded suburban station, and a stop for all the fast trains on all three lines of the Mumbai Suburban Railway. Through Thane Railway Station, Mulund East is accessible by rail from areas like CST, Khopoli, Karjat, Kasara, and even to Navi Mumbai via the Trans-Harbour Railway line.
Thane East is also chock-full of auto stands. When one wants to get to places within Mulund, auto-rickshaws are sometimes the best way to go, even if they are costlier than buses. The inner roads of Mulund East are well laid and broad, so auto rides are usually fast and comfortable, traffic notwithstanding.
Taxis are also common in Mulund, and are the best way to get to the airport, which is over 30 km away, neighbouring suburbs, and parts of Mumbai that are farther away in a short amount of time. Mulund is accessible by car from almost all of Mumbai through LBS road from Thane, the Eastern Express Highway, and Mulund-Airoli Link road from Navi Mumbai.
Factors For Growth In The Past
After it was built in 1922, Mulund became home to primarily cosmopolitan middle class and upper class families and a host of engineering and pharmaceutical industries that were located along LBS road. These industry factories were a major factor for the growth of Mulund East.
The trendy lifestyle in the area was another reason that more and more people began to move to the area. The rapidly increasing population of permanent residents in the area hiked up the prices of real estate due to rise in demand, which in turn caused a huge number of premium apartments and residential complexes to be built. Consequently, the industrial nature of the area began to shift to a more residential atmosphere.
Globalisation hit Mulund just before 2000, and it was then that the industries and factories along LBS road moved out, and luxurious shopping malls and cineplexes took their place. Skyscrapers began to change the skyline, and premium apartment complexes now dominate Mulund East instead of bungalows and independent houses.
Residential & Commercial Market
Residential Market Trends
The population of Mulund East is still on the rise, which means that property rates are also steadily appreciating. The shift in lifestyle from industrial to residential has led to an explosion in the number of apartment buildings in the area, and the price per sq. ft. has risen from Rs 13,600 in the first quarter of 2013 to Rs 14,000 in the second quarter of 2014. The real estate prices are expected to continue rising because even though Mulund East has become densely populated, it is still airy and green, and still considered to be one of the safest and most peaceful places to live in Mumbai.
Commercial Market Trends
Even though Mulund East is mostly residential, theres still small commercial areas that have shops, businesses, and restaurants as a part of the Mulund services sector that caters to the demands of the residents. The price rate for commercial and office spaces in the area are approximately Rs 27,000 per sq. ft.
Major Challenges
Overpopulation is a problem in Mulund East. The constant influx of new residents has led to the area becoming quite crowded. Finding parking spots is a problem, and traffic can become slow moving at the major junctions, though it is well modulated.
Factors for Growth in the Future
Mulund East is and will continue to be a dream destination to live in. Mulund is consistently ranked highly on lists of peoples favourite places to live in, and has an extremely low crime rate due to the fact that it is an integrated township within itself.
There will be an ever-increasing market for various companies in the services sector. This growing market is the biggest factor that is driving the growth of the area, and will lead to the building of more apartment complexes and high-rise buildings, as well as the establishment of malls and cinema multiplexes.
Another factor for the areas expansion is the upcoming metro, which will increase Mulunds connectivity even more, making it one of the most accessible places in the state.