Asansol, Durgapur, Burdwan Projects and News [Archive]

saurav_68

May 19th, 2011, 06:07 PM

Shristinagar - The New Asansol
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2543/5736783183_abd4005814_b.jpg
Shristinagar - The New Asansol, is an integrated green township spread over 90 acres with a total development of around 6 million sq ft. housing 5,000 families approximately. It comprises of premium residential apartments, group housing structures, plotted housing units, bungalows and row houses, commercial & retail area, IT Park and resort cum club, with infrastructure which will enable comfortable and luxurious living. The Master Planning of the township has been done by Sembcorp Architects of Singapore and other renowned architects such as SAA Architects of Singapore, Edifice and OS2 Architects are doing the detailing.

The residents of the township will enjoy an atmosphere of serenity with sublime landscaping and modern amenities, which satiate the standards of modern lifestyle living. The project will have tree-lined pathways, modern jogging tracks, decorated divider, modern street lights, substantial power back-up, cable connection, broadband internet, wireless telephone lines, round the clock security system, sewerage treatment plant, water treatment plant, gas bank etc. and other facilities which will make it an attractive destination.

Asansol, the city primarily known for its coal mines is the next stop for rapid growth and industrialization in Eastern India. Asansol is the second largest town in West Bengal after Kolkata and the central city for the eastern coal belt in India. It is well connected through road (Grand Trunk Road & National Highway - 2) and railways (Howrah - Delhi Grand Chord Route) with Kolkata (nearly 225 Kms) as well as other parts of the country.

Based on coal & steel, Asansol is an industrial hub of large scale public and private sector organisations. The population of Asansol is over 1 million with an average literacy of 73 per cent, higher than the national average of 59.5 per cent. All these factors make it an ideal place for future investments.

saurav_68

May 19th, 2011, 06:12 PM

Bengal Aerotropolis to be ready by 2012
PM News Bureau
Tuesday, May 17, 2011, 12:00 Hrs [IST]

The airport township project of Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd near Andal in Burdwan district of West Bengal is scheduled to commission by July next year.

Construction work on the 1,820- acre site near NH-2 is underway with Simplex Infrastructures Ltd executing major contracts. The airport will be built as per the design approved by Changi Airport Authority of Singapore, which is also a 26 per cent equity holder in BAPL. Work on the runway has commenced and expected to be completed by December. Construction of the passenger terminal and air traffic control will start very soon.

The project encountered delays in securing environmental clearances, mainly because the land on which the project is coming up was believed to have proven coal reserves. The MoEF clearance, applied for in October 2008, came about in February 2010, setting project work in motion.

The Andal Airport
The greenfield Andal airport, the anchor facility of the proposed aerotropolis, will be developed on an area of 806 acres. It will be located at Latitude 23º35’ and Longitude 87º15’ at Andal in Burdwan district of West Bengal. It is projected that 2.98 lakh passengers will use the airport by 2012-13, moving up to 20.33 lakh by 2037-38. The length of the runway will be 3,315 metres and the number of aircraft movements is projected at 7,187 in 2012-13, reaching 29,935 in 2037-38.

BAPL plans to commission the first phase of the project by February 2012 and operationalise the airport after final go-ahead from the civil aviation ministry. The project includes airport, housing, light industrial complex and retail over 3,150 acres. The first phase will cover around 2,100 acres. The company is expecting 300 acres from the government in the next few months.

The airport, classified under the 4C category like the Patna, Ranchi and Raipur airports, will handle Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 aircraft. The runway can be extended in the future to handle the A380—currently the world's largest passenger aircraft.
http://www.projectsmonitor.com/AIRPT/bengal-aerotropolis-to-be-ready-by-2012

saurav_68

May 19th, 2011, 06:15 PM

Steve Waugh unveils project for construction of the 'International Sports City'
Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh on Monday unveiled a project for construction of the 'International Sports City' to be built at a site in Burdwan district of West Bengal, about 100 km from Kolkata.

Unveiling the project at a five star facility here, the two-time captain of the World Cup winning Australian team said, "There has been significant changes in the sporting atmosphere and mindset of people in India in the last five years."

"Sports is becoming more important to Indians and especially after the IPL the young ones are getting hooked and looking out for opportunities in sports," Waugh said.

"The idea of building this sporting city is to utilise the huge untapped potential of India in the sporting arena.... Besides, this will also enable children of families living in the vicinity to focus on sporting activities," he said.

Asked whether he would take up the role of a coach for the youngsters at the proposed complex, Waugh replied that initially he would oversee the setting up of the facilities.

"Afterwards I might chip in for coaching if required," the Aussie star said.

Rahul Todi, Managing Director of Shrachi Group which is building the facility, said the International Sporting City project would be constructed at Renaissance township in Burdwan.

The township was being built by the leading real estate group in collaboration with Waugh-owned 'Sporting Edge' on 12 acres of land.

Todi said initially they had plans to make facilities for cricket and football, the two most popular games in the country, at an investment of Rs 12-13 crore.

Subsequently they would also add tennis, basketball, swimming and other events in the sporting city with an additional budget of Rs 15-20 crore.

"Besides children and youth from West Bengal, the youngsters from neighbouring states like Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa could avail the facility," Todi said.

saurav_68

May 19th, 2011, 06:17 PM

ANJALI (ASANSOL) RESIDENTIAL SATELLITE TOWNSHIP PROJECT UNDER EASY EMI SCHEME @Rs.90,000.00 per 720 sq. ft.

Please visit us : www.absrealestategroup.com

It is well known that investment in land have traditionally performed better than other avenues of money generation like trading in gold, mutual funds, fixed deposits, insurance & other types of investment software with economy showing signs of maturity in the second most populated country in the world savings are discouraged. In this scenario, land gives the best return on investment. That is because the demand for quality real estate will always run ahead of supply.Our projects will bring a radical change in the dimension and definition of Real Estate Marketing. It will be an attempt to introduce an unique marketing system which will create a revolution in direct marketing and also helping people to make true assets.

Rs. 1,00,000.00 PER 720 SQ. FT. FREEHOLD LAND WITH ALL AMENITIES. AT ASANSOL ON NATIONAL HIGHWAY- 2 AT UNBELIEVEABLE PRICE.

THE REAL ESTATE BOOMING CENTERING AROUND KOLKATA IS SET TO GET THE CAPITAL INFLOW OF WORTH Rs. 37,000.00 CRORES APPROX. IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THE IMPACT OF THIS HUGE INVESTMENT PROSEPECT HAVE OPENED UP FLOOD GATES OF INDUSTRIAL & INFRASTRUCTURAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THE DISTRICT TOWNS OF WEST BENGAL ALSO BURDWAN, DURGAPUR, ASANSOL BEING THE OTHER PROSPECTIVE ZONE. ABS WITH ITS PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE OF "ENCOURAGING SHELTER" FOR THE COMMON PEOPLE WITH THE AFFORDABLE PRICE TAG & INSTALMENT FACILITES HAS DECIDED TO REACH OUR BEYOND KOLKATA TO THIS REGION OF ENORMOUS POTENTIALS THROUGH "ANJALI RESIDENTIAL HOUSING PROJECT" AT ASANSOL.

Key Features:- Unfurnished, North - East facing, 180 units available Transaction Type: New Property, Ownership: Freehold Distance From Key Facilities:- Hospital - 10 km , Railway Station - 12 km , School - 7 km , City Center - 8 km Amenities:- Gym, Water Storage, Club House, Power Back Up, Reserved Parking, Park, Rain Water Harvesting, Security, Private Terrace/ Garden, Lift, Swimming Pool, Servant Quarters, Vaastu Compliant.

ASANSOL OFFICE : OPP. DURGA HOTEL (CALCUTTA SWEETS) - BESIDE EVE'S LAND NURSING HOME - WEST APCAR GARDEN ROAD, ASANSOL.

Contact : PROSENJIT TALUKDAR- MARKETING DEVELOPMENT OFFICER.(M-9433008594)

www. absrealestategroup.com

"ANJALI RESIDENTIAL TOWNSHIP " NEAR ASANSOL - KULTI MORE (NATIONAL HIGHWAY - 2)

Landmarks & Neighbourhood :- 1. ASANSOL TOWN - 10 KM, 2. BHUSAN STEEL PLANT - 2 KM. 3. IISCO STEEL PLANT (KULTI) - 3.5 KM. 4. NEAMATPUR TOWN - 7 KM. 5. KULTI COLLEGE TOWN - 7 KM. 6. ASANSOL ENGINEERING COLLEGE - 7 KM, 7. ASANSOL RAMKRISHNA MISSION - 7 KM, 8. KALYANESWARI TEMPLE - 7 KM. 9. DVC MAITHAN DAM - 8 KM. 10. CHITTARANJAN LOCOMOTIVE WORKS - 12 KM. 11. BURNPUR STEEL PLANT & TOWN - 16 KM.

Terms & Conditions:- PRICE OF THE EACH PLOT 720 SQ. FT. STARTS FROM 90,000 AND ABOVE.(THROUGH EASY EMI SCHEME). First month booking amount 10% of the plot value. second month 7.5% of the plot value, third month 7.5% of the plot value. After the payment of 25% of the plot value you will get Agreement for Sale. Balance amount of the plot in 36 months interest free E.M.I.

ASANSOL OFFICE : OPP. DURGA HOTEL (CALCUTTA SWEETS) - BESIDE EVE'S LAND NURSING HOME - WEST APCAR GARDEN ROAD, ASANSOL. TIMINGS : THURSDAY CLOSED. OTHER DAYS (11PM TO 5PM)

KOLKATA OFFICE: (NEAR LAKE MARKET - CHARU CHANDRA COLLEGE )(THURSDAY CLOSED) OTHERS DAY 3PM TO 7PM.

saurav_68

May 19th, 2011, 06:26 PM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/BNR_Bus_Stand.JPG
CC:Kaushik 108

tall_dreams

May 19th, 2011, 06:28 PM

A new mall is being constructed near Ullhas, Burdwan. Any one know anything about it?

tall_dreams

May 19th, 2011, 06:32 PM

Renaissance, Burdwan

http://www.lemongrassadvisors.in/images/projects/renaissance/thumb_ele.jpg

A multi-crore project created by Shrachi Burdwan Developers Pvt Ltd in association with Burdwan Development Authority. A mega township developed on 254 acres, offering dream homes, rewarding investment opportunities, flourishing commercial prospects, higher edudcation facilities and more.

Project Details
Total Land Area : 254 Acres
No of blocks : 12
No of Units : Flats - 192; Bungalows - 1300 (approx.)
Developer : Shrachi Burdwan Developers Pvt Ltd & Burdwan Development Authority

Location
Renaissance is situated immediately outside the north-western boundary of the Bardhaman municipal area, the proposed site for the new township is located at the intersection of the GT Road. The GT Road bypass runs close to its northern corner while the NH-2 or the GT Road, passing through Bardhaman, lies to the east of the site. Making it easier to commute to industrial hotspots such as Durgapur (62 kms away) and Asansol (100 kms away) on one side and on the other it is just 95 km from Kolkata’s NSCB Airport.

http://images1.just-landed.com/housing_images/India_West-Bengal/For-Sale_Apartments/Residential-Apartment-in-Budwan-Nakshatra-heights-1474823-2586623/photo/scaled_1304234130721154872.jpg http://www.nkrealtors.com/projects/thumb/115.JPG

http://content.sahipasand.com/images/95/9502089991.jpg

http://images1.just-landed.com/housing_images/India_West-Bengal/For-Sale_Apartments/Bungalows-in-Bardhaman-Neer-Renaissance-Township-1475727-2590245/photo/scaled_1304243812606681309.jpg

http://www.lemongrassadvisors.in/images/projects/renaissance/masterplan.jpg

http://www.shrachi.com/bengalshrachi/images/portfolio/renaissance_t.jpg

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/7103/burdwantownshipshrachig.jpg

saurav_68

May 19th, 2011, 06:37 PM

Cross posting from West Bengal Cityscapes

Suhatta Mall, Durgapur

photo copyright Kishore

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/4871/somemallwbkishore.jpg (http://img13.imageshack.us/my.php?image=somemallwbkishore.jpg)

studdmanster

May 22nd, 2011, 07:37 AM

Renaissance - Nakshatra Heights | NH2, Burdwan | Launched

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/9951/116dv.jpg

No. of Towers : 26
No. of Floors : G+4, G+7, G+11

studdmanster

May 22nd, 2011, 07:38 AM

Renaissance - Neer | NH-2, Burdwan | u/c

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/3596/115wq.jpg

Facilities:

High level School
Club & Community centre
Hospital
Police Station
Football Ground
Tennis Court
Mall with Multiplex

Suncity

June 3rd, 2011, 07:01 AM

IQ City walkthrough

9hy1ahsDtTk

Suncity

June 9th, 2011, 08:45 AM

IVRCL/Bengal Shristi

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/construction/ivrcl-bags-orders-worth-rs-900-crore/articleshow/8772908.cms

Infrastructure Company IVRCL has bagged projects worth Rs 900 crore to implement several projects in the water, buildings, power and transportation division, a company statement said. The company will be implementing these projects in Gujarat and West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Dubai.

Of the total contracts, the company's buildings division has won contracts worth Rs 517 crore which include constructing a new hospital building in Valsad, Gujarat, a lift pump house for NTPC's thermal power plant in Farakka, and a high rise building for Bengal Shristi Infrastructure Development in Asansol in West Bengal. IVRCL's water division has won contracts worth Rs 295 crore in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Dubai and Kolkata.

kajusen

June 11th, 2011, 06:09 AM

well then let me introduce myself in a little more detailed manner . I am originally from Durgapur residing in Bansdroni . Currently I am enjoying my vacation in Durgapur :)

Suncity

June 11th, 2011, 06:43 AM

well then let me introduce myself in a little more detailed manner . I am originally from Durgapur residing in Bansdroni . Currently I am enjoying my vacation in Durgapur :)

Ok. Now please go around and take some nice pictures of the city and post it here.

:cheers:

SarafIndian

June 11th, 2011, 07:15 AM

Yes, kaju, take your 11 no gaddi and take some good photos..:cool:

Is it very hot in Durgapur?

studdmanster

June 11th, 2011, 07:52 AM

ayan92

June 11th, 2011, 10:24 AM

Yes, what would xpect in a colliery belt??....both summers and winters are dry out there!! All the clges out there are having their vacs now!!

Bechara Kaju, either do your photoshoot before 10am or after 5pm, nahi to, he might accuse us later!!!...:lol:

Well, I think durgapur-asansol folks are accustomed to such hot conditions....so I believe it wont be a problem, will it kaju???:naughty:

kajusen

June 12th, 2011, 06:27 AM

yaa i'll post some pics soon . yes its hot . yesterday went to junction mall in the evening . bought a t shirt,shirt and a pair of jeans from there . :lol:also had mocachillo at caffe coffee day . :laugh:

kajusen

June 12th, 2011, 06:31 AM

BTW studd what kind of signature u have put up , "pyaar do pyaar lo" , any kind of exchange offer going on :rofl:

Joy_ghosh02

June 13th, 2011, 04:40 PM

BTW studd what kind of signature u have put up , "pyaar do pyaar lo" , any kind of exchange offer going on :rofl:

is it a song from the film THANK YOU...........

by the way Kaju...... have a nice vacation......... we miss you in the Kolkata Metro thread..............

studdmanster

June 13th, 2011, 05:51 PM

@ Kaju: there goes the answer...

thanx Joy...;)

SarafIndian

June 24th, 2011, 02:37 AM

Photo cc niranjan k

Junction Mall, Durgapur

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5314/5810667425_4a1b3d59de_b.jpg

studdmanster

July 5th, 2011, 11:44 AM

cc: TNN

Like Kolkata,Howrah and the Asansol-Durgapur belt will have a commissioner of police each.The state cabinet is to finalize recruitment of policemen this week to man the two commissionerates being set up for better policing of the towns.
Around eight police stations are initially to be under the control of this new commissionerate of Howrah,which will start functioning from this month.
The state government is planning to set up a separate police commissionerate for Asansol and Durgapur,but it will take some time to function,officials feel.Right now,there are eight police stations in Asansol and nine in Durgapur.Both regions are infested by the coal mafia.
The police brass is planning to set up 35 police stations for the police commissionerate of Asansol-Durgapur in Burdwan.The two industrial towns of Burdwan have a high crime index and the Mamata Banerjee government plans to go tough on crime.
Setting up another police commissionerate in Siliguri is also being considered but right now,the two police commissionerates will be launched.
The proposal for setting up the Howrah police commissionerate was pending for a long time during the Left Front regime.Now,the new government is giving priority to policing Howrah,where extortion and crime related to scrap iron is a menace.The commissionerate will be located in the industrial zone and include Howrah municipal area and Bally.
An officer of the rank of IG will be the commissioner of police and a DIG will be the joint CP,while there will be six DCs who will be of the rank of SP or additional SP and 12 assistant commissioners.Initially,the commissionerate will start functioning with skeletal staff as the required 800 policemen cannot be recruited immediately.The officers will also be gradually posted to the commissionerate.The eight police stations to be under this commissionerate are Howrah,Golabari,Malipanchghara,Liluah,Bally,Bantra,Shibpur and Jagacha.The commissionerate will police a total 93 sqkm and serve around 15 lakh people.
The new police commissionerate of Howrah will have a detective department as well as traffic,special branch and headquarters divisions and each will be headed by a DC.Eight police stations will be divided into north and south divisions and put under the control of two DCs.

Suncity

July 7th, 2011, 08:28 PM

Hospital project

http://www.thehindu.com/business/companies/article2208263.ece

Mr. Vohra said that the SPS group was setting up a medical hospital and nursing college in Durgapur and a power plant in Mejia in Bankura district for which it had already started acquiring land. The hospital is set to be ready by March 2012.

He said that funding for these projects would be through a mix of debt and equity.

The equity part would come through internal accruals and private equity under which Athina Capital of the U.K. would pitch in.

rupakd

July 8th, 2011, 07:00 AM

Asansol looks for its lost soul

The story of the Asansol-Durgapur belt is that of a topper pushed to second rank and tied down in chains to prevent it from claiming the top slot ever again. A UK survey had ranked Asansol 42 among the 100 fastest growing cities across the world. The region has the highest per capita income in Bengal but its wings have been clipped.
Linking Asansol and Durgapur and turning it into a mega city makes sense as NH-2 has reduced travel time between the twin towns to under 30 minutes — less than what it takes from Howrah station to Salt Lake.
Five years ago, the state government
announced grand plans to upgrade Durgapur-Asansol as Bengal’s second metro. The twin towns were included under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Scheme to upgrade civic infrastructure. Local industrialists reckon that if world-class infrastructure were provided, the Asansol-Durgapur belt would emerge as a Pune or Baroda.
But there was no change. Hardly any work has been done under JNNURM.
It’s hard to believe now but till the mid-20th century, the living standard in Asansol and Durgapur was much higher than many cities in India. But persistent neglect by the Centre and the state government pushed it back in time.
The belt did witness a recent spurt in development, following the revival of public sector giants like Steel Authority of India Ltd and Coal India Ltd. But it has been led by private initiatives with the state government making no concerted attempt to capitalize on the opportunity.
The Asansol-Durgapur Development Authority sat on the Vision 2025 document prepared by IIT-Kharagpur that stressed on the need to augment infrastructure, decongest roads by building ring roads and improve connections to Birbhum, Bankura and Purulia for better business activity.
Till a private superspeciality hospital opened in Durgapur recently, people had to travel to Kolkata for treatment. Though Durgapur now has a scores of private engineering, hotel management, law and management colleges, its infrastructure lags far behind Pune’s.
In the past couple of years, three malls have come up in Durgapur and one in Asansol but these are isolated developments initiated by realty majors. A lot of work needs to be done to improve transport. The law and order situation has also deteriorated, prompting chief minister Mamata Banerjee to set up a police comissionerate for the Asansol-Durgapur region.
“Though we pay more than 2,500 crore as tax to the state and Centre, the Asansol-Durgapur region has always been deprived. It is high time the government made Asansol-Durgapur the second metro city,” says Rajendra Prasad Khaitan of the Raniganj Chamber of Commerce.
All hope now rests on the Durgapur Aerotropolis project — again a private initiative. It is expected to encourage private sector initiatives in IT, hospitality and health sectors.
Sensing the potential, private investment is pouring in for the creation of minisatellite towns around Asansol and Durgapur. Town planners believe these townships need to be integrated into a larger plan so that they do not end up being oasis in a desert. Federation of South Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry has already submitted suggestions to the CM as well as ADDA on the need to make good of the opportunity and develop Bengal into a multi-city state. TNN

Suncity

July 10th, 2011, 10:09 PM

BAPL cuts short land acquisition for airport city project

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bapl-cuts-short-land-acquisition-for-airport-city-project/442215/

Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL) has decided to cut short the 2300 acres airport city project area at Andal by 144 acres which needed to be freshly acquired by the government, in keeping with the state government policy of not acquiring land for industrial projects. The developers are making changes accordingly in the masterplan of the Rs 10,000-crore project in the industrial belt of Asansol-Durgapur region of West Bengal.

“The West Bengal government has taken a position that no further acquisition will be done. Now, 144 acres needs to be freshly acquired by West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) for the project. State government does not want to do that and we have also decided to do away with the land,” Subrata Paul, chief executive officer of BAPL said.

So far, the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) has acquired and handed over 1,818 acres of land to the BAPL for the project. Though the proposed 2,300 acres project area is now reduced by 144 acres, the developers are expecting to get remaining 338 acres in another couple of months as this land is already under the process of acquisition.

“Currently we have about 1818 acres. The problem was with 144 acres which needed to be freshly acquired. But, we will be getting remaining land of about 338 acres in another two three months as this is already under various process of acquisition. There is some defence land also. WBIDC is talking with the defence authorities for that,” Paul said.

Unavailability of 144 acres has prompted BAPL to review its project plan.“This will affect project, but we will look and see how we can manage. We have to review it, the master plan has to be seen for that. We will see how the whole thing can be relooked at,” he said.

However, Paul added that this will not affect the construction of airport. “This 144 acres was part of the township. The 650 acre needed for the airport is intact. We are confident of making the airport operational by September 2012,” he said.

Suncity

July 10th, 2011, 10:30 PM

Durgapur BAPL video - but will this be a reality? Our politicians and intellectuals love rural lifestye and may not like such planned stuff.

http://www.bengalaero.com/durgapur_flythrough.html

Suncity

July 10th, 2011, 10:38 PM

Durgapur IQ City layout

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7387/durgapuriqcitymasterpla.jpg (http://img35.imageshack.us/i/durgapuriqcitymasterpla.jpg/)

Durgapur IQ City google earth 2010

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/7539/durgapuriqcity2010.jpg (http://img683.imageshack.us/i/durgapuriqcity2010.jpg/)

SarafIndian

July 11th, 2011, 06:00 AM

^^ Thanks for the update Sun. Looks like the work is going on.. :cheers:

Suncity

July 12th, 2011, 05:47 PM

Anyone has a photo of this mall in Burdwan? I think I have seen one somewhere but cannot find it.

Burdwan Arcade

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/5167/burdwanarcade2.jpg (http://img199.imageshack.us/i/burdwanarcade2.jpg/)

Suncity

July 13th, 2011, 03:54 AM

DVC Andal TPS - despite many problems like this (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/no-reviewandal-compensation-dvc/28975/on), this (http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/content/now-trinamul-blockade-dvc-project-andal) and this (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090820/jsp/bengal/story_11385912.jsp) looks like progress has been made in this project

2007
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/192/durgapurthermal2005.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/durgapurthermal2005.jpg/)

2010
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/1706/durgapurthermal2010.jpg (http://img62.imageshack.us/i/durgapurthermal2010.jpg/)

SarafIndian

July 13th, 2011, 04:54 AM

^^ Wow! Thats a cool update Sun :banana:

Suncity

July 13th, 2011, 05:17 AM

Anyone has idea at to where exactly is the Bengal Aerotropolis coming up?

soumyajyoti

July 13th, 2011, 07:18 AM

Anyone has idea at to where exactly is the Bengal Aerotropolis coming up?

Cross Durgapur...move along NH2 for about 10 km....IT would be on the right hand side on the NH...All the land along the region has been taken. However construction of the runway etc...would be a little far into the muddy roads

arijeetb

July 13th, 2011, 07:31 AM

brilliant updates, Sun :cheers:

Suncity

July 13th, 2011, 07:31 AM

Cross Durgapur...move along NH2 for about 10 km....IT would be on the right hand side on the NH...All the land along the region has been taken. However construction of the runway etc...would be a little far into the muddy roads

Thanks. Can you give me a rough idea on google earth or wikimapia?

I notice there is an old abandoned Andal airport site just across the power plant. There is also the DSP air strip in addition to the Panagarh airport.

studdmanster

July 13th, 2011, 08:54 AM

studdmanster

July 13th, 2011, 08:56 AM

Thanks. Can you give me a rough idea on google earth or wikimapia?

I notice there is an old abandoned Andal airport site just across the power plant. There is also the DSP air strip in addition to the Panagarh airport.

the area is Andal, where the DVC plant is...........so it could be....bt dont u think the runway is just too small???

studdmanster

July 13th, 2011, 08:58 AM

Hotel Rose Valley (erstwhile Ginger Hotel)

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/7577/39209200.jpg

cc: Ananta Karmakar @ Panoramio

studdmanster

July 13th, 2011, 09:00 AM

Peerless Inn, Durgapur

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/5817/44830039.jpg

cc: Ananta Karmakar @ Panoramio

studdmanster

July 13th, 2011, 09:01 AM

DSP Flyover

http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/9996/41875702.jpg

cc: Ananta Karmakar @ Panoramio

SSCaddict

July 13th, 2011, 10:04 AM

wow! nice pic sun.

SarafIndian

July 13th, 2011, 11:22 PM

Steel Minister asks SAIL to speed up Burnpur project (http://www.thehindu.com/business/article2224166.ece)

The 3 million tonne plant will be operational by December, says SAIL Chairman

Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma on Wednesday asked the Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) to speed up work on the delayed Rs.14,000-crore Burnpur steel plant in West Bengal and expressed concern over the Rs.2,000-crore cost overrun.

Addressing his first press conference here after being elevated to the Cabinet rank in the same Ministry, Mr. Verma said continued cost overrun was not a good thing and asked SAIL to work towards making the three million tonne capacity steel plant operational soon. Initially planned to commission the facility by June, it got delayed due to a prolonged digging work at the plant site due to ‘difficult' and ‘unforeseen' soil conditions.

SAIL Chairman C. S. Verma, who was present at the conference, said the plant would be made operational by December and attributed presence of molten material for the delay in completing the digging work. “We had to dig out the molten material, which was a time consuming process. In fact, we have got Rs.100 crore by selling it,'' he remarked.

The Chairman said SAIL had embarked on a Rs.70,000-crore capacity expansion plan, including Rs.10,000 crore for the development of mines, to increase its capacity to over 24 million tonnes annually by 2012-13 from 14.6 million tonnes now.

The Chairman said that apart from the Burnpur plant, no other plant had been facing cost or time overrun and the hot metal capacity of the company would reach the targeted level by the end of 2012-13. Two blast furnaces would start in the current fiscal, taking the capacity to 20 million tonnes annually.

Steel Secretary P. K. Mishra said the market even today was not positive due to issues in Europe, but assured the company that the share sale programme would be launched within the current fiscal depending on the market condition. “It will happen in the current fiscal. It may happen in the next two-three months. However, that would depend on the market condition,'' he added.

It is also more than a year since the state-run firm signed an initial pact with South Korean Steel major POSCO for setting up a high-value auto-grade steel plant at Bokaro in Jharkhand. The plant was to use POSCO's Finex technology and produce 2.5-3 million tonnes of steel in a year with an estimated investment of Rs.15,000 crore.

rupakd

July 14th, 2011, 07:43 AM

Airport city crosses last hurdle

Promoters of the airport city at Andal near Durgapur have given up the quest for the final tranche of land that was yet to be acquired and decided to accommodate the ambitious project in an area that is 144 acre short of the original plan.
Speaking to TOI, a senior official of project promoter Bengal Aerotropolis Pvt Ltd (BAPL) said the decision to make do with 2,201 acre that had been acquired was taken at a crucial board meeting on June 28. Apart from the BAPL top brass, honchos of copromoter Changi Airports Singapore were also present. The decision has been conveyed to the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC).
Last week, senior BAPL officials met industries minister Partha Chatterjee and apprised him of the latest development. Not only does the development remove the biggest stumbling block in the way of the Rs 10,000-crore project, it is also poised to become the showcase project of the Mamata Banerjee government, when the airport takes off in September 2012.
“Given the present political dispensation, we decided to be pragmatic and take the project forward. Though the project has to be modified to accommodate all components within the curtailed area, there was no other option, given the state government’s outlook on acquisition. Now that we have removed the hurdle, the project will be able to move ahead full steam,” said BAPL director Partha Ghosh. An objection by Coal India that had surfaced in the initial days of the project was resolved after a realignment.
Land acquisition for the project began just days after Tata Motors announced its pullout from Singur, following massive protests by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress against forced farmland acquisition. It proceeded smoothly till the final parcel situated along National Highway-2. Around 450-odd farmers who held 144 acre refused to part with it at the promised price, demanding higher compensation for the prime location.
The toughest part of the decision was to explain the situation to Changi Airports CEO Lim Liang Song, deputy CEO Eugene Gan and principal advisor Wong Woon Leong as the company had come on board, acquiring 26% stake when the project size was 2,345 acre spread over 11 moujas. Though, overseas investors get edgy when confronted with changes in commitments, Changi Airports being a government-owned company, did not wish to be embroiled in any controversy and agreed to the compromise. The trio visited the site on June 29 to assess the impact.
While the airport does not get affected, the rest of the project will have to be squeezed into the revised site area. The worst affected with be the frontage next to the highway. The project will have to make do with a six lane main arterial road linking NH 2 to the airport and build its frontage on the land facing this road. The other components — industrial park, IT park, residential and entertainment — will share the impact.
“There will be a financial impact as well. But it will not dampen the project progress or impact the financing by the six bank consortium,” Ghosh said.
He also informed that the revised land plan had been sent to master planners Townland Consultants of Hong Kong. The new plan should arrive in a month-and-a-half. Thereafter, infrastructure development-—connections for drainage, sewage, water, electricity—will begin in fullswing.
“The timeline for the project remains the same. Airport construction will be completed next June and it will be operational in August. The rest of the project will be completed in three years,” Ghosh said. Foundation work is already underway on the air strip and construction of the terminal is set to begin soon.
Meanwhile, unwilling land owners expressed delight at the company’s decision and claimed it was another victory on the lines of Singur. “We are glad that our land was not grabbed,” said Jibon Roy of Andal More. Ashok Ganguly of Andal village echoed his sentiments. “I wanted more price for my land. Since the company did not oblige, I am happy that I got to retain my land,” he said.
At the other end of the spectrum, the development has been welcomed by those who had willingly sold their land as they feared a stalemate on the lines of Singur. Nripen Bakhsi of Khandra village, who received Rs 17 lakh for his land, articulated the anxiety. “We did not want the project to get derailed as it will lead to development of the entire locality,” he added. TNN

Suncity

July 15th, 2011, 03:38 AM

Mejia (35 kms from Durgapur) site of existing DVC TPS and expansion

2008

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/2884/mejhiathermal2008.jpg (http://img811.imageshack.us/i/mejhiathermal2008.jpg/)

2010

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/7861/mejhiathermal201.jpg (http://img641.imageshack.us/i/mejhiathermal201.jpg/)

News from Feb 2011

DVC seeks urgent coal allocation for Mejia-II

http://www.projectsmonitor.com/POWDIST/dvc-seeks-urgent-coal-allocation-for-mejiaii

Damodar Valley Corporation has sought the Ministry of Power's urgent intervention in the allocation of a tapering coal linkage for its upcoming 1,000- mw Mejia thermal power plant (phase-II) in Bankura district of West Bengal.

In a letter to the ministry, the project developer informed that Unit-1 of Mejia Phase-II had been commissioned and was expected to achieve commercial operation shortly. Unit 2 had also been synchronised and was scheduled to be commissioned next month. The utility requested the ministry to take up the coal linkage issue with the Ministry of Coal at the earliest to avoid any shortfall in coal availability to the units.

SarafIndian

July 15th, 2011, 04:07 AM

^^ Cool update of another power plant. I think its an expansion project. Btw, I see an aero plane in 2nd pic(2010)..:)

kajusen

July 15th, 2011, 04:08 AM

MY CLICKS DURING MY STAY IN DURGAPUR :-----

THE JUNCTION MALL :

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/182/spa0512l.jpg

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/6594/spa0514t.jpg

CAFE COFFEE DAY IN JUNCTION MALL :

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/9349/spa0515.jpg

ONGC SITE NEAR DURGAPUR (NAME OF PLACE = ICHAPUR) :

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/3524/spa0181u.jpg

CITY CENTRE RESIDENTIAL AREA :

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/5853/spa0152y.jpg

kajusen

July 15th, 2011, 04:15 AM

One more thing , I learnt driving in Durgapur during the vacation and also have a driving license now . :banana:

Suncity

July 15th, 2011, 04:18 AM

One more thing , I learnt driving in Durgapur during the vacation and also have a driving license now . :banana:

Congratulations.

Suncity

July 15th, 2011, 04:19 AM

I think its an expansion project. Btw, I see an aero plane in 2nd pic(2010)..:)

Yes to both.

:)

Suncity

July 19th, 2011, 06:25 AM

Four medical colleges from Coal India soon

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/four-medical-collegescoal-india-soon/442949/

Government-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) has planned to establish four medical colleges and an engineering college in the mining areas of its subsidiary companies.

This, coincidentally, comes at a time when the sector saw some controversy over the proposed government bill to compel mining companies to share at least a quarter of their annual profits with those affected by its operations.

“The colleges are in the pipeline. One is with Mahanadi Coalfields and the company has already formed a trust for a medical college at Talcher in Orissa.

The other three medical colleges would be under Bharat Coking Coal (BCCL) at Dhanbad, Central Coalfields (CCL) at Ranchi (both in Jharkhand) and Eastern Coalfields (ECL) at Asansol in West Bengal. The proposed engineering college would also be under CCL, near Ranchi. The investment for these projects are also expected on the same lines.

“For us, the advantage is that no big investment would be needed, as our major hospitals in these areas have more than 250 beds. Money will go for building classrooms, administrative buildings, hostel facilities and in buying new medical equipment,” Das said. The company has 86 hospitals and 423 dispensaries in its mining areas, with 1,524 doctors, 5,835 beds, 640 ambulances and 31 equipped mobile vans.

SarafIndian

July 19th, 2011, 07:49 PM

Rene strengthens presence in West Bengal (http://www.indiaretailing.com/news.aspx?topic=1&Id=5988)

Rene, a known apparel brand, has launched its fourth showroom in Durgapur. Spread across an area of 2000 sq.ft approximately, the outlet showcases a grand collection of accessories, apparels, leather goods and garments.

Satyabrata Mukherjee, CEO and MD, Rene, said, “Rene is renowned for its distinctive products that consist of a range of leather accessories and garments. The clothes have a certain creative artistry and finesse."

Rene, originally a manufacturer and exporter of fine quality leather goods all over the world to countries like USA, UK, Germany, Russia, Italy and Middle-East, has paved its way to retailing. The retailer is recognised as one of the distinct retail-entity of Kolkata providing artistic dexterity in leather accessories as well as in garments.

Rene emporium has a rejuvenating combination of beige and brown interiors enhanced with wooden works. It constitute of a well-organized and classified sections for men and women.

Suncity

July 21st, 2011, 04:21 PM

Work on Asansol-Durgapur commissionerate begins

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Work-on-Asansol-Durgapur--commissionerate-begins/819869/

The state government has decided to set up a commissionerate for Asansol-Durgapur area.The commissionerate will cover an area of 1600 square kilometres and include 15 police stations of Burdwan district under its jurisdiction. The commissionerate, according to the proposal, will benefit 31 lakh people of the twin sub-divisions which will have three working divisions -- East, West & Central, headed by a DCP each. Besides, there will be four more DCPs as DC (Traffic), DC (DD), DC (Hq) and DC (IB). The structure of the commissionerate is on the lines of Delhi Police, sources said. An official of IG rank will be posted in the commissionerate as the commissioner and the commissionerate will be an independent organisation which will report to the Director General of Police.

studdmanster

July 21st, 2011, 04:32 PM

:okay:...today @ brigade MB declared that next is Howrah, and soon there would be commissionerate in other districts also..also an all party meeting would be taken place soon to decide in adding up few more districts in the State...also on the same day the new name for the state would be decided upon!!

SarafIndian

July 22nd, 2011, 12:36 AM

What is commissionerate?

Suncity

July 22nd, 2011, 01:11 AM

What is commissionerate?

Don't know. I guess a fancy name for more bureacracy.

I guess these areas will now have their own police force rather than West Bengal police.

studdmanster

July 22nd, 2011, 07:56 AM

What is commissionerate?

Ask MB....even Firefox doesn't know it...

SarafIndian

July 22nd, 2011, 10:02 PM

deleted. already posted..

Cosmicbliss

July 23rd, 2011, 07:06 PM

Don't know. I guess a fancy name for more bureacracy.

I guess these areas will now have their own police force rather than West Bengal police.

How is that possible?

SarafIndian

July 23rd, 2011, 08:39 PM

How is that possible?

Like Kolkata..

Cosmicbliss

July 24th, 2011, 02:41 PM

Oh ok. Sorry.

Suncity

July 24th, 2011, 05:18 PM

Kingfisher, Jet Airways show interest in BAPL's proposed airport

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/kingfisher-jet-airways-show-interest-in-bapls-proposed-airport/443721/

Jet Airways and Kingfisher have shown intersest to operate in the proposed airport in the industrial belt of Asansol-Durgapur region of West Bengal, Subrata Paul, chief executive officer of Bengal Aerotropolis Projects (BAPL) which is setting up the 10,000-crore airport city project, said.

“After initial talks we have made further presentation to the network planning groups of Jet Airways and Kingfisher. They have shown interst. Though the airlines have not taken a final decision, they have asked us to keep them posted about the progress of construction work,” he said.

BAPL is expecting a decision from the airlines on this by early next year. “We are expecting to start operation by September next year. They will have to take the decision six to eight months before,” Paul said. It has also initiated talks with Indigo for starting operation and planning an interactive session for the airliners with travel agencies and actual users in Durgapur on November this year.

In its proposal, BAPL also suggested route plans to the airliners which includes two daily flights to Delhi and one flight to Bombay and Kolkata in a day. It has also proposed for three flights in a week to either Chennai or Bangalore depending on passenger traffic which will be linked with either Guwahati or Bagdogra in Siliguri.

It is expecting passenger traffic of about 3.5 lakh in the first year of operation banking on its huge catchment area of Durgapur, Asansol, Dhanbad and Kulti.

SarafIndian

July 27th, 2011, 11:50 PM

Govt to get CNG from Asansol

Calcutta may soon have a fleet of buses running on compressed natural gas (CNG).

On Tuesday , at a meeting at Writers' Buildings, it was decided that the state would make an effort to procure CNG and set up a filling station for government buses.

The meeting was attended by the transport and environment ministers, senior officials from their departments and senior police officers. Fuel majors like Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum also participated.

“The pipeline supply through Gas Authority of India Ltd may take another two to three years to be available in the city. Hence, we decided to explore the possibility of procuring CNG sourced from coal bed methane from Asansol and Ranigunge via tankers,“ environment minister Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar told Metro.

The Telegraph

SarafIndian

July 28th, 2011, 08:32 PM

Bengal Aerotropolis appoints new VP (airport operations) (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-company/corporate-announcement/bengal-aerotropolis-appoints-new-vp-airport-operations/articleshow/9397210.cms)

KOLKATA:Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL), which is setting up an airport city project in West Bengal, has appointed Shubhashish Bhattacharya, as Vice President- Airport Operations. An industry veteran with nearly two decades of experience, Subhashish will play an integral role in developing and strategizing the airport activities at the upcoming airport in Durgapur.

Mr Bhattacharya most recently served as international aviation consultant for GMG Airlines (Bangladesh), prior to which he had spent three years as head of terminal operations with Bengaluru International Airport. He has hands on experience in diverse areas encompassing ground security coordination, airport management, airport hospitality, GSD operations and maintenance, business operations and revenue management. In addition, he has expertise in handling airport terminal operations, crisis mitigation, project management & planning in international and domestic segments.

Commenting on this new appointment Mr Subrata Paul, director & chief executive officer, BAPL stated "We are delighted to have Shubhashish join the BAPL team and steer new initiatives. His deep understanding of international airport operations, gained from his assignments with Bengaluru International Airport and with Emirates Group atDubai International Airport will complement our project."

He further added, "The airport at Durgapur will be the best non-metro airport in the country in terms of its functionality and customer experience and Shubhashish's insights into international & domestic airline operations will help us in devising innovative practices and high value propositions for our customers and business partners."

Mr Bhattacharya added: "I am thrilled to be a part of BAPL at this stage of its evolution. BAPL has a strong team of experts and international partners with tremendous experience and insight. I look forward to the challenging journey ahead."

BAPL is promoted by Changi Airports India Pte. Limited, Singapore, a subsidiary of Changi Airport International (CAI), Singapore, Pragati Social Infrastructure & Development Ltd., Pragati 47 Development Ltd., Lend Lease Company (India) Ltd. and Citystar Infrastructures Ltd.

SarafIndian

July 29th, 2011, 09:14 PM

This is a small example how this new govt is stupid, useless and visionless. I don't understand these stupid ministers love for state own organizations. In future "a taka khaor motlob" it looks like. :bash:

Bengal’s new plan hits Changi Airports’ project (http://www.livemint.com/2011/07/29224157/Bengal8217s-new-plan-hits-C.html?atype=tp)

The West Bengal government’s decision to build a second airport on its own in Bardhaman district may jeopardize Singapore’s Changi Airports International Pte. Ltd proposed project in the same district for which it has already been allotted more than 1,800 acres of land.

Changi Airports and a group of Indian entrepreneurs are building a new airport at Andal in Bardhman district.

Changi owns a 26% stake in Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL), which is the firm building the airport.

It was to become the state’s third airport, after Dum Dum (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport) in Kolkata and Bagdogra in Siliguri.

The newly elected Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal has decided to build another airport in the same district, barely 40km from where BAPL’s proposed airport is to be located, by reviving the abandoned Asansol airport project, according to Moloy Ghatak, the state’s law minister.

“There is an 1,800-metre runway, plus the state government owns 556 acres of land around it,” said Ghatak. “There is no need to acquire more land to rebuild the abandoned Asansol airport”.

When asked whether this project would impact BAPL’s proposed airport, Ghatak said, “It is for them to decide whether they want to carry on with it…we are committed to rebuilding the Asansol airport on our own.”

The state government is also not willing to acquire more land for BAPL’s Andal airport.

A key tract of land connecting the proposed airport with the arterial National Highway 2 (NH2) is yet to be acquired and allotted, and the West Bengal government is not immediately willing to help BAPL.

“I have heard from the district magistrate that they (BAPL) haven’t yet concluded payment to people from whom some 190 acres were taken along the highway (NH2),” said Partha Chatterjee, West Bengal’s commerce and industries minister. “I am surprised by their claim that they have cleared all payments… They have to come clean on this.”

BAPL has asked the state government for 300 acres more, but in view of political resistance from local Trinamool Congress activists, it may not be easy for the company to get more land, said a land reforms department official, who did not want to be identified.

The West Bengal government had also announced recently that it would not acquire land for industrial projects as a matter of policy.

For the moment, BAPL executives are saying that their airport plans are on track.

“We are already much ahead,” said Partha Ghosh, a director of BAPL. “The work on the runway is over and we are currently constructing the passenger terminals and ATC (air traffic control) tower. If things go according to plan, our airport would be commissioned in September next year.”

SarafIndian

July 29th, 2011, 09:19 PM

^^ And I hope centre would not pay them a single penny for any new airport project around Asansol..

dayalbaba

August 2nd, 2011, 03:10 AM

this region would see a massive economic boom if we can start a semi hi speed train connection between kolkata and asansol, perhaps extend it to dhanbad as well. kol to asansol, a distance of 210 km now takes 3 hr 15-30 min by shatabdi. if we can bring it down to 1.5 hours many people would simply relocate to more peaceful places like durgapur. sadly, when I was in asansol after a gap of 15 years, back in 2009, the place didn't seem to have witnessed much of an improvement. the asansol market area still looked the same with muddy footpath and broken roads and the same rickety buses were overcrowded.

studdmanster

August 2nd, 2011, 09:56 AM

Durgapur Media Park

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9071/durgapur1.jpg

arijeetb

August 2nd, 2011, 04:00 PM

^^ And I hope centre would not pay them a single penny for any new airport project around Asansol..

^^yes, I am sure center will not approve. Any layman can tell that a second airport here will be a non-viable option. Let BAPL drive the growth in this part of the state . The center and AAI have other "demands" to deal with such as airports in Digha, Mandarmani, Balurghat blah blah...

BengaliTiger

August 2nd, 2011, 04:15 PM

I guess there is some rule that two airport cannot be built within certain radius of each other.

Forum Pravesh

August 2nd, 2011, 04:18 PM

this region would see a massive economic boom if we can start a semi hi speed train connection between kolkata and asansol, perhaps extend it to dhanbad as well. kol to asansol, a distance of 210 km now takes 3 hr 15-30 min by shatabdi. if we can bring it down to 1.5 hours many people would simply relocate to more peaceful places like durgapur.

I am regularly travelling in Shatabdi Express (Twice weekly) and it takes 2 Hours 20 Minutes to Reach Asansol and 1 Hour 40 Minutes to Durgapur :).

Suncity

August 2nd, 2011, 04:42 PM

In future "a taka khaor motlob" it looks like.:bash:

Bengal’s new plan hits Changi Airports’ project (http://www.livemint.com/2011/07/29224157/Bengal8217s-new-plan-hits-C.html?atype=tp)

Could be but probably a case of people who have no experience about aviation industry thinking that building an airport is easy. Anyway Mamata has invited Singapore to invest in West Bengal. So hopefully she will not risk to take up a fight with Changi now and may reign in in experienced ministers like Partha Chatterjee speaking to media with allegations against BAPL. Such allegations should be first sorted out in private with the company concerned rather than trying to score brownie points through media (which anyway distorts and lies in first place). Also does AAI have funds for such gimmicks?

SarafIndian

August 2nd, 2011, 08:11 PM

^^yes, I am sure center will not approve. Any layman can tell that a second airport here will be a non-viable option. Let BAPL drive the growth in this part of the state . The center and AAI have other "demands" to deal with such as airports in Digha, Mandarmani, Balurghat blah blah...

Why don't they come up with out-of-box plan like a flying school/aircraft industry or something like that in that existing Asansol airport? I already told, they have no vision.

But I am glad that they didn't plan another railway factory on that airport land.. :lol:

sanjib

August 4th, 2011, 12:50 PM

Any News about Asansol Centrium mall?? when will it be operational??

dayalbaba

August 7th, 2011, 01:30 AM

Why don't they come up with out-of-box plan like a flying school/aircraft industry or something like that in that existing Asansol airport? I already told, they have no vision.

But I am glad that they didn't plan another railway factory on that airport land.. :lol:

hindustan aeronautics has a helicopter division within barrackpore AFS. KGP has an aero dept. all these things need is vision.

SarafIndian

August 15th, 2011, 06:39 AM

Steel Authority of India Limited : SAIL Chairman urges ISP for faster project implementation (http://www.4-traders.com/STEEL-AUTHORITY-OF-INDIA-6493484/news/STEEL-AUTHORITY-OF-INDIA-LIMITED-SAIL-Chairman-urges-ISP-for-faster-project-implementation-13754364/)

New Delhi: The Chairman of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), Mr. C.S. Verma, visited IISCO Steel Plant (ISP) at Burnpur in West Bengal on 12th August to review progress of its ongoing modernisation & expansion programme being implemented at a cost of about Rs. 16,408 crore. While most of the projects under ISP's modernisation & expansion programme are in an advanced stage of completion, some are close to commissioning stage.

Braving a heavy downpour, Mr. Verma visited the modernisation project sites during his visit along with senior executives of the plant. While observing that the gap between scheduled and actual progress of some projects that were delayed due to unforeseen circumstances has been minimised faster than expected, he urged the project officials to make all-out efforts to expedite the projects at the earliest. "We will brook no delay any further," he said, while stressing upon the need to complete the projects on time. "The entire country is looking forward to timely commissioning of ISP modernisation,"

Mr. Verma pointed out to the project managers at a meeting here. Among project sites he visited are the new Coke Oven Battery (COB) and its interconnecting zone, Raw Material Handling System, Railway Yard, Water Treatment Plant, Power & Blowing Station, Coke & Sinter Despatch Yard, Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) and Wire & Rod Mill.

Construction of the state-of-the-art integrated steel plant with capacity to produce 2.5 million tonnes (MT) of crude steel per annum in a limited area of 953 acres of land - making it one of its kind in the world - has been a challenge. Major facilities coming up in the ambit of ISP's modernisation & expansion programme include a seven-metre-tall COB along with environment-friendly coke dry quenching system, two 204 sq. m. Sinter machines; a new Blast Furnace of 4060m3 volume with top pressure recovery turbine and coal dust injection system; three 150-tonne BOF converters, two 6-strand billet casters and one 4-strand bloom-cum-beam blank caster, Universal Heavy Section Mill of 0.6 MT per annum (mtpa) capacity, 0.5 mtpa Wire Rod Mill and 0.75 mtpa Bar Mill with necessary auxiliary and service facilities.

At present, four major projects - Wire Rod Mill, Raw Material Handling System designed to handle 7.56 MT of raw material, 3.88 mtpa Sinter Plant and 2x750 tpd Oxygen Plant - are almost ready for commissioning. The Wire Rod Mill will produce cold headed quality for fasteners, critical wire rope applications and special quality electrodes. For remaining projects almost all piling work and structural fabrication has been completed. Supply of equipments for most projects has also been completed and their erection is in an advanced stage of progress.

ISP came into being after erstwhile Indian Iron & Steel Co. (IISCO) was amalgamated with SAIL on 16th February, 2006. IISCO's origin can be traced back to 1870, though it was incorporated as an industrial enterprise only in 1913. Under the stewardship of Sir Biren Mukherjee, IISCO came to be ranked as one of the best managed steel plants in the 1960s. During this period IISCO was considered a blue-chip company and its shares were traded at the London Stock Exchange. However, the Government of India nationalised IISCO following its decline in later years and transferred all its shares held by the Centre to SAIL in 1972. With this, IISCO became a wholly owned subsidiary of SAIL in 1978-79.

SarafIndian

August 15th, 2011, 06:47 AM

Mithun's foray into the hospitality industry (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Mithuns-foray-into-the-hospitality-industry/articleshow/9601532.cms)

Mithun Chakraborty was in Siliguri recently to open up a new hotel.

The actor who is going gaga as Debobrata Bose of "Ami Subhash Bolchi' said, "The hospitality industry is something which I always enjoy doing and Siliguri's hotel is a new feather on the cap for me."

When asked whether his brand name is enough to bring customers, he replied back, "Mithun Chakraborty's name can bring in customers once not more than that. There you have to prove your mettle. Hospitality industry is not a matter of joke, you have to prove how good you are every now and then." Here's wishing him all the luck in his endeavours.

SarafIndian

August 17th, 2011, 09:33 PM

Photo cc Anirban Banerjee

Typical mining areas of Asansol Ranigunj area..

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6074/6043289814_995840be22_b.jpg

avishar

August 18th, 2011, 05:52 PM

Lovely HDR Pic.:)

saurav_68

August 18th, 2011, 06:56 PM

Photo cc Anirban Banerjee

Typical mining areas of Asansol Ranigunj area..

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6074/6043289814_995840be22_b.jpg
This mining trucks are huge.This are largest of all also.

SarafIndian

August 19th, 2011, 12:49 AM

Essar Oil to commence second phase of drilling at Ranigunj (http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/Essar-Oil-to-commence-second-phase-of-drilling-at-Ranigunj/5222722120)

The company is currently producing 35,000 standard cubic metres of coal bed methane (CBM) gas a day from 15 wells in the block.

Essar Oil may reportedly begin its second phase of drilling over 100 production wells at the Ranigunj block near Durgapur in West Bengal, very soon.

According to reports, drilling operations in the block were suspended for nearly 8-10 months due to non-availability of environmental clearance

sanjib

August 19th, 2011, 02:25 PM

Spread across 2.50 lakhs sq.ft. of retail space, Asansol Sentrum - a new mall by real estate developer Bengal Shristi Infrastructure Development is geared up to operational by the first week of September 2011 in Asansol, West Bengal.

The developer claims that the mall will be Asansol’s largest shopping centre. It will house several international and national brand outlets and offer exclusive restaurants and food courts to its visitors. The mall will also have ample car parking space available for everyone.

“Asansol is fast emerging as the next destination city of West Bengal. With world class townships and shopping malls coming up, the region is witnessing a transition towards better lifestyle” said, Mr. Sunil Jha, CEO, Bengal Shristi Infrastructure Development.

Asansol Sentrum is a part of the integrated township Shristinagar – The New Asansol. The mall is a complete entertainment destination for families. Asansol is the second largest town in West Bengal after Kolkata.

dayalbaba

August 20th, 2011, 09:16 PM

where exactly is shristinagar, any locals here ?

Suncity

August 21st, 2011, 07:44 AM

Shrishtinagar, Asansol

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/2098/asansol2010.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/585/asansol2010.jpg/)

Suncity

August 21st, 2011, 07:47 AM

Interesting info about Burnpur

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/land-troubles-for-steelmakers/443849/

SAIL chairman C S Verma says the Rs16,408 crore investment at Burnpur to be completed by March 2012 will make it the single largest industrial unit in West Bengal, ahead of Durgapur Steel, also a SAIL unit. As IISCO, which at the pinnacle of its working annually made 1 million tonnes of steel, fell on bad times, the central government was constrained to take it over to save jobs and also the economy of Burnpur. The derelict Burnpur mill was thrust upon SAIL once the government search for a buyer from the private sector came to nothing.

But, 1979, when IISCO became a SAIL subsidiary was not the time when steel groups worried much about the supply and prices of mineral resources. IISCO brought a mill to SAIL which any steel group would like to do without. Now many must be regretting that by not buying IISCO they let go of a treasure trove of 2 billion tonnes of iron ore deposits at Chiria, among the biggest in the world. In recent times, some leading private steel groups, including ArcelorMittal, made unsuccessful bids to acquire slices of Chiria deposits. Of the 4 billion tonnes of iron ore deposits owned by SAIL, the share of Chiria alone is half.

Explaining how it has been possible to build so much capacity in a limited space of 900 acres, Verma says at Burnpur “we have gone for big-sized units conforming to world benchmarks. The BF comes with a size of 4,060 cubic metre. The coke oven battery is 7 metre tall. The two sinter machines will have capacity of 3.8 million tonnes of iron ore sinter. You need a lot more space if, instead of one large machine, you use multiple units. Japan is much constrained for space. So, you find there mills employing BF of sizes ranging from 4,000 to 5,700 cubic metres.”

SAIL did manage to overcome the infrastructure deficiencies of Burnpur while moving heavy machines. What, however, it did not bargain for was that it would be required to remove huge quantities of molten metal accumulated over the years, underground boulders and hillocks for installation of a number of critical facilities. This and difficult soil conditions requiring much extra civil and structural work caused cost and time escalation. The low energy consuming new mill will have labour productivity of 325 tonnes a man year against the earlier 56 tonnes. Hopefully, Burnpur is setting a benchmark for land use for steelmakers here.

Google earth image

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/6180/burnpur2010.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/27/burnpur2010.jpg/)

sanjib

August 22nd, 2011, 11:07 AM

where exactly is shristinagar, any locals here ?
I am from Asansol. Shristi Nagar or The New Asansol (also called) is opposite to Kalyanpur Housing on Senreligh Road.

dayalbaba

August 22nd, 2011, 11:39 AM

thanks sanjib, is this near that statue of swami vivekananda ?

sanjib

August 25th, 2011, 08:42 AM

thanks sanjib, is this near that statue of swami vivekananda ?

It is little far from there. but in the same road. if you are coming from Bhagat singh statue in GT road, cross apcar garden railway tunnel and come straight, the mail gate will be on your left hand side.

SarafIndian

August 25th, 2011, 10:41 PM

http://www.globalairportcities.com/news/features/face-of-the-future

.....
Built on 650 acres of virgin land in Barddhaman district around a single runway airport, the development will be an airport city in its most literal sense, including residential blocks, schools, colleges, hostpitals, golf courses and even theme parks.

“The airport will act as an economic engine and will be a catalyst for growth for the entire region, which is currently starved as far as air traffic movement is concerned,” says Subrata Paul, director & CEO of Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL), the consortia that is developing the aerotropolis.

According to Paul, the Durgapur Aerotropolis will be equipped with a science and technology park to attract high-tech and R&D companies to settle in the area.

A logistics park will foster greater trade and flow of goods between northeast and south Bengal, to Bangladesh and central and southern India. Green technology companies, light manufacturing industry and health tourism are all expected to spring up, boosting the local economy.

“The aerotropolis will ignite the real estate sector. Real estate developers within the Asansol Durgapur Planning Area (ADPA) are looking at a growth story within the Durgapur catchment area, with a lot of development expected to happen,” enthuses Paul.
.....

Sudipto

September 1st, 2011, 02:56 PM

:bash:Hi I’m new in this site. This site is perfect for showing my anguish against the unprecedented behavior of Bengal govt. towards the industrialization of the state.
Most of the big project has already been scraped by the respective authorities and some will be canceled in near future due to political compulsion and obstacles.
I got a vibe that the present govt. act very reluctant regarding the projects which are initiated by past Govt. So it is very clear that Bengal can’t be able to make a strong and powerful economy again till the end of the world.

*** Bengal Airtropolis project will be added next in the list of scraped projects.

SarafIndian

September 1st, 2011, 09:47 PM

Asansol Sugam Park U/C..

Sugam Park is a sprawling 30 Acre Residential Township located in Asansol (West Bengal)

After the tremendous success of the many residential and commercial projects in Kolkata, the Sugam Group brings to Asansol a taste of the luxury lifestyle by the way of Sugam Park, Asansol.

Sugam Park is one of the largest residential projects of Asansol, spread over an area of 30 acres. This well planned Mini-Township project will comprise of over 1000 apartments of various sizes as well as 130 pl...ots - for those who prefer living in their own bungalow.

The project will be a complete urban zone having a huge list of modern amenities such as an Exclusive Club with a large Terrace Swimming pool, indoor and outdoor sporting and recreational facilities, fully equipped gymnasium and much more. Sugam Park will be a complete entity, catering to every aspect of Modern Urban lifestyle by providing a platform for community living.

Photo source: [Sugam park facebook site (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sugam-Park-Asansol-by-Sugam-Homes/125106937580018?sk=wall#!/pages/Sugam-Park-Asansol-by-Sugam-Homes/125106937580018?sk=wall)]

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/253249_127818197308892_125106937580018_196032_875495_n.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/284913_127818483975530_125106937580018_196037_7959205_n.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/283535_127818100642235_125106937580018_196029_1886293_n.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/229701_127817487308963_125106937580018_196025_3203824_n.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/267286_127816313975747_125106937580018_196021_7958045_n.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/283938_127814880642557_125106937580018_196019_3319417_n.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/281236_127814420642603_125106937580018_196017_8115616_n.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/284783_127813000642745_125106937580018_196001_386093_n.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/281816_127812057309506_125106937580018_195992_3367794_n.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/184160_127812013976177_125106937580018_195991_5633142_n.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/285029_127811543976224_125106937580018_195982_5370219_n.jpg

Renders..

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/268178_125162400907805_125106937580018_185768_3678848_n.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/267509_125118127578899_125106937580018_185756_3170822_n.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/270223_125107727579939_125106937580018_185728_2478764_n.jpg

SamitB

September 2nd, 2011, 08:11 PM

excellent:cheers:

studdmanster

September 3rd, 2011, 09:22 AM

giooooooo.....gajabb....:cheers:

Sumanb

September 5th, 2011, 09:00 AM

Excellent. Good to see such a nice project in Asansol-Durgapur area.

sanjib

September 9th, 2011, 07:13 PM

Asansol Sentrum, touted to be one the largest and most important malls of Asansol, is scheduled for a soft launch on September 15. Developed by Shristi Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd and ADDA, the gross leasable area of the mall is 2.5 lakh sq.ft.

Mall has already signed up with host of retail brands such as, Future Group as the anchor occupying 30,000 sq. ft; Reliance Trends as the fashion anchor, occupying 15,000 sq ft; Reliance Footprint as the footwear fashion anchor; INOX as the entertainment anchor and Buzz as the food court.

The vanilla brands like Nike, CCD, Lilliput World, Gini & Jony, The Mobile Store, Hoffmen, Moustache, Khadims, Kanpur Leather House, Chandra & Sons, Fab Lens, Pavillion Café, City Bazar Metro and Just i will have their stores in the mall. The entire third floor is dedicated to local retail brands dealing in various categoriee while the fourth floor, will house Inox as Multiplex and also Buzz food court. The mall also has provision for restaurants and lounges.

Few of the brands in pipeline are – Adidas, Woodland, Lee, Spykar, Pepe, K Lounge, Denizen, Vip, The Loot, Geeta Fashion, Kaya Skin Clinic, Presto, Fun Toys, Titan, Tanishq, Kathleen, Subway and Dominos.

Most anchor tenants will operate on a revenue share and minimum guarantee model.

SarafIndian

September 14th, 2011, 06:46 AM

SAIL's Burnpur plant to start ops next June (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-11/kolkata/30141505_1_durgapur-steel-plant-steel-production-kobe-steel)

KOLKATA: SAIL's green field unit at Burnpur will start production from June next year.

The public sector steel behemoth is investing Rs 16,000 crore to almost rebuild IISCO, one of the oldest steel plants in Asia. The new plant will have a capacity of 2.5 million tonne. SAIL chairman C S Verma told reporters after a half-hour-long meeting with chief minister Mamata Banerjee that all the expansion and modernization project of the company in Bengal is going smoothly. As part of its ongoing modernization and expansion programme, all three steel production units of SAIL in Bengal - IISCO Steel Plant, Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP), and Alloy Steel Plant (ASP) - are undergoing modernization and expansion at a total cost of about Rs 20,000 crore.

"SAIL is currently undertaking modernization and expansion projects at all its steel plants. We met the chief minister, who has assured full support to SAIL in all its ventures in West Bengal. This gives us the confidence to further increase our long association with West Bengal and contribute more in its ongoing development," Verma said.

The SAIL chairman pointed out that IISCO steel plant with investments of about Rs 16,000 is set to emerge as the most modern and environmentally friendly steel plant in India. "The facilities envisaged at IISCO steel plant are scheduled for commissioning progressively from December 2011 and will get complete by June 2012" he added.

According to him, the modernization at DSP would cost of about Rs 3,000 crore will increase finished steel production by over 64% and enable 100% production through the modern continuous casting process that will further increase profitability and ensure better quality product. DSP will have a capacity of 1.8 million tonne after this. Verma also mentioned that the pre-feasibility study for SAIL's 50:50 JV with Kobe Steel of Japan for setting up a 0.5 million tonne nugget plant near ASP, Durgapur, has been completed and that 'discussions to finalize the scheme and enter into a 50:50 JV agreement are in progress'.

"The project is expected to take about two years to complete. This is the most modern and cost-effective method for production of nuggets for use as a substitute for scrap in steel making

," he added. Referring to the proposed wagon making factory at Kulti, Verma informed that this is expected to come up at a capital investment of Rs 200 crore. It would have a capacity of 200 wagons per year and will be a JV between SAIL and RITES.

SarafIndian

September 20th, 2011, 09:47 PM

Kobe Steel team visits Durgapur (http://www.cardinalphoto.com/content/how-optimize-exposure-and-sharpness-using-custom-settings-fine-tune-your-camera-settings)

A delegation from Kobe Steel, Japan visited Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP) and Alloy Steels Plant (ASP) of Steel Authority of India (SAIL) on September 19 and 20.

It may be mentioned that SAIL and Kobe Steel have signed an MoU for exploring the possibility of setting up a joint venture unit of five lakh tonnes per annum plant with ITmk3 technology for production of iron nuggets without using coking coal.

A DSP release said that the purpose of the visit was to foster better technical appreciation of steel plant operations. The delegation met senior officials of the plant and visited different units of DSP and ASP.

The Japanese team also made a presentation on various aspects of Kobe Steel.

SarafIndian

September 28th, 2011, 09:38 PM

Essar West Bengal CBM drilling approved (http://www.ogj.com/articles/2011/09/essar-west-bengal-cbm-drilling-approved.html)

Essar Oil Ltd., Mumbai, has received environmental clearance to drill 58 pilot-production wells to develop coalbed methane reserves near the town of Durgapur in West Bengal, India.

The company had proposed to drill 90 wells on the 500-sq-km Raniganj East CBM Block RG(E)-CBM-2001/1, in which it holds 100% interest. The block is in the Damodar Valley coal field.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests excluded 32 of the proposed wells because locations are in a forest.

Before the approval, Essar Oil estimated peak production at 3.5 million cu m/d. It estimates proved and probable reserves at 201 bcf.

The drilling will occur on 45 sq km in a second phase of work. The first phase included 120 line-km of high resolution seismic survey and the drilling of 12 core holes and 15 test wells, according to government documents.

In addition to the 58 approved wells, the second phase includes the construction of a gathering station and a 40 km pipeline between the gathering station and Durgapur.

Maximum drilling depth will be 1,000 m. A truck-mounted rig will use water-based mud for drilling down to 500 m and air mist drilling beyond 500 m.

Essar Oil estimates drilling costs at $630,000/well.

Deb_S

October 14th, 2011, 11:17 AM

Our Bureau NEW DELHI

SETTING up special economic zones in smaller cities is set to become more attractive after the government has decided to reduce the minimum built up area requirement for sector specific zones such as IT, gems & jewellery and bio-tech in tier-2 and tier 3 cities.
The guidelines have also given a 10-year deadline to developers for setting up the required infrastructure in a bid to weed out non-serious SEZ players.
“The built up area requirement for SEZs so far was too large to attract developers in small cities as investors wouldn’t want to put in money in building infrastructure without knowing whether the whole of it would get occupied,” pointed out Raju Bhatnagar, vice president, Nasscom.
With the reduction of the required built up area by half for tier 2 cities (relatively small cities usually with less than one million population) and by a fourth for even smaller tier 3 cities, investments in such zones have become more attractive, he added.
According to a notification put out by the commerce department, SEZs in tier-2 cities such as Madurai, Varanasi, Raipur, Amritsar, Agra and Asansol will have a minimum built up area half of the earlier requirement.
This means that IT SEZs, which earlier had to have a built up area of one lakh square meter, will now have to have infrastructure over only 50,000 square meter in such cities.
Similarly, gems & jewellery SEZs, requiring a built up area of 50,000 square meters, would now have a reduced requirement of 25,000 square meters in tier-2 cities In tier 3 cities such as Jaipur, Ghaziabad and Kochi, the minimum built up area requirement has been brought down further to 25% of the original requirement.
However, for big cities such as Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore, the old dispensation would continue. Nasscom is confident that the move would promote growth of the $60-billion IT-ITeS sector in small towns and cities and reduce load on large cities.
It has also proposed to the government a ‘virtual SEZ’ scheme, in which the requirment of built up area would be waived for all IT SEZs. “For start ups which just need a small area with threefour computers, it does not matter if the built up area requirement is reduced to even 1,000 sq metres. The ‘Virtual SEZ’ proposal of the Nasscom can only help such small IT firms,” says Vishnu Dussad, CEO of Nucleus Software, a Noida based mid cap firm, with a turnover of about Rs 200 crore.
The government’s move to ensure that the built up area requirement is respected by developers by setting a ten-year deadline for its completion would oust non-serious players.
“There are instances where a developer sets up just one or two units in the entire zone to show that it is operational and does not carry out any other activity waiting for more favourable returns,” said Hitender Mehta, Gurgaonbased consultant and an expert on SEZs.
With the new deadlines in place, such developers would invite penal action against them if they wait for too long to develop infrastructure, he added.

SamitB

November 4th, 2011, 05:29 AM

Location : Durgapur
Client : Sadgun Trading Corpn.
Build Up Area : 4,00,000 SQFT
A state of the art IT Complex at the IT hub in Durgapur . A green , environment friendly building creating world class office spaces .
http://innateindia.com/images/projects/6/durgapur_1.jpg
photo cc innateindia.com

Deb_S

November 23rd, 2011, 05:57 PM

KOLKATA: Clouds of uncertainty hovering over the airport city near Durgapur cleared on Tuesday. The state government has endorsed the project and promised help to stakeholder Singapore-based Changi Airports, which owns 26% stake in the project.

However, there were a couple of riders as well. The government wants to see the airport up and flying before the promoters gets cracking on the more lucrative city-side. It will also review all agreements between Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) and the erstwhile Left Front government.

Ahead of the first interaction between the Mamata Banerjee government and representatives of BAPL, there were confusion and anxiety following conflicting statements issued by the government. While the state had made it clear it would not facilitate any further land acquisition for the project, reference to another airport at Asansol had sent jitters through the project promoters.

So much so that Singapore high commissioner Karen Tan had met Mamata Banerjee and expressed Changi's concern. When Changi Airports chief executive officer Lim Ling Song and deputy CEO Eugene Gang arrived in the city, anxiety was writ large on their faces. But the furrowed lines in the forehead cleared and the duo even managed a smile when they left industries minister Partha Chatterjee's chamber.

Aware of the undercurrent, the minister cleared the air outright by making it clear that the government would provide all necessary help to ensure a smooth takeoff for the airport. "Changi wants to showcase the project. We also need investment," he said.

Chatterjee though, was quick to add that the state's interest needed to be simultaneously protected. "BAPL has 1,818 acre in possession. The airport will require only 650 acre. They need to instill confidence in the government by setting up the airport. Thereafter, they can proceed with other projects," he said. BAPL is likely to get another 200-300 acre that is in the processing stage but it will be over 200 acre short of the original 2,300 acre proposal.

For more read here (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Aerotropolis-approved-but-wait-gets-longer-for-allied-development/articleshow/10837521.cms)

India101

January 3rd, 2012, 03:34 AM

Air Traffic Control
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CMq21vJRPTE/TvgRJjh4_sI/AAAAAAAAAc8/SWFNJiWBCMM/s494/andal3.JPG

The Runway
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IBe17dul5PA/TvgRJn_-PoI/AAAAAAAAAc8/uguSYNliWyg/s512/andal4.JPG

Passenger Terminal Building
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2RiHMAWKKRo/TvgRLl8vluI/AAAAAAAAAc8/oEqrdv5TQWA/s507/andal1.jpg

Service Cluster Block
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ygBumFnowqE/TvgRLvYLfiI/AAAAAAAAAc8/lTVxO6jzfgw/s498/andal2.JPG

Source: http://www.bengalaero.com

Have these images of Aerotropolis been posted from Townlands (http://www.townland.com/expertise_project.php?expertiseid=23&id=57) website?

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/3706/1281675236aerotropolis2.jpg

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7042/1281675189aerotropolis2.jpg

Site Plan -
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4599/1281675262aerotropolis2.jpg

SamitB

January 9th, 2012, 09:16 PM

Probal Basak / Kolkata/ Andal (bardhaman) January 10, 2012, 0:05 IST (http://www.business-standard.com/taketwo/news/pioneering-airport-city-project-struggles-to-stay-aloft/461254/)

Construction at the airport-city siteThe first ever airport-city project in which Singapore’s Changi airport holds a 26 per cent stake was expected to be the pride of West Bengal. Instead, a steady stream of pitfalls—from land acquisition problems to allegations of corruption amongst promoters—has taken the sheen off the project.

It took only a few clicks of the mouse for developers of India’s first proposed airport- city project to zero in on Andal near the industrial belt of Asansol-Durgapur in West Bengal for the Rs 10,000-crore venture. “I was looking for abandoned airstrips in the region and spotted out the site through Google,” recalls Agarwal, one of the founder promoter’s of Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL), the special purpose vehicle developing the project.
Executing the project has been a whole different animal. The project, developed in 2006 and in which Singapore’s Changi Airport holds a 26 per cent stake, has been riddled with problems from inception and seems to have a habit of acquiring new ones. First, the project was dogged by an objection by Coal India who said that the plan infringed on valuable coal reserves. Then, there was the state government’s decision to develop another airport about 40 km away at Asansol. Both were not good news for a pioneering project—an airport-city that had an entire ecosystem built into it, from manufacturing units to business and residential complexes. And it’s not every day that you have a marquee name like Singapore’s airport authority interested in a project in India—that too in a state famous for agitations against industry.

The fog seemed to lift over the project when BAPL appeared to have settled things with Coal India by agreeing to underground mining with the entry being outside the project area. Plus, in a relief to developers, the state government had not yet gone ahead with its Asansol airport plan other than making the announcement. Things suddenly were looking up.

The bogey of land
Not for long. Of the total 2,300 acres required, West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) acquired and handed over 1,818 acres of land to the BAPL for the project during Left regime, but that still left it short by a little under 500 acres. After the Mamata Banerjee-led government took over, BAPL, in a pragmatic move, was quick to announce that it will reduce the project area by 144 acres (which needed to be freshly acquired) in keeping with the government policy of not acquiring land for industrial projects. The developers also made changes in the masterplan accordingly.

Partha ChatterjeeHowever, BAPL was hopeful of getting the other 338 acres, which BAPL CEO Subrata Paul says, is “already under the process of acquisition.” Yet, that’s not what the government says. “Government will not proceed with acquisition of any further land. I have asked them to complete the airport first as they have more land than they require for that. This will bring confidence in the project,” West Bengal Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee recently said after meeting a delegation from Singapore’s Changi Airports International (CAI) led by its CEO Lim Liang Song.

Although there is no issue over the 650 acres on which airport will come up, the unavailability of this 338 acres may jeopardise the proposed city, if not the airport itself. “We envisaged the project as a whole, so the entire land is important for us. Of this, about 192 acres is owned by locals, while the rest is defence land. We are in talks with concerned parties and hopeful of getting the land,” Paul said. As per the original master plan, most of this land was demarcated for industrial and infrastructure development.

When asked about BAPL’s concern about the project, Chatterjee said, “We are interested in the airport only. Let them do it first, then we’ll see.”

‘Willing, but at a higher price’
Unlike Singur, where farmers’ unwillingness came in the way of Tata’s proposed Nano factory, landowners here, already exposed to the industrialisation at neighbouring Durgapur-Asansol area, were willing to avail of this opportunity. There was no major problem in acquisition of the first 1,818 acres. The stumbling block seems to be the land adjacent to National Highway-2 as landowners here are demanding higher prices for the prime location. “Most of this land is adjacent to Highway. When we gave land to DVC on the other side of the highway, we got 10.5 lakh per acre 2004. And now BAPL is offering 7.5 lakh, while the market price is about 45 lakh per acre. They should come to us personally and take the land on our terms” says Bidhan Chandra Roy, one of the landowners.

Locals are protesting under the banners of “Krishak Khetmajur committee” and “Krishak swartha raksha committe” backed by local units of Congress, Trinamool Congress and SUCI. “Industry Minister has already said no more land will be acquired. But the notifications have not been withdrawn. We are keeping faith in the government. We have been assured that the matter will be raised in state assembly soon,” said Naresh Chakrabarty, a local congress leader.

It is not only the ruling parties, even local CPI-M leaders, who, villagers say, once encouraged them to give land, have also now capitalised on the grievances of the locals. A week-long demonstration was organised by the local party members last month.

A ticking time bomb
Meanwhile, beneath the surface lurks a time bomb that could shatter whatever progress the project has made so far. Out of 1,818 acres which has already been acquired, according to locals there are about 450 land owners who have refused to take compensation. “Apart from the cash compensation there was proposal to offer a cottah for every bigha (20 cottahs make a bigha) as part of its land for land scheme. They have not kept their words,” says Tarun Gosh who is yet to take the compensation for his land, acquired years back.

Replying to a query on the same, Paul said, “For the 1,818 acres about 86 per cent people has taken the money. We expect the matters to be sorted out soon with the rest,” although he added that “We will be developing the land first which will take about six months. From then, the distribution will begin. We expect to give this land in a period of nine months to one year.”

Corporate power struggle
If this isn’t enough to complicate things, a criminal case has been filed by one of the promoters, RS Agarwal, against other shareholders. In his lawsuit, Agarwal, who holds over 23 per cent in Pragati 47, one of the promoters of BAPL, has alleged financial fraud in recent transfer of shares among the stake holders. According to the suit, the shares of Pragati Social Infrastructure & Development Limited (PSIDL), a joint venture between Pragati 47, a co-promoter of BAPL and Hudco, were transferred at a value of Rs 10 each to R R Modi-promoted Citystar in September 2010, while Singapore’s Changi had previously bought the shares for Rs 40.99 each in 2009. Besides, filing a criminal case against Citystar, Agarwal has also appealed to the state government to look into the alleged financial irregularities. “People in charge now seem to be more interested in anything but execution of the project,” he added.

Commenting on the allegation, Paul said, “There are some legal disputes among stakeholders. But this is not at all affecting the project.” However, BAPL refused to share the details of the present share-holding pattern in the SPV. “The share-holding pattern has changed from what it was in the beginning. It is difficult to share at this point of time,” a spokesperson said. Meanwhile, when asked for a comment on the situation, state industry minister said, “I am not aware of the details.”

A confidence game
Yet, BAPL seems to be staunchly confident about the project. “We are confident to complete the construction work by October 2012 and in another three months we will make it operational,” Paul said. Work is currently underway on all aspects of the airport—the runway, passenger buildings, ATC building. According to a company official, “About 60 per cent of the construction work of the first phase is yet to be completed. We have increased workforce recently. About 600 workers are at work now.”

The first phase of the work includes construction of airport and initial infrastructure for the proposed township. After the completion of the first phase, the BAPL has plans to come out with the ‘city’ part of the airport which will have an IT park, hospitals and a residential complex.

Representatives from Changi, which is providing technical services for the development of the airport, are also flying in every fortnight to keep a tab on the progress, although it may not be enough to ensure the realisation of their original dream of helping build the first airport-city in India.

Suncity

January 9th, 2012, 11:04 PM

Probal Basak / Kolkata/ Andal (bardhaman) January 10, 2012, 0:05 IST (http://www.business-standard.com/taketwo/news/pioneering-airport-city-project-struggles-to-stay-aloft/461254/)
When asked about BAPL’s concern about the project, Chatterjee said, “We are interested in the airport only. Let them do it first, then we’ll see.”

One wonders if the mantrijis know how and what to speak in front of the media.

Suncity

January 11th, 2012, 03:43 PM

Joy Global plans to set up manufacturing base in Bengal

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article2793034.ece

The $3.5-billion mining equipment major Joy Global Inc of the US is planning to set up its Indian manufacturing base in West Bengal.

The company currently has such facilities in the US and China. Joy Global, along with its Indian subsidiary P & H Joy Mining Equipment India Ltd, sells gears worth nearly Rs 500 crore a year, in India.

Announcing the project, Mr Anirudha Gupta, Director of P&H Joy, told Business Line that in the first phase the company will invest $25 million (approximately Rs 132 crore) to set up an integrated facility to render after-sales services as well as manufacture major structures used in (high tonnage) equipment.

In the second phase, the manufacturing facility will be further expanded to enhance indigenisation of products. The facility will be located on a 25-acre land at the engineering and technology park in the proposed Air-port City project (Aerotropolis) promoted by the Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) at Andal, approximately 180 km from Kolkata. Joy Global has entered into a preliminary agreement with BAPL in this regard on Wednesday.

According to the company, this is the second largest FDI from the US – after PepsiCo – in West Bengal. “We have zeroed in on Andal as it is in close proximity to our client base in the mining regions of Eastern India,” Mr Gupta said.

AbhishekDatta

January 17th, 2012, 04:07 AM

Bengal srishti is investing 300 cr to create IT infrastructure in Asansol. Total 1 million sq ft. will created in 2 phases...sources say Cognizant and IBM Dakhs are in touch with the company...GoWB is keen to spread IT in different district ...it has land in siliguri,haldia,kharagpur...center has given green signal to build IT hub through PPP...

তথ্যপ্রযুক্তির বিকল্প পরিকাঠামো ছোট শহরেও
আসানসোলে ৩০০ কোটি লগ্নি করছে বেঙ্গল সৃষ্টি
গার্গী গুহঠাকুরতা • কলকাতা

কলকাতার কাছাকাছি ‘ব্যাক আপ’ কেন্দ্র গড়তে এ বার আসানসোলের মতো শহরের দিকে ঝুঁকছে তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি শিল্প। ঠিক যেমন বেঙ্গালুরুর কাছে এ ধরনের কেন্দ্র গড়ে উঠেছে মহীশূরে। বস্তুত, বড় শহরে সংস্থার বড় কেন্দ্র কোনও কারণে আংশিক বা পুরোপুরি বন্ধ হয়ে গেলেও যাতে কাজ চালু থাকে, সে জন্যই তৈরি হয় ‘ব্যাক আপ’ বা বিকল্প কেন্দ্র। তাই আকারে বড় না হলেও, সঙ্কট সামলানোর নিরিখে কেন্দ্রগুলি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ।
আর তথ্যপ্রযুক্তির এই চাহিদাকে নিশানা করেই এ বার নিজেদের প্রকল্প পরিকল্পনা করছে নির্মাণ শিল্পমহল। উদাহরণ, বেঙ্গল সৃষ্টি। ছোট শহরে লগ্নি টানতে ওই বিকল্প কেন্দ্র গড়ার তাগিদকেই কাজে লাগাতে চাইছে তারা। তাই আসানসোলে ১০ লক্ষ বর্গফুট জুড়ে তারা গড়ছে তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি শিল্পের পরিকাঠামো। সংস্থার দাবি, লগ্নির অঙ্ক প্রায় ৩০০ কোটি টাকা। সেখানে তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি পার্কের পাশেই হচ্ছে আবাসন, স্কুল, হাসপাতাল-সহ সামাজিক পরিকাঠামোও। সংস্থার প্রধান হেমন্ত কানোরিয়া বলেন, “তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি শিল্পের চাহিদা যাচাই করেই এই প্রকল্পে হাত দিয়েছি। প্রথম দফায় তৈরি হবে ৫ লক্ষ বর্গফুট। পরে বাকি ৫ লক্ষ বর্গফুট।”
প্রধানত দক্ষ মানবসম্পদের ভরসাতেই দুর্গাপুর-আসানসোল এলাকায় দ্বিতীয় কেন্দ্র গড়তে চায় বড় তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি সংস্থাগুলি। সংশ্লিষ্ট সূত্রের খবর, বিকল্প কেন্দ্র গড়তে কগনিজ্যান্ট এবং আইবিএম দক্ষ-এর মতো সংস্থার নজরও আসানসোলে। নির্মাণ সংস্থার সঙ্গে প্রাথমিক আলোচনাও চলছে তাদের। তবে এ নিয়ে বেঙ্গল সৃষ্টির তরফে কেউ মুখ খোলেননি। ন্যাসকমের পূর্বাঞ্চলীয় কর্তা সুপর্ণ মৈত্র বলেন, “দ্বিতীয় ও তৃতীয় স্তরের শহরে লগ্নি টানতে তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি শিল্পের এই চাহিদা নতুন দিশা দেখাবে। ওই সব জায়গায় দক্ষ কর্মী পাওয়া ও ধরে রাখাও তুলনায় সহজ।”
সেক্টর ফাইভ ও রাজারহাটে জমি পাওয়ার সমস্যা বিগত সরকারকে যথেষ্ট বিপাকে ফেলেছে। বহু কাঠখড় পুড়িয়ে জমি দিতে হয়েছে ইনফোসিস ও উইপ্রোকে। তাই তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি শিল্পকে কলকাতার বাইরে নিয়ে যাওয়ার পরিকল্পনা তৈরি হলেও বাদ সেধেছে পরিকাঠামোর অভাব। সেই খামতি দূর করার লক্ষ্যে নতুন সরকার ক্ষমতায় এসেই জানিয়ে দেয় জেলায় জেলায় তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি শিল্প ছড়িয়ে দেওয়ার পরিকল্পনার কথা। শিল্পমহলের সঙ্গে প্রথম বার মুখোমুখি হয়ে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ও জানান, বিভিন্ন জেলায় তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি হাব গড়বে তাঁর সরকার।
রাজ্যের পরিকল্পনায় সায় দিয়েছে কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারও। সল্টলেক, শিলিগুড়ি, হলদিয়া, দুর্গাপুর ও খড়্গপুরে তিন একর করে জমি আছে টেলিকম ও তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি মন্ত্রকের। রাজ্য সরকারি-বেসরকারি উদ্যোগে (পিপিপি) পরিকাঠামো তৈরির প্রস্তাবে সবুজ সঙ্কেত দিয়েছে কেন্দ্র।

Sumanb

January 17th, 2012, 09:09 AM

Its a good move, specially Siliguri & Asansol/Durgapur has the key infrastructure & manpower base to sustain IT & related service industries.

aritra81

January 23rd, 2012, 06:48 PM

Today there was a news in the local Durgapur channel that the IQ city project residential land acquisition might be scrapped. This is because Mani group initially got the land to build a 700 bed hospital, the land was Durgapur Steel Plant land and the deal was dirt cheap. Now Mani group is building just 350 bed hospital. The present mayor has vowed to stop the residential construction and Mani group may be sued. The channel went on to say that the CPM govt was bribed for getting the land.

Now I was there in the project a while back and they seem to have made progress with the hospital and they plan to roll out the hospital in Aug this year. Debi Sethi is supposedly signed the MOU for the hospital. They are also building the connecting road to dgp govt college which will be the main entrance for the project. The residential construction is on, they have already built the basement for their phase 1 of residential project.

Can anyone tell me what is the real picture for this? I want to invest in the project but not if there are questions on the land acquisitions

rupakd

January 25th, 2012, 07:39 AM

P&H Joy to invest $25mn in Bengal mining equipment unit IANS

P&H Joy Mining Equipment India (P&H Joy), a fully-owned subsidiary of US-based Joy Global Inc, setting up a production and servicing unit for the high-end mining equipment in Burdwan district of West Bengal. The company has earmarked an investment of $25 million for the first phase which is expected to be commissioned by 2013. The company has acquired 25 acres of land for the project in an industrial park, being developed by the Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd in the Asansol-Durgapur industrial area.

Joy Global Inc. is a $5.5 billion mining company engaged in surface and underground mining equipment. The upcoming facility is expected to cater to the company's diversified customer base in the eastern region of the country.

http://www.projectsmonitor.com/MISC/ph-joy-to-invest-25mn-in-bengal-mining-equipment-unit-ians

rupakd

February 1st, 2012, 07:44 AM

State promises help to revive MAMC : Consortium Asks For 100 Acres On Lease

Things seem to be looking up for the new consortium that bought the assets of MAMC — the first heavy machinery manufacturing PSU in the country built with Russian collaboration — in June, 2010. State industries minister Partha Chatterjee on Tuesday promised all help to the consortium led by Bangalore-based Bharat Earth Movers (BEML) at a meeting with company chairman-cum-managing director VRS Nataranjan who called on the industry minister at Writers’ Buildings.
The revival plan was put on the back burner for two years since 2010 because the JV company was facing problems on two fronts — getting more land from the government on lease and assured orders from CIL and DVC, to make the project viable. BEML was roped in as the major stake-holder (48%) because the other two companies — CIL and DVC — having a stake of 26% each do not have the expertise in heavy machine manufacturing.
On Tuesday, the BEML CMD asked for another 100 acres from the state government on lease to suit the company’s business plans. Hospital, officers' quarters and township will be built on that 100 acres on the erstwhile MAMC compound that is now under the Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA).
“The task is less easy than said. There are legal disputes over this proposed land. They have to be sorted out through talks. But before that the company has to send copies of the board resolution to the government over the share holding agreement,” the industry minister said.
“We have got at least 195 acres from the government. We have gone in for an equity of Rs 125 crore and formed a new company. Now, we are waiting for a shareholder agreement, which gives assured orders from CIL and DVC. If we won’t get those orders will manufacture some of our products at MAMC Durgapur plant too. After CIL and DVC board approvals, it will get finalized by March 31,” the BEML CMD said.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2012/02/01&PageLabel=6&EntityId=Ar00602&ViewMode=HTML

rupakd

February 1st, 2012, 07:47 AM

Villagers seek compensation, stall Aerotropolis work

Work for the upcoming airport city at Andal suffered a glitch on Tuesday when 50-odd villagers from the neighbouring mouzas stalled the project activities for over two hours, saying that they were yet to get the price of their land taken from them. Even though the dispute was over 100 bighas of land in the project area spread over 2,210 acres, the agitators threatened to stall the entire project.
Landloser Sirajul Islam claimed that they were forced to take this course as promoters of the Bengal Aerotropolis Private Limited (BAPL) didn’t pay heed to their demand after repeated reminders. “I have not received the cheque till date. I have come here today to reclaim my land,” Islam said. The villagers didn’t flaunt any political identity. The agitating farmers left the spot after BAPL officials promised them payment.
Sensing the tension brewing up in the area, Durgapur SDO Ayesha Rani has called a meeting of the stakeholders and the affected farmers to sort out the problem.
Asked about the alleged delay in payment, BAPL CEO Subrata Paul pointed out that some land documents are not in order. Some of those who gave land and are demanding the price do not have valid land records or mutation papers. Pal claimed that the meeting called by the SDO will help to sort out the problems, following which the company will issue the cheques to bona fide land losers and agricultural labourers tied to the land when it was under cultivation. “There has been no disruption in the construction work going on at the project site,” Pal said.
Fearing land acquisition problems BAPL decided to make do with the already acquired 2,210 acres that is 144 acre short of the original Rs 10,000 crore project plan. The problem that surfaced on Tuesday was not of fresh purchase but of paying the price for the acquired land.
Land acquisition for the project began just days after Tata Motors announced its pullout from Singur, following massive protests by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress against forced farmland acquisition. It proceeded smoothly till the final parcel situated along National Highway-2. Around 450-odd farmers who held 144 acre refused to part with it at the promised price, demanding higher compensation for the prime location.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2012/02/01&PageLabel=6&EntityId=Ar00601&ViewMode=HTML

kolkatarocks

February 2nd, 2012, 07:54 AM

God knows when will these problems will come to an end and we might see the BAPL project becoming true in its entirety......

rupakd

February 10th, 2012, 07:44 AM

Aerotropolis to bank on service, not size - Aims to Become Best Non-Metro Airport In Country

Promoters of the first greenfield private airport in the east promise to deliver a worldclass experience to passengers and airlines when the facility becomes operational in a year. Though the project developers have set an ambitious target for the inaugural flight some time this year-end, aviation industry experts feel a more feasible takeoff date will be the first quarter of 2013. Of the Rs 624-crore proposed investment in the first phase, Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) has already spent around Rs 340 crore.
“In terms of size, the airport that we are constructing will not even be a patch on the facilities in Mumbai, Delhi or even Kolkata. But it will be top of the line in service quality. Our challenge is to offer world-class experience to the passengers. We intend to be the best non-metro airport in India,” BAPL chief executive officer & director Subrata Paul told key stakeholders at Touchdown @ Durgapur on Thursday.
The networking summit was organized by BAPL to give carriers and travel agents a lowdown on the project at ground zero and get their feedback on how to make the facilities more user-friendly. Among those who attended the two-day meet were senior representatives of Jet Airways, Air India, IndiGo, CartAir and GMG Airlines. Though it is early days yet, top officials involved in network planning for Jet Airways and IndiGo said they would indeed be keen to add the airport to their network.
The feedback is based as much on the transportation needs in this industrial belt and educational hub extending from Durgapur to Dhanbad as it is on the involvement of Changi Airports International Pte of Singapore as strategic investor and project consultant.
“Major problems that passengers face at Kolkata airport—inadequate and inoperative trolleys, congestion in the terminal, paucity of mobile and laptop charging points and trouble to hire taxis—will never happen at Aerotropolis. There will be 67 trolleys for every 100 passengers that travel. Inside, there will be mobile and laptop charging stations at all vantage points. We are building a terminal with a capacity of 1 million per annum but are aiming for a modest traffic of 3,50,000 passengers in the first year. In addition, there is capacity to hike the terminal capacity to 2.5 million. As for cabs, car rental agencies will be present at all times,” Paul said.
In addition, the airport will have a clinic and pharmacy operated by Mission Hospital, baby-care room, Wi-Fi and internet in the terminal and outside, hotel booking counter, convenience store, branded retail, F&B outlets including Flavor of Bengal, ATM counter and relaxation spa at the departure terminal. Work is in progress on the passenger terminal building (5,750 sq m), ATC tower and service cluster (1,857 sq m) and other peripheral services with September as deadline for completion of civil work.
“To start with, there will be six check-in counters at the departure lounge and two baggage conveyor belts at the arrival point. Since we will use the Common Use Terminal Systems, there will be greater flexibility and optimization of counters. We will employ the standard screening system with X-ray machines. A single ground-handling agency will operate on the air side. Our aim is to make the orientation of the terminal and the airport simple for both passengers and operators,” said BAPL vice-president (airport operations) Subhasis Bhattacharjee, adding that the airport will be equipped with category VI firefighting and rescue capability, a level higher than required.
The under-construction airport is located at Andal, 12 km from Durgapur. Around 35% of the 2,800-metre runway has been completed. The runway will be able to handle narrow-body aircraft like Airbus A 319/320 and Boeing B 737-800 and will have category I instrument landing system to facilitate operations beyond daylight hours. There will be a helipad and four parking bays at the airport.
“The landing strip is 45-metre wide that is adequate to accommodate planes with larger wing span. We have a provision to extend the runway to 3,315 metre if needed to accommodate larger aircraft. At no point do we envisage a problem of congestion, be it in the terminal, at the apron or on the runway,” vicepresident (project) Suvankar Ganguly said.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2012/02/10&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00400&ViewMode=HTML

SamitB

February 11th, 2012, 08:25 AM

Promoters Need To Sort Out Several Bottlenecks To Stick To Its 2012-End Deadline

Subhro Niyogi & Debajyoti Chakraborty TNN

Andal (Durgapur): The airport was initially scheduled to take off in 2011 but a bitter wrangle with Coal India Ltd kept it grounded for months and delayed the project by a year.Even as construction of the runway,terminal building,air traffic control tower and other facilities is under way full swing with promoters Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) and strategic investor Changi Airports International target 2012-end as the new deadline,there are several niggling issues that are yet to be sorted out before operations commence at the airport.
To begin with,land remains an unresolved issue at the project site.Though the promoters forfeited claim over 144 acre in the project that was originally pegged at 2,300 acre,BAPL currently has been handed 1,818 acre.While BAPL expects to get an additional 164 acre of defence land,there is a question mark over 192 acre in which acquisition process did not get completed before the change in government.
Top BAPL offiicials said the 192 acre in question is crucial to the project for not just a good access to the township from National Highway 2 but also building the six-lane arterial road that cuts through the proposed township,connecting NH 2 with the airport.
We are negotiating with the government for the land but as things stand,resolving the matter appears bleak.Though people are not opposed to the project,the governments strong stand against acquisition has had its implications.The arterial road is crucial to the airport.But with no progress in site,we are building an alternative four lane road that is 4.1 km long to enable passengers,airport and airline staff to commute between the city and the airport.Thankfully,we have possession of the entire 650 acre required for the airport, he said.
BAPL is also required to make some crucial diversions and relocations for the completion of the runway and commencement of operations.A metalled road that cuts right through the runway has to be diverted around the airport periphery.A high-tension transmission line of West Bengal State Transmission Co Ltd that carries power between the Purulia Pump Storage Project and DPL has to be diverted as well so that the wires do not come in the way of flight path.
There are a couple of other minor relocations that need to be done.Around 15 homesteads have to be relocated and nine telecom towers have to be shifted, the official said.
These issues apart,the company needs to quickly resolve a dispute brewing in the acquired area.On January 31 this year,around 40 residents of Dhakshinkhanda mouza had fenced off 25 bighas of land (plot no.7007).The move was in anger over not been handed the payment for the land.They claimed that despite repeated intimation to BAPL officials,there has been no progress on the issue.
Uday Pala trader who owned 5 bigha in the fenced portionsaid he was fed up with the delay and has decided not to hand over the land.Dilip Mazumdar,Mintu Mazumdar and Rabindranath Saha have also decided likewise.We have all necessary documents including mutation.But none of us have received compensation cheques, said Mintu Mazumdar said.
Seikh Abdul Rashid alleged that he and others had travelled to Burdwan to met the additional district magistrate but the problem has not been solved.We are not fighting under any political umbrella, iterated Sirajul Islam.
BAPL officials,however,said 85% of compensation had been paid off.Processing of papers in the remaining 15% cases is underway.In all such projects,there will be some cases where payouts take longer due to legal,inheritance and other issues, he argued,adding that the WBIDC had paid Rs 2.47 lakh per bigha as compensation for this plot.On the BAPL plan,this plot is part of an industrial park.

SamitB

March 26th, 2012, 08:18 AM

Durgapur hospital (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120326/jsp/calcutta/story_15291704.jsp)OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
The Narayana Hrudayalaya hospital group of Devi Shetty will manage a 1,000-bedded hospital in Durgapur.

The promoters of the hospital — Synergy, SPS and Mani groups — said the hospital would be upgraded to a medical college. The first phase will have 150 beds. The Rs 500crore project, IQ City Health and Knowledge Campus, will also have a dental college, hospital management institute, nursing and paramedical training colleges and allied health sciences institute.

“We have the expertise to manage hospitals but don’t have funds to build one in Durgapur,” said Shetty. “We have been managing hospitals set up by other groups,” the cardiac surgeon added.

“The hospital will be operational in three months. Then we’ll apply for the licence for medical college from the medical council,” said Sanjay Jhunjhunwala of the Mani group.

raj145_91

June 13th, 2012, 09:19 AM

Any news about this???

Steve Waugh unveils project for construction of the 'International Sports City'
Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh on Monday unveiled a project for construction of the 'International Sports City' to be built at a site in Burdwan district of West Bengal, about 100 km from Kolkata.

Cosmicbliss

June 13th, 2012, 07:21 PM

Other states have stadiums in cities beyond the capital. Does WB have an international cricket stadium in Durgapur-Asansol or say Darjeeling? If not, why not build one?

niljee

June 15th, 2012, 10:05 AM

Shristi plans integrated logistic hub in Bengal
Thursday, June 14th 2012, 10:39 PM

Kolkata, June 14 — Bengal Shristi Infrastructure Development Ltd. Thursday said it is planning to set up an integrated logistics hub and warehouse facility in West Bengal's Burdwan district, with a total investment of Rs.80 crore to Rs.90 crore.

Located on 24 acres at Raniganj, a warehouse and logistics facility was already built with an investment of Rs.45-50 crore.

The company, promoted jointly by Asansol Durgapur Development Authority and Shristi Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, is also looking to add another 2l sq ft warehouse, a 60-room hotel, retail chains and a petrol pump.

The total project investment would be Rs.80 crore to Rs.90 crore and is expected to be completed within the next two years.

"With airport projects and modernisation of IISCO steel plant, we are expecting economic activity to take off in the region. The objective is to lower traffic congestion and build infrastructure in order to facilitate the growth of more business in the region," Sunil Jha, CEO of Bengal Shristi Infrastructure Development, said here.

Some major clients, which have already taken up warehouse space, are LG, Asian Paints, Crompton Greaves, and Adani Wilmer.

IANS

http://india.nydailynews.com/business/82355492bb82c8eccb980ae6a974b837/shristi-plans-integrated-logistic-hub-in-bengal

Suncity

June 30th, 2012, 11:58 PM

Centrum Mall, Asansol
photo cc rights wiki

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Suncity

July 1st, 2012, 12:00 AM

Nakshatra, Burdwan

photo copyright Shrachi Group

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Suncity

July 21st, 2012, 04:26 PM

Malay names New district carved out of Burdwan

http://www.asianage.com/kolkata/malay-names-new-district-carved-out-burdwan-168

The new district which will be carved out of Burdwan district will be called Asansol-Durgapur. This was announced by state law minister and MLA from Asansol Malay Ghatak on Friday.

“The state secretariat has given its consent to the bifurcation of Burdwan district and all the formalities for the creation of the new district are almost complete. The new district will be called Asansol-Durgapur and Asansol will be the district headquarters,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, mayor of Asansol Town Tapas Banerjee said that it would be dream come true for the people of Asansol and Durgapur region.

Suncity

August 25th, 2012, 03:45 AM

Genexx Exotica, Asansol
status update
photos copyright http://genexxrealty.com/asansol.html

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Suncity

August 25th, 2012, 04:00 AM

Sugam Park, Asansol

photo copyright Sugam Park (http://www.facebook.com/SugamPark)

1
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Suncity

August 25th, 2012, 04:30 AM

Durgapur
photo from Destination Durgapur faceebook page

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Souvik_N

August 29th, 2012, 01:51 PM

Durgapur
photo from Destination Durgapur faceebook page

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Awesome ..

Suncity

September 24th, 2012, 06:18 AM

Bengal Aerotropolis - Sept 2012 update from official website

http://www.bengalaero.com/

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SarafIndian

September 24th, 2012, 08:53 PM

^^ :cheers:

anan355

October 15th, 2012, 07:53 AM

Cross-posted from Guwahati thread.

Kolkata based Bluechip Projects, a real-estate development company will bring Wyndham Hotel Group into the state. Ritwik Das, CEO & MD, Bluechip Projects said, “We have inked a deal with the US based Wyndham Hotel Group to use one of its brands for our upcoming hotel in Asansol.” According to Das, Wyndham zeroed in on the Asansol project after survey of the business prospects of the hospitality sector in the region. Wyndham currently runs 12 hotels in India mostly under the Ramada brand in Mumbai, Delhi, Goa and Bengaluru among others. Seven more projects are under construction.

Bluechip plans to start work on the Asansol hotel within the next two to three months. It has finalised the design and drawing, which have been approved by Wyndham. “We have submitted the plan to the Asansol Municipal Corporation for sanction and is expecting its approval soon. We hope to complete the construction of the project by the end of 2012 even as the target launch date is 2013.” Das said.

The plot for the hotel, located on National Highway 2, has been provided by Asansol-Durgapur Development Authority on a 99-year lease with an option to renew it for another 99 years. Named as, 'Days Hotel', the Asansol project with a one lakh square feet built-up space, will be a 100-keys property. “In the first phase, we plan to start with 60 keys and add the remaining 40-keys at a later stage,” Das said. The proposed property will have conferencing and banqueting facilities besides a business centre, 24-hour coffee shop and F&B outlets. Das said that the cost of setting up the hotel has been pegged at ` 25 lakh per room. According to him, the project will be funded through internal accruals. As per the franchisee arrangement, Wyndham will provide the technical support and will include the property within its marketing network. Bluechip will own and operate it. “'We have hived off a separate arm, Sharda Agarwal Hotels, a fully owned subsidiary of Bluechip Projects, which will own and operate the property,” he explained.

Commenting on the future plans, Das said, “We have plans to set up such business-class 100-key hotels in other important cities of the Eastern region like Bhubaneswar, Agartala and Guwahati. We have already initiated the process in this regard.”

Source (http://www.expresshospitality.com/20101215/market05.shtml)

anan355

November 18th, 2012, 11:11 PM

With no response from the centre to lift the two year ban to set up more industry in Haldia and Asansol though sending letters repeatedly, the state government is planning to take up strong pressure tactics. State environment minister Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar said that they will send yet another letter to the union minister of environment and forest Jayanthi Natarajan on this matter.

Ghosh Dastidar said that they have earlier sent quite a few letters to the union ministry in the last one year asking to lift the ban as the pollution controlling norms were complied with but the state government is yet to receive any response. "We had earlier contacted with the centre on this matter but to no avail so far. All the norms that was laid down have been complied with. We are planning to send another letter soon to the union ministry and will be preparing what next to do," the minister said. The state government has sent at least three letters to the union ministry of environment and forest, with the latest letter sent on September this year.

With pollution level increasing dangerously in the industrial belts of Haldia and Asansol, the union ministry ot environment and forest had imposed the ban two years back that no further industries could be set up in these industrial belts, declaring the areas as critically polluted zones. It was noticed that the comprehensive environmental pollution index of these two industrial belts was indeed very high. The state government then started on work to follow all the norms and the pollution index was brought down to permissible limits.

With the panchayat elections slated next year, chief minister Mamata Banerjee is harping on all round development including setting up more industries in the state. Last week, industries minister Partha Chatterjee claimed that the one and half year old Mamata Banerjee government had already cleared 222 industry proposals, having an investment of over Rs one lakh crore.

Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Bengal-govt-wants-industry-ban-to-be-lifted-from-Haldia-and-Asansol/articleshow/17267996.cms)

anan355

November 19th, 2012, 12:08 AM

The first proposed family club in Durgapur, branded by 'United-21', shall usher in new standards in international hospitality. The 3-star hotel cum club is sprawled over spacious 50,000 sq. ft. The hotel, targeting business travelers, has a total of 120 rooms, of which 60 rooms are service apartments, and another 60 are executive rooms.

http://www.panoramicworld.biz/bengalupcoming.html

anan355

November 24th, 2012, 12:02 PM

Asansol, not Kolkata, is Bengal's fastest growing urban sprawl, says the latest UN report on 'State of World Cities 2012/13'.

The report, pegged on urban agglomerations where 7, 50, 00 or more people stayed in 2009, shows that urban agglomeration in Asansol by 2020-25 will have a population growth rate of 2.06% compared to Kolkata's 1.73%.

But don't get swayed by it just yet for Bengal's second-largest city will take some time to catch up with Kolkata, if ever. The latest UN publication predicts that by 2025, Kolkata's urban population will be around 20.1 million compared to Asansol's 1.9 million. While there are many other urban agglomerations in India which are growing at a more rapid pace, Asansol's growth trajectory replicates that of Varanasi and Meerut.

The report predicts Kolkata's urban population maybe eighth highest in the country in 2025, but far lesser than Delhi and Mumbai. While Delhi's urban agglomeration will shoot up to 28.6 million, Mumbai will have a 25.8 million population.

Moloy Ghatak, Asansol (North) MLA and state law minister, feels the service delivery channels can be stepped up to meet the demands of Asansol's ever increasing population. Under the JNNURM scheme, the city has already been sanctioned Rs 1600 crore by the Centre to upgrade water supply, including sanitation, sewage, solid waste management,roads, urban transport and develop inner (old) city areas.

The funds will also be used to shift commercial establishments to conforming areas. Till now, only Rs 350 crore has been spent. Once all the projects are completed, it will help meet the demands of the population surge, feels Ghatak. The same UN report also bears out a disturbing fact for Asansol, its population growth rate has dropped significantly from 4.06% in 1990-1995.

Asansol-Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA) is the nodal agency working towards this. ADDA chairman Tapas Banerjee, however, sounded a word of caution: "After these projects what? There isn't any place in Asansol to grow afresh. A population boom will be telling on the civic infrastructure."

The ADDA's intent is however missing. It chose to sit on the 'Vision 2025' document prepared by IIT-Kharagpur that had stressed on the need to develop infrastructure and build ring roads. However, the same UN report has also revealed a disturbing fact.

This apart, the report has pointed out a disturbing fact. The population growth rate of Asansol has dropped significantly from 4.06% between 1990 and 1995.

But one good aspect perhaps is the formation of the Asansol-Durgapur police commissionerate. Police commissioner Ajay Nand said, "Initially questions were raised why a police commisionerate in Asansol-Durgapur that has a largely rural demography. This only vindicates that decision. Asansol will continue to grow for its industries and projects in the pipeline. We are equipped to deal with law and order issues."

On the other hand, for Kolkata, the downward growth slide is perhaps a vindication of the Census 2011 findings that Kolkata isn't growing at all. In 1991-2001 decade Kolkata's population had grown by 3.93%, whereas it reduced by minus -1.88% in 2001-2011. Kolkata's negative growth rate, the census indicated, was perhaps the only aberration for Bengal which grew at a pace of 13.93 % in that decade.

A latest UN report on State of World Cities 2012/13 shows that urban agglomeration in Asansol by 2020-25 will have a population growth rate of 2.06% compared to Kolkata's 1.73%. The UN report is pegged on urban agglomerations where 7, 50, 00 or more people stayed in 2009.

But don't get swayed by the report just yet for Bengal's second-largest city will take quite sometime to catch up with Kolkata, if ever. The latest UN publication predicts that by 2025, Kolkata's urban population will be around 20.1 million compared to Asansol's 1.9 million. While there are many other urban agglomerations in India which are growing at a more rapid pace, Asansol's growth trajectory replicates that of Varanasi and Meerut.

The report predicts Kolkata's urban population maybe 8th highest in the country in 2025 but far lesser that Delhi and Mumbai. By 2025, the report predicts Delhi's urban agglomeration will be 28.6 million; Mumbai, meantime, would have a 25.8 million population.

Source (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-06/kolkata/34947415_1_urban-population-tapas-banerjee-population-growth-rate)

anan355

December 1st, 2012, 01:44 AM

West Bengal’s first private airport is expected to be operational by March-April next year.

The airport is being developed near Durgapur — approximately 200 km south of Kolkata — by Bengal Aerotropolis Pvt Ltd (BAPL), a venture involving four Indian companies and the Singapore-based Changi Airports International.

“Nearly 80 per cent work has been completed. We are hoping that the project will be operational around the first half of next year, say, around March-April 2013,” Ang Cheng Nam, Vice-President, Changi Airports told Business Line.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/dynamic/01283/BL30_LOGISTICS_DUR_1283250f.jpg

Ang was in the city to attend Bengal Builds, a conference on urban development.

Changi holds 26 per cent equity in the project.

The airport is being developed under direct technical assistance from Changi and will be fitted with modern night-landing facilities. “It will be run differently from other Indian airports,” he promised.

Talks are on with two domestic carriers — Air India and Jet Airways — to start operations in Durgapur.
Clearances

BAPL will also approach the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) by the end of this year seeking licenses for its aerodrome, and inspection of its equipment and other facilities that include safety and security measures.

According to BAPL officials, efforts are on to attract airlines by making landing charges, airport usage fees, rentals, and night-parking facilities cheaper.

The attempt is to woo leading airlines to use the airport as a terminal point instead of Kolkata.

Sources suggest BAPL has also approached the State Government for sales tax concessions for refuelling.
Township

Apart from the Rs 600-crore domestic airport, with peak hour capacity of nearly 450 passengers, BAPL is also developing an airport city (aerotropolis) on an 1,800-acre plot.

According to Ang , more traffic is expected once the adjoining housing project takes shape.

“Initially, there will be some challenges as it’s a greenfield airport. However, once the township comes up we can expect more flow of passengers,” he said.

Source (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/durgapur-private-airport-to-take-off-by-april-next-year/article4147292.ece)

anan355

December 2nd, 2012, 02:55 AM

Singapore-based Changi Airports may hike its investment in the upcoming airport city project in Bengal if the Mamata Banerjee government clears the roadblocks.

The foreign firm has already informed the state government about its willingness to become the leading developer of the urban infrastructure project at Andal, Burdwan.

“I have met Changi officials on the first day of the fair. They have indicated that they are increasing their investment from 26 per cent to about 51 per cent,” state urban development minister Firhad Hakim said on the sidelines of Bengal Builds, a conclave on urban infrastructure development, that concluded today.

Changi is the strategic partner in Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL), a company promoted by four city-based businessmen to build an airport and a city around it with a light engineering unit, an IT hub, social infrastructure and a township.

The West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), the nodal agency of the Bengal government for industrial development, has given 1,818 acres for the project.

Sources said Changi CEO Lim Liang Song had met industry minister Partha Chatterjee on October 17 in Calcutta and had agreed to raise the stake. The Mamata Banerjee government wants Changi to be the leading partner in BAPL to add more credibility to the project.

Several attempts to contact Changi for confirmation of the report failed.

Changi now holds a 26 per cent stake and, if it makes further investment, it could become a majority stakeholder.

Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Ltd and WBIDC hold 12.65 per cent and 1.2 per cent, respectively, in BAPL.

The promoters, who own the remaining 60.15 per cent, will have to dilute their stakes following the restructuring.

The Andal project is running behind schedule and will miss the deadline of December 31, 2012, to make the airport operational even as the company claims it will complete construction by then and apply for the DGCA’s clearance.

“Bengal Aerotropolis is saying the first flight will take off from the airport from Poila Boishakh. They have said they want to do the job quickly. Our government is with those who want to do work quickly. Whatever help ADDA (Asansol Durgapur Development Authority) can offer will be provided,” Hakim said.

According to a senior BAPL official, Changi has agreed to increase its stake on the condition that the state government expedite the provision of certain facilities.

BAPL needs state help to relocate some high-tension electric towers obstructing the flight path by acquiring land. Moreover, ADDA has to divert a village road.

Changi also wanted WBIDC to drop some of the changes being proposed in the development agreement with BAPL. The state wanted a 10 per cent commission on any subsequent transfer of land in the township area. This will include transfer of property between two individuals who may buy the plot. BAPL felt this clause would harm the prospect of the project.

If Changi becomes the lead developer, more Singapore companies are likely to consider investing in the project.

“Of all the consortium members, only Changi is an airport operator. To make the airport a success, the state government wants Changi to play a bigger role,” the official said.

The official also said talks were on with airlines such as Jet Airways and Air India to schedule flights from the airport.

Source (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1121202/jsp/business/story_16264412.jsp#.ULqRd-_zLFw)

anan355

December 9th, 2012, 11:43 AM

Aadhar Housing Finance (P) Ltd., jointly promoted by Dewan Housing and International Finance Corp (IFC), on Tuesday announced the launch of its branch at Asansol city in West Bengal's Burdwan district.

Located at Rambandhu Tala, this branch will cater to other important locations like Durgapur, Barddhaman, Siuri, Bolpur, Raniganj, Kulti, Bankura and Puruliya through a hub-n-spoke model.

This is Aadhar’s first branch in West Bengal and 16th branch in the country.

Aadhar was envisaged by DHFL and IFC, a member of the World Bank group, as a segment focused housing finance company to reach out to the low income segment with incomes ranging from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 25000 pm in the identified states namely Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal.

Aadhar enables access to housing finance to a segment that has limited access to any form of formal lending and provides housing loan up to Rs. 12 lakh.

Speaking on the occasion, Harshil Mehta, CEO, Aadhar, said, “Asansol has been registering growth at a phenomenal pace and is amongst the top 11 Indian cities in the list of 100 fastest growing cities in the world with a rank of 42.”

Asansol is Bengal's second-largest city after Kolkata and is also Bengal’s fastest growing urban area with a population of over 1.2 million people as per census 2011.

The industrial base of Asansol is chiefly supported by coal, iron and steel industries, including heavy engineering, fertilizers and coal based chemicals industries and has experienced remarkable growth in population and economy to have emerged as India’s important urban industrial centre.

The region is further expected to have a population growth rate of 2.06% compared to Kolkata's 1.73% by 2020-25, as per a United Nations report.

Aadhar offers an array of products including home loans, home improvement/extension loans, plot loans, self-construction loans and gradually extend products such as mortgage loan, lease rental finance and non-residential property loans.

Aadhar also refinances project loans essentially for development of low cost housing projects.

Source (http://www.indiablooms.com/BusinessDetailsPage/2012/businessDetails041212g.php)

anan355

January 4th, 2013, 02:06 AM

The administrative process to upgrade Asansol-Durgapur subdivision to a district moved forward with the initiative taken by the district administrative body.

According to the blueprint, Asansol will be named the district headquarters. A district judge’s court and a juvenile justice board will also be set up in the town. High court judge Jayanta Biswas on Thursday visited Asansol to identify land for the proposed projects. District magistrate Onkar Singh Meena said that he discussed the issue with police superintendent Ajoy Nanda.

"At the meeting we discussed about the present condition of Durgapur and Burdwan court," said Meena

"If Asansol is identified as the district headquarters then the court area needs to be expanded. We discussed on this subject. A piece of land has been identified besides Asansol district library for building district judges’ bungalow and juvenile justice board." he added.

Meanwhile, Asansol has been declared as a health district. The district sadar hospital department of the health district will be set up in Asansol.

The office of the chief medical officer(CMOH) will be at the old hospital complex in Asansol. According to the sources, the CMOH has already been nominated and will assume office from the beginning of January.
Sources further added that current ACMOH, Arati Sen Chattaraj might be promoted to the post of deputy CMOH in the Asansol health district.

BengalPost (http://portal.thebengalpost.com/index.php/index/newsdetails/Asansol-Durgapur--to-become-a-separate-district--57464101357230560)

anan355

January 14th, 2013, 10:03 PM

"For the sake of better administrative effectiveness, we have decided to bifurcate Burdwan into two new districts - Burdwan Rural and Asansol Durgapur," announced chief minister Mamata Banerjee at Asansol on Thursday. She said the proposal had been accepted in an all-party meeting and had also got the nod at the secretariat level.

"It will take some more time to shift and transfer the offices for the new district headquarter (Asansol) and create further infrastructure," the CM said.

While laying the foundation stone of Kazi Nazrul Islam University at the Polo Ground in Asansol, the chief minister criticized the previous Left Front government for setting up only one university in the state during their 34-year rule.

"But in a span of only one and a half years our government has approved four new universities including a private one while another is in the pipeline. Classes of Kazi Nazrul Islam University will begin from July this year. We have already appointed professor Anuradha Mukherjee as the vice-chancellor," she added.

The chief minister felt she had done a "national duty" by setting up a university in the name of the great poet who is a national hero not only in India but also in Bangladesh.

Besides the university, Mamata laid the foundation stone of a host of other projects including a drinking water project and a mega retail shop that will sell products of various self-help groups. She also showered her bounties on the district by giving away pattas, cycles and certificates to locals.

Mamata projected Burdwan as a potential industrial hub. "In Panagarh, out of the1458 acres of land under the industrial park, 1185 acres have already attracted investments worth Rs 12,000 crore. This will give employment opportunities to about 12,000 people. New brick clusters will come up at Baraboni, Kulti and Salanpur," she said. The second phase of the industrial park will be in Durgapur, she added.

"We have also decided to set up a hotel management and catering institute at Durgapur on five acres of land with an investment of Rs 10.50 crore. It will be run by the state tourism department," the CM announced. Sail and Kobe Steel of Japan is jointly setting up a steel plant at Durgapur which is the second of its kind in the world, the CM said.

At the gathering, Mamata Banerjee boasted of the achievements of her government: "We have done so much work only within the span of a year and a half and I have statistics to prove it. But a section is trying to malign us purposely. I request you to remain calm and not react to what they are saying."

Addressing the problem of illegal coal gangs operating in the industrial belt, she directed Asansol Durgapur Police to take proper measures and prevent illegal entry of guns.

Quoting figures from 2009 -10 to the last year she tried to establish how much work has been done by her on every front compared to left regime including minorities development. She said that she dreeams of having a kisan mandi, cold stoarge, ITI in every blocks of the state. " We have done so much work only in one and half years and I am giving you statistics. But a section is trying to malign us purposely. I request you to remain calm and don't react to what they are saying,"she added. She directed the Asansol Durgapur Police to control the ongoing gang war of coal mafias and also warned that illegal guns should not enter Andal. Seize all arms, she added. Some misctreants alleghedly fired at a trinamul rally in Parascole in Andal, who are coming to CM's rally in Asansol today. She also gave away pattas, cycles, certificates in today's rally. Education minister Brataya Basu and MP Mukul Roy accompanied her.

TOI (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-11/kolkata/36279409_1_mamata-banerjee-new-districts-foundation-stone)

anan355

January 14th, 2013, 10:07 PM

Located at Muchipara near Durgapur, the project will house two, 2.5 and three-BHK units with base price kept at Rs 2,195 per sq ft

Kolkata-headquartered realty player Jain Group is now coming up with its first project in south Bengal — at Muchipara near Durgapur. Christened as Dream Eco City, the new project promises to be a unique residential project developed with biophilic design.

Located on NH-2, next to NSHM Knowledge Campus, the project offers easy connectivity to Durgapur railway station. Spread over eight acres and with over one million sq ft of space, Dream Eco City will house 800 families, the developer said.

The ground-plus-11 storey*ed towers at the project will house 286 units of two-BHK apartments (880–910 sq ft), 110 units of 2.5-BHK apartments (1,045 sq ft) and 374 units of three-BHK apartments (sizes varying between 1,235 sq ft, 1,285 sq ft and 1,325 sq ft). The base price of the project is kept at Rs 2,195 per sq ft.

Built as per green building standards, the project will house a swimming pool, gymnasium, ampitheatre, jacuzzi, multi-level garden, community hall, lounges and banquets, indoor games arena, shopping arcade and a four-star hotel. The project also boasts off solar panel lighting and water heaters, rain water harvesting, thick foliage of natural plantation, laminated wooden flooring, VOC-free eco-friendly paint and eco-friendly building material and four side ventilation, according to Rishi Jain, executive director, Jain Group.

“South Bengal is progressing at a rapid pace and Durgapur can be considered to be the nucleus of this development. This is one of the major reasons why we decided to foray in this region. We would be investing in between Rs 300 crores and Rs 350 crores in south Bengal over two years and the four-star hotel at Durgapur will be opened in association with an international group,” he said.

Financial Chronicle (http://www.mydigitalfc.com/real-estate/jain-group%E2%80%99s-maiden-offering-south-bengal-740)

anan355

January 20th, 2013, 11:58 PM

H&R Johnson (India), an arm of Prism Cement, has drawn up a capacity ramp up and retail expansion plans for the next couple of years. The firm is looking at significantly increasing its export volumes by tapping the neighbouring markets with products to be produced at its upcoming plant at Durgapur in West Bengal.

“It is in the process of coughing up Rs 400 cr from its coffer to significantly increase its retail presence from 25 to 300 by 2015 and ramp up its capacity substantially from the present level of 51 million sq meter per year,” a top official of the company, told FC on Tuesday.

The Hyderabad-headquartered firm, a leading player in ceramic and vitrified tiles, bath-fittings, kitchenware, has been growing at nearly 20 per cent per annum, which is higher than the industry average of 10-15 per cent, Ravi M Ojha, GM (east), H&R Johnson (India), said.

“Although the final capacity of the plant is yet to be worked out, the proposed Durgapur plant of the company, for which the firm has already acquired land and in the process of getting other clearances, will be the single largest tiles plant in the country in terms of capacity,” said Ojha.

“At present, we have 25 outlets, which is being taken up to 70-80 by March, this year and eventually to 300 by 2015. In the eastern India, we will be having 25 outlets by March, 2013 and 75 by 2015. The number of premium signature outlets will also go up from 17 at present to 20 by March, this year,” he said.

The firm at present exports its products to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Europe and some neighbouring countries, albeit an insignificant volume. “Once the Durgapur plant comes up we will tap the neighbouring markets of Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmarmore aggressively because these markets are closer to east or Kolkata,” said Ojha.

Financial Chronicle (http://www.mydigitalfc.com/news/hr-johnson-lines-rs-400-cr-expansion-plan-569)

AbhishekDatta

March 12th, 2013, 01:12 AM

Andal airport to be ready by May
TNN | Mar 12, 2013, 04.18 AM IST

KOLKATA: The greenfield airport that is in an advanced stage of construction at Andal near Durgapur has received a thumbs-up from director general of civil aviation Arun Mishra. After visiting the site, Mishra remarked: "Of the country's 15 greenfield airport projects that were approved, the Durgapur airport is the one that has made the most significant progress."

The project - which is currently in the finishing stage with less than 15% work left on the runway, passenger terminal and air traffic control tower - is expected to be completed by May. Subrata Paul, the chief executive officer of Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL), said the airport would be ready for commercial operations by October 2013. Singapore airport operator Changi holds 26% equity in the project.

"We have already applied for licence to the DGCA. Mishra's visit following our request marks the final lap of the airport's development," Paul said.

Though the formalities needed for a greenfield airport to be commercially operational are cumbersome and time-consuming, Mishra was quite impressed by the pace of work. "A lot of progress has been made in a short time despite several constraints," he said after the trip to Andal.

DGCA is expected to undertake an inspection of the airport sometime this yearend, followed by trial flights before the airport can receive the nod for full-fledged commercial operations. BAPL is already in talks with Jet Airways, IndiGo and Air India for flights to the airport that has several industrial towns like Durgapur, Burnpur, Raniganj and Dhanbad in its catchment area.

Apart from the 650-acre airport, BAPL plans to develop residential townships, hospitals, IT hubs and industries in the remaining 1,200 acre. The Mamata Banerjee government, that was initially critical of the project, has made it clear that it will take a call on the rest of the project only after the airport is ready.

The project with land requirement of nearly 2,000 acre, faced multiple hurdles including objections from Coal India during the initial land acquisition stage and later from locals demanding higher compensation. The state government's hands-off policy on land has not helped matters.

"There have been challenges before the project but we have managed to get over many issues and bring the project to this stage. I am confident that the airport will be ready by the middle of this year and BAPL will become the first greenfield airport to commence operations in the east," the official said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Andal-airport-to-be-ready-by-May/articleshow/18920332.cms