Trivandrum projects/cityscapes [Archive] - Page 4

Ajaypp

August 28th, 2005, 10:38 AM

Hi all,
As Sudheesh mentioned earlier, I am in Trivandrum this weekend. Finally got to meet him after all this while, great guy!!! :)

We visited the Dodla International Site together. It's an awesome piece of work. The porch-lobby area is one of the most impressive ones I have seen, perhaps second only to the Taj Bengal in Calcutta, which has a similar porch but supported on a single massive pillar.

Punj Lloyd's work is progressing well. Demolition has started on the MG Road and Palayam-Airport corridors. I guess construction work will be commencing soon.In fact, culvert building has already started. Service road work and preliminary piling has started for the massive Bakery Junction flyover.

Meanwhile, the earthwork for the Infy and US Soft campuses has been almost completed!!! Amazing, for a change, work has been finished on time - the deadline for handover to Infy is September. Guess things happen on time in Trivandrum! :) I visited the site, there were nearly a dozen earthmovers on site including excavators, bulldozers and heavy compactors., not to mention dozens of dump trucks! Awesome sight!

So, work will soon start on Kerala's second totally privately funded IT campus. The first, of course, is the TCS campus again at Technopark. Thus, unlike in other places where similar plans exist only on paper, work is proceeding at a brisk space in Trivandrum. :)

Unfortunately, I cudn't take pix of all these since I didn't have a cam! :( Sudheesh has promised to capture lotsa pix, I hope Ram, Sumesh and the others also pitch in to capture all this construction activity.

That's it for now. Will be back home for Onam, for an extended stay. Promise lotsa pics - especially of the colorful Onam Week celebrations when Ananthapuri is lookinger her best. Stay tuned!

Ajay

sudheeshnairs

August 28th, 2005, 05:23 PM

Hi Anantha,

It is at Poojappura. About 3-4 km from where I shot this, atop the Dodla hotel.
This building is opposite 'Pariksha Bhavan', the education department office. I had posted a news item about 'Vignan Bhavan' coming up in that campus in Trivandurm thread II.

That 'Mukkunnimala' is still far, but it looks like very close since the shot is a long one. Hope to go to 'Mukkunni Mala' and get some good aerials of Trivandrum, but may need some good 'zoom' camera.

I have also thought of shooting the big roundabout and park at Poojappura, with this building as the background..I almost daily take a sweeping curve of this roundabout in my drive back home...

Thanks china rajesh & dubai rajesh( :) )and suncity for your comments...

Stay tuned more pictures...

Sudheesh,

Where is this place at ?.

Anantha.

sudheeshnairs

August 29th, 2005, 06:32 AM

http://tinypic.com/bdpmko.jpg

sudheeshnairs

August 29th, 2005, 06:39 AM

The buildings (earthern colour) which appear as a line is the NGO quarters near Karamana.

Those LIG flats are in a very distinct & picturesque setting than its counterparts in other cities..

http://tinypic.com/bdpp92.jpg

sudheeshnairs

August 29th, 2005, 11:34 AM

Ajaypp

August 29th, 2005, 11:55 AM

@ Sudheesh - awesome pic there! Wherever do you find all these beauties?

Anyways, finally we get an idea of what the Muthoot Plaza will look like in a year's time! And ya, like Sudheesh said, the commencement ceremony has been done, so it is into the implementation phase unlike a lot of other, much touted ones which continue to remain on paper. :) If I remember right, completion time was supposed to be 15 months or so, from the launch press conference. The Muthoot Group has two five star properties in Trivandrum - Taj Green Cove Resort and The Muthoot Plaza, in addition to their luxury flight catering service - Muthoot Sky Chef! No wonder, their corporate HQ is coming up here!

Like I mentioned earlier, in addition to the Muthoot Plaza, there are quite a few five stars in town:

The Leela, Kovalam Beach
Taj Green Cove Resort
Dodla International project (Hilton/Hyatt/Taj)
The Mascot
Travancore Heritage
Poovar Island Resort
Uday Samudra....and so on.

3-4 new four stars are under construction or nearly finished, and the Saj Luciya International and The Residency Towers are four-stars undergoing upgradation to five star status. Looks like the IT boom has made the hotel industry bullish and boosted capacity addition in Trivandrum, which has traditionally been the Tourism hub of Kerala and now has undoubtedly become its IT hub as well. Stay tuned for more hotel pix and more!

Ajay

sudheeshnairs

August 29th, 2005, 02:09 PM

http://www.technopark.org/campusnote.htm

Foundation Stone for the largest building in Kerala - "Thejaswini" - Laid by Chief Minister as part of Technopark Second Phase Expansion

17th August 2005 : There has been huge demand for built up space from the companies in Technopark, for meeting their expansion plans. Based on the circumstances, construction of a new building is proposed in the plot by the side of Bhavani. The foundation stone for the building "Thejaswini" has been laid by Hon'ble Chief Minister of Kerala Shri Oommen Chandy.The building is expected to be completed by October 2006 including planning and contract period. To maximise utility of land in the plot, the building has been designed as a 6.00 lakh sq.ft and is proposed as an eleven storied building(Ground + 7 structures for office space, terrace floor with light roof for restaurants and 3 floors for parking). The building is already fully blocked by different companies and is expected to provide 5000 direct employment opportunities for IT/ITES professionals.

Ohh, sounds great...... :cheers:

sudheeshnairs

August 29th, 2005, 03:39 PM

Latest news from Technopark:

'Gayathri' building (1.3 lakh sft at present) is getting two additional floors with about 66000 sft more....It is been blocked by the existing companies of the campus, IBS & Gemini.

The Business Class Hotel from the Taj group, 'IndiOne' is getting shape inside the Technopark campus. Piling for this 100 room hotel is progressing. The completion time for the project is about 6 months..So we can expect it to be ready by March 2006. This is the second 'IndiOne' in India after Banglore..Another feather in the cap for the hospitality industry of Trivandrum. Ajay has the photo of the piling works, he will be posting it, see it for real!!

Land acquisition for 100 more acres including that for L&T fast progressing, expected to be over within four months. Will be going to Technopark campus soon for more details.... :)

Ajaypp

August 29th, 2005, 10:22 PM

http://tinypic.com/behvfp.jpg

In this pic, we can see only the tops of the piling equipment in the foreground, with the Technopark skyline behind it. At this point, I thot that the piling was for the upcoming IBS campus. So, it is for IndiOne, the Taj Group's second business hotel, after the one in Bangalore. Stay tuned for more. :)

sudheeshnairs

August 30th, 2005, 06:32 AM

Vizhinjam terminal will reduce movement cost, says study
Mony K. Mathew

Thiruvananthapuram , Aug. 29

THE proposed deepwater international container trans-shipment terminal at Vizhinjam is expected to bring down the total costs of movement of containers to and from foreign destinations, according to the Container Shipment Economics Study.

The study, carried out IL&FS Infrastructure Development Corporation and Hauer Associates, has also found that the Sethusamudram project will promote inter-coastal movements of Indian cargo, enhancing the potential of Vizhinjam as a trans-shipment hub.

The study says that container traffic at Indian ports has increased by 102 per cent over the previous five years to 3.9 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2003-04. The rapid growth is expected to continue and by 2016-17, the country will handle 15.64 million TEUs.

On the other hand, the present Indian gateway ports do not attract a sufficient number of mainline vessels due to inadequate facilities and the distance from international shipping routes. As of now, about 61 per cent of Indian export/import containers are trans-shipped through the nearby foreign ports of Colombo, Singapore and Salalah (Oman.)

This results in an additional burden of up to $200 per TEU of cargo interests with freight paid by Indian exporters being 11.4 per cent of the c.i.f (cost, insurance, freight) value of goods as against the world average of 6.1 per cent.

Nearly 69 per cent of the country's total container traffic originates in or is bound for northern and western India with the South accounting for 26 per cent and the East a mere five per cent. The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust handles 58 per cent of this total traffic.

The main containerised cargoes are garments, electronic goods, agro-products, cotton yarn, machinery and parts, granite, coir, leather and jute products. The US/Canada/South America sector, with a 28 per cent share, is the main destination for containerised exports, while the Far East sector, with a share of 25 per cent, is the main origin for containerised imports.

Notwithstanding the location of Vizhinjam in the deep South, cargo interests in the southern, northern and western regions may find it more viable to use the port as a gateway/trans-shipment terminal instead of Colombo, Singapore or Salalah. This means the hinterland of the port may extend to the western and northern parts of the country.

The study estimates that 1.35 - 1.60 million TEUs are likely to be diverted through Vizhinjam by 2016-17 and this will be further augmented by foreign trans-shipment containers and also by the Sethusamudram project

sudheeshnairs

August 30th, 2005, 07:11 AM

This is the view of the Transtowers from the back side..

It is a 1 lakh sft 10 floor glass structure.

8th floor is under construction..

http://tinypic.com/bezt4g.jpg

This is how the building will ulitmately look.

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/7663/transtower8yx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This front view I had posted almost one month back...

http://tinypic.com/bezvrm.jpg

Ajaypp

August 30th, 2005, 07:20 AM

Thanks for the news update Sudheesh. :) The Sethusamudram shipping channel will significantly enhance the demand for transshipment at Vizhinjam, as it is situated almost at the mouth of the channel and right on the International shipping lanes.

Mother container ships will offload cargo meant for Eastern Indian ports - Chennai, Tuticorin, Vizag, Kakkinada, Dhamram, Haldia, Kolkata and Chittagong - at Vizhinjam where it will be transshiped by smaller vessels plying on the Sethusamudram channel to the East Coast.

A regular Vizhinjam-Haldia service will be able to cater to all these ports. What has to be noted is that the Sethusamudram channel will be too shallow to accomodate mother ships - hence East Coast ports will look to Vizhinjam for transshipment. Even then they would be saving atleast $ 200 per TEU! That's a whopping 1500 crores a year to begin with!!

I have had some informal discussions with some of my friends in the marine consultancy field and they were all in agreement about the bright future for Vizhinjam. Let's look forward to the finalisation of the contract and commencement of work! Stay tuned! :)

Ajaypp

August 30th, 2005, 07:42 AM

The National Waterway - 3, the inland navigation equivalent of NH-47 is currently being dredged to accomodate significant cargo movement. Most of this route was originally constructed by the pioneering kings of Travancore to connect the capital city with other parts of their kingdom - mainly Kottayam and Kochi. It included many impressive engineering feats such as deep cuttings and tunnels. The Govt: of India is now reviving the canal to its former glory. Looks like it is in the nick of time, with the Vizhinjam container hub due to start operations in the next 2-3 years! :)

This is a picture of dredging and widening operations near at Pallithura, near Trivandrum.

http://tinypic.com/bf0ubk.jpg

Courtsey: The Hindu Business Line

Ajaypp

August 30th, 2005, 08:51 AM

Yet another feather in the cap of Trivandrum. A premier B-school opens in Technopark, to join the ranks of such great institutions as the College of Engineering Trivandrum, IITM - K, Kerala University, Medical College Trivandrum and the Kerala Agricultural University. Trivandrum has gone beyond being the educational hub of Kerala, it now has a complement of top-class educational institutions few other cities can claim to.

Kerala's ASB set to open
IANS[ TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2005 09:35:41 AM]

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Asian School of Business, billed as one of the country's premier B-schools, begins functioning here Wednesday with 30 students.

The latest educational venture of Oman based Keralite George M Thomas has come up over 12,000 sq ft in the Technopark campus near here.

"The institute would offer MBA equivalent programmes and be called Asian School of Business (ASB)," said Thomas, who launched Kerala's first international school in 2003 and an international playschool here earlier this year.

The ASB's board of governors is headed by S Ramadorai, CEO and managing director of Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. The director is S Jagdish, a former professor at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore.

"We are now looking for a campus. By 2007, we will move into our own new campus. We expect to invest Rs 300 million for it. We have invested Rs 50 million for infrastructure at our rented premises at Technopark," Thomas said.

The highlight of the ASB is that it also offers a postgraduate programme in management for entrepreneur managers. The programme, basically meant for second-generation businessmen who have their own business, is being tried out for the first time in the country.

Courtesy: The Economic Times

Other Governors include "Kris" Gopalakrishnan - Founder director and COO of Infosys, Prof. P.G. Apte - Director, IIM Bangalore,Prof. M.N.V Nair -the founder-dean of IIM Bangalore, Prof. M.R. Rao - the dean of ISB Hyderabad, Prof. Samuel Paul - former Director of IIM Ahmedabad and others. Take a look at the full list here - Board of Governors (http://www.asb.edu.in/brd.htm)

Check out their site too - ASB's Website (http://www.asb.edu.in/)

Looking forward to more news from this exciting to B-school, the second top class one in Kerala after IIM Kozhikode. :)

Ajaypp

August 30th, 2005, 09:09 AM

Technopark offers help to Warner

IANS[ FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2005 01:04:19 PM]

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: US Technology, the IT company based in Kerala's Technopark, is recruiting 1,500 software engineers as it is now providing IT solutions to movie major Warner Brothers and automobile giant Toyota.

The primary offshore development centre of the California-based US Technology, formerly US Software, began work on the two projects five months ago.

"We have begun providing IT solutions to Warner Brothers to track their new releases worldwide. We have got this work because our US company recently acquired an American IT company which was doing work for Warner Brothers. The entire work is done here and it is being coordinated by our US office," disclosed Murali Gopalan, chief operating officer of the Technopark centre here.

They have also begun work for Toyota Motor Corporation on developing a software development and process consultancy package for its various units.

He added that the extra recruitments would take place in the next 10 months.

US Technology began operations from here in 1999 and currently employs the biggest IT workforce in Kerala with 1,900 software engineers. Operating from a 150,000 sq ft office at Technopark, its list of clients include Safeway, a US based Fortune 50 retail chain and Costco, a wholesale retail chain.

"We have 400 software engineers who have been posted from here working on various projects in the US. Costco recently named our team as the 'dream team' and one of our employees was recently selected as the best Costco employee," Gopalan told IANS.

US Technology recently opened an office in Chennai with 250 engineers.

The company has invested close to Rs 300 million (approximately $6.5 million) here and another Rs.70 million in Chennai.

"In the next 10 months, we plan to invest another Rs 150 million because we are working on new clients. At the moment our confidentiality clause forbids us from revealing their names," said Gopalan.

Courtesy: The Economic Times

Economic Times Report (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1211381.cms)

Also check out:

ET Article - Kerala: Emerging out of the IT backwaters (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1170259.cms)

sudheeshnairs

August 30th, 2005, 10:17 AM

View of Medical College Jn Area

http://tinypic.com/bf3tdd.jpg

chandrakishore

August 30th, 2005, 11:43 AM

ramkumar

August 30th, 2005, 11:47 AM

This you have seen earlier in Trivandrum II thread.

Hotel Muthoot Plaza, a Five star one owned by the Muthoot group and run by the Park Plaza chains...

They are going for expansion, with about double capacity at about 120 rooms.

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/4241/dscn62630oq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This is how it will look after expansion... :)

The new block would be coming up in the land between the existing block and NABARD building..

Heard that the stone laying ceremony is over..

A prestigious landmark for Muthoot group as well as Trivandrum

Happy to note that TVM is getting more swanky glass & steel edifices.

By the way this structure is also crafted by none other than Mr. Mahesh of M/s Iyer & Mahesh, Trivandrum.

http://tinypic.com/bdw6cn.jpg

Astounding Pictures……………Keep up the good work, buddy ………!!!

Sudheesh do you have the structural model (perspective of Tagore Theater and Entertainment complex). M/S Mahesh and Iyer were selected to execute the architecture design for the facelift of existing Tagore Theatre, Trivandrum.

The work on the 18 crores Tagore Theater and Entertainment complex will commence soon and the project was awarded to M/S Condor Constructions – Dubai.

1.Project involves modification of existing Tagore theatre
2.Construction of one open air and two roofed auditorium
3.All auditoriums will be equipped with modern sound system
4.Multi national food court
5.Children’s Park and play area
6.Parking space for 200 cars

sudheeshnairs

August 30th, 2005, 12:05 PM

Hi Chandrakishore, welcome to the Trivandrum thread... :)

BTW, Muthoot plaza is at Punnen Road, in the statue area, near Govt Secretariat. Punnen Road is parallel to MG road and connected to it by two roads at Spencers and Marikar's.

Ramkumar, I don't have the perspective of Tagore theatre at present. Will try to get it..It would be a landmark project at Vazhuthacud and also Trivandrum will get one more modern convention centre.

Stay tuned more more... :)

Sudheesh.

sudheeshnairs

August 31st, 2005, 08:21 AM

The bus stops in Trivandrum are getting better, atleast in Indian standards.

Almost all stops now sport this look..

All have tiled floor, and most have stainless steel railings to be used as seats..

Iam reluctant to shoot crowded bus stops and that too in close ups..

This bustop is opposite to the Dodla International Hotel at Women's College Jn.

http://tinypic.com/bg8mt3.jpg

Another one near Kerala Police Head Quarters..You have seen this before..

http://tinypic.com/bg8uiv.jpg

And we can look forward to designated Busbays as well as modern Bustops once the Trivandrum Road Development Project is complete.... :)

sudheeshnairs

August 31st, 2005, 08:30 AM

http://tinypic.com/bg9s8g.jpg

sudheeshnairs

August 31st, 2005, 08:43 AM

http://tinypic.com/bg9w87.jpg

Ajaypp

August 31st, 2005, 08:49 AM

Today's news reports mentioned that there were over 720,000 registered voters in the Trivandrum Corporation, which maintains its status as the biggest (with about 150 sq.km of area) and most populous muncipal corporation in Kerala, by a long shot. Assuming that 90% of all eligible voters (those above 18 years of age) are registered and that 80% of the total population is eligible (this is conservative, upto 40% of India's population is younger than 25 years), the total population of the corporation area alone comes to an impressive 1,000,000! Trivandrum Corpn. has 80-odd wards as compared to 50-odd in some of the smaller corporations like Kochi or Thrissur.

Instead of expanding this number to accomodate urban areas currently languishing outside city limits, the current Govt: tried to trim this down further - a counterproductive move since the to-be-trimmed wards had such strategically important institutions as Kerala's IT hub, Technopark. :bash: Fortunately, the High Court has put paid to these dumb efforts. :)

The Corporation of Trivandrum is also the oldest in the State, established in 1940 when the other urban areas were mere small towns. Kozhikode was the next to be established in 1962, a full 22 years later. Little wonder in this, since the proud capital can claim a much longer and richer urban heritage than the others. In fact, all the modern amenities of a city - electricity supply, water and sewerage, an airport, star hotels, university, engineering and medical college, and so on were established in Trivandrum long before the citizens of the other cities in Kerala even heard of them. In fact, other places like Kochi or Kozhikode still lack basic amenities like a sewer system. Even so, vicious lobbying has tried to slow down the path of progress in Trivandrum. Looks like those shackles are being broken now! :)

The Trivandrum Capital Region (TCR) comprises the Trivandrum Corporation, four muncipal corporations - Attingal, Nedumangad, Neyyatinkara and Varkala - and dozens of panchayats which lie close to the capital city. Even, considering the 2001 Census data for just these 4 muncipalities, we are talking about a total population of over 1,200,000. Throw in the Panchayats as well, and it will comfortably cross 1,500,000. Thus, from this data it is abundantly clear that Trivandrum is the biggest urban agglomeration in Kerala in addition to being the biggest city. :)

The State Government's Economic Review data also reveals that Trivandrum also has the highest rate of income growth in the State - a whopping 15.5% followed by Pathanamthitta and then by Kozhikode & Kochi.
Interesting facts......:) Stay tuned!

Ajay

vkv

August 31st, 2005, 03:46 PM

A grade Colleges in Kerala (colleges from Trivandrum )
1. Loyola College of Social Sciences, Trivandrum Five star
2. Mahatma Ghandhi Colelge, Kesavadasapuram, Trivandrum Five Star
3. Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum Five Star
4. N.S.S. College for Women, Trivandrum Five Star

Trivandrum is the educational capital, and is eligibil for IIT

vkv

August 31st, 2005, 07:26 PM

Kerala to get India's first international port

Thiruvananthapuram, August 31, 2005

The Kerala cabinet on Wednesday finally cleared the Vizhinjam project that will give India its first international port, 20 km from the state capital.

"The project would come up under the BOT (build-operate-transport) scheme in three stages," Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said.

"We had received 22 bids and selected two. These would now be evaluated by a committee headed by state chief secretary," he said after the cabinet meeting.

The Kerala government has already created a special-purpose company to set the ball rolling.
The biggest advantage the Vizhinjam port would have over all other ports in the country is it will need no dredging at all.The natural depth at Vizhinjam is 24 metres, which is by far the best in the world.he depths at ports in New York, Southampton, Singapore, Dubai, Colombo or Hong Kong are roughly 15 metres and requires dredging.Another advantage for Vizhinjam is that business is assured, as the proposed port lies very close to international waters, already a busy route.The port, to be built over an area of 150 acres, would not need displacement of the local fishing population.

The first phase of the project is likely to cost Rs 15 billion.

"We are also approaching the centre for support for this path-breaking project," added Chandy.
When completed this would become the gateway port of the country.

As of now the really large international ships do not berth in any Indian port because of problems of depth as well as infrastructure.

They berth in Colombo, Singapore or Dubai, from where cargo is transferred to smaller ships that bring them into the country.

When Vizhinjam is ready, such trans-shipments would no longer be necessary.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1477760,000900020003.htm

sumesh

August 31st, 2005, 07:32 PM

ur right vkv..trivandrum is having a lot of five star accredited colleges by NAAC...
i think u missed university college, trivandrum...although it is rated as 4 star by NAAC, it is considered as the "centre with potential for excellence" by the same. I think in the future more colleges will be getting 5 star status in trivandrum...But UDF government is neglecting the facts and they are giving IIT to kochi which doesn't have an educational heritage..I am saying this coz kerala's first engineering college, Medical college,ayurveda college, University were all came in trivandrum. The funniest thing other than above things is that kochiites even seen a college long long time after trivandrumites seen it.Kochi managed to get them in the near past..All most all the sensible keralites knows these things...

sumesh

August 31st, 2005, 07:44 PM

G8 NEWS BUDDY...GOOD TO HEAR ABT A DREAM WHICH FINALLY COMES TRUE...SREEPADMANABHA..

Ajaypp

August 31st, 2005, 10:42 PM

@ Vkv & Sumesh - nice points and very apt observations. Trivandrum has a set of educational institutions which any city will be proud of and which few Indian cities can claim! :)

The College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET) is one of the top engineering colleges in the country, rated at A-5 by the NAAC and attaining ISO 9002 certification for some of its departments. This 65 year old college has a veritable galaxy of eminent alumni including CEOs, administrators and scientists including the likes of ISRO chief, Dr. Madhavan Nair. It attracts the best students from the CEE and also launches a large number of students into the IITs, IIMs and foreign Universities for higher studies. Last year, CET alumni topped both IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Delhi's post-graduate programme!

CET has the best facilities of any institute in Kerala. Many people will be amazed to know that the college possesses a wave-simulation chamber, wind-tunnel, planetarium and more!!! Over 600,000 sft of built-up space is contained in dozens of buildings, including an indoor stadium, scattered across the lush 158 acre campus. A 1500 seater open-air auditorium, post office and HAM radio station are some of the other unique facilities here.

This year, as usual, CET recorded the best placements in Kerala and among the best in India. Over 600 job offers have already been made to the final year batch of less than 540 students. Recruiters include such top names as Google (a top recruiter even at IITs), Toshiba, Coenexant, ABB, Siemens, Accenture, IBM, HP, Mindtree, CTS, Wipro, TCS and Infosys. CTS alone recruited an awesome 197 students - their single biggest recruitment ever!

As Sumesh said, the University College is the oldest and proudest arts and science college in the state. Former President Dr. K.R. Narayanan is just one of its galaxy of famous alumni. The Government Arts College is not far behind either, producing many brilliant minds each year.

New world-class institutes like the Asian School of Business and IITM-K have joined the ranks of Trivandrum's educational elite. 17 other engineering colleges and 6 medical colleges also dot the district, most of them in the city and its suburbs.

And still, the IIT has to go elsewhere.....talk about common sense...lol!! :bash:

sudheeshnairs

September 1st, 2005, 07:17 AM

This is a Four Star property getting ready, owned by SP Fort group.

It is coming up at Panavila Jn, where the u/c Bakery Jn flyover would be ending.

One more floor to go, tenth floor under construction now..

Will get a close up front view of the hotel.

Also one more 67 all A/c room Four Star getting ready at Thampanoor, owned by Southern hospitalities who presently runs 'Park Fields' at Vazhuthacaud.

The 11 floor structure is ready, will be getting an u/c photo..

http://tinypic.com/bherki.jpg

Ajaypp

September 1st, 2005, 12:49 PM

sudheeshnairs

September 1st, 2005, 12:59 PM

2nd Floor terrace Childrens Play area of Skyline Melody Apartment, a shot during construction stage..

On the right side, a highrise, Alpine heights of SI property is seen..

http://tinypic.com/bhkufa.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 1st, 2005, 01:06 PM

http://tinypic.com/bhlgls.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 1st, 2005, 01:11 PM

A mid rise Apartment, Niunjam Royale is also seen by the side..

http://tinypic.com/bhljjk.jpg

ramkumar

September 1st, 2005, 03:31 PM

Here is an update about yet another impressive development in Trivandrum. Since we don't believe in posting pictures of vacant land and discussing about vague plans, here is a Business Line report (about two years old)about the KINFRA Film and Video Park in Trivandrum.

The four cities of Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram, not necessarily in that order but boasting a vibrant film and TV culture alright, are fancying their chances for giving the `woods' a complex! It is a view subscribed by Mr A. S. Suresh Babu, Managing Director of the Kinfra Film and Video Park, a state-of-the-art centre for film-making and digital content creation, coming up over 75 acres of rolling hillocks in the scenic outback of Thiruvananthapuram.

Mr Suresh Babu is hoping to develop the park as a major centre for film and TV-based enterprise with all required infra- structure and exclusive training facilities. His aim is to bring back to the capital city and Kerala at large all pre- and post-production activities now being outsourced to Chennai and other centres. The going has been jolly good for him, judging from the slew of investments pouring in. Production houses with entrenched presence in the field have already come forward to set up units in the park. On completion of the project, Thiruvananthapuram is expected to become the hub of entertainment industry in the country.

It looks as if leading Malayalam stars themselves are coming home to (rule) the roost. Brawny hero Suresh Gopi and the versatile Mohanlal are among the big names who have announced their investment plans in the park. Mohanlal is setting up a modern studio complex. He has acquired three acres of land and has committed an initial investment of Rs 3 crore. The studio is expected to go on stream by August 17, the first day of Chingam, the Malayalam new year.

Lal's studio complex went online in 2004.

An aspiring investor can just walk in to the park and walk off with a `finished' product, Mr Suresh Babu says. The park, in which promoters Kinfra has already spent Rs 12.5 crore, would have recording studios, processing facilities, shooting floors and locales, a preview theatre, an open air auditorium with a seating capacity of 2,000 persons, a bank, a hotel and other facilities required for film production and digital content creation.

All these facilities are online by now. The state-of-the-art preview theatre, the most advanced in India, was inaugrated a few weeks ago!

The anchor investor, Prasad Laboratories, one of the largest post-production service providers in Asia, is setting up its unit in over three acres. Initially, the company will set up a film-processing unit. A major expansion plan is also on the anvil. A preview theatre, video editing and telecine transfer facility have also been planned.

The park intends to make the best of its locational advantages. It has proximity to centres of excellence such as the State-sponsored Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-Dit), the Chitranjali Studios, the Electronic Research and Development Centre (ER&DC), the Chalachitra Akademi and a whole compendium of film societies and TV channels. Discussions are on with private investors for setting up an International Institute of Visual Media, which is expected to be developed as a centre for film-making and digital content creation. The ultimate aim for promoters is to develop the park as a one-stop-shop for any post-production activity, according to Mr Suresh Babu. :)

*******************************************************

The Film and Video Park is located close to the Technopark, the massive IT-polis which is the state's IT hub. Technopark houses world-class animation companies like Toonz Animation. This creates a lot of possibility for generating synergies among the tenant companies.

A Rs 11 crores state-of-the-art Animation Zone is nearing completion as well.Here are excerpts from a Frontline article on it:

The park's latest and most canny initiative is the creation of an "Animation Zone" to cater exclusively to the burgeoning outsourced animation and digital film industry. "Everybody has been talking about the need to create the infrastructure to tap India's potential as a leading global destination for the creation of 2D and 3D animation products for television and cinema," said A.S. Suresh Babu, the FV Park's managing director. "We decided to go ahead and commit ourselves to the creation of an exclusive facility for the animation industry - and expect that the construction phase will be over this year," he said. Babu's vision goes beyond populating real estate: the park expects to set up an internationally recognised animation school so that the trained talents required to fuel the creative work in the animation zone will be available right next door. A detailed feasibility plan has been approved and the park is talking to a short list of partners to deliver the academic muscle for the school by the third quarter of 2005.

It is not by accident that KINFRA chose Thiruvananthapuram as the location for the Film and Video Park. A quick look at a map of the region shows that the city is ideally positioned to serve as a hub for the creative cinematic activities in countries such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Mauritius. Colombo is just half an hour's flying away; Singapore another emerging hub for digital cinema, is fours hours away - and there are obvious possibilities for mutually beneficial synergies. :cheers:

Sudheesh and I will try to visit the park sometime next week and take detailed snaps. :) Stay tuned!

Ajay, what you have said is correct ……….. Posting pictures of uninhabited land and discussing about hazy plans is really funny …. . I would like to quote some latest additions to your posting regarding “Kinfra Film and Video Park”.

Preview Theatre inaugurated in KINFRA Film & Video Park

Kazhakuttom, Trivandrum: A Preview Theatre, sporting global projection standards, has been inaugurated in KINFRA Film & Video Park (KFVP) on July 19 by Mr. Adoor Gopalakrishnan, the internationally renowned Malayalam Film maker. KFVP is India’s first infotainment industrial park where several renowned banners have already set up shop for post production services. Soon after formal inauguration, premier screening in the new theatre was held with the exhibition of the unique animation film Finding Nemo, this year’s winner of Oscar Award for Best Animation Film. Finding Nemo also won Oscar
nominations for Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score and Sound Editing.

The theatre is the best and the only one of its kind in Kerala, fitted with such modern concepts as DTS and Dolby Digital, and can seat 103 viewers. Built as part ASIDE scheme, aided by the Dept. of Commerce, Govt. of India, the theatre forms part of the proposed Animation Zone in KFVP. The inauguralfunction and premier preview were attended by, among others, Mr. A.S. Suresh Babu (MD- KINFRA), MR. R. Harikumar, (Chairman- KFVP), Mr. V.N.P. Kaimal (MD-Kinfra Export Promotion Industrial Park), Mr. N. Sasidharan Nair (MD-Kinfra International Apparel Park) and Mr. K. Sudhakaran (Manager-KFVP).

Centre sanctions Rs.10.69 crores to KINFRA under ASIDE Scheme

Trivandrum: Government of Kerala is to receive Rs. 10.69 Crores under the Assistance to States in Developing Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities (ASIDE) scheme, sponsored by the Ministry of industries & commerce, Government of India. The amount is to be utilized for development of infrastructure facility for promoting exports from the State. KINFRA as the nodal agency of the scheme in Kerala has so far received Rs. 32.30 Crores under the scheme. By utilizing the fund 13 projects, which have direct linkage to exports, have been implemented.

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/9499/clipimage0027hy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The International Animation Zone now being set up in KINFRA Film & Video Park (Photo above) NOT VACANT LAND is also part of the ASIDE scheme. Together with the recently inaugurated preview theatre, the Animation Zone will soon come up with State of the art perfection, aimed at making Kerala a center for animation industry.

Air Cargo Complex at the TrivandrumAirport is also being modernized by utilizing the fund. When the cargo handling facility is upgraded the resultant additional capacity will help increase exports from the State. :eek2:

NO IF'S AND BUT'S ONLY "FACTS"..............!!!! :bash:

http://www.kinfra.com/newsletter/kinfra-august.pdf

vkv

September 1st, 2005, 06:26 PM

Ajay,Sudheesh....GR8,.both of you giving us a lot of information about the trivandrum developments.

kronik

September 1st, 2005, 06:38 PM

Ajaypp

September 1st, 2005, 07:51 PM

kronik

September 1st, 2005, 08:48 PM

@ Kronik - Welcome to the thread. Good point you made there buddy, which is why I believe that the practice of upgrading existing institutes is not the best course of action. Most of them like CET or Jadavpur Univ. are in cities which already have top-notch colleges. I am all in favour of a brand-new, greenfield IIT for Kerala.

But, if upgradation is the only course, then the best college should be chosen. In this case CET is the only right choice. Especially considering that Trivandrum is the hub of IT/ITES, biotechnology and R&D in Kerala. Btw, CET is not being upgraded to an NIT, it is being upgraded as part of the prestigious TEQIP project of the World Bank along with NIT-K. :)

Thanks for the reply Ajay. I see no reason why the current institutions of India as a whole cannot rise on their own merit and abilities.
The more institutions we have like the IITs and IIMs the better! :)
but given the huge expenditure, we must encourage the current colleges to better themselves. We must learn from the United States in this regard, which according to me has the best universities in the world. They focus on R&D, quality and growth.

The SC decision to not allow government quota in unaided colleges was a step in the right direction, which expectedly was opposed by netas.

IMHO, what we need are institutions who stand up to compete with the IITs and IIMs, all over the country.

Ajaypp

September 1st, 2005, 09:16 PM

@ Kronik - I agree that we need more world-class institutions like the IIMs and IITs :) But, I don't think taking the reins off all and sundry private institutions is the way to that end. A merit based entry is essential for a college to attain greatness, and most of these new private colleges wud look more closely at students' bank balances than their entrance scores. Oh, since u mentioned US univ.s, you would also remember that most of the top schools there, even those in the now-almost-private Ivy League began with Federal and State govt: funds. In a country like India, where education is key to progress, a merit-based Govt: quota is a very good idea, as opposed to somewhere like the US where incomes are higher and there is a surplus of educational facilities (for those dozens of thousands of foreign students each year!) Indian problems call for Indian solutions. But, genuinely good institutions like ISB, ASB, and so should be encouraged :)

Chuck

September 1st, 2005, 10:53 PM

Ajay, you do make some valid points, but it is not feasible for the government to run all the education establishments in the country. Since government institutions are subsidized, it would be a huge burden on the government, which is already facing record levels of deficit. Private institutions have to come up so that people who can afford it wont be a burden on the public institutions. Plus, it fosters healthy competition between education establishments and will ensure that quality of education will not stagnate.

sudheeshnairs

September 2nd, 2005, 06:28 AM

http://tinypic.com/bijjvr.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 2nd, 2005, 06:45 AM

You may see some series of billboards ahead. It is a 24 m wide road, Kesavadasapuram-Pattom road..

http://tinypic.com/bijp1w.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 2nd, 2005, 07:04 AM

Band stand, Museum Park.

http://tinypic.com/bijsya.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 2nd, 2005, 07:53 AM

Economic Times, 2nd September 2005.

British Charters to fly in $ 3 million biz

Kovalam to get bigger slice with 9000 guests a week.

Kovalam set to receive charter flights from UK, starting this November and running in to mid-April, operated by 'Trans Orient', and 'Kuoni'. Collectively it will give Trivandrum/Kovalam nearly 9000 guests a week.

The other destinations in India are Agra and Goa, but Kovalam will be getting a larger slice of the charter biz.

Ajaypp

September 2nd, 2005, 08:29 AM

@ Sudheesh - that's great news, but no surprise as Kovalam-Poovar has always been the tourism hub of Kerala. With the arrival of the Leela, its status has grown further. :) British Airways and Lufthansa have plans to start operations from Kerala, this news makes it pretty clear at which airport their operations should start! More so since, with over 30,000 IT professionals in Technopark by 2007, the traffic to Europe will be boosted even more!

@ Chuck - I agree totally that the Govt: will be unable to bear the full burden of higher education. This is why Public-Private Partnerships should be encouraged, where the funding power of private enterprise will combine with the distributive logic of the Government. After all, education is a fundamental right and a 50% merit quota is the best of both worlds. Also, the regulation of the quality of education, like conducting a unified entrance exam, should be vested with the Govt: - in the public interest - since there is always a risk of unscrupulous players cutting corners at the price of quality.

Private players also tend to hype themselves up while actually giving profits precedence over quality and social justice. Take B-schools for example, many private ones, even run-of-the mill ones in Kerala, claim to be "Top 10" and so on, while in reality there are pathetic compared to the real top class institutions like the IIMs, FMS, XLRI etc. It is true that there are high quality private b-schools like XLRI, ISB, SPJIMR, ASB etc, but sadly this is not the case everywhere. Competition among the wannabes can be more often unhealthy and cut-throat rather than promote growth and quality.So we have to watch them carefully! :)

sudheeshnairs

September 2nd, 2005, 10:17 AM

The Tourism Conservation and Preservation Committee set up by the state Government to devise development strategies for the preservation and conservation of tourist destinations, has come out with the guidelines for the Special Tourism Zone (STZ) at Kovalam. Taking into account of the tourism potential and diverse features, the destination has been divided into six zones. This includes Edayar Island, Thiruvallam, Eves Beach, Vizhinjam Harbour, Mulloor and Pulinkudy. Topographically the zones are spread out in the area of the city corporation and in adjoining five panchayats. The classification is based on the quality of beaches, type of ongoing development activities, landforms, character of settlement etc. The future development activities in the destination would be complementary to the natural beauty and environmental features. Small-scale infrastructure development activities with low impact but high quality would be initiated in the 500-metre high tide line from the coast. Residential settlement and agricultural areas would be excluded from specific controls. A green park or bird sanctuary would come up at Edayar Island. Backwater tourism and recreational facilities would be developed in Thiruvallom. A tourist facilitation centre has been suggested at Eves beach. The committee has also suggested various development activities for Vizhinjam harbour, Mulloor and Pulinkudy.

sudheeshnairs

September 2nd, 2005, 11:24 AM

http://tinypic.com/bio6sg.jpg

Ajaypp

September 2nd, 2005, 01:55 PM

Hi all,
When you look out across Trivandrum city, the only things other than highrises which stick out above the lush, green canopy are TV, radio and cellphone masts. The massive concrete and steel mast of the Doordarshan Kendra and two towering steel masts of AIR (one at Manvila and the other at Vazhuthacaud) dominate the cityscape in sheer height, but far more numerous are the masts of the city's six mobile phone operators - Airtel, BPL Mobile (now Hutch-Essar), BSNL, Idea, Reliance and Tata Indicom. Scores of mobile masts dot the city, which is not surprising since Trivandrum has the highest mobile-teledensity in India!!! It has always been a trailblazer in terms of communication technology - the first telephone exchange, first digital exchange, first fully digital district and so on being some of its milestones. It is also leading the way in terms of broadband connectivity, Wi-Fi, mobile internet and more - not surprising for a city which is the IT hub of Kerala and hosts such institutions as CDAC, IITM-K and VSSC. Stay tuned for more! :)

sudheeshnairs

September 2nd, 2005, 01:59 PM

Kerala to get test centre for medical devices
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 1, 2005

The country's first national test centre for medical devices is to come up in the Kerala State capital.

The test centre, being funded by the central government, is to be set up at the premier Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST).

The foundation stone laying ceremony for the centre is expected to be held Friday.

"Kapil Sibal, minister of state for science and technology and ocean development is expected here Friday" (for the stone-laying ceremony)," said K. Mohandas, director SCTIMST.

However, there is speculation that the ceremony might not take place on account of the model code of conduct coming into effect with the local bodies poll fixed for later this month.

"An 180,000-square feet building is to come up and we expect construction to be over next year. The test centre would begin functioning after that," Mohandas told.

The test centre would be a major step towards attaining self sufficiency in medical device testing and cater to the larger volume needs of the Indian medical device industry to attain global competence.

"A major chunk of the money would go for the test centre. We are also setting up a tissue and stem cell engineering centre and a patent library," added Mohandas.

Currently the testing of imported or domestic medical equipment does not take place in the country because it is not mandatory.

SCTIMST, set up under an act of parliament, is to get a staggering assistance of close to Rs.1 billion for its development activities from the centre.

The institute is one among the 14 institutes of national importance and one among the three nationally recognised medical institutions alongside New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Chandigarh's Post Graduate Institute for Medicine and Research.

Mohandas recently became the first medical doctor to be elected president of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

He said the mechanical heart valve founded by them in the mid 1980s is now much sought after and presently research is in the final stages in the development of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible heart valve.

Emphasizing the good work done by the institute, Mohandas said that they have till now registered 98 patents of which 33 have been exploited.

sudheeshnairs

September 2nd, 2005, 02:08 PM

http://tinypic.com/birpde.jpg

Ajaypp

September 2nd, 2005, 02:28 PM

This is a 7.5 acre plot of land right next to Technopark, which is being cut out of a hillside and levelled for development into an IT campus. The work is now complete and we are awaiting start of construction. Stay tuned for updates. :)

http://tinypic.com/birszo.jpg

We can see the city spread out in the background, with dozens of high rises peeking out from the green cover. The familiar outline of the Co-Bank Towers is visible in direct line with the mountain in the background.

Hopefully, we will also get some pix of the Technopark Phase II site this weekend. The landfilling work has been completed! Hopefully, the fleet of earthmovers will still be on site making the final touches to the massive 86 acre site. Lol, I guess people would prefer pix of equipment at work than an empty site or pix of empty paddy fields. :cheers:

Sobha Developers will be commencing civil work on the massive Infosys campus as soon as the formal site handover is done in the next few days. So, yet another massive development project in Trivandrum moves into the concrete pour phase.In fact, the second private IT campus in Kerala after the TCS campus right next door. Hope to have pix in the next few weeks.:)

Ajay

sudheeshnairs

September 3rd, 2005, 07:53 AM

The clock tower of Mahatma Gandhi College is seen at the farther end

Can you believe that a 24 metre wide road passes infront of that White building?

The building u/c is on the other side of the road, the Kesavadasapuram-Pattom stretch..

http://tinypic.com/bjg0p3.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 3rd, 2005, 08:02 AM

Japan for investment in IT

Staff Reporter

It is interested in business ties, education and tourism also

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ": India is an emerging global power and investors from Japan are eager to invest in Information Technology and manufacturing sectors in the country," according to Consular General of Japan Yoshiaki Kodaki.

Mr. Kodaki was in the city in connection with the inauguration of the Japan Cultural and Information Centre being set up under the Thiruvananthapuram sub-centre of the Japan-based Alumini Society of Association for Overseas Technical Scholarships.

Major fund recipient

Interacting with mediapersons after calling on Governor R.L. Bhatia on Friday, the Consular General said Japan was amazed over the growth of the Indian economy and the younger generation in his country was "interested" in India.

"India is the major recipient of funds from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and this shows the faith of the JBIC in the country," he said.

Mr. Kodaki said business cooperation, education and tourism were the other areas in which Japanese investors have evinced interest.

He said there was lack of information in his country about India and the investment opportunities here.

He hoped that the information gap between the two countries would be bridged in the coming days.

2007 as Cultural Year

The Consular General said a proposal to observe 2007 as Indo-Japan Cultural Year was under the active consideration of the two Governments. A decision in this regard would be taken soon, he said.

S. Ratnakumar, president of the Thiruvananthapuram sub-centre of Alumini Society of AOTS, said a proposal to set up a Japanese village in the city to promote mutual friendly and cultural relations between the two countries was under active consideration.

The plan was to seek the support of Japan and a proposal in this regard would be submitted to Mr. Kodaki.

"A library has also been set up on the premises of the centre at Eenchakkal for the members and the public. The centre has decided to conduct a four-month short-term course in Japanese language at the Institute of Japanese Studies set up under the centre. The classes will be from 5.45 p.m. to 8 p.m. on two days a week," he added

sudheeshnairs

September 3rd, 2005, 09:34 AM

This work is being done by Skyline Foundations..

The structure is almost complete, coming up at Thycaud..

KCA is also contemplating an exclusive cricket stadium in 15 acres in Trivandrum..

http://tinypic.com/bjik2e.jpg

Luckystreak

September 3rd, 2005, 11:05 AM

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/2131/trivandrum1ps.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 3rd, 2005, 12:26 PM

Hi Lucky streak, Please find more clear photos of the same area...

It is the Aakkulam bridge, NH bypass, dividing the Veli & Aakkulam Tourist villages. This would be the proposed IT corridor. Infosys campus is about 1 km from this bridge.

http://tinypic.com/dbia00.jpg

And you have earlier seen this speed boat. Shot from the bridge.

http://img334.imageshack.us/img334/7917/dscn61920tw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This view is further close to Airport. Agricultural World Market is the structure seen directly below. About 10 kms away from City centre.

You can also see KIMS, Southern Air Command campus etc, at a distance.

http://tinypic.com/dbibdd.jpg

adidas

September 3rd, 2005, 12:49 PM

nice pics sudheesh

sudheeshnairs

September 3rd, 2005, 01:55 PM

http://tinypic.com/dbjyis.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 3rd, 2005, 01:58 PM

http://tinypic.com/dbjzip.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 3rd, 2005, 02:31 PM

Trivandrum has relatively very less slum population and the least in Kerala.As per estimates only about some 25000 people live in slum or shanty structures..

This area is known as 'Chengal choola', (meaning brick kiln) here the bricks were made for the Govt Secretariate building about a century ago.

The workers happened to settle down there itself making it a slum. Later Govt constructed old fashioned two/three storeyed concrete flats for them demolishing the shanty structures.
The sloping roof buildings you see are the new low cost dwelling units made by Corporation for these slum people. To the left and right of it you can see the terrace of old flats..

http://tinypic.com/dbk28g.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 3rd, 2005, 02:42 PM

http://tinypic.com/dbl302.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 3rd, 2005, 02:45 PM

http://tinypic.com/dbl3m9.jpg

Ajaypp

September 3rd, 2005, 07:21 PM

Hi all,
Cudn't got to Tvm this weekend :(, but thot I wud post a few pix I took with my mobile last time. Surprisingly good quality, the phone's cam is rated at 1.3 Megapixels, but still not match for the high-resolution pix posted in this forum. However, some of the images are shot from an aircraft and it's difficult to use a proper cam during landing and takeoff. Will try to clean up these images with Photoshop later, please bear with me. :)

Before we start off with aerials, here a few pix of the model of the upcoming new International Terminal of Trivandrum International Airport. The PM, Dr. Manmohan Singh announced today, while visiting Trivandrum, that the construction of the terminal will commence shortly. :)

http://tinypic.com/dbrrtj.jpg

The structure looks awesome, miles ahead of the brick-and-mortar terminals found elsewhere, even those of the upcoming airports in Hyderabad and Bangalore! not to mention smaller airports like the other two in Kerala.

You see facilities for handling three aircraft, with sophisticated aerobridges. More aircraft will be handled on the apron.This is just Phase I, built on 27 acres of land. Phase II is being planned on a further 136 acres of land, which is being accquired and will have three times the capacity of Phase I. The construction of the terminal building is modulor and can be easily expanded.

Ajaypp

September 3rd, 2005, 07:27 PM

http://tinypic.com/dbs0lg.jpg

Another view, with a closer view of the futuristic steel-and-glass building. The existing terminal will be converted into the domestic operations terminal. Two aerobridges are being added to boost capacity. :)

Ajaypp

September 3rd, 2005, 07:37 PM

http://tinypic.com/dbs479.jpg

This is a view of the main runway of the Trivandrum International Airport. This was the first Jumbo capable runway in Kerala. It became capable of handling Boeing 747s when other airports in the state could hardly handle much smaller aircraft. Air India operates a 747 aircraft from Trivandrum, whereas it has proven uneconomical from rival airports.

As the Headquarters of the Southern Air Command, Trivandrum airport also hosts combat aircraft like the Mig-21, Mig-29, An-32, Il-76 and Mil Mi-8 regularly. It will also be one of the bases of India's upcoming Strategic Nuclear Command, the combined services force which operates the country's nuclear weapons. Trivandrum also has one of the most powerful radars in South India, which the Air Force uses to monitor the oceans. It was also the first airport in the country to be fitted with a sophisticated Raytheon secondary surveillance radar. Few airports possess this facility even now.

Ajaypp

September 3rd, 2005, 07:49 PM

Here we see a SriLankan airlines Airbus A-340 waiting on the tarmac at the airport. This giant aircraft flies the daily Trivandrum-Colombo service. As I mentioned Trivandrum airport has been capable of handling Boeing 747s for many years. Its wide-body aircraft bay is also capable of handling other large aircraft like the Boeing 777, Airbus A 340 and A 380. So the arrival of an A 340 or B 747 is no cause for fuss. Charter flights often use A 310 or A 340 aircraft, as well as large russian-made Ilyushin and Antonov aircraft. With charter flights all set to explode in numbers (according to Sudheesh's article) we can look forward to more aircraft types like the B 777. :)

http://tinypic.com/dbs8k6.jpg

Ajaypp

September 3rd, 2005, 07:56 PM

The airport was one of the first in the country to be equipped with fuel hydrants. A network of pipes under the apron supplies jet fuel, through hydrants. A small pump truck transfers the fuel into the aircraft. This avoids the use of big, clumsy fuel tankers found in most airports. However, bowsers are also available. Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum both operate refuelling services at TIA. A high-mast light's base is also visible beyond the wing of the A 320 aircraft I was in. :)

http://tinypic.com/dbsgab.jpg

Ajaypp

September 3rd, 2005, 08:19 PM

As the aircraft lifts off the runway, one gets a good view of the city, looking from west towards the east. In the background, we can see the dozens of highrises of the central city area poking out from the green cover. Since the aircraft has only climbed a couple of hundred feet, we can see only about a ten kilometer wide frame of the skyline - the city's densest part. More highrises are spread across the 200 sq.km sprawl of the city. :)

In the foreground, we can see the complex of grey sheds which are part of the old Trivandrum Rubber Factory. It has now been decommissioned as the land has been handed over for cityside development of the airport, including the new International Terminal. The compound on the left-hand side, with the red earth and sheds, is the labour accomodation camp for Punj Lloyd Ltd. which is executing the Capital City Road Development Project. In fact, the Airport - Palayam corridor is the first to be taken up by PLL and is about to be completed. You can see a stretch of the road to the right of the PLL compound. A road leads from there to the hangar of the Trivandrum Flying Club, the only one in Kerala and one of the few in India.

http://tinypic.com/dbsjm8.jpg

Rob44

September 3rd, 2005, 08:26 PM

Wow, you really need to get your facts straight. I can tell you obviously don’t like Cochin very much from reading your posts, but you cant go around writing things that a totally false. Were did you find that Air India 747 service from Cochin and other in the state are uneconomical. You obviously don’t know that there is no scheduled 747 service from Trivandrum. Trivandrum was the first airport in Kerala, obviously because it was the capital, but it defiantly isn’t the busiest. It’s a fact that Cochin Airport has one of the longest runways in India. Trivandrum is defiantly not 380 ready like you say, not just the bays, but also the taxiways have to be increased to handle the plane. Trivandrum has always been 747 ready, but is rarely been served by the plane. Air India 747-200 were doing scheduled services to the gulf from your “smaller two airports in Kerala” before Trivandrum. Only two years ago, when Tirandrium airport officials were mad that Air India’s jumbos were flying to other airports in the state did Air India decide to use the 747 to Trivandrum during Onam season to the gulf. The Air India 747 does not operate to Trivandrum, and the only city they do serve in the state is Cochin. They are used on Mumbai- Cochin, and Cochin-Jeddah. Why are you so obsessed with comparing every thing in Trivandrum to Cochin?

Also I think Sri Lanka serves Trivandrum 12 times a week not just daily.

Ajaypp

September 3rd, 2005, 08:39 PM

In this shot taken after the aircraft has ascended further, we can see the major part of the city sprawled out below. The sight of so many high-rises arising from a dense canopy is unique. A perfect synergy of natural beauty and urban development :)

The twin lines of the railway are visible carving their way through the trees. Btw, the electrification of the Kottayam-Trivandrum section is almost through. It has been a long standing demand since Trivandrum Central is second only to Chennai in importance and traffic in the Southern Railway, handling upto 55 trains a day!

http://tinypic.com/dbtjyf.jpg

Ajaypp

September 3rd, 2005, 09:00 PM

@ Rob - thanks for pointing out that Srilankan Airlines operates 12 flights a week to Trivandrum :)

The widebody aircraft bay at Trivandrum is capable of handling the A-380 as well. The taxiways capable of handling the 747 are also capable of handling the A-380 since both planes exert similar ground pressure due to the larger contact area of the heavier A-380's landing gear. Anyways, I don't understand why there is so much fuss being made over the A-380, which will be not being making flights to India before 2008, by which time all the major airports will have upgraded to accomodate it.

Since frequent comparisons are drawn skewed in favour of Cochin International Airport, I would like to set the record straight. The runway lengths of both airports are in the 3400 m range (according to the AAI website) The AAI website shows that the Plane Load Factor and Passenger Load Factor at Trivandrum airport are much higher than that at CIAL. These figures are the primary indicator of demand at the airport. By the way, as I mentioned, TIA was the first jumbo-capable airport in Kerala, so it is quite unlikely 747s were managing sneak landings elsewhere before. It is quite inexplicable while the number of 747 services from Trivandrum is not stepped up when one considers that 150,000 people annualy are forced to fly from CIAL due to the artificial lack of flights at Tvm. In this festival season upto 20,000 people were stranded when Air India refused to increase capacity from Trivandrum despite the clear existing demand.

Fortunately, private airlines are queueing up to cater to the extra demand. Emirates has asked to be allowed to service 2000 seats weekly with immediate effect. Despite sluggish progress by the state government on this matter, the PM announced today that permission would be granted immediately to Emirates, Saudi Air and Malaysian Airlines. Emirates will be operating wide-body aircraft in this sector. They aim to provide international connectivity to the US and Europe via Dubai to cater to the needs of the exploding IT sector in Trivandrum. :)

rajeshdxb

September 3rd, 2005, 09:19 PM

Ajay:
Thanks for the good news ! So Emirates is going to fly to Trivandrum soon !

Regards

Rajesh

sudheeshnairs

September 3rd, 2005, 09:49 PM

Hi Rajesh,

The application of Emirates is pending with the Ministry of Civil Aviation since more than 2 years. The Airlines who have applied and waiting for approval are

1) Emirates.
2) Etihad Airways
3) Saudia
4) Malaysian Airlines.

I am a person who is in touch with these matters and we have been constantly pressurising the Govts to act. I have copies of the letters written by Emirates to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Today there was a meeting of some key people from the business community in Trivandrum with the PM and he has assured that he would initiate appropriate action.

The tender of the construction of the new terminal of Airport is now with the PIB for approval. There is less followup of State Govt in this regard while the Tamilnadu Govt has got the approval for the new terminal of Chennai Airport, only because of Sri. Dayanidhi Maran, as quoted by dailies. Today this issue was also raised before the PM.

If you check the AAI records, you will see that TVM has the highest Plane Load Factor and Passenger Load Factor. Air india which has put money for someother airport is not augmenting but cancelling flights while many are in the queue for tickets. You may know that 'Mathurbhumi' recenlty carried a serial of news in which it made clear that about 1.5 lakh people from Trivandrum had to go to some other airport to catch flights.

Foot note: Today Economic Times has carried news that AirOne would be stationing two of its inaugural flights with base at Bangalore and the other at either Chennai or Trivandrum.

Ajaypp

September 3rd, 2005, 10:17 PM

@ Rajesh - Yes, Emirates will be operating here soon. What's shocking is that their request was made several months ago, but the Govt: has delibrately gone slow on this. This is what I find downright outrageous, a process which should have taken mere weeks is being soft-pedalled to take months. I have seen the concerned documents myself, so I know it is the truth. And all this when thousands of Malayalis were threatened with or actually lost jobs, coz' AI didn't provide adequate flights to meet the demand from Trivandrum.

Now back to pix! :cheers:

Here we see the NH Bypass/IT Corridor which is undergoing hectic development as Technopark - the State's IT hub - expands decisively on one end and Kovalam - Kerala's top tourist destination - xplodes at the other. In addition to Technopark's Second and Third Phase expansion, other projects along this stretch include the Aakulam Int'l Convention Centre, L&T IT park, Kochuveli satellite terminal, Eanchakkal bus terminal and so on.

Again, in the back ground we can see the high rises of the central city area. The cluster of high rises towards the right of the frame are those along the MG Road. :)

URL=http://imageshack.us]http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9168/image196pu.jpg[/URL]

Ajaypp

September 3rd, 2005, 10:35 PM

@ Sudheesh - Two years?!!! That's even worse buddy. I am hoping the PM has more sense! :)

Here the aircraft is overflying Aakulam. Immediately below the wing tip, the bulk of the 11 story Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences - one of the top hospitals in the state - is visible, in its picturesque locale right next to a channel which leads into the Aakulam Lake.

Right next to it (the large white area) is the operating base of Punj Lloyd. This is where PLL's huge fleet of equipment is based along with their crusher, concrete batching plant and asphalt plant. The huge asphalt plant is visible in the centre of the area.

The cluster of highrises visible behind the aircraft's wingtip are in the Kesavadasapuram-Pattom-Plamoodu area. The main bulk of the city is not visible in this pic and extends off to the right of the frame.

http://tinypic.com/dc3sxx.jpg

Ajaypp

September 3rd, 2005, 11:15 PM

This is about as close as I could get to a city panorama. Closest to the camera...below the aircraft's wingtip, we see the Medical College campus. The twin grounds that are visible are inside the campus. The (light coloured) highrises right next to the grounds belong to the Regional Cancer Centre - one of the most advanced oncology research and treatment centres in India. Next to it (towards its left) is the Sree Chitra Institute of Medical Science and Technology. It is one of the top centres of medical research in the country and is internationally reputed. This is its Medical College campus, there is a seperate campus at Poojapura where a Rs 100 crore new centre is underway.

The other nearby buildings constitute the sprawling Medical College Hospital. The Trivandrum Medical College is the oldest in the State, and the biggest as well.

The rest of the city stretches out beyond, sprawling over atleast 100 sq.km captured in this frame. As we have seen so many times before, only highrises can be seen above the canopy. This is a fact perhaps unique to Trivandrum among cities of population over 1 million in India and perhaps the world. In fact, if this green cover was stripped away, the houses, roads and building beneath would look as densely packed as any other major city. Thank god it's not so! :)

http://tinypic.com/dc4fa8.jpg :runaway:

Ajaypp

September 3rd, 2005, 11:32 PM

http://tinypic.com/dc5174.jpg

anant_padmanabhan

September 4th, 2005, 05:47 AM

anant_padmanabhan

September 4th, 2005, 06:10 AM

Its terrible that these airline companies were made to wait for the sake of promoting other
airports in the state. Good to hear that we have assurance from the Prime Minister on this matter. With the Vizhinjam Port set to shape up, It will be impossible for major airline companies to avoid TIA.

Anantha

Hi Rajesh,

The application of Emirates is pending with the Ministry of Civil Aviation since more than 2 years. The Airlines who have applied and waiting for approval are

1) Emirates.
2) Etihad Airways
3) Saudia
4) Malaysian Airlines.

I am a person who is in touch with these matters and we have been constantly pressurising the Govts to act. I have copies of the letters written by Emirates to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Today there was a meeting of some key people from the business community in Trivandrum with the PM and he has assured that he would initiate appropriate action.

The tender of the construction of the new terminal of Airport is now with the PIB for approval. There is less followup of State Govt in this regard while the Tamilnadu Govt has got the approval for the new terminal of Chennai Airport, only because of Sri. Dayanidhi Maran, as quoted by dailies. Today this issue was also raised before the PM.

If you check the AAI records, you will see that TVM has the highest Plane Load Factor and Passenger Load Factor. Air india which has put money for someother airport is not augmenting but cancelling flights while many are in the queue for tickets. You may know that 'Mathurbhumi' recenlty carried a serial of news in which it made clear that about 1.5 lakh people from Trivandrum had to go to some other airport to catch flights.

Foot note: Today Economic Times has carried news that AirOne would be stationing two of its inaugural flights with base at Bangalore and the other at either Chennai or Trivandrum.

Ajaypp

September 4th, 2005, 09:10 AM

Some more good news.....:)

AI plans repair base in city

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

Base would take care of the maintenance of 737-800

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Air-India has decided to set up the maintenance base for 737-800 aircraft in 6.07 hectares of land in the state capital at an estimated cost of Rs.70 crores."We have decided to set up maintenance base in Thiruvananthapuram and negotiations have started with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for getting the required land on lease," a top official of the AI headquarters in Mumbai told The Hindu .

The move to shift the proposed base to Kochi had come in for opposition from several quarters. The base is being set up to take care of the maintenance of 737-800 aircraft in the fleet of national carrier in the coming months. According to the official, the decision to set up the base in the vicinity of Thiruvananthapuram international airport had been taken as Mumbai, the present maintenance base of AI, is already over-saturated. With four more 737-800 aircraft joining the fleet between February and June 2006, AI expects more aircraft of the same series to turn around from Thiruvananthapuram international airport.

The 737-800, with a capacity of 181 economy seats, is deployed for the operations of Air-India Express, the no-frills airline of AI, to the Gulf sector. "This also adds to the immediate need to set up the base to take care of the periodic maintenance of the aircraft in the capital itself," he added. The Government has already informed AI that it would provide land for setting up the maintenance base in the capital. Air India Engineering Services, a subsidiary of Air India, will manage the base.

:cheers:

The Boeing 737 - 800/900 is used by Air India Express, Alliance Air, Jet Airways and SpiceJet. All these airlines are in dire need for a specialised maintanence facility within India and this hangar will provide that. Boeing has in fact promised technical support to such a facility. Air India Express will probably set up its operating base in TIA, as more of its eighteen 737-800s join for service. This hangar could also cater to other Boeing aircraft like the 747, 767, 777 and 787 once it is expanded in the coming years. :)

sudheeshnairs

September 5th, 2005, 06:20 AM

http://img320.imageshack.us/img320/2738/dscn64392ub.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

sudheeshnairs

September 5th, 2005, 06:25 AM

This is the rear side view.

http://img320.imageshack.us/img320/4194/dscn64304jq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

sudheeshnairs

September 5th, 2005, 06:32 AM

You can see the sea also in the background.

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/8316/picture85uj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

sudheeshnairs

September 5th, 2005, 09:07 AM

During monsoon, the sea advances and eats up most of the beach..

This walkway is bordering the present beach road.

Sankhumukhom area is going to have a major facelift by realigning the existing road and setting up a 12 acre Park..

http://tinypic.com/ddommq.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 5th, 2005, 10:00 AM

Today's New Indian Express carries this news in front page " Star Hotels twinkle in brimful in Kerala".

Says " A massive 450 room 5 star property of the Taj Group is nearing completion in the Capital City'. So I think it is finally, out, it is a 'TAJ'. Wow, great!

Also 'The recently launched Taj Green Cove resort has already hosted more than 20 international conferences in a span of mere months"

It also says US based Hyatt International Hotels is planning to start a 5 star Hotel.

Ajay, myself and some other friends visited this construction site yesterday

This is a 2B+G+8 (11 floor) building..

View from the road.

http://tinypic.com/b7guo1.jpg

Luckystreak

September 5th, 2005, 11:50 AM

Aakulam

http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/570/aakulam9df.jpg

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/5408/345432343dfppyhfs3zv.jpg

Aakulam boat club

http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/7949/aakulamboatclub5hn.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 5th, 2005, 12:49 PM

Hi Luckystreak,

Nice Aakulam pics. BTW, how you manage these photos.. :)

The second photo posted by you is not Aakkulam, it is Veli. You can see the Sea as well as Lake and the sand bar between them. Infact Akkulam and Veli are two different points of the same waterbody, Veli is near the estuary and Aakkulam farther away, at the land's end.

See a shot from the bridge, I have marked with red arrow the area you have shown as Aakkulam boat club.

http://tinypic.com/de0g3c.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 5th, 2005, 01:03 PM

http://tinypic.com/de17xg.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 5th, 2005, 01:15 PM

http://tinypic.com/de1bww.jpg

sumesh

September 5th, 2005, 08:49 PM

g8 pics of akulam and veli buddy...happy to hear the headquarters of kerala cricket association is coming in thycaud,trivandrum...it is a pleasant news that a cricket stadium is comin here...trivandrum badly needs a stadium...trivandrum is havin a lot of people who loves the game and will be a rare capital in india which doesn't have a cricket stadium for even the first-class cricket..our beloved politicians are not willing to establish a stadium here...Now i hope we can share matches with kaloor stadium in kochi.

Ajaypp

September 5th, 2005, 10:16 PM

@ Sudheesh & Luckystreak - Great pix mates! :) Btw, I have heard that several firms have submitted bids for the prestigious Aakulam International Convention Centre, which will be one of the biggest integrated facilities of its kind in India, including a Convention Centre, hotel, commercial complex and apartment complex. After the ultra-modern, 1000 seater Rajiv Gandhi International Convention Centre at the Leela, Kovalam Beach, this will be the second high-capacity convention centre in Trivandrum.

Meanwhile, work is underway on the upgradation of the historic Tagore Theatre to a state-of-the-art cultural complex and convention centre. When finished in a few months' time it will have two halls of 800 and 200 capacity. The work is being executed by M/S Condor Constructions, Dubai.

All this activity is not surprising considering the city's immense potential in the Meetings Incentives Conferences Exhibitions (MICE) arena. With world-class convention facilities, six 5-star hotels in and around the city and the state's top tourist hot-spot right next door, Trivandrum's position is unrivalled in Kerala and perhaps India. Wow, nice to hear the Taj Green Cove's already hosted 20 conferences! :) I am sure the Leela will catch up soon! The expansion of Technopark at a double-quick speed will help to fuel this expanding business.

Ajaypp

September 6th, 2005, 06:41 AM

Due to the volume of cargo handled from Trivandrum Airport - fourth or fifth highest in India - Air India has given permission for private air cargo operators to commence operations from TIA. Falcon Air Cargo will start operating exclusive freighter operations in the coming weeks. Trivandrum is the hub of exports to the Gulf from Kerala and had one of the first ISO 9002 certified cargo terminals in India. Foreign airlines also move a significant volume of cargo from here and Kochi. :)

We also have some Plane and Passenger Load Factor Data for Indian airports from the AAI site. TIA with a PLF of about 80-85% continues to be well ahead of other airports in the State. :) PLF is the best indicator of the demand-supply situation in a route/airport. Talking about "economics and emotions..." Lol! :)

Also, the Indian Air Force is expanding its station in Trivandrum, which is the headquarters of the Southern Air Command. It already has extensive support and radar facilities here. Perhaps with the coming of so many strategic projects in Trivandrum and Kochi, it would be prudent to step up air security here. Also, Trivandrum is slated to be one of the bases of the Strategic Nuclear Command. :runaway:

Stay tuned!!!

sudheeshnairs

September 6th, 2005, 07:46 AM

Hi Ajay,

You are right, International Convention Center Complex (ICCC) at Akkulam is on its way. Infact I had met the representative of one of the bidders, a big chain in India, headquartered at Mumbai yesterday. :) Their team is now in town..

I am having the hard copy of the project information brief prepared by IL &FS Infrastructure Development Corporation. Sadly, I don't have the soft copy otherwise I could have posted the on site photographs as well as the layout.

We will have a closer look at the project....

International Convention Center Complex (ICCC), Akkulam, Trivandrum

Strategic Advisors

IL & FS, are the strategic advisors in infrastructure Project development, structuring and bid process management.

Project Assessment studies:
The Project assessment studies comprising Demand & Market Assessment, Site Analysis & Engineering Surveys, Planning & configuration and Financial viability have been completed.

M/s Lea Associates South Asia Ltd have conducted the Site Analysis and Topographic surveys.

M/s Mahajan & Aibara did the Market Assessment & Feasibility Studies.

Scope of Works:
The selected operator is required to undertake design, finance, construction, operation and maintenance of the ICCC Convention facilties, support services and commercial area and facilities therein for concession period of 33 years.

Private Sector developer:
Design, Development, Finance, Build, Operate, Maintain, Manage..

Government:
Land, Facilitation, Off-site Infrastructure, other support.

Location:
The ICCC site is measuring about 46 acres, located on the periphery of Veli Akkulam Lake.

Locational Advantage:

* Tranquil & picturesque sarroundings.
* Water frontage
* Opportunity for water based recreation activities
* Vicinity to Airport & NH47 bypass
* Close to key leisure & tourist destinations like Kovalam & Veli
* Proximity ot Technopark.

The Project

The ICCC would comprise of:

* Convention Conference & Exhibition Facilities (CC &E) with a plenary hall, divisible exhibition facilities and meeting rooms.
* Hotel Complex/Resort.
* Leisure facilities such as Ayurvedic Spa, Water sports and boating
* Retail/Entertainment Space with life style shopping, food courts etc.

CC & E Facility: The CC&E facility would broadly include the Plenary Hall (capacity of 1500), HiTech Hall (capacity of 500), meeting rooms, exhibition space. The HiTech hall would comprise of state-of the-art equipments for conferencing and retractable seating. These facilties would be mutlipurpose and divisible and will be supported with speciality areas such as a media, business and medical center.In addition to these, there would be food and beverage areas such as coffee shops, cafetaria's and food courts to promote the facility.

The Hotel/Resort: It would be a 165 room, five star facility that would include recreational facilties such as an Ayurveda Spa and water sports..

Retail/Entertainment Space: The present plan proposes 5000 square meters of retail area. This area could house a key anchor client or alternately, it could comprise of several individual retail stores.

Project Cost:

Initial investment of about Rs. 140 crores including construction costs, interest during construction, financing overheads, price contingencies etc.

Stay tuned for more details soon... :)

sudheeshnairs

September 6th, 2005, 07:54 AM

http://tinypic.com/dev7f5.jpg

Ajaypp

September 6th, 2005, 09:37 AM

@ Sudheesh, thanks for all that info. U always have the details! :)

Here is a satellite image of the area where the ICCC is coming up:

http://tinypic.com/dewf7r.jpg

The area outlined in Red is the approximate location of the Aakulam International Convention Centre Complex (AICCC) as well as its road linkage to the IT Corridor.

Marked in Yellow is the current 180 acre campus of Technopark. This already has 1.6 million sft of builtup space, with another 1 million sft under construction. Of this the 350,000 sft TCS Peepul Park will be completed by end of 2005 and the 600,000 sft Thejaswini MTF by August 2006. Additionally a 250,000 sft IBS centre and a 5000 seater (about 500,000 sft) TCS Delivery Centre are also under implementation. The construction of the TCS centre will start immediately on completion of Peepul Park. No empty paddy fields here...all under construction or in the site preparation phase. :)

Marked in Green is the 86 acres of Technopark Phase II, where landfilling has been completed recently in record time! 50 acres of this land will be form the mammoth campus of Infosys, with a capacity of 12,000 personnel by 2007-08! The remaining 36 acres are reserved for the new campus of local giant US Technology. However, we hear that some Indian IT majors are negotiating with GoK and UST to get some of this land for their own delivery centres. Look at the demand for land in Trivandrum! :)

Finally, marked in Blue is the 100 acre plot currently being accquired for Technopark Phase III. L&T has asked for 35 acres of this plot to start their own IT park while 15 acres is being given to the Asian School of Business. The remaining land has already found many takers among Indian and MNC majors all of whom are keen to set up shop here!

The ICCC's location is ideal to cater to all these IT majors as well as to tap the attractiveness of Kovalam-Poovar. In addition to this there are a number of super-specialty hospitals in the vicinity as well as upcoming water theme park, promoted by the SFC (Southern Fun City) group. Looks exciting!!! Stay tuned for more action! :)

sudheeshnairs

September 6th, 2005, 10:06 AM

Hi Ajay, let me add little more... :)

The road link from the NH bypass, passing through the ICCC site would be developed in to a Four Lane one. The acquisition is complete and marked. This road is one of the bypass links to the City. It joins the city at Ulloor, passing through the Southern Air Command Head Quarters area.

This site is within 1 km from the Bypass. There are other developments happening in the vicinity. 'National Institute of Speech & Hearing' (NISH)'s campus is getting in the adjacent plot. I have been there about 6 months back and construction was going on.

A Township of the biggest IT employer now in Kerala, US Technology is getting shape there, next to the NISH campus in 17 Acres..I have seen their land also..It is being developed by the Housing Society of US Technology employees..

Next time we can get more pictures of the area. We can be sure that within two years, the locality would be looking different. Hope that the prisitine & picturesque settings of Akkulam is not disturbed heavily... :)

chandrurajan

September 6th, 2005, 03:14 PM

Neyyar Dam..................

Neyyar in Kerala's capital city of Trivandrum is more known for the Neyyar Dam, which is a popular picnic sport with a sparkling, blue lake. This was established in 1958

NEYYAR DAM

http://tinypic.com/df9klz.jpg

Vistors to the dam site are so charmed by the lake that a boat cruise on the lake is inevitable. The other more interesting fact about the place, however, is that has some of the rarest medicinal herbs in the state.

NEYYAR DAM UPPER LEVEL

http://tinypic.com/dfa6n9.jpg

VIEW OF AQUA DUCTS FROM DAM

http://tinypic.com/dfa9lz.jpg

Nearby is the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary of which the dam is a part. The forests are home for elephants, wild buffaloes, wild boar, porcupines, tigers and a variety of snakes. A crocodile breeding centre and a lion safari park are also located close to the dam.
There is a Lion Safari Park spanning an area of four hectares and a Crocodile Farm established in 1977. Boats can be hired to explore the shores of the sanctuary.

http://tinypic.com/dfaded.jpg

Agasthyakoodam is the second highest peak in Kerala, at a height of 1890mts above sea level. This is very near to Neyyar Dam.

http://tinypic.com/dfam8n.jpg

anant_padmanabhan

September 6th, 2005, 05:05 PM

Good pics chandru

Anantha

rajeshdxb

September 6th, 2005, 07:25 PM

A few more...

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/6176/dsc004867be.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6127/dsc004871fj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6532/dsc004950gr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3334/dsc004977nl.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/8274/dsc005055wr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4312/dsc005062em.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/4673/dsc005176nu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I hope the chinese are not offended by the above picture, it seems like we have annexed much of china according to the map. :)

regards

Rajesh

tonymathew

September 6th, 2005, 08:03 PM

talking about trivandrum i flew out of there just 3 days.

sudheeshnairs

September 6th, 2005, 08:33 PM

Welcome Chandrurajan to SSC....nice pictures.. :)

Rajesh, the shot of the whole length of the Dam and the Park below is awesome.. :)

Apart from Lion Safari park and Crocodile Park, there is a Deer Park also..

BTW, KTDC has a guest house 'Agasthyahouse' and a Beer Parlour at Neyyardam..

The significance of the Neyyar Dam, Wildlife Sanctuary, Lion Safari Park, Crocodile Park etc are its proximity to the City. Geographically as Kerala tapers down towards the south, the Western Ghats come very near to the shore..It is just 30 km from City. Some months back, one rainy sunday morning I went there, visited the Lion Safari Park, Crocodile Park and Deer Park and returned to my house by lunch time, just about 25kms away. So for a Trivandrumite, having a weekend safari is just like having a pizza.. :cheers:

I think we have not fully utilized the potentials of the region. Sometime back it was heard about some proposal to have a Ropeway here..Now I think one big aquarium is getting ready, not sure whether it has started operation or not..

Trivandrum is a unique place gifted by nature, with beaches, backwaters, dams, wildlife sancturies, hill stations etc. You name it and you have it, such is the diversity... :)

sudheeshnairs

September 7th, 2005, 06:27 AM

Skyline Capital One Apartments would be coming up here...Bhoomi Pooja was just over..

It is a premium apartment with the highest selling price for a Skyline Apartment in Kerala.

Will have an 'Infinity pool' at the tenth floor.

A Southern Investments apartment can be seen at the back.

http://tinypic.com/df97o7.jpg

And this is the perspective view.

http://tinypic.com/dfy24l.jpg

Ajaypp

September 7th, 2005, 07:16 AM

The Govt: of India has given the Kinfra Film and Video Park (KFVP), located near Technopark, the status of an Animation and Gaming SEZ. :) What's more, unlike supposed SEZs in other nearby towns which are nothing but vacant paddy fields still, this KINFRA park is well and truely functional.:)

As has been reported on the forum earlier, the KFVP is one of the most advanced animation and film production centres in India. It has become the hub for film post-production in Kerala and also serves many of the other regional film industries.

Prasad Labs - India's leading film processors - was one of the anchor clients. Other advanced post-production facilities, including one owned by Bharath Mohanlal, have since joined it. The Park also has a landscaped 2000 seater open air amphitheatre, a range of support facilities and a state-of-the art digital preview theatre. An Rs 11 crore Animation Zone - a ultra-modern, plug-and-play facility - is nearing completion.

KFVP is all set to tap business from all over the world, with a focus on south asia. In fact, animation companies based here and at nearby Technopark are already working with film makers all over the world, all the way to Hollywood. :) They are really doing India proud!!

SEZ status for Technopark is due to be declared soon, with the completion of 100 acre acquisition for Phase III. Guess it's about time that the State's IT hub, accounting for over 90% of Kerala's IT exports, gets the status it has long deserved. Btw, it's heartening to note that IT exports from here are all set to cross Rs 1000 crores in this financial year, according IT dept. officials. :) And it's growing at a massive rate. Just the 3000 seater phase I of Infosys, due to be completed in the latter half of 2006 will have exports worth Rs 750 crores! Stay tuned!!

Source: The Hindu, DoIT - GoK

sudheeshnairs

September 7th, 2005, 09:54 AM

View of the second floor children's play area of Palace Court Apartments.

http://tinypic.com/dg0aiq.jpg

And a floor level shot..

http://tinypic.com/dg0v9c.jpg

Ajaypp

September 7th, 2005, 09:59 AM

I had talked about some AAI data about Plane and Passenger Load Data about Trivandrum airport to highlight how contrary to economic sense, flights were being diverted to a neighbouring airport. Here is a brief summary of the data for the past few months:

Plane Load Factor
Month Trivandrum Kochi

Aug 2004 126 95
Sept 2004 122 93
Oct 2004 98 79
Nov 2004 102 84
Dec 2004 115 93
Jan 2005 116 88
Feb 2005 109 81
Mar 2005 121 84
Apr 2005 121 95

From this data, it becomes very obvious that the greater demand is at TIA eventhough more flights are still being blindly flown at other airports. Air India which holds a stake in the other airport chooses to divert flights there ignoring the demand from TIA. A recent press report quoted a figure of 150,000 people who are annually forced to go via CIAL instead of TIA due to the artificially created paucity of flights. Even more outrageous is the fact that thousands of Keralites could lose their jobs this season due to the lack of seats from TIA because AI blindly choses to ignore the truth.

What is worse is that private airlines are being blocked from starting operations at TIA. As Sudheesh mentioned earlier, Emirates had requested permission to operate 2000 seats a week from TIA two years ago, but the authorities have been dragging their feet as with other airlines like Etihad, Saudi Air and Malaysian Airlines. Wonder where economic sense is....must have been tossed out the window.

TIA also suffers from the fact that it is a GoI installation and consequently suffers from all the drawbacks of being a PSU, where profit is not the prime motive. It has be admitted, sadly, that it has been rather late in terms of self-promotion in comparison to others :( It has been left to the stakeholders - citizens, businesses and so on to do that job, which I am happy to say they are doing quite well.

So, fortunately things seem to be changing around. Air India has decided to shift its hangar here which will also result in more 737 aircraft being based here. The PM has agreed to clear the construction of the 220,000 sft new International Terminal immediately. Private airlines like Deccan, AirOne and so on are expected to commence operations in the coming weeks. In fact, Air One expects to station an aircraft here. The MD of Paramount Airways is in town today to discuss starting operations here. Let's hope sound decisions are taken from now on. :) Stay tuned.

Ajaypp

September 7th, 2005, 10:02 AM

Hope Sudheesh can fill us in more on this...... :)

sudheeshnairs

September 7th, 2005, 10:17 AM

The Apartment would be coming up in the area marked in red.

Piling is going on..

http://tinypic.com/dg0zm1.jpg

And the Apartment would be looking like this..

One more to the list of high rises in the area..

http://tinypic.com/dg1155.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 7th, 2005, 11:24 AM

Prasad Colour Labs, the leading Film processing companies in India with Chennai as base is having their facility in Film& Video Park. Most of the film processing works of Malayalam Films are done here apart from the Chitranjali Studio, that too at Trivandrum.

Hope to get the picturesque views of the Park shortly..

http://tinypic.com/dg1lhs.jpg

The Govt: of India has given the Kinfra Film and Video Park (KFVP), located near Technopark, the status of an Animation and Gaming SEZ. :) What's more, unlike supposed SEZs in other nearby towns which are nothing but vacant paddy fields still, this KINFRA park is well and truely functional.:)

As has been reported on the forum earlier, the KFVP is one of the most advanced animation and film production centres in India. It has become the hub for film post-production in Kerala and also serves many of the other regional film industries.

Prasad Labs - India's leading film processors - was one of the anchor clients. Other advanced post-production facilities, including one owned by Bharath Mohanlal, have since joined it. The Park also has a landscaped 2000 seater open air amphitheatre, a range of support facilities and a state-of-the art digital preview theatre. An Rs 11 crore Animation Zone - a ultra-modern, plug-and-play facility - is nearing completion.

KFVP is all set to tap business from all over the world, with a focus on south asia. In fact, animation companies based here and at nearby Technopark are already working with film makers all over the world, all the way to Hollywood. :) They are really doing India proud!!

SEZ status for Technopark is due to be declared soon, with the completion of 100 acre acquisition for Phase III. Guess it's about time that the State's IT hub, accounting for over 90% of Kerala's IT exports, gets the status it has long deserved. Btw, it's heartening to note that IT exports from here are all set to cross Rs 1000 crores in this financial year, according IT dept. officials. :) And it's growing at a massive rate. Just the 3000 seater phase I of Infosys, due to be completed in the latter half of 2006 will have exports worth Rs 750 crores! Stay tuned!!

Source: The Hindu, DoIT - GoK

Suncity

September 8th, 2005, 05:28 AM

PLEASE! Can we stop this Kochi vs Trivandrum issue?

sudheeshnairs

September 8th, 2005, 07:22 AM

Happy Land, a new water theme and amusement Park is ready in Trivandrum. It is Vembayam, about 16 km from the City Centre. It is spread over 15 acres.

The Managing Director Mr. Rajesh Aravind says that 'The wave pool here is the biggest in Kerala. The biggest mutli-water play system and uphill water ride will be the highlights of the Park.'

' We are planning the second phase of development, which will be spread across 5 acres with additional rides. The work is expected to start by 1st of October '05.' The Park was designed by T M Cyriac, who has created the ambience of a resort along with the water rides..

This is a 20 crore project, floated by seven NRIs.

Hope to go there soon and get some good photos..

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/9618/happyland16rb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3111/happyland29rw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8696/happyland32bk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7546/happyland44xj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8072/happyland59hy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6202/happyland67qm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

sudheeshnairs

September 8th, 2005, 08:13 AM

View from the Roof Top of Muthoot Plaza, a 5 star hotel of the Park Plaza chain.

http://tinypic.com/dgtr85.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 8th, 2005, 08:23 AM

Hi Sun, You had once asked for the view of South Park. Here it is...a side view..as seen from Muthoot Plaza :)

http://tinypic.com/dh2t0m.jpg

A long view of the Hotel, with its rear side.

http://tinypic.com/dh7gu9.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 8th, 2005, 08:53 AM

View from Muthoot Plaza.

To the left of SI building, Hotel 'Comfort Inn Grand' is seen. You might be able to read the hotel sign board.

Next to it is Hotel Pankaj, a three star hotel, its board is also vaguely seen.

The white building is a part of the Govt Secretariat complex.

The greens you see are in the Kerala Accountant General office (AG's Office) compound.

http://tinypic.com/dh2vy9.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 8th, 2005, 12:18 PM

A Four star Hotel, Maurya Rajadhani, is getting opened today..

Located close to Govt. Secretariat in the Statue-General Hospital Road.

This a Rajadhani group hotel which owns 'Indrapuri, a three star one at Vanross Jn.

Please bear with me for this black & white scanned photo(which appeared in newspapers today), Hope to get colour photos..

http://tinypic.com/dh5vub.jpg

Luckystreak

September 8th, 2005, 12:45 PM

Veli

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/3327/veli14wl.jpg

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/9236/veli25mp.jpg

Chuck

September 8th, 2005, 01:56 PM

Comfort Inn is not a part of Best Western. Comfort Inn is a brand of Choice Hotels International.

What is that domed structure close to Muthoot Plaza?

sudheeshnairs

September 8th, 2005, 02:46 PM

Oh, Thanks Chuck, I think I goofed up! :ohno: I used to go to the restaurant there, and it occured to me that I saw napkins with logo, 'Best Western'. Now I just called one of my friends and confirmed that it is Choice Hotels International..Thanks for the correction. :)

To confuse more, there is also an advt on the table mat of the restaurant, 'Please visit Poovar Island Resort' which is run by Sarovar Park Plaza chain. Btw, I think the vegetarian restaurant is run by some other group, and so there is a chance of seeing best western name. Anyway I will check it next time I go to that restaurant. :)

By the way which Domed structure are you referring to? One, that is a little far away, with two levels? If so it is the Kerala Legislative Complex..

Suncity

September 8th, 2005, 03:29 PM

Hi Sun, You had once asked for the view of South Park. Here it is...a side view..as seen from Muthoot Plaza :)

Thanks!!! Will add to the hotel thread!

:)

Chuck

September 8th, 2005, 05:03 PM

No, I was referring to the structure in this picture. It looks like it is hollow inside. Maybe something being constructed?

http://tinypic.com/dgtr85.jpg

I guess its not a dome but a semi- circular roof.

rajeshdxb

September 8th, 2005, 05:44 PM

It's the Central Stadium, but I do not recall seeing a covered gallery. Maybe new ?

Rajesh

anant_padmanabhan

September 8th, 2005, 07:01 PM

yeah Rajesh, I think its the temporary VIP pavilion they use for the Independence day celebration.

rajeshdxb

September 8th, 2005, 07:44 PM

There is a huge Industrial Park by Kinfra somewhere near Kazhakutam. I believe that Leela has a setup there. Lots of industries have set up shop there. Relatively free of trade unions, i think it has been a great success. Sudheesh, Ajay, Ram, others any idea of the park and any more details ?

Regards

Rajesh

sudheeshnairs

September 9th, 2005, 06:02 AM

Hi Chuck, Rajesh and anant are correct. It is a structure inside the Central Stadium. Infact the backside of Secretariat campus opens in to this stadium.

BTW, we can't say it a temporary structure, since it is there for sometime..

sudheeshnairs

September 9th, 2005, 06:12 AM

Hi Sun, I think this is a better close up shot of South Park for the Hotel thread. Also the parapet wall of Muthoot Plaza is not much visible.. :)

http://tinypic.com/dlgw88.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 9th, 2005, 07:20 AM

Hi Rajesh,

You would be mentioning about the Kinfra International Apparel Park (KIAP)at Thumba, 2 km from Kazhakoottam. Infact there is also a Kinfra Small Industries Park(KSIP) adjoining it. Together they occupy about 100 acres.

Yes, Leela is having their textile units there, under 'Leela Lace'. They operate from KIAP's three standard design factory modules of about 60,000 sft. Now they employ around 1000 people.

Let me quote a news item which appeared in Economic Times, some weeks back " KINFRA Appael Park will have rouhgly 4000 employees and a turnover of Rs. 35 crore . Faced with a space crunch caused by investor rush, the Apparel Park at Thumba is planning to double the space for Textile units.

The companies presently operating out of the Park include Leela Lace, Part of the Leela Venture Group, with three units. The Park Authorities have added 90,000 sft of factory space recently, but this has been taken up by two companies, to put up six factory units. The Channai based All India Nippon and Delhi based Creative Handloom Fashions, which had taken space for six factory units were expected to add 2,400 employees to the Park..

Also recently I have seen tenders invited by KIAP for construction of additonal floors for their Standard Design Factories (SDFs).

Kazhakkoottam Area is having Technopark, Apparel Park, Small Industries Park and Film & Video Park. Infact you may see the other parks from Technopark.

KIAP & KSIP are to the west of Technopark, near the sea. If i had a 'telefoto' lens, I could have taken the shots of those Parks from Technopark itself. Any way see the location, sometimes you can mark out the funnel shaped water tank at KIAP..

http://tinypic.com/dlhnc5.jpg

Kinfra Film & Video Park is further 3-4 km north of Technopark. As metioned in earlier posts, it has been granted 'Special Economic Zone' status. An exclusive 1.5 lakh sft Animation Zone is coming up in the Park. You can see that Park also from Technopark.

Hope to cover these Parks extensively.. :)

http://tinypic.com/dlhook.jpg

There is a huge Industrial Park by Kinfra somewhere near Kazhakutam. I believe that Leela has a setup there. Lots of industries have set up shop there. Relatively free of trade unions, i think it has been a great success. Sudheesh, Ajay, Ram, others any idea of the park and any more details ?

Regards

Rajesh

Suncity

September 9th, 2005, 07:33 AM

Hi Sun, I think this is a better close up shot of South Park for the Hotel thread. Also the parapet wall of Muthoot Plaza is not much visible.. :)

Thanks!!!

:)

sudheeshnairs

September 9th, 2005, 07:34 AM

Common Facilities building.

http://tinypic.com/dlhq2g.jpg

Gate House

http://tinypic.com/dlhq43.jpg

Standard Design Factory

http://tinypic.com/dlhq8y.jpg

Central Warehousing Corporation's ware house.

http://tinypic.com/dlhqaq.jpg

Water Tank

http://tinypic.com/dlhqc6.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 9th, 2005, 07:43 AM

http://tinypic.com/dlhs89.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 9th, 2005, 08:09 AM

http://tinypic.com/dlhv2c.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 9th, 2005, 09:15 AM

Office of one of the leading Architectural Design Houses in Kerala, M/s Iyer & Mahesh.

http://tinypic.com/dli1hj.jpg

http://tinypic.com/dli1js.jpg

rajeshdxb

September 9th, 2005, 09:23 AM

How can they work with all this blue light ? Surely WYSI-Not-WYG on their screens ?

Ajaypp

September 9th, 2005, 08:55 PM

@ Sudheesh - Thanks for the update on the Apparel park, letz capture some pix of that and KFVP soon, since I will be in town the whole of this week.

@ Sun - I am sure you realized that any comments comparing Trivandrum with another city came to the fore only coz' some negative remarks about Trivandrum were made. We realize this is an international forum, therefore while it is unwise to discuss petty issues it is also unwise to let negative propaganda float around without setting the record straight. As long as that kind of activity is desisted from, I am sure we can go about the business of posting nice pix and info. :)

Stay tuned for more pix in the next week. Onam is here and the city is getting all decked up for the annual party!!! :cheers:

Ajaypp

September 9th, 2005, 10:05 PM

@ All - In the next few days, we hope to shoot a lot of pix - Technopark expansion work, the Trivandrum Road Development Project, Habitat centre site, other highrise sites, the new theme park and so on. Pls post any other requests ,so that we can oblige :)

@ Sudheesh - I hear that the new theme park has imported rides, some of which are the first of their kind in the country.

Also, I recently saw a news item that an artificial surf machine has been installed at Kovalam - one of only three such facilities in the world!!! Can u shed any more light on that? :)

d_rk

September 9th, 2005, 10:25 PM

hi Ajay..

I am eager to see your pictures about the TVM development... i have only one request.. can u please post the pictures of TVM road development.. the Airport Road and the Kowdiar Road... just want to see what is the progress they have done on that..

Last time when Sudheesh post the pictures of the Airport Road.. they have already done the surface work.. want to see how its looks now..

Thanks buddy..

Rajesh.

sudheeshnairs

September 10th, 2005, 07:01 AM

Hi Ajay, hope to meet you this weekend. BTW, I also read reports in two dailies regarding that set up for wind surfing. Sadly I failed to keep that reports. I think it is not a single machine, but some artificial reefs constructed some distance away from shore which will induce waves for wind surfing. It would be set up at the Eves Beach. :cheers: I also read somewhere that they have set up a centre at Kovalam to have an indepth scientific study..

Rajesh, work is going on in Kowdiar stretch, the divider works are going. So thought will wait till the whole work is over. Airport stretch also, beautication work has not started, only the tarring on one of the leg along the Airport runway. Remaining stretches work going on.

Also for past several weeks, it is always cloudy and intermittent pouring, not a better time to shoot. Infact I went to Kowdiar from Vellayambalam, 500 m away, thinking of shooting, and then suddenly it was heavily downpouring, I took some shots, but not much light..

Lets wait for some more days... :)

sudheeshnairs

September 10th, 2005, 07:35 AM

http://tinypic.com/dltawh.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 10th, 2005, 07:43 AM

http://tinypic.com/dlte3a.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 10th, 2005, 07:47 AM

http://tinypic.com/dltev8.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 10th, 2005, 08:10 AM

http://tinypic.com/dltk5u.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 10th, 2005, 08:13 AM

http://tinypic.com/dltkc8.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 10th, 2005, 09:26 AM

It is 5 pm when I shot this :)

http://tinypic.com/dm2ujd.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 10th, 2005, 12:59 PM

A Five star deluxe rising to challenge this Five star.

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/9698/dscn64507ol.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

sumesh

September 10th, 2005, 09:16 PM

nice pics mate...

Ajaypp

September 10th, 2005, 09:39 PM

New media school launched

Saturday September 10 2005

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: DC Books, one of the state’s largest publishing firms, launched its new media school along with the FM community radio station at a function held at Senate Hall here on Friday.The school and the radio station will be situated at Kinfra Film and Video Park at Kazhakoottam.The school was inaugurated by, Hindi poet Gulzaar on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the DC Books.

It was for the first time in the state that an FM station was coming up in the private sector.The infrastructure of the radio station will be utilised to impart training to students in radio broadcasting.

The media school will be the new venture of the DC School of Management Technology, promoted by the DC Kizhakkemuri Foundation.Training would also be given in other media streams too at the school.The plan is to develop the media school into a centre of excellence for academic studies, training and research in print media, broadcast, film and animation.

The opening course would be a one-year PG diploma programme in ‘media and convergence.Students of the school can specialise in television and radio, film-making with digital technology, print, new media and e-publishing, animation, design and graphics, advertising and public relations.

**********************************************************

The Kinfra Film and Video Park is moving from being the entertainment hub of the state to imparting top-class education in the media field. Trivandrum has an excellent base of human resources with some of the best arts and science colleges in the state. Also in and around the city are world class institutions like C-DIT and IITM-K, which also work in related fields. This media school and FM station are additions to an impressive list of firsts in the media field - first newspaper, first radio station and first TV transmitter - already held by the city. Let's wish this venture all the very best. Kerala has always been known for its excellent media and prowess in the visual arts, this school will help foster that further. :cheers:

Luckystreak

September 11th, 2005, 01:00 PM

Central Excise Building

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/6537/central20excise20building20tri.jpg

Ajaypp

September 11th, 2005, 02:30 PM

The Airports Authority of India chairman has offered 15 acres of land to Air India to set up its maintanence base in Trivandrum. The land is already in the possession of AAI. The State Govt. also has promised (haven't we heard that before? :) ) full support to the project with a commitement of completing all formalities within 100 days. Hopefully, work on the engineering complex can commence along with the work on the state-of-the-art 220,000 sft International Terminal building. :)

Meanwhile AI is leasing more Boeing 737 aircraft for AI Express, in addition to the 18 aircraft it has already ordered from Boeing. The engineering base at Trivandrum will maintain all these bases as well attract business from private players like Jet and Spicejet who operate mostly B 737s in their fleet. Hope this is one promise AI keeps. :cheers:

Source: The Hindu

sudheeshnairs

September 12th, 2005, 06:16 AM

This Township at Kazhakuttom, Kerala's IT hub, has about 100 villas.

The recently held NRK meet, 'Samavayam' was held here. It is very near to Technopark.

The unique feature of the township is the big pond in middle, in which boating is there..

http://tinypic.com/dnf1xs.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 12th, 2005, 06:31 AM

http://tinypic.com/dnf4p5.jpg

Luckystreak

September 12th, 2005, 10:20 AM

Trivandrum Railway Station

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/8339/trivandrumstation5iz.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 12th, 2005, 11:51 AM

Hi Luckystreak, please find recent shots of the Central Station.

http://tinypic.com/9glrhw.jpg

http://tinypic.com/9glu6a.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 12th, 2005, 02:37 PM

The longish old building is a part of the Accountant General's Office, Kerala.

http://tinypic.com/dnhoie.jpg

chandrurajan

September 12th, 2005, 02:51 PM

SAINIK SCHOOL

http://tinypic.com/dnhoux.jpg

Sainik Schools, established as a joint venture of the Central and State Governments in 1961, are functioning with the tangible aim of making the officers’ cadre of the armed forces accessible to all sections of the society. At present 18 Sainik Schools, one each in all the major States, are governed by the Sainik Schools Society under the Ministry of Defence.

In Kerala it is in TRIVANDRUM (GOD'S OWN CAPITAL!!! :) ).Situated very near to KINFRA FILM & VIDEO PARK.........

THE SOUTHERN HQ OF INDIA AIR FORCE IS ALSO SITUATED IN TRIVANDRUM.

Sainik School was established in the early sixties and an area of 300 acres of undulating terrain was acquired on a hillock.The sprawling campus, nestled between the slender strands of the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, is an ideal location for a military biased residential institution.

Some More Pics !!!

http://tinypic.com/dnhpq8.jpg

http://tinypic.com/dnhpwl.jpg

chandrurajan

September 12th, 2005, 02:59 PM

OPEL HEIGHTS-Another Project From Aswathy
Housing

Earlier the opel height was designed to be a 15 floor Residential

Flat.

http://tinypic.com/dniqu8.jpg

Now the promoters decided to redesign the whole structure and increased the number of

FLOORS TO 21 keeping in mind the economical growth

centered on Technopark (THE IT HUB OF KERALA), KINFRA apparel park, KINFRA Film and video

park.

http://tinypic.com/dnittf.jpg

Apart from opel heights they have added one more residential flat to their list, called the

'CONDOMINIUM'

http://tinypic.com/dniqza.jpg

anant_padmanabhan

September 12th, 2005, 07:41 PM

Chandru/Sudheesh,

Good to see lot of new investments at Kazhakootam. Read in yesterdays news paper yesterday that a new multi speciality hospital named "ANATHAPURI HOSPITAL & RESEARCH CENTER" is coming up in that Area. Do you guys have any updates on that?

Anantha

OPEL HEIGHTS-Another Project From Aswathy
Housing

Earlier the opel height was designed to be a 15 floor Residential

Flat.

http://tinypic.com/dniqu8.jpg

Now the promoters decided to redesign the whole structure and increased the number of

FLOORS TO 21 keeping in mind the economical growth

centered on Technopark (THE IT HUB OF KERALA), KINFRA apparel park, KINFRA Film and video

park.

http://tinypic.com/dnittf.jpg

Apart from opel heights they have added one more residential flat to their list, called the

'CONDOMINIUM'

http://tinypic.com/dniqza.jpg

Ajaypp

September 12th, 2005, 08:34 PM

@ Anant - Anthapuri Hospital is the latest addition to the cluster of super-speciality hospitals in the Medical College and IT Bypass area. It is a 500 bed hospital with all the modern facilities one associates with a world-class hospital. Anthapuri joins other top-notch medical institutions like the Sri Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences, RCC, KIMS and so which constitute the most impressive medical cluster in the state. Combined with the proximity of Kovalam and other tourist destinations, it has emerged as one of the hottest medical tourism destinations in India. :)

Yup, Kazhakuttam is developing big time. With the massive expansion of Technopark, it is but natural. Add to it the success of the Kinfra Film and Video Park and the Kinfra Apparel Park, and there is good reason for the real estate scene to boom there. What used to be land worth Rs 10K a cent a couple of years ago has now exploded to Rs 1 lakh a cent! In addition to the development by Ashwathy Housing, one of Kerala's leading real estate firms is developing a massive commercial and residential development - the biggest in Kerala - on the IT corridor. One of India's top real estate firms is also scouting for land for a mall-cum-residential complex. Looks like things are buzzing here. Stay tuned for the details. :cheers:

sudheeshnairs

September 12th, 2005, 08:46 PM

Hi Anantha,

Yes, Ananthapuri Hospitals and research Centre, Phase 1 is almost ready. It is between Chackai and Enchakkal, near to the new international terminal site of Trivandrum Airport, by the side of NH Bypass. It is not very much close to Kazhakkoottam, about 13 kms to the city side.

Ananthapuri Hospitals would be a Tertiary super speciality hospital. The Chairman, famous neuro surgeon, Dr. Marthanda Pillai was earlier with Govt Medical College and then KIMS. The first phase is having 100 beds and ultimately would have 500 beds. The first block is almost ready and I saw the structural glazing works in the finishing stage, two weeks back. Being next to Airport, it is not tall, about 5 floors. Will get more details tomorrow, I had the brochure with me..This is funded by non resident Keralites. So Trivandrum is getting one more to the list of SCTIMST, RCC, KIMS etc. :)

Also glad to see that city is expanding fast towards Kazhakuttom and beyond, and new highrises, that too, may be the tallest in the city. Read from their website that some 360 apartment units are coming up, seems that there are more lined up besides these 21 and 17 floor structures..

Sudheesh.

sumesh

September 12th, 2005, 10:13 PM

hi mates,

I HEARD THAT SREE UTHRADAM THIRUNAL HOSPITAL'S MEDICAL COLLEGE IS NEARING COMPLETION....SO TRIVANDRUM IS THE PREMIER CITY IN KERALA WHICH IS HAVING THE LARGEST NUMBER OF MEDICAL COLLEGES AND HOSPITALS CURRENTLY...

Suncity

September 13th, 2005, 06:22 AM

Trivandrum views - photos copyright JasonIk

1
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/2286/trivandrumjasonck27fk.jpg

2
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5834/trivandrumjasonck45qe.jpg

3
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/1169/trivandrumview5ia.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 13th, 2005, 06:50 AM

Today's Economic Times carries the news " AHRI opens phase I of project-The Ananthapuri Hospitals and Research Institute (AHRI) has completed the first phase of its Rs. 100 crore hospital and research institute project in Trivandruum. AHRI CMD Dr. Marthanda Pillai said that the institute would have 500 beds when the final phase is completed in 2006".

The Hospital is having a 'helipad' also..

For more details visit www.ananthapurihospitals.com.

http://tinypic.com/dnzm6u.jpg

The location map.

http://tinypic.com/dnzomq.jpg

Ajaypp

September 13th, 2005, 02:16 PM

I am back in Tvm, but the cam's still in hospital! :( But I am making do with my phone, so plz bear with the quality. Will get cam back tomm :)

@ Sun & Jason - Great pix! :) U stole my thunder tho', I was planning the same angle. The pix are from the top of the Mascot's new tower block, rt? Have to attend a marriage there tomm. Well will look for more views! :cheers:

In th first pic you can see the University Students' Centre in the foreground, near the road. Behind it is the YMCA International Students' Hostel. The high building to the left of the frame is Vikas Bhavan , one of the large office blocks of the State Government. To the left, the massive circular gallery of the Chandrashekharan Nair Stadium is visible. In the centre is the State's most famous building, the huge Legislative Assembly building. Beyond the stadium one can see the twin minarets and dome of the Palayam Jama Masjid. And beyond that the various highrises along the M.G. Road loom in the background. Good shot! :)

The second frame squarely captures the classic Postmaster General's Office. The adjacent junction is called PMG Junction because of this.
A gorgeous heritage building, one of the many in Trivandrum. Behind it is the Kerala HQ of BSNL. The third frame also captures the long line of highrises which line M.G. Road all the way to faraway Kesavadasapuram Junction.

floppy

September 13th, 2005, 04:57 PM

Wow great photos of Trivandrum.

Ajaypp

September 13th, 2005, 05:19 PM

Visited Technopark today with Ram. I was able to capture a few images with my mobile. They are mostly status updates of the projects we had reported on earlier. First, this is a pic of the Thejaswini site. As you can see foundation work is well advanced. 15 massive pillars are already been concreted. Another 6-9 will be up soon. The massive scale of the 11 floor, 600,000 sft building is evident from the comparitively tiny size of the workers and the equipment!!! What is truely exciting is this giant building is completely booked even before the first bit of concrete was poured!!! As opposed to other cities where buildings await occupants, this shows the massive demand for space from IT investors in Trivandrum. :)

http://tinypic.com/do2rm8.jpg

Ajaypp

September 13th, 2005, 05:55 PM

This is a 7.5 acre plot of land, cut from a hillside adjacent to Technopark. The developers are looking to develop a private IT park here.

http://tinypic.com/do2v0k.jpg

Ajaypp

September 13th, 2005, 07:56 PM

This is the site of the Taj IndiOne hotel inside Technopark. Work is happening at a hectic pace on the foundations. Construction is scheduled to be completed in six-seven months. The greenery in the frame is on the banks of a stream which meanders through the scenic campus and continues onto the Phase II campus. After the Taj Green Cove [/B] and [B]Taj Garden Retreat, this will be the third Taj hotel in Trivandrum. The Dodla project could be the fourth Taj in the city, although we don't know for sure. This is the second IndiOne hotel in the country, after the one in Bangalore. :cheers:

http://tinypic.com/do2vtg.jpg

Ajaypp

September 13th, 2005, 08:18 PM

This is a large plot of land which has been levelled out behind the IndiOne hotel, ready for development. At the pace at which land is being gobbled by investors, it will soon be developed as well. Beyond the grove of coconut trees is the 110 KV substation of the KSEB which is a dedicated supply source for Technopark. The nearby 440 KV substation of Power Grid Corporation (PGCIL) provides nearly uninterruptable power supply by connecting directly to the national power backbone. This is the only PGCIL sub-station in Kerala and will also tap power from the u/c 2000 MW Koodankulam nuclear power station.

http://tinypic.com/do441l.jpg

Ajaypp

September 13th, 2005, 08:24 PM

This is the new M-Square building which has just been commissioned. Exterior finishing work is being completed. This building is situated right next to the u/c IndiOne hotel.

http://tinypic.com/do2ykm.jpg

Ajaypp

September 13th, 2005, 08:34 PM

A swanky electronic display board at Park Centre. It is scrolling the names of the 70-plus companies in Technopark. Display boards like this are being positioned across the sprawling campus to give information to visitors and employees alike. Saw quite a few foreigners today. :)

http://tinypic.com/do49k9.jpg

Had a chat with the management at Infy today. According to them, construction will start at the site from the end of this month. Heavy rains over the past two weeks have delayed work slightly. They expect the work on the first phase to be completed in 9 months flat! It would have around 3000 people, with more phases to follow. Infosys also plans to acquire another 50 acres in the near future. :cheers:

Btw, like I said, these pix were taken using a mobile phone. Tech. spec.s - Nokia 7710 with a 1.3 MP CCD camera. That's better than my first digi cam. :) wonder whet they will come up with next?!!

d_rk

September 14th, 2005, 05:51 AM

Hi Guys..

What is your suggession of having an World Class cricket Stadium like melbourne or Sydney in TVM with world class architecture... The Kochi one is used for football too.. but it would be great if we have a exclusive cricket stadium too..

What u guys think...??

Hope my dream come true.. .

Rajesh

sudheeshnairs

September 14th, 2005, 10:00 AM

Hi Rajesh,

An exclusive cricket stadium is on the anvil, just wait..

Hope to get it going very soon, take my words.... :)

Sudheesh.

Ajaypp

September 14th, 2005, 10:05 AM

@D_rk - Yup, that's a great idea indeed. In fact the Kerala Cricket Association, which is headquartered in Trivandrum, is scouting for a large plot of land in or around the city for a dedicated cricket stadium. It is planned as a Ranji-level venue at first, and then to be upgraded to International status. With a city of a million-plus people and close to 3.5 million people in the surrounding areas, not to mention people from the southern districts of Kerala and Tamilnadu as spectators, an international stadium is indeed an urgent need.Stay tuned! :)

rajeshdxb

September 14th, 2005, 10:39 AM

Happy Onam to all. Hope the celebrations are in full swing, and the illumination at the LMS- Vellayambalam road is in all its glory. Ajay/Sudheesh/Ram, please, please post pics.

Rajesh

d_rk

September 14th, 2005, 12:56 PM

Yes Rajeshdxb

Happy Onam to you all...!!! Yesterday talk with my brother who is in kerala now for holidays.. he said the Kowdiar road is lit up with all the lights and its amazing to see...

Thanks to Sudheesh & Ajay too for letting me know that indeed there is a Project for Cricket Stadium in pipeline..

D Rajesh

Ajaypp

September 14th, 2005, 02:21 PM

:colgate: HAPPY ONAM to all SSCers!!! :) :colgate:

Yup, the city is all decked up now. Like always, the celebrations are centred around Nishagandhi auditorium and the rest of the Kanakakkunnu Palace grounds. But there are many other venues including the Trivandrum Flower Show. For the first time, Onam celebrations are being organised in Kozhikode and Kochi too. :) Will have pix for all of you. Hope Sudheesh can join me.

manojp_mp

September 14th, 2005, 07:07 PM

:hi:
:) HAPPY ONAM TO ALL FELLOW SS FORUMERS :)
Really miss our wonderful Trivandrum during this festive occassion
Sudheesh, Ajay and others pls do post illumination pics.. :cheers:

sudheeshnairs

September 14th, 2005, 07:16 PM

http://tinypic.com/donqr9.jpg

Ajaypp

September 14th, 2005, 08:12 PM

@ Sudheesh - Nice of pic of Muthoot Plaza. :) Hope that by next Onam, the expansion of Muthoot Plaza will be complete. The time set for completion of work is just under one year as I hear. By that time, the Dodla project would be well and truely buzzing with activity (finishing work is already underway) as will the Taj IndiOne. The "Capital Retreat" project should also be well underway by the time. :)

sumesh

September 14th, 2005, 09:05 PM

HAPPY ONAM TO ALL !!!!!

d_rk

September 15th, 2005, 05:36 AM

This is my ONAM Sadya guys... and its a treat... Since my bro is in TVM now. he send me his journey back home through the most magnificent landscapes..

Hope you guys will enjoy this too..
And as Onam treat, my imageshack starts working too....

towards trivandrum....

http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/1333/keralapic235bp.jpg

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/1791/keralapic249kp.jpg

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/1158/keralapic255jw.jpg

http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/4608/keralapic229qd.jpg

http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/2778/keralapic214ry.jpg

http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/8704/keralapic195xq.jpg

http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/3892/keralapic206ir.jpg

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/8/keralapic183vb.jpg

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/8916/keralapic173lu.jpg

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/4314/keralapic165xb.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/3118/keralapic122zk.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/838/keralapic111ki.jpg

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/2564/keralapic151kd.jpg

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/2289/keralapic149kn.jpg

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/4185/keralapic136tn.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/1830/keralapic104ox.jpg

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/3193/keralapic92si.jpg

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/9609/keralapic85dr.jpg

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/707/keralapic72ux.jpg

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/7695/keralapic61vc.jpg

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6175/keralapic52uh.jpg

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/6914/keralapic49dw.jpg

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/1935/keralapic35pk.jpg

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/7029/keralapic27cn.jpg

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/322/keralapic17gz.jpg

Ajaypp

September 15th, 2005, 07:13 AM

@D_rk - Awesome pix buddy, kudoes to ur brother! These scenes are familiar to people travelling on the Trivandrum-Palaghat and Trivandrum-Kozhikode routes. :) Enchanting aren't they? The backwaters you see are those of the Ashtamudi Lake, I guess. An ambitious backwater tourism plan is underway here, based out of Trivandrum. This will offer tourists more choice besides the historic city itself, Kovalam-Poovar, Ponmudi and the other destinations which Trivandrum already boasts of. :)

Great to see the Bharatapuzha in full flow. Being a seasonal river, its volume is low during the summer season. However, this year's monsoon has been a bumper one, and rivers and reservoirs are brimming everywhere. Kerala truely is blessed by the Monsoon! :cheers:

Chuck

September 15th, 2005, 07:44 AM

Nice pictures guys. And a very Happy Onam to each and all. Missing Kerala after seeing all those pics.

manojp_mp

September 15th, 2005, 07:58 AM

Excellent pics d_rk... :)
God's own country ...indeed!! :applause:

sudheeshnairs

September 15th, 2005, 09:33 AM

Good Pics, Rajesh.. :)

Ajay, most of the shots are all of places close to Trivandrum, after Kollam. Most of the backwater shots you see is the lake at Paravoor, the river is 'Vamanapuram' at Chirayinkeezhu, about 30 kms from Trivandrum. One shot where the lake is bordered by sea is Kappil, there is a boat club also. There is a lake resort ' Aqua Serene' also in the 'Paravoor kayal'.The train shot is near to Kadakkavur, the scene of autorickshaw is also near Kadakkavur station. The Rly station is kadakkavur. Yes, Ashtamudi Lake is also there in one shot, with time 1.37 pm. I think Rajesh has posted the photos in the reverse direction, that is it is exactly from Tvm to Palakkad(till Bharathapuzha). Yes, the time counter in the camera also shows it. The train crossed the bridge over Vamanapuram River at 2.38 PM, the next station is Chirayinkeezhu and about 30 minutes more to Trivandrum. So it would be the Bangalore Kanniyakumari Express which reaches TVM at about 3 PM, isn't it Rajesh? Infact I can recognize each phrame of the shots, esp between TVM & Kollam. I had been a regular commuter for about 6 years, (I did my Engg and MBA at Kollam) in this route. It brings me nostalgic memories also.

Oh, only now I noticed the 'Loco reversal'. That is at Bharathapuzha Rajesh's Brother is in a coach (AS2 or AS1) which is away from the engine. And later , close to Trivandrum the coach is nearer, it means there was a loco reversal enroute, possibly at Ernakulam or Shornur. But Banglore Kanniyakumari exp doesnot undergo a loco reversal, so it is some other train.

BTW, I am having an extended holiday this week due to Onam, and busy with family and relatives and lots of 'Sadya'. :cheers: Sad that I am not getting time to venture in to City and capture the action. Hope Ajay does the honour and his Cam is ready! :)

Sudheesh.

Ajaypp

September 15th, 2005, 09:51 AM

Sudheesh, thanks for the detailed commentary. We can also see that the electrification work on the Kottayam - Trivandrum railway section is nearing completion. The work is being executed by Larsen & Toubro, and will be completed in December. Trivandrum, being the second busiest railway station on the Southern Railway, required urgent electrification to speed up operations. Combined with the satellite railway terminal at Kochuveli, this will help expand the capacity of Trivandrum Central. More long distance trains and commuter services will now be started to add to the already packed schedule of 50-55 trains that TVC handles daily. :)

d_rk

September 15th, 2005, 05:37 PM

Hi sudheesh..

Wow .. such a detailed summary of the pictures.. and indeed what you says is very true... My Bro come from Delhi in Kerala Express.. so the arrival time is around 3 or 4pm..

These shots bring back my memories too ...when the whole family come to kerala for holidays.. and specially we ( my brother & me) are so eagerly waiting for train to enter kerala... and when it enter, you automatically realise that u are in gods own country.. so much greennary.. so much visual enegry in each places.. its amazing...and we wait for this stretch from kollam to TVM to see the ashamudi lake..

and one more thing i noticed is that.. Only in kerala, the train takes so much turns.. and u can clearly see the Engine..

and i post the image in reverse order.. the loco must have change in Ernakulam.. and now i change the order of pictures .. now you can see the images moving from North towards TVM....

Thanks again buddy..Enjoy the sadya...

D Rajesh

sudheeshnairs

September 15th, 2005, 08:12 PM

Thanks Rajesh..Ya,now the pictures are in order, but I think there is still one Photo, the one without 'time' is out of order..That is the 13th photo where the train passes over a small bridge which opens out in to the lake. It is just after 'Akathumuri' station, before Kadakkavur and there is a snap with time 2.33 pm, with the train nearing Akathumuri. The next snap is that of train at Kadakkavur station, with time 2.36pm. So this snap has to be in between these two. Any way no need to change it, I just wanted to let you know.. :)

BTW, spend the evening till 10 PM at Kanakakunnu and Suryakanti, it was jampacked with people. Sadly, I am without a good camera now, hope Ajay takes good snaps..

Sudheesh.

sudheeshnairs

September 15th, 2005, 08:27 PM

Perspective of a new Skyline Apartment at Kowdiar.

The perspective is blended with an actual photgraph taken from Trivandrum Tennis Club. The u/c building to the right is Skyline Wimbledon Apartments.

You can also see a part of Skyline Golf Links behind the perspective.

This premium residential apartment would be more of steel and glass and likely to be centrally air conditioned..

The Architect is Sri. N. Mahesh, M/s Iyer & Mahesh, Trivandrum.

http://img278.imageshack.us/img278/1946/skylinettc2im.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Ajaypp

September 16th, 2005, 11:29 AM

Wow! Nice pic Sudheesh, that's one of the most stylish looking buildings I have seen anywhere. Looks quite futuristic, resembling an obelisk, but glass and steel instead of stone. The Kowdiar area is getting to be quite a hot spot for high rises, with landmarks like the circular Heera Welmont, camelot-styled Skyline Palace Court, 24 floor Heera Grace and many others. With the 350,000 sft Habitat Centre also coming up there, it will have one of the best collections of modern architecture in Kerala :) Stay tuned!

sudheeshnairs

September 16th, 2005, 12:19 PM

This is an old apartment, completed some years back.

http://tinypic.com/dphct2.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 16th, 2005, 12:25 PM

Yes Ajay, Kowdiar is getting more and more highrises. Nikunjam builders has announced a 17 floor apartment, Fortune at Kowdiar.

http://tinypic.com/dpheld.jpg

Suncity

September 16th, 2005, 02:03 PM

WOW! That skyline building is cool!

Ajaypp

September 16th, 2005, 08:11 PM

The Nikunjan building looks pretty swanky too! Another futuristic design to add to the Habitat Centre and the new Skyline development, in the same area. :)

The road between Kowdiar and Pattom is picking up in terms of high-rises. The 18 floor high first tower of PPD Seasons is undergoing finishing work while work is progressing fast on the second tower as well.

sudheeshnairs

September 17th, 2005, 07:24 PM

This Five Star deluxe property was opened during December 2004.

http://tinypic.com/dq6ps9.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 17th, 2005, 07:26 PM

http://tinypic.com/dq6qfs.jpg

Ajaypp

September 17th, 2005, 08:19 PM

Nice pix Sudheesh - hope you have more pix to post of this 6 star resort. :) Along with the Leela, Kovalam Beach, which is just across the bay, the Taj Green Cove is one of the best hotels in the State. With floating cottages and a floating restaurant, it's unique among luxury resorts in India. :)

Btw, work on the stretch of the Model Road between Kesavadasapuram and Plamoodu is finally underway. A divider has been erected and some signage has been erected. Work is progressing at the usual snail's pace of GoK projects. Hope things pick up pace soon. :)

Suncity

September 17th, 2005, 08:45 PM

The Taj Green Cove is nice. But we need some good photos. The Taj website has microscopic aerial views. They have bandwidth concerns. The Muthoot group which owns the hotel doesn't seem to have pictures of this hotel.

That makes you think that with all the IT and internet hulla gulla, are Indian companies aware of the power of the net or even know how to use it to publicise their own companies.

Ajaypp

September 18th, 2005, 07:35 AM

Managed to snap some pix of the Legislative Assembly building last night, all lit up. Looked dazzling like the rest of the city!! Guess it's a fitting set of images for my 200th post! :) This building is without doubt one of the architectural landmarks of Kerala. Built by KSCC and L&T, this massive edifice is also the most advanced building of its type in India combining oppulance and splendor with function.

http://tinypic.com/dqpquh.jpg

Ajaypp

September 18th, 2005, 07:40 AM

http://tinypic.com/dqprp4.jpg

Ajaypp

September 18th, 2005, 07:43 AM

http://tinypic.com/dqptly.jpg

Ajaypp

September 18th, 2005, 07:48 AM

Here we can see the massive bronze insignia of the State of Kerala. It is borrowed mostly from the coat-of-arms of the kingdom of Travancore, the most powerful of the territories merged to form the state. The conch motif in the center is characteristic of Travancore.

http://tinypic.com/dqpu2p.jpg

d_rk

September 18th, 2005, 08:56 AM

wow.. Nice to see the " NiyamaSabha" in all its full glory...

Ajaypp

September 18th, 2005, 12:35 PM

Looks great doesn't it? :cheers:

vinod

September 18th, 2005, 04:43 PM

Hi dear friends , i am Vinod from trivandrum , i just joined today in the forum and i am happy to hear some people like you are there for give all updates of our city. Hope i can also do something for this city as a member in this forum. bye......

anant_padmanabhan

September 18th, 2005, 06:11 PM

Sudheesh The Taj green cove looks terrific!!!. Would like to see some more views of it.

Ajay, The "Niyama Sabha Mandiram" (Legislative building) Looks impressive with all that lights. They should keep it like that year around.

Vinod, Welcome to the Forum. yeah we have a good collection of Trivandrum
Pics in all the three threads. Trivandrum has become one of the most happening places in India and our guys are doing a wonderful job in covering the latest and geatest action from Trivandrum.

Anantha

vkv

September 18th, 2005, 07:24 PM

waaw *****GR8***** pics ajay and sudheesh, welcome Vinod :)

sudheeshnairs

September 19th, 2005, 08:24 AM

Hi Ajay, nice picture of Niyamasabha building :) But we have missed out many photos of Onam. The Secretariat building was also washed in white light..What to do, Onam made us all very busy..BTW, it was KSCC (Kerala State Construction Corporation) and not KPCC who executed the work. L&T had done the Dome Work.

I also feel that Govt shall allow people to enter its premises and gardens just like Vidhana Soudha of Bangalore. Now it is open only during festive occasions.

Managed to snap some pix of the Legislative Assembly building last night, all lit up. Looked dazzling like the rest of the city!! Guess it's a fitting set of images for my 200th post! :) This building is without doubt one of the architectural landmarks of Kerala. Built by KPCC and L&T, this massive edifice is also the most advanced building of its type in India combining oppulance and splendor with function.

http://tinypic.com/dqpquh.jpg

sudheeshnairs

September 19th, 2005, 08:32 AM

Yes, Sun, you are absolutely right.

Anyway I have managed to get some shots, will be posting that. I also wonder why they put a 'thatched finish' over the concrete roof of the cottages. May be becuase of the 'balineese sytle' on which the Resort is focussed. The landscaping was done by some 'Bali' based firm and the general architecture was of Mr. Mahesh of Iyer & Mahesh.

The Taj Green Cove is nice. But we need some good photos. The Taj website has microscopic aerial views. They have bandwidth concerns. The Muthoot group which owns the hotel doesn't seem to have pictures of this hotel.

That makes you think that with all the IT and internet hulla gulla, are Indian companies aware of the power of the net or even know how to use it to publicise their own companies.

Ajaypp

September 19th, 2005, 08:34 AM

Air Cargo Express flights to Gulf from October 2

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Air Cargo Express, the cargo division of Air-India Charters, a fully-owned subsidiary of Air-India (AI), will commence operations from Kerala to the Gulf on October 2. The maiden flight from Thiruvananthapuram international airport will leave for Dubai on October 2.

This is for the first time that AI is introducing cargo flights from Kerala to the Gulf countries. The flights will be operated using Boeing 727, which can carry 15 tonnes of cargo, airline sources told The Hindu . Initially, there would be five flights in a week to Dubai. The cargo flights will operate on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. The flights would arrive at Thiruvananthapuram international airport at 3.30 p.m. and leave for Dubai at 5.20 p.m. on these five days. There would be no transit points for freighter services in Kerala and it would directly fly to Dubai, sources said.

The national carrier has already issued a letter of intent to M/s. Falcon Group for sourcing in cargo capacity of 75 tonnes per week on the Kerala-Dubai sector. As per this, the group would deploy aircraft of Falcon Air Services for the flights of Air Cargo Express. AI has been entrusted with ground handling and security regimen of the freighters. The decision to operate these services from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai comes in the wake of AI's decision to replace five flights being operated using A-310 aircraft in the Thiruvananthapuram-Dubai sector with Boeing 737-800 aircraft of Air India Express from October 26.

The A-310 aircraft being used by AI to Dubai now can carry 12-14 tonnes of perishables and other commodities while B 737-800 aircraft of AIE has only a total cargo capacity of two tonnes, including passenger baggage. Since the commencement of AIE flights in Thiruvananthapuram-Dubai sector from May, exporters, who have been depending on foreign airlines, have been demanding alternative arrangements, as the B 737-800 deployed by AIE cannot carry any export commodities.

The Hindu, Sept 19, 2005

Looks like Air India has finally woken upto the cargo demand at Trivandrum International Airport. TIA had one of the first ISO 9000 certified Air Cargo terminals in the country and always has had steady traffic to the Gulf. With the addition of Emirates and Etihad services in the coming months, the cargo capacity is all set to go up even further. Now that Air India is focussing its attention once more on TIA, I hope they also increase frequencies of Air India Express flights and those of connecting flights to destinations in the US and Europe. :)