Saket Mohta
Managing Director
India’s residential real estate market is steadily moving beyond the conventional proposition of location, configuration and square footage. Homebuyers, particularly in major urban centres, are increasingly looking for developments that combine quality housing with wellness, recreation, social infrastructure, convenience and a stronger sense of community.
At the same time, developers are responding to changing lifestyles through integrated townships, branded residences, mixed-use developments and technology-enabled construction. This evolution is creating space for real estate brands that can combine scale with a more considered approach to urban living.
Against this changing landscape, Merlin Group has built a distinct position through its emphasis on integrated, lifestyle-oriented developments.
Established in 1984, the Kolkata-headquartered real estate conglomerate has delivered more than 150 projects encompassing over 20 million sq. ft. of urban space, while maintaining an active execution pipeline of approximately 40 million sq. ft. With operations across Kolkata, Pune, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar and Raipur, the group has expanded beyond conventional residential development into commercial, retail, hospitality, logistics and integrated townships.
From Real Estate Development to Integrated Urban Experiences
For Merlin, the idea of creating value extends beyond constructing individual residential buildings. Its brand philosophy, “More to Life,” reflects an approach centred on developing environments where residential communities are supported by recreation, wellness, retail and social infrastructure.
This philosophy has translated into specialised formats designed around emerging consumer aspirations. Developments such as Merlin Rise bring sports and recreation into the residential proposition, while F Residences, created in collaboration with FashionTV, introduce a fashion-led positioning to luxury living. Merlin Aquaville, meanwhile, reflects the group’s focus on wellness-oriented country living.
Such formats indicate how Merlin is responding to a residential market where buyers increasingly evaluate a property through the experience it offers rather than through the apartment alone.
International sports associations and lifestyle collaborations further strengthen this proposition, including associations with the Michael Phelps Swimming Academy and Ronaldinho Football Academy.
The same philosophy extends into commercial and mixed-use development. Projects such as Acropolis Mall and Princeton Club have contributed to Merlin’s regional presence, while the group’s commercial portfolio is increasingly focused on Grade-A assets designed around the requirements of contemporary businesses.
Engineering, Planning and Institutional Discipline
Behind the lifestyle proposition is a strong emphasis on construction technology and planning.
Merlin has adopted Mivan aluminium formwork technology across its developments to support construction efficiency and structural consistency, while Building Information Modeling (BIM) is used to improve planning and coordination.
The group’s approach to sustainability is similarly being integrated into the development process. Merlin has stated its commitment to applying Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and LEED standards across new residential and commercial launches. Elements such as rainwater harvesting, solar infrastructure and zero-liquid-discharge sewage treatment are intended to address resource efficiency while supporting the long-term operational performance of developments.
For a real estate brand operating across multiple markets and asset classes, this combination of technology, sustainability and institutional processes becomes particularly important. It creates a common framework for maintaining execution standards while allowing individual projects to respond to their respective markets.
At the leadership level, this institutional approach is being driven by Saket Mohta, Managing Director, Merlin Group. An alumnus of St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, and an MBA graduate from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Mohta has been instrumental in strengthening governance, capital allocation and strategic expansion across the group. His focus includes modern construction technology, joint ventures and building a diversified execution pipeline across India.
Creating Landmark Assets Beyond Residential Real Estate
Merlin’s evolution is also visible in its increasing focus on economic infrastructure. One of its most significant initiatives is the World Trade Center Salt Lake, it is positioned as Eastern India’s first World Trade Center. The large-scale commercial development is intended to create a Grade-A business destination for multinational companies, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), IT companies and other large occupiers.
“The project reflects a broader shift in Merlin’s portfolio, where residential development is being complemented by commercial infrastructure capable of contributing to the economic ecosystem of a city. This diversification is particularly relevant as demand for high-quality office environments continues to evolve around GCCs, technology companies, financial services and hybrid working models”, says Saket Mohta, Managing Director.
Merlin has also been expanding its commercial presence in Pune, including a land acquisition in Mundhwa intended to support future commercial and residential development. Its hospitality portfolio further broadens the group’s positioning through partnerships with global names such as Minor Hotels through Anantara and IHCL through SeleQtions.
Merlin’s adoption of green-building practices, resource-efficient infrastructure and technology-led construction is therefore positioned as part of a longer-term approach to development
Together, these initiatives demonstrate a strategy that connects different real estate asset classes rather than treating them as isolated businesses. Residential communities, commercial districts, retail destinations, hospitality assets and integrated townships can collectively contribute to a wider urban ecosystem.
Building for Changing Expectations
Customer expectations in real estate have changed considerably, and Merlin’s portfolio reflects several of these shifts. The emphasis on wellness, sports, branded living and integrated amenities responds to consumers seeking more differentiated residential experiences. At the same time, sustainability has moved from being an optional feature to an increasingly important consideration in both residential and commercial development.
Merlin’s adoption of green-building practices, resource-efficient infrastructure and technology-led construction is therefore positioned as part of a longer-term approach to development. Its focus on digital infrastructure also extends into customer engagement and post-handover processes, with enterprise CRM systems being used to create greater continuity across the customer lifecycle”, shares Saket Mohta, Managing Director.
Importantly, the group’s multi-state presence provides an additional platform for responding to local market opportunities. Its experience across Kolkata and other eastern markets is being complemented by expansion into western India, particularly Pune, while future opportunities are being evaluated in Navi Mumbai.
This geographical diversification is accompanied by format diversification. Instead of relying on a single residential model, Merlin is building specialised propositions across sports-led communities, branded residences, wellness destinations, commercial hubs and hospitality-led developments.
Expanding the “More to Life” Vision
Merlin’s next phase of growth is centred on combining geographical expansion with larger, more differentiated projects. In West Bengal, the group is advancing its significant investment programme, with the World Trade Center Salt Lake positioned as a key commercial anchor. In Pune, the company is strengthening its Grade-A commercial and residential presence, while developments such as Merlin Ventana form part of its residential pipeline.
The group is also evaluating opportunities in Navi Mumbai, where infrastructure-led development is creating new growth corridors. Alongside this expansion, Merlin intends to scale specialised formats such as Merlin Rise and F Residences while continuing its hospitality partnerships with Anantara and IHCL.
“The future roadmap also places greater emphasis on sustainability and execution technology. The continued use of Mivan construction systems, BIM-led planning, green-building protocols and digital customer-management platforms is expected to support the group as its development pipeline expands”, affirms Saket Mohta.
For a real estate company with four decades of experience, the next chapter is consequently less about simply increasing the number of projects and more about shaping the kind of environments those projects create. Merlin’s “More to Life” proposition provides a framework for that ambition-bringing together residential living, commercial opportunity, recreation, wellness, hospitality and sustainable infrastructure. As the group expands into new markets, its ability to carry this philosophy consistently across different formats and cities will remain central to building a recognisable national real estate brand.
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