Alliance Infrastructure and Facility Managers are organising the national facility managers conference, Integrated Facility Management Conclave 2012. The programme on July 7 in Bangalore is part of the company’s plans to educate facility managers, discuss challenges and developments in the industry through such events. The event gallery on the company’s Web site, www.aifmi.in , offers details. The third in a series, it will include panel discussions, liaison with government, flexible workplace, outsourcing and a range of other topics. The event is ideal for facility managers, infrastructure managers, administration heads, security heads, human resource professionals and real estate and infrastructure companies.

Commercial rents steady

Commercial rent trends have been sluggish in the first quarter of 2012, with rates stagnating or increasing marginally as compared with the corresponding quarter last year. But there are some pockets in major cities where there has been a growth, according to 99acres.com, a property portal. In Delhi, in Lajpat Nagar and Greater Kailash commercial rents have been buoyant but in Saket and Connaught Place rents have dropped. Similarly in Mumbai, rents have increased in Thane, Kanivallie (E) and Lower Parel.

In Bangalore, rents increased in Whitefield but in Koramangala there has been a drop. In the cities in the South and some localities in Delhi and Mumbai there was a growth. Overall commercial rentals in Delhi increased by just 7 per cent, in Bangalore by 3 per cent and in Mumbai rents dropped by 2 per cent over the past one year.

In a press release, Mr Vineet Singh, Business Head, 99acres.com, said the market is range-bound indicating stagnancy in the environment. “However, we do continue to see upward price movement in certain localities.” In Noida, sectors 1 to 10 have seen some increase in commercial rentals due to diversified sizes and proximity to public transport such as the Metro. South Delhi localities such as Lajpat Nagar and Greater Kailash are preferred choices for commercial renting due to connectivity and high population density. In Mumbai, Thane is on its way to establishing itself as the new CBD while Goregaon continues to gain traction from corporate clients fuelling the increase in rates. Commercial rates in Chennai continue to maintain their linear and steady growth.