Siliguri, Oct. 20: Home is not exactly where the heart is, at least for an increasing number of people of the town who are opting to move away from the centre of the concrete jungle into suburban heaven.

Satellite townships, multiplexes and housing schemes offering professional security, swimming pools, elevators, health clubs and multi-gyms, are drawing people in spite of being located at a distance from the heart of the town.

Ajay Prasad, a restaurateur and tea merchant, sold his house in Pradhan Nagar and moved into a flat in Club Town, a multiplex in Siliguri at Second Mile, Sevoke Road, a few months ago.

“To opt for these new housing schemes means doing away with many hassles. From safety and security, to shopping for goods and maintenance of the home, everything is taken care of. Added attractions in the form of five-star facilities make it all the more worthwhile,” said the businessman.

Club Town has not yet reached completion, but it seems to have been a resounding success with the residents of Siliguri eager for a change in lifestyle. Eighty per cent of the flats have already been booked and people are making a beeline for the rest.

“The idea has caught on with people. The town is getting crowded and people are looking for spacious homes in a more relaxed environment. Since the families these days are smaller, they prefer not to build houses of their own. We designed a housing complex in such a way that 60 per cent of the ground area is exposed to air. For security, we have a closed-circuit television network with electronic security. We also offer a number of facilities within the complex,” said Dilip Agarwal, one of the promoters of the project.

As the rush on the road to suburban serenity gathers momentum, big names like Bengal Ambuja have begun doing the rounds in the Siliguri real estate circle.Then there is Chandmoni, an old tea garden cleared to make way for a satellite township sprawling over 400 acres, and Uttorayan, developed by the state government, Bengal Ambuja and Luxmi Township, which have joined the fray. Both are at different stages of planning and implementation, but have generated interest and enthusiasm among residents. Himachal Vihar, near Uttorayan, is a similar venture of the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA).

“Unlike other private projects which are promoting flats, we are into developing plots. We have already sold almost 80 per cent of the plots in Himachal Vihar. The 80-acre housing project will provide all basic amenities like parks, playgrounds and a school,” said SJDA chief executive officer Rajesh Pandey.

For people in search of a quality lifestyle and spacious homes, the new housing boom has come as a boon.

“We moved in last August from our rented flat in Punjabi Para. It is a whole new experience here. Though it far from the main town area — it takes 20 minutes to travel to Bidhan Market — it is not a problem as we have a departmental store where almost everything is available,” said Jayashree C, a resident of Club Town.