Emerald enclave

"Gholvad is an ecologically fragile area, no industries are allowed and the air is pollution free,” says Rohinton Batliwala who is developing a residential complex of villas and apartments known as Emerald Isle. Surrounded by orchards of chikoo, coco­nut, litchee and mango, the enclave is within five minutes walk of Gholvad’s beach, as well as the railway station, market, etc, he notes.

With Gholvad in Thana district just three hours away from Bombay by road or rail, the independent and semi detached villas and 12 apartments are suitable as permanent residences for people after retirement or as a weekend holiday home, says Batliwala who is developing a part of his ancestral property. The villas are spacious with three bedrooms; the flats in the two-storied build­ing are smaller and of varying sizes. The RCC (reinforced cement concrete) sloping roof is topped with mangalore tiles in keeping with the rural surroundings.

Emerald Isle villa at Gholvad

With a planned lagoon pool, landscaped common and private gardens, the complex will have common maintenance facilities for cleaning and gardening, security guards and 24 hours running water, states the Emerald Isle brochure. "A sample unit is ready. I have a full-time man there who will show you around,” says Batliwala, adding that Gholvad and nearby Dahanu have several Zoroastrian families as well as an adarian at Bordi. The project’s website is www.emeraldisle gholvad.com