A township is a large-scale project comprising of residential and commercial structures. It is self-sufficient in the sense that it includes within its complex basic infrastructure and amenities like educational institutions, healthcare centres, retail outlets etc.

In a city like Mumbai where land is becoming scarce, developers have moved towards building integrated townships in the peripheries of the city. At the same time, more and more home-buyers are becoming receptive of such housing.

Following are some tips to help you choose the ideal township:

Amenities

• The amenities that you would require depend on a lot of factors. You must check to see if there is a hospital or at least a health care clinic/nursing home within the township.
• If you are married and have children, then you must ensure that there are schools within or around the township. Travelling can be hectic for your children. So it is important that there are good schools in close proximity. Moreover, the township must also have facilities like a park, a sports club, dance club or other recreational facilities.
• The entire purpose of a township is to negate the need for travelling long distances for various purposes. You must ensure that basic facilities, like those of a grocery store, are already in place (or are planned for, in case of under-construction properties).
• You must also not compromise on other facilities like a café, banquet hall, entertainment centre, auditorium etc.

Connectivity

• If your township has commercial spaces or offices within it, then it is, of course, an added advantage. Having the "walk-to-work" benefit will significantly clip the travelling time and expenses.
• While it is true that townships are built in the peripheries, it is important for that area to be connected with the other parts of the city. You must either choose one that is close to your workplace or choose one that has enough and more connectivity options like local transport facilities (taxis, auto rickshaws), railway stations, metro stations or highways.
• Connectivity within the township is also an important pre-requisite. Since townships generally spread over acres, it is important that there is some provision for travelling within, especially for the elderly. While some townships may have club cars, others may arrange differently.