Relocation Pune

Pune is located 560 m (1,837 ft) above sea level on the western margin of the Deccan plateau. It is situated on the leeward side of the Sahyadri mountain range (the Western Ghats), which separate it from the Arabian sea. It is a relatively hilly city, with its tallest hill, Vetal Hill, rising to 800 m (2,625 ft) above sea level. Just outside the city, the Sinhagad fort is located at a height of 1300 m. The total area of Pune is 700 sq km Central Pune is located at the confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers. The Pavana and Indrayani rivers, tributaries of the Bhima river, traverse the northwestern outskirts of metropolitan Pune. Pune lies very close to the seismically active zone around Koyna Dam, about 100 km south of the city, and has been rated in Zone 4 (on a scale of 2 to 5, with 5 being the most prone to earthquakes) by the India Meteorological Department. Pune has experienced some moderate-intensity and many low-intensity earthquakes in its history. Although no major earthquakes have originated in Pune itself, an earthquake of magnitude 3.2 took place in the Katraj region near Pune on May 17 2008, and a low intensity earthquake observed on night of 30 July 2008 was measured at 4.2 as per news resources around 12:41 am.

Pune has a tropical wet and dry climate with average temperatures ranging between 20 °C to 28 °C.Pune experiences three distinct seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Typical summer months are from March to May, with maximum temperatures ranging from 30 to 38 °C (85 to 100 °F). The warmest month in Pune is April; although summer doesn't end until May, the city often receives locally developed heavy thundershowers in May (although humidity remains high). Even during the hottest months, the nights are usually cool due to Pune's high altitude. The highest temperature ever recorded was 43.3 °C (109 °F) on April 30, 1897.The monsoon lasts from June to October, with moderate rainfall and temperatures ranging from 10 °C to 28 °C (50 °F to 82 °F). Most of the 722 mm of annual rainfall in the city fall between June and September, and July is the wettest month of the year. Pune once received rainfall on 29 consecutive days.Winter begins in November; November in particular is known as the Rosy Cold. The daytime temperature hovers around 28 °C (83 °F) while night temperature is below 10 °C (50 °F) for most of December and January, often dropping to 5 or 6 °C (42 °F). The lowest temperature ever recorded was 1.7 °C on January 17, 1935

As per 2001 census of India, the population of the Pune urban agglomeration is 3,529,900.This includes the towns of Khadki, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Dehu. Growth in the software and education sectors has led to an influx of skilled labour from across India. The population of the urban agglomeration has been estimated to be around 4,485,000 in 2005 .The migrating population rose from 43,900 in 2001 to 88,200 in 2005 . Almost 30 percent of Pune's population lives in slums. The sharp increase in censorial decade of 1991–2001 can be attributed to the absorption of 38 fringe villages into the city. The literacy rate is about 81%, 1% higher than the national average.

Marathi is the official and most widely spoken language, while Hindi and English are understood and spoken widely. The dialect of Marathi-speaking in Pune has been suggested to be the "standard" form of the language .Pune has many white-collar professionals thanks to a large number of educational, research and training institutes spread throughout the city.

Pune has a substantial population of Brahmins--20% to be more specific—which is the highest for any city in Maharastra. Pune also has a large Muslim population, half of which speak Marathi very well, with the remainder speaking Hindi and Urdu. People from the Muslim Dawoodi Bohra community are also found in the city. Pune is the only city (other than Surat, Navsari, Mumbai and Ahmadabad to host huge numbers of Parsis, majority of whom are found in Camp, Pune Station, Koregaon Park and Nagar Road. Sikh gurudwaras can be found in the Guruwar Peth, Pune Camp and Dehu Road areas of Pune. Pune's Buddhist population is found primarily in the Yerawada and Parvati area.

A majority of Pune’s population is Marathi, however residents from all over India can be also found in the city. Pune hosts larger number of foreign students and IT professionals.Pune’s White collar population and majority of students are mostly fluent in English.

Ethnic groups like the Marathis, Marwaris, Bengalis and Sindhis are well represented with a lower percentage of the Punjabis, Tamils, Kannadas and Telugus. Large number of students from all over India chose Pune in pursuit of higher education and for this reason pune is rightly known as the ‘Oxford of East’.

Hinduism is the most commonly practised religion in Pune, although many mosques, gurudwaras, Jain temples ,church and other religious buildings are found throughout the city

Marathi along with English and Hindi is the main language of communication.

As one of the largest cities in India, and as a result of its many colleges and universities, Pune is emerging as a prominent location for ITand manufacturing companies to expand. Pune has the sixth largest metropolitan economy and the highest per capita income in the country

Pubs, discothèques, bars, hotels, and many other places have sprung up to cater to the needs of the citizens in the nights. They are concentrated mostly in the northern parts of the city and especially in Koregaon Park like Gaia, Soul, Stone Water Grill, Polaris, Kiva-the lounge, North Main, Casabella. The HARD ROCK CAFÉ is also opened in Koregaon Park. Others include Lush lounge and grill, Scream, Zoho, which are located in the other northern suburbs of the city.  

Cholera, Conjunctivitis, Viral fever, Dysentery, Hepatitis, Malaria, and Typhoid are some major health hazards.Respiratory ailments may also be a possibility due to the pollution.

The concept of service apartments is still in its infancy in Pune. There are only a few good service apartments, but even then the standard may not be very high when compared to the service apartments available in the west. As the demand for service apartments is on the increase and they are in short supply, it becomes absolutely necessary to book the apartment in advance - we recommend at least two to three months in advance.

Location and budget plays a vital role in choosing an appropriate location to live in. Please consider convenience and environment and also distance from work as deciding factors in your final choice of residence.

Kindly make it clear if the rental quoted is inclusive of apartment associated maintenance costs. If the landlord is providing you with utility connections, the set up cost is borne by the landlord and the monthly rental and usage charges are borne by the tenant. The monthly payment will have to be made directly to the vendors. Please note that there is always a due date for making payments.

If the work place is situated in Eastern or Central Pune, neighborhoods in Central Business District comprising of Koregaon Park, Kalyani Nagar, Boatclub Road, Mangaldas Road are preferred by the expatriates. These neighborhoods have the advantage of being close to the Golf Course, multi-cuisine restaurants, International Schools and the domestic airport Some of the newly constructed apartments are well planned and luxurious with modular kitchen and modern fixtures and fittings while some apartments have a well laid out terrace. Aundh and Baner will prove to be good housing options for expatriates working in Northern part of Pune. In recent times many expatriate population has ventured out to these locations as these localities have a good mix of independent houses and apartments. Independent Bungalows in Sindh, National , Goodwill  in North-Central Pune are full of greenery, have good security and still maintain their historical charm; but unfortunately do not have many modern housing options available. The availability of rental properties in gated bungalow societies is relatively poor. Farm Houses are also an option that expatriates like to explore. Though the concept of a farmhouse is very novel, the challenges of managing and maintaining the farmhouse robs it of its charm. Electricity, water, security, distance from schools and city centre are some of the everyday challenges that can be a deterrent to making it a preferred location to live in.

All foreigners entering India on a Visa longer than 180 days are required to be registered at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to secure a residential permit within 14 days of arrival. Re-registration visit to the FRRO is required every time when there is change in address. The visit can take sometime from 10 minutes to a whole day depending on the availability of the officials to approve and process the documents. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office is located at Office of Police Commissioner, Bund Garden Road, Pune 411 001 and the phone numbers are 26127397 and 26128977. The FRRO functions between 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, with a lunch break from 1:30pm to 3:30 pm. It is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and other government holidays.

The Residential Permit Registration Certificate is issued by FRRO and the police authority uses it to track validity of visa to prevent foreigners from over stay. RPRC also facilitates a foreigner to open a bank account and provides benefits of purchasing flights and hotel accommodation at local currency. The following documents are required* from the assignee to facilitate registration: 1) Four (4) passport sized photographs for IA and each family member 2) A CLEAR copy of the passport photo page, visa page and arrival stamp page for IA and each family member All family members are required to attend an interview at the time of registration. In general, the application takes one day. However, there are occasions that the FRRO may request: 1) The applicants to attend the FRRO office again before they grant the registration. 2) Additional documentation which is not a part of the standard documentation 3) The applicants to leave their passports with the FRRO for a few days for processing. The RPRC is an important identity document and should be kept safe along with your passport. It should be carried with the passport every time the foreigner travels in and out of India. The immigration authorities have the right to detain or deport anyone who cannot present this document upon request.

Doctors, clinics and hospitals are conveniently located and accessible. The cost of treatment is reasonable compared to almost anywhere in the world. Communication with doctors is not a problem as most of them speak good English. It is always good to know the location of the nearest hospital to your residence. A short list of some good private hospitals is provided below:

Drugs for minor ailments are usually available over the counter. Some of the medicines go by the Generic name known worldwide. The chemists are qualified people and should be able to help you with imported medicines and local substitutes on being provided the Generic name or the salt. However, if you are currently taking some medications, it is advisable to alert your doctor in order to avoid being prescribed cross medication.

Symbiosis International School
Survey #231 HISSA 3A & 4
Symbiosis Viman Nagar Campus
Viman Nagar
Pune 411014
www.symbiosis-is.in

MIT Vishwashanti Gurukul
Rajbaug, Next to Hadapsar
Loni Kalbhor
Pune 412 201
www.mitgurukul.com

Sharad Pawar International School
Pune Registration office:
G 36-38, Ashoka Mall Co-op. Society Limited
Opposite Sun & Sand Hotel
23/6, Bund Garden Road
Pune 411001
 www.internationalschool.in

Utility meters of water and electricity, installed at the premises are read every month by the utility companies to measure consumption and the monthly bills are sent to the residence or can be collected from the maintenance office or the utility company office as may be the case. Settle your utility bills promptly and before the last pay by date, to avoid disconnection
as reconnection takes a lot of effort and time.

Bottled gas is available from neighborhood suppliers at a cost ranging from Rs. 350 to Rs. 800 per gas bottle. For the initial connection, a refundable deposit amount along with nominal charges will have to be paid to the agency. They may also require some address proof document apart from filling out an application form. To secure a cooking gas connection, foreigners are required to submit an application along with a copy of the passport and the Visa and a proof of residence (Lease Agreement). The cost of the connection is required to be paid by cash. The gas Agency shall then provide a cooking stove, two gas cylinders, one pipe and a regulator. A consumer number would also be allotted and would require to be quoted for regular refills.

The Municipal Corporation of Pune is responsible to supply water to the residents of Pune. Water is stored in overhead or underground tanks for daily use. All houses also have the booster facility where water is drawn by a pump from the underground tank and transported to the overhead tanks. The water from this source is not good enough for drinking and is required to be either boiled or purified through a Reverse Osmosis system. The Reverse Osmosis system can be purchased from any local market.

Every locality has garbage disposal bins and these are cleared regularly by the Municipal Corporation of Pune. Usually trash/garbage is picked up from each residence in the locality bya contractor, usually in the mornings and a nominal monthly charge for this service is levied.

Most families train their maid to look after the children for short periods of time. If you are an expatriate, the household help tend to demand more money as salary. It is also common for them to request you for a loan or small sums of money on a daily basis for traveling, food, etc. Please try and refrain from giving them money apart from their salary and festival bonuses.

Keeping in mind that the India is a tropical country and roaches, flies and other insects are regular phenomena, we require periodical pest control for hygiene. Please be sure that the medicine used is approved by World Health Organization.

Telephone connections are available through the government service provider- MTNL or private service providers like Airtel, TATA Indicom and Reliance. A completed application form along with relevant number of passport sized photographs, address proof and passport copy are required to be furnished. A refundable security deposit is payable apart from the installation cost at the time of submission of application. It is advisable to pay the bill on or before the due date to avoid disconnection. The bills can be paid at the offices of the service provider or various bill payment centers. Please note that these service providers offer various packages from which a most ideal and suitable package can be selected. The packages can come bundled with broad band internet. If a phone bill is not received on time, one can get a duplicate bill from the service provider’s office. Some recommended service providers:

Public pay phones
Public phone booths displaying PCO/ STD/ ISD signs are found in every nook and corner ofPune. The local call rate is Rs.2 while the cost for long distance varies with countries.

Mobile Phones
The GSM service providers are Hutch, Idea Cellular, BSNL and Airtel. The CDMA service providers are Reliance and Tata Indicom. These service providers offer a variety of post-paid packages based on usage schemes. There is a nominal deposit amount payable along with the activation fees. Additional deposit is required for international roaming services. Pay as you go services (prepaid) are available and the cards can be purchased from local vendors across the city.

Following the government regulation, a valid photo ID and address proof are required for new subscription.

In Pune, the following modes of transport are available to travel within the city:
- Autorickshaws (autos)
- Public taxis / Dial-a-taxi
- Long term Car Rental

Autorickshaws
The small yellow and black three-wheeler can be hired for up to three persons. An electronic meter calculates the fare while the Autorickshaw is in use, but most auto-drivers give various reasons to avoid using it, especially on a short route. It is always best to ask for the meter to be switched on when traveling in these Autorickshaws and pay by the reading. The
Autorickshaws can be hailed down.

Public Taxis
Available from neighbourhood taxi stands and hotels, these yellow and black taxis charge according to the meter reading.
It is recommended that one finds out the closest taxi stand to your residence and keep the number handy. These taxis can be called and a home pickup is possible. The taxis use Electronic meters and the charge per the meter needs to be paid. The services of Dial a Taxi - a premium service, have been recently introduced. Below mentioned are their contact numbers:

Long term Car Rental
International and Domestic car rental companies provide car rental with Chauffer for long and short terms on a monthly basis. There is an option to rent these vehicles, with or without fuel and with an option of self drive as well. The monthly rent includes the cost of the Chauffer, insurance and maintenance. It is recommended not to personally drive in Pune and always use the services of a Chauffer. Some International car renting companies are:

There are various festivals for every religion in India and for giving due respect to each one of them, India is a declared secular state. Some important Holidays and festivals in Pune are:

January
ID-Ul-Zuha (Bak-r-id)
Lohri
Sankranti
Republic Day
February
Mahashivratri
March
Holi
Mahavir Jayanti
April
Easter
Baisakhi
May
Buddha Jayanti
August
Independence Day
Rakhshabandhan
September
Ganesh Chathurthi
Muharram
October
Gandhi Jayanti
October/November
Vijaya Dashmi
Diwali
November
Guru Nanak Jayanti
December
Christmas
Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramzan Id)