Alibaug's property market opens to mainstream luxury developments

Alibaug, a charming coastal town near Mumbai, is seeing a surge in luxury property development as branded residences and high-end hotels target a broader range of buyers beyond celebrities and business tycoons.

- Madhurima Nandy

Once known for secluded villas of Mumbai's elite, Alibaug is becoming more mainstream with several luxury gated communities coming up. These branded developments are targeted at both investors and end-users.

Mumbai's top two developers—Macrotech Developers Ltd (Lodha) and Oberoi Realty Ltd—are gearing up to launch their first projects in Alibaug. Macrotech is planning to develop a 100-acre project that will have sky villas or duplexes, townhouses and a seven-star hotel, said two people familiar with the plans.

"The project 'Lodha Alibaug' is loosely based on the French riviera theme, and will come up on a prime location. It will have a private members' club, with a lot of focus on gastronomy and fine dining," said one of the two persons cited earlier, both of whom spoke anonymously.