DLF has also ventured into the Pune real estate market with Akruti as a partner through DLF Akruti Info Parks (Pune) Ltd, under which it would develop information technology (IT) commercial space.

"We have great understanding with DLF and will be doing many more projects together," said Hemant Shah, chairman, Akruti City.

Even as DLF has made its debut in Chennai, Kochi, Manesar and Kolkata, its entry into the country's IT hub Bangalore is still undecided. Hoardings announcing "DLF is coming to Bangalore" have been up for the past several months, but the company's first residential project on Banerghatta Road appears nowhere near launch. The 80-acre project, which was to be launched in April and has been held up by various government approvals, may see a soft launch towards 2008-end, said a senior DLF officer who looks after its south India operations but is not permitted to be quoted in the media.

DLF's other big project in Bidadi, on the outskirts of Bangalore, has also faced stumbling blocks. The Rs24,000 crore Bidadi Integrated Township Project (BITP), on 9,170 acres, which was handed over to DLF in October, has been stuck as clarifications have been sought regarding the project agreement and financial clauses pertaining to delay in land acquisition.

"Let's not forget that DLF is a Gurgaon-based player. Each city has its own set of development control regulations and it's difficult for an outside developer like DLF to follow the intricacies unless it partners with a local player. Few developers successfully qualify to become a national player in real estate," said Pranay Vakil, chairman of Knight Frank India, a real estate research and consultancy firm. Vakil said DLF is also exploring other opportunities in Mumbai besides the ones with Akruti. Rajeev Talwar, executive director of DLF, said all recent ventures outside Delhi have been successful and some projects even have waiting lists of buyers.