Srinagar, Aug. 22 -- Today, those same plots fetch Rs 2 crore or more.

Ahmad Nagar's 90-foot road, once a sleepy byway, now pulses with construction activity, shops, and new homes.

For early investors, this growth represents a staggering 12.6 percent average annual increase, translating into returns thousands of times the original investment.

Back then, these neighbourhoods were overlooked. Villages threaded with canals, orchards, and low-rise homes dotted the landscape.

Urbanization began reshaping the region slowly but inexorably. Roads replaced waterways, utilities expanded, and the demand for construction-ready land surged.

Those who recognized this shift and invested prudently saw their modest holdings turn into financial lifeli...