Dwarka Expressway Can Become Bustling Hub for F&B Retail

Sanjeev Arora, director, 360 Realtors

Dwarka Expressway is the emerging corridor in Gurgaon, where real estate is booming. The 27-km, 8-lane expressway, built under the Bharatmala programme, originates from Kherki Daula (Gurgaon) and goes till Mahipalpur (Delhi).

A tapestry of premium living, swanky malls and towering commercial buildings, Dwarka Expressway is reshaping the contours of NCR’s property market.

Swayed by its long-term growth potential and strategic location, a host of major developers has launched big projects on the Dwarka Expressway.

By 2024, 19,000 residential units had been launched in the micro market. In the next three years, the number of launches is set to jump to 30,000 units. Several big developers, such as DLF, M3M, Elan, Axon, Sobha Realty, Adani, Tata Housing, Signature Global, etc., are active in the region.

Signature Style Premium Living Expanding  

At the onset of the previous decade, many believed the Dwarka Expressway would be a pioneer in mid-income living in Gurgaon—a perfect escape from its CBDs and other prominent micro-markets, where property prices soared.

Yet, hardly anyone knew that the expressway region would undergo a metamorphosis into a glitzy and sophisticated living destination in the post-pandemic world.

The Dwarka Expressway is a hotbed for premium housing with a sizable portion of projects priced above INR 5 crore. Interestingly, it also witnessed the mega launch of its maiden branded homes developed by Whiteland in partnership with Westin Hotels. A project with five-star amenities in Sector 103, it  was called Whiteland Westin Residences.

The Dwarka Expressway enjoys excellent connectivity within NCR. It is within an approachable distance (25 mins) from the IGI Airport. Major employment hubs in Gurgaon, such as Golf Course Road, Udyog Vihar and Cyber Hub, are connected with the expressway. This makes perfect sense to Gurgaon’s well-heeled elites, C-suites and new crop of entrepreneurs to own a house in the region.

Prominent micro-markets in Delhi, such as Dwarka and Rohini, are within an hour’s distance.

Commercial Real Estate on Rise

As the Dwarka Expressway becomes a popular growth corridor in the NCR region, the commercial real estate is also seeing a shot in the arm. The expressway’s strategic location between Delhi and Gurgaon naturally makes it a haven for commercial real estate such as office buildings, SCOs, co-working spaces, etc.

Other factors, such as proximity to the airport and affordable property rates, add to the frenzy. Good-quality office space can be purchased in Dwarka Expressway for INR 12,000-INR 15,000 PSF. Compare this with some of the prime destinations in Golf Course Road, where the rate will be north of INR 30,000 PSF.

Commuters have complained about the lack of metro connectivity on the Dwarka Expressway. However, soon office commuters and residents can leverage mass transit systems. A new station on the road that connects Sector 9 and 9-A with Sector 101, part of the Gurgaon Metro, will be spread across an acre.

Big F&B brands Will Beeline to Capture Slice of Market

As the topography of the region transforms with myriad new residential and commercial towers on the Dwarka Expressway, there is a visible appetite for eateries, restaurants and cafes. The Dwarka Expressway region is a fertile ground for F&B businesses to flourish. From trendy cafes to premium casual dining spaces to rooftop restrobars, it has endless opportunities.

Since big neighbourhood and premium societies are coming up and affluent households are shifting there, the demand for quality eateries and restaurants is rising sharply. Rather than commuting to popular hubs such as Sector-29, MG Road and Golf Course Road, residents will prefer to sip their artisan coffee or eat a fusion meal in the vicinity itself. This can be a windfall for food entrepreneurs.

A growing mall, high street and SCO culture with premium addresses such as DLF Garden City, DLF SCO 84, Metro Street, Elan Miracle, Gallexie 91 and DLF Galleria will further heat up the gastronomic market. Expect a greater number of fine-dining restaurants, breweries, restrobars, cafes, cloud kitchens and gourmet bakeries on the Dwarka Expressway.