Kothrud Rip Off

As Pune gets new sky scrapers, cost living in Pune also has sky as the limit. Kothrud happens to be one of the fastest developing localities of Asia.

The effect is so gruesome that rooms in Yashraj Hostel near MIT College, which were just capable of dwelling 2 people now have 3; and the rent that used to be a mere Rs. 1500 p.m. is now a whopping Rs. 5000 p.m. And I can tell you that its not even possibly to accommodate 3 cots, tables and chairs in the room, leave aside living and studying...

Going by calculations, its surprising to note that a small room which would generate Rs. 3000 a month 2 years back will now generate Rs. 15000 a month. To add more, every room has a separate electricity meter which means electricity bill needs to be cleared separately.

And its very much possible because we do have quite a few 'million dollar babies', who can flex a money muscle to meet the price rise. Thanks to the callous owner who has a nasty attitude and says, "The boys need a place to live and this is the cost they have to pay! I don't care if a few people go. Newer ones will keep coming".

The situation became even worse when the nearby hostels also shot up room fares leaving a middle class student in total dismay. Such students now hunt for flats or rooms on cot basis in far off places which definitely waste a lot of time and could be a major head ache if they do not own a vehicle.