Home isn’t just four walls anymore. For people of India, the concept of home has evolved with time. Today, it goes beyond just four walls to embrace entire neighbourhoods that are crafted with harmony, community, and lasting value. As urban life evolves, people are seeking living spaces that offer more than just shelter. Places where comfort, connection, and a sense of belonging are built into every brick, street, park, and pathway.
Drawing on his experience in shaping some of India’s leading townships, Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman of Ambuja Neotia Group, explains how plotted developments are redefining modern living.
Explaining this shift, Harshavardhan Neotia says the idea of a home is expanding beyond four walls into entire neighbourhoods that reflect balance, belonging, and long-term value. Neotia said, “Planned and plotted developments are at the heart of this change," noting how design, infrastructure, and the natural environment are coming together to shape the next chapter of modern living.
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‘They are curated ecosystems’
According to Neotia, plotted developments today are no longer just parcels of land meant for construction. “They are curated ecosystems,” he says, thoughtfully planned to offer structure, security, and sustainability. Unlike unplanned colonies or isolated housing projects, modern plotted townships integrate residential plots with green networks, walkable roads, community hubs, and essential services, allowing daily life to unfold with ease and connection.
He explains that this model responds to a key urban aspiration, the desire for individual freedom within a collective order. Residents can personalise their homes while benefiting from shared infrastructure and amenities within a professionally designed township. “A thoughtful balance between autonomy and community, privacy and participation,” Neotia notes.
Smart layouts for modern lifestyles
Speaking on design thinking in layout innovation, Neotia explains: “One of the defining aspects of contemporary plotted developments lies in their master planning.” The emphasis, he explains, is on intuitive street grids that optimise air, light, and movement. Open spaces are positioned deliberately, while internal circulation is planned to encourage interaction without compromising privacy.
Many townships, he adds, adopt a neighbourhood cluster concept, where homes are arranged around green courts, pedestrian pathways, or thematic gardens. This approach creates visual balance and fosters smaller, connected communities within a larger plan. “The design philosophy is rooted in human scale and social rhythm”, he says, ensuring streets feel harmonious, safe, and alive with a sense of belonging.
Plotted townships as Green Lungs
As cities grapple with climate change and congestion, Neotia explains that plotted developments are emerging as vital green lungs within urban settings. “Sustainability is woven into the very fabric of design through rainwater harvesting, solar lighting, bioswales, shaded walkways, and native plantations that naturally cool and purify the air”, he said.
“For many of India’s leading planners and developers, thriving with green is not an afterthought but a guiding principle,” he says. Landscaped parks, tree-lined boulevards, and open gardens now act as community anchors, spaces to gather, walk, and reflect. These living networks, Neotia believes, show that when design respects nature, cities become more humane and life within them grows richer and more enduring.
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‘Beyond the physical beauty, it is the invisible infrastructure’
Explaining what truly defines a contemporary township, Harshavardhan Neotia says the real strength often lies beyond what is immediately visible. “Beyond the physical beauty, it is the invisible infrastructure that defines the success of a modern township,” he explains.
According to him, robust utilities, strong digital connectivity, efficient waste management systems, and well-planned mobility networks together create a seamless living experience. These systems, he notes, are designed to support both pedestrians and vehicles, ensuring ease of movement without compromising safety or comfort.
Highlighting how townships are evolving with changing lifestyles, Neotia adds that developers are increasingly integrating smart infrastructure into their planning. “Fibre-optic networks, CCTV surveillance, and app-based community management to enhance convenience, safety, and efficiency in everyday life,” he says, noting that such systems enhance convenience, security, and operational efficiency for residents.
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What makes these townships truly contemporary, Neotia explains, is their sensitivity to the needs of multiple generations. Children are provided with safe and engaging play zones, young adults benefit from fitness and leisure spaces that align with their pace of life, while seniors enjoy accessible walkways and wellness areas designed with comfort and care in mind. “The overarching idea is to create communities that grow and evolve with their people,” he says, emphasising connection, well-being, and a shared sense of belonging.
Lessons from India’s New Townships
Reflecting on examples from across the country, Neotia points out that integrated plotted townships are quietly redefining long-term livability. He cites early township models in and around Siliguri, in the foothills of the Himalayas, as illustrations of how careful master planning, sensitivity to the landscape, and the inclusion of social infrastructure can transform land into living environments.
