New Delhi, April 29 -- If you've lived in a metro city, you know the commute struggle is real. A job may look great on paper, but a two-hour journey in peak traffic can easily become a deal-breaker. That commute struggle is precisely what drives the value of large business parks owned by REITs. For such portfolios, a new Metro line or a signal-free flyover can be transformative. In today's urban landscape, distance is no longer measured in kilometres, but in minutes, and that shift directly impacts demand and value.

To understand why REITs are affected by the introduction of road networks and rail lines, we need to consider the 'shrinking city' effect. Imagine a REIT as a professional landlord for the world's biggest companies. These com...