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February 2012: Serving Customers Dec-Jan News |
A Primer on Moving to Mumbai
Need an editable PowerPoint map of India We are featuring the newly released Mini Namaskar eBook in place of our Mumbai Expat Guide. Read more about the ebook.
For several decades, Mumbai has lured migrants from several parts of India. This city of enterprise has realized the dreams of several people in different fields who have made it big in this city. So, if you are one of the migrants planning to move to this city to realize your potential and dreams, then most probably you have made the right choice. All you need is to carefully weigh the pros and cons and be aware of the adjustments that you have to make while opting to settle in this city. Mumbai, a nerve-centre of trade and commerce is the fastest and richest city of India that provides home to almost fifteen million people. Several Bollywood stars have acquired fame and riches in this city. The place vibrates with energy and pulsates with life. There is no dearth of freedom and opportunities and once you opt to settle in this city you will be addicted to the lifestyle that the city offers. But there are several stumbling blocks that you ought to know before you migrate to Mumbai. Living in the city is not as easy as it appears to be. The cost of living is much higher compared to other metros and would make a bigger fissure in your pocket than you would have imagined. If your company provides you an accommodation, then you are lucky enough to be spared of the ordeal of looking out for a house. But if you are trying to rummage around for a rental house with a limited budget, then getting an accommodation of your choice that fulfils all your requirements is a difficult task. The rentals are high in posh areas and to scout for a house, you will have to go through brokers’ and agents, who will take a slice of their fees too, usually the brokers’ charge around two months rent as brokerage. Also, the houses are given on an 11-month lease period after which you will have to sign a new agreement again for further renewal. For instance, in posh areas like Khar-Bandra, the rent for a one-bedroom cozy flat would cost around Rs 25000-30000 approx. per month plus a deposit of Rs 200000 is to be paid in advance (the deposits are refundable) whereas in Andheri, the rental charge for a 1 bedroom hall flat is usually Rs 15000-Rs 20000 plus a deposit of Rs one lakh. If you move towards the western suburbs then the charges are lesser, like in Malad-Kandivli, a one bedroom flat would cost Rs 10000-Rs 15000 per month as rent with a deposit ranging from Rs 70000-Rs 100000 (depending on the area) whereas in far-flung suburbs like Vasai, the rental charge is Rs 3000- Rs 4000 per month with a deposit ranging from Rs 30000-Rs 50000 that varies with each area. But once you have settled in this city, you will begin to love the culture of this unique multifaceted city that thrives, inspite of the diversities and assortment of various classes of people. The exceptional part of the city is the undying spirit of the inhabitants; their warmth and generosity touches all including the old and the young alike. People are friendly and helpful in this city and you wouldn’t have to make much effort to strike a rapport with them. You must understand and be well conversant in Hindi though you would be amused by the way the Bambaiyya Hindi is spoken by the local people here. For the daily routine work, domestic helps are easily available. For instance in the western suburbs, a maid-servant would generally charge around Rs 300-Rs 400 per work per month whereas in the city areas they normally charge around Rs 500-Rs 600 per work. As far as groceries are concerned, you needn’t travel long distances for your daily necessities. Most of the housing complexes have shops, supermarkets and malls in the vicinity wherein you could visit the store and make the purchases. Also, a wide range of clothes are available at competitive prices in all the malls and streets of Mumbai, such as the Fashion Street, Crawford market, Dadar market, Colaba market, Big Bazaar, Inorbit Mall and several others where you get apparel at a much cheaper rate including western designer clothes and brand outfits. Even schools are spread out everywhere in the city. If you are having a family and kids, then probably a good education would cost around Rs 60,000-Rs100000 per year, which includes school uniform and textbooks. There are plenty of engineering institutes and coaching classes situated near housing complexes, industrial areas and railway stations. The transportation costs are reasonable too. The buses charge up to Rs 4/- a kilometer and there is a lot of frequency of single and double decker buses on the road. Autorickshaws are generally seen in the suburbs and the drivers of the three-wheeler vehicles charge as per the meter. The taxis are black and yellow in color and they have a meter which you have to pay as per the fare card. There are air-conditioned taxis too, which are easily identified by their blue color and is a little expensive. But if you are having a vehicle of your own, then a good driver would cost around Rs 4000-Rs 7000 per month. Railways are the lifeline of Mumbai. Almost 70% of the people of Mumbai use rail services to reach their destination. The western railway line starts from Churchgate and the Central and Harbor line starts from Victoria Terminus (now CST). There are separate compartments for ladies and gents. The trains are overcrowded during the peak hours and it’s a heady experience if you are travelling in the trains for the first time. The city abounds with hotels and restaurants and dining out with your family and friends is pleasurable. Mumbai has numerous coffee shops wherein you could chill out and enjoy your time to the hilt. The coffee shops such as Land’s End Café, Café Barista, Princess Lounge, Café Coffee Day, Coffee World, Café Mocha, Café Cino, Café Costa, Tangerine Café, etc are great place to interact and associate with new friends. Besides ample relaxation, you will get the pulse of what’s happening in the city. There is quite a lot of food joints scattered in the city that caters to all classes of people. For instance, there are several udupi restaurants that serve scrumptious idlis, dosas and vadas at a reasonable price. For instance, a plate of idli or vada would cost around Rs 20/- while a plate of masala dosa would cost anything between Rs 25/- to Rs 30/-. There are several restaurants that specializes in mughlai, thai, Italian, Chinese and punjabi cuisines. They are scattered all over the city as well as the far-flung suburbs. The street food in Mumbai is quite popular among the masses. Several streets in Mumbai are strewn with stalls that are hugely popular among the office-goers, college students, the young and the old alike. Some of the most popular snacks include the delicious samosas, vadas, Chinese food, pav bhaji, bhelpuri, sevpuri, panipuri, dahi batata puri, ragda patish and others. Some of the stalls serve fruit juices too. These stalls are found everywhere, ie, near railway stations, theatres, colleges, streets, market areas and malls, offering food that would suit your palate with the price. The city also has the distinction for providing cheapest snack; there are numerous vada pav stalls in the city that costs anything between Rs 5/- to Rs 10/-. Perhaps you will be amazed to see hordes of people hovering around these stalls, munching vada pavs with great delight. There are plenty of McDonalds and Pizza outlets as well. Once you adapt yourself to the lifestyle of the city, you get addicted to it. Despite several shortcomings like the endless traffic jams, large populace, the filth in the street, and huge sprawling slums which would take the wind out of your sails, you will experience a warm acceptance. Gradually, you will discover the spirit and essence of the city and sooner you would realize that the city provides hope to all. Chillibreeze's disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article.
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