Chototel, a new low-cost rental property in Raigad, offers rooms with facilities like Wi-Fi, and will launch on August 15
A 3D image of a room in the facility
As real estate prices rise, and along with it, the cost of living, housing has emerged as one of the major challenges for India. In such a scenario, accommodation at $2 (Rs 133.76) a day, seems practically unachievable. But Chototel, a UK-based startup is geared up to offer just that.
All set to unveil its pilot project on August 15 in Nagothane, Raigad, around 75 km south of Mumbai, Chototel will offer super-budget rental units for travellers as well as industrial workforce with facilities like Wi-Fi, water, gas, electricity and community kitchen on a pay-as-you-use basis.
A 3D image of a room in the facility
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Low carbon footprint
The pilot project in Nagothane has four buildings, each constructed using Light Gauge Steel Framing technology, where buildings are manufactured off-site and assembled on site. The technology also doesn’t use conventional construction materials like wood and bricks, which has helped Chototel to keep its cost to as low as Rs 7 lakh per unit.
An outside view of a Chototel building in Nagothane
Rhea Silva, founder and managing director, Chototel, says that the technology has also helped them cut time and minimise its carbon footprint. “The buildings are designed in such a way that the maintenance and operation costs are very low,” she says, adding, “The walls are made of heat-resistant material thus reducing the need for cooling and heating devices.”
Smart housing
The company has employed the latest Internet of Things devices and bots, developed in association with a Pune-based company called Simply Smart, to help it control each unit remotely and at the same time measure energy usage be it electricity, gas or utilities like Wi-Fi automatically.
“We have also developed an app, which will allow guests to check-in and out, get notified of energy usage on a regular basis, and pay for their stay online,” she adds. But that’s not all. The bots will be gathering data in real time, which will allow Chototel to improve its services in the longer run.
An optimal use of space
The company has almost finished work on one of the buildings. The rooms will be available from August 15. And its optimal use of space ensures that occupants don’t feel cramped up. “Each room in Chototel measures around 290 sq ft, but in that space we are offering a kitchen, bathroom, a bedroom and a 150 sq ft multi-purpose common room. It can be easily shared by four people, thus reducing the cost even further,” says Silva. The rooms also include furniture like double sofa bed, dining table and chairs.
Silva, however, says that depending on the demographics and response from its pilot launch, that it expects will take place this month, it may change the room layouts to include furniture like bunk beds. But that’s not all. The facility also designed to recycle its waste to generate biogas in a plant in the facility, and use solar energy to generate electricity.
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