Kingswood Apartments

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/1096112015791.jpg

Maple Heights

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/1060317703501.jpg

Palace Court

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/1063695895211.jpg

Pattom Square

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/1084442438771.jpg

Vasantham

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/1096170764521.jpg

Wimbledon

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/106351634351.jpg

Heera Twins, Pattom, Thiruvananathapuram

http://www.heeragroup.com/heera/images/projects_big/twins.jpg

Heera Dale, Jagathy,Thiruvananthapuram

http://www.heeragroup.com/heera/images/projects_big/dale.jpg

Heera Velmont, Kawdiar, Thiruvananthapuram

http://www.heeragroup.com/heera/images/projects_big/velmont.jpg

Kingswood looks very classy

Trivandrum Technopark:

"Spread over 156 acres, and about 1.5 million sq. ft. of built-up space, Technopark hosts over 55 IT and ITES companies employing over 5000 IT professionals, including five CMM Level 5, two CMM Level 3 and several ISO 9001 certified companies." - Technopark website.

There are several buildings like Bhavani, Gayatri, Chandragiri, Nila, Pamba, Periyar.

Map
http://www.bengalweb.com/skyline/trivandrum/technoparkmap.JPG

1
http://www.bengalweb.com/skyline/trivandrum/trivandrumtechpark1s.jpg

2
http://www.bengalweb.com/skyline/trivandrum/trivandrumtechpark2s.jpg

3
http://www.bengalweb.com/skyline/trivandrum/trivandrumtechpark3s.jpg

4
http://www.bengalweb.com/skyline/trivandrum/trivandrumtechpark4.jpg

TCS

http://www.tcs-america.com/facilities/images/fullSize/trivandrum_front2.jpg

http://www.tcs-america.com/facilities/images/fullSize/TrivandrumWaterfall.jpg

wow, so lush

Not so modern though. The bloody Air conditioners are hanging out of the windows!

Sharp contrast with the futuristic designs of such places in other cities..

clean, traditional, and green.

two thumbs up! :okay:

very tropical vegetation there.

Is Trivandrum an important research city?

very tropical vegetation there.

Is Trivandrum an important research city?

It is an important centre for ISRO (http://www.isro.org/) (Indian Space Research Organization).

http://www.isro.org/images/vssc.jpg


Interesting note:

It was 39 years ago, on November 21, that a small rocket took off from Thumba on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, announcing the birth of the modern space age in India. That was when the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) formally came into existence. Over the years, TERLS have given birth to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/11/18/images/2002111801050201.jpg

Life at Thumba in the early 70s. There were no proper transport facilities and hence the rocket nose cone had to be carried on a cycle!

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/11/18/images/2002111801050202.jpg

`Nike-Apache' (sounding) rocket being made ready for launch from TERLS.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/11/18/stories/2002111801050200.htm

Trivandrum also has a Regional Research Laboratory (http://w3rrlt.csir.res.in/). It does research in Agroprocessing & Natural Products, Chemical Sciences, Biotechnology, Environmental Science & Waste Water Technology, Materials Science & Technology and Mineral Processing.

http://w3rrlt.csir.res.in/image/rrl.jpg

Trivandrum also has the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (http://www.cdit.org) (C-DIT)

http://www.cdit.org/images/cditpic3-.jpg

The building does look like a Laurie Baker kind of architecture but I am not sure.

There's Centre for Development Studies (http://www.cds.edu/) which is a social science research institution engaged in interdisciplinary research on development problems in India. It's campus is designed by Laurie Baker.

http://www.cds.edu/campus.gif

The Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) (http://sctimst.ker.nic.in/) is an Institute of National Importance. The Institute has the status of a University and offers postdoctoral, doctoral and postgraduate courses in medical specialties, public health, nursing, basic sciences and health care technology. It is a member of the Association of Indian Universities and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

http://www.sctimst.ac.in/images/hosp3.jpg

http://www.sctimst.ac.in/images/hosp33.jpg

Center for Earth Sciences (http://www.cessind.org/) - is a Centre of Excellence in Earth Sciences under Kerala State Council for Science,Technology and Environment

http://www.cessind.org/images/cesscampus.GIF

There is also the University of Kerala (http://www.keralauniversity.edu/)

http://www.keralauniversity.edu/images/univ.jpg

Mayfair Apartments

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/1096681540731.jpg

Golflink Apartments

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/1096681213601.jpg

Symphony Apartments

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/1096633636541.jpg

Melody Apartment

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/107872363481.jpg

Plaza Apartment

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/1096681663201.jpg

Lowrise apartments - the ones that are sprouting up all over India..

Glendale

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/1077860908991.jpg

Pooja

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/1096681722721.jpg

Skyline Mynt Apartments

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/1096108465901.jpg

Merrie Pink

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/1096105270351.jpg

Love em! Great work Suncity.

Trivandrum got some lovely midrises. Great job...........Suncity.

Residency Tower Hotel

http://www.residencytower.com/images/rt.jpg

http://www.residencytower.com/images/r1.jpg

http://www.residencytower.com/images/r3.jpg

Skyline Richmond Apartments

http://www.skylinebuilders.com/images/project/1101374044121.jpg

Vintage View (13 storeys)

http://www.ppdindia.com/images/vintage.jpg

Cliff Dale (16 storeys)

http://www.ppdindia.com/images/cliff.jpg

Regent's Court (10 storeys)

http://www.ppdindia.com/images/regents.jpg

Seasons

http://www.ppdindia.com/images/seasons1.jpg

http://www.ppdindia.com/images/seasons2.jpg

Summer Breeze :

Concreting of roof slab of 11 th floor has been completed.
Laying of water and waste water lines, electrical conduiting, brick work, plastering etc. are in progress.

Winter Mist :

Work on pile caps is in progress.

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

Sivaji Sapphire

Information about another tower - Sivaji Sapphire (http://www.sivajibuilders.com/)

Muthoot Blue Mount

http://www.muthootbuilders.com/images/royalnest/r1.jpg

Muthhot Green Valley Mist

http://www.muthootbuilders.com/images/greenvalley/r1.jpg

It must be difficult finding all these projects, great work. :)

Muthoot builder's earlier projects..

Muthoot Crown Plaza

http://www.muthootbuilders.com/images/crownplaza/crownpop.jpg

Muthoot Presidency

http://www.muthootbuilders.com/images/presidency/p1.jpg

Muthoot Valley

http://www.muthootbuilders.com/images/muthootvalley/m3.jpg

Muthoot Green Valley

http://www.muthootbuilders.com/images/greenvalley/g1.jpg

I think I have already posted this sentiment before: Cochin and Kerala are quietly stealing the limelight from other Indian cities. I like the quality of buildings in this State, as it's the best in India. Then again it seems, the designers and builders work hand-in-hand, to dish out good looking constructions along the coast. Very very satisfying to know, that somewhere someone, demands better and gets better! :rock:

Heera Swiss Town

http://www.heeragroup.com/heera/images/projects_big/HeeraSwissTown.jpg

Heera Velmont

http://www.heeragroup.com/heera/images/projects_big/velmont2.jpg

Heera Westcourt

http://www.heeragroup.com/heera/images/projects_big/west-court.jpg

Heera Haven

http://www.heeragroup.com/heera/images/projects_big/Heeraheaven.jpg

So many 'teen storied towers!

Heera Swiss Town
Heera Haven
http://www.heeragroup.com/heera/images/projects_big/Heeraheaven.jpg

That tall building behind this project - is it an existing project, or also something that's u/c? That one looks atleast 25 storeys to me!

That tall building behind this project - is it an existing project, or also something that's u/c? That one looks atleast 25 storeys to me!

It probably doesn't exist.

Madhusoodan,

It is neither existing nor u/c. It is most likely an "artist's imagination" :)

The tallest building in Kerala (possibly 2nd or 3rd tallest in south India) is coming up in Cochin.
http://www.mmtechtowers.com

Madhusoodan,

It is neither existing nor u/c. It is most likely an "artist's imagination" :)

The tallest building in Kerala (possibly 2nd or 3rd tallest in south India) is coming up in Cochin.


Nik, do you know how tall this Kochi building is gonna be?

Nik, do you know how tall this Kochi building is gonna be?


The Tower Specifications page says that its going to be 80 meters.

Hi all,
The title of the tallest building in Kerala is still not finalised, I would say.
Heera Group's project Grace in Trivandrum is currently cleared for 19 floors but permission for 24-26 floors is being considered. In that case, it will be the tallest in the state, at over 85 m.

http://tinypic.com/6ftlaa.jpg

http://www.heeragroup.com/heera/projects_grace.html

Another landmark project coming up in Trivandrum is the latest addition to TechnoPark - which has been currently tendered. It is an 11 floor, 600,000 sq.ft. building which will be the largest single office building in the state. With the completion of this building, due in mid-2006, TechnoPark will have a total of 2,100,000 sq.ft of office space which will make it the biggest IT Park in Asia. If the 350,000 sq.ft TCS Global Training Centre, currently under construction, is taken into consideration the total area will be about 2.5 million sq.ft. Add to this the Infosys, US Tech, IBS and TCS Delivery Centres (all in various stages of development) and the total will be about 4-4.5 million sq.ft by 2007.

http://tinypic.com/6ftn3o.jpg

This is an artist's impression. Looks broadly similar to Nila
http://www.technopark.org/campusnote.htm

Not bad for a "small city" I would say. In fact, building industry statistics show that the per capita demand for residential and commercial construction in Trivandrum is one of the highest in India.
In the next few weeks, we will also get more information about a mega-development happening on the IT Corridor. A satellite township at Aakulam has already been announced by GoK. Similar private initiatives are in the pipeline. Will keep u posted on the latest developments. Tk care.

Regards,
Ajay

Welcome onboard AjayP.

Please keep us posted about Trivandrum projects and also photos.

here is some info about how to post images in this forum
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=194364

Travancore Royal Palace
http://img200.echo.cx/img200/328/travancoreroyalpalacekerala7yn.jpg



Taj Hotel, Varkala
http://img125.echo.cx/img125/6856/tajhotelvarkala1nw.jpg





Napier Museum
http://img104.echo.cx/img104/4516/nm8jg.jpg



Napier Museum
http://img207.echo.cx/img207/6084/56593746lbvcgtfs6hi.jpg




Kerala University
http://img228.echo.cx/img228/1579/keralauniversity2xm.jpg




Victory Jublee Town Hall
http://img81.echo.cx/img81/1359/victoryjubleetownhall5uk.jpg




East Fort
http://img298.echo.cx/img298/8996/eastfort6mg.jpg




Legislative Building
http://img16.echo.cx/img16/9411/trivandrumlegislativebuilding0.jpg

Hi all,
The title of the tallest building in Kerala is still not finalised, I would say.
Heera Group's project Grace in Trivandrum is currently cleared for 19 floors but permission for 24-26 floors is being considered. In that case, it will be the tallest in the state, at over 85 m.



Another landmark project coming up in Trivandrum is the latest addition to TechnoPark - which has been currently tendered. It is an 11 floor, 600,000 sq.ft. building which will be the largest single office building in the state.
Regards,
Ajay


Nice to see a post from Trivandrum. Hope for more photos of scenic spots.

There are two flaws in Ajay's post. There is already a 24 floors residential structure
GreenHills (http://www.matherprojects.com/images/site/Green%20Hillsimg.jpg)
u/c in Cochin which is taller than TechTowers.

Again the biggest single commercial structure I find so far is u/c in Infopark, Cochin by Leela Scottish Group with 700,000 sqft. About 150,000 sqft out of this will be occupied by an accounting BPO called OPI.

Hi all,
Couple of clarifications, in response to Nik's feedback. Firstly, the Heera project will have 24 floors but has been designed so to have the tallest top-out point in Kerala. A "top-out point" is the highest point of construction in a building
Secondly, the Leela building's proposed final capacity is 700,000 sq.ft. whereas the building in TP has been actually tendered for completion in under 15 months. In fact, the corresponding report in the media clearly states it will be the largest office structure at time of completion.
If we are to include all the structures on the drawing board, the Infosys Delivery Centre with an ultimate capacity of 10-12,000 engineers will be the largest office structure. But, it may end up being a cluster of buildings rather than a single structure. So, I guess there is no use looking at the drawing board. Let's just look at what's been tendered out and/or under construction
Hope the Mods grant me attachment previlieges soon. Have some pics of the Infy DC and Tvm Int'l Airport to put up. Tk care.

Regards,
Ajay

Hope the Mods grant me attachment previlieges soon. Have some pics of the Infy DC and Tvm Int'l Airport to put up. Tk care.

Regards,
Ajay

Hello AjayP,

This forum doesn't have photo attachment option.

Check out my post #31 for details.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=4567243&postcount=31

Also check your Private Messages from both me and DrWho.

Hi Suncity,
Just went thru the PMs. Will start putting up pix frm now on.
Thanks for the info.

Regards,
Ajay

Hi all,
After years of delays, the Trivandrum International Airport expansion project is finally underway, as GoK has handed over 27 acres of land required for the first phase.
I am posting pictures of the model of the new International Terminal. Being built on the Chackai side of the airport, with entry from the NH Bypass, this building will be the most advanced in the country. The futuristic design is proof enough of that. Work will be starting in a couple of months, AAI has started mobilising for the project. Construction time is estimated to be about 30 months. It will have a capacity to handle upto 12 lakh passengers, with 3-4 aerobridges and the ability to handle all wide-body jets.
The current international terminal will become the new domestic terminal with enhanced capacity and new facilities like aerobridges. Total capacity of the airport by 2008 will be over 20 lakh passengers. The new International Terminal is modular and readily expandable. A further 130 acres is being acquired for further expansion.

http://tinypic.com/6fus5e.jpg

http://tinypic.com/6fus95.jpg

http://tinypic.com/6fusqv.jpg

http://tinypic.com/6fut1u.jpg

http://tinypic.com/6fut83.jpg

http://tinypic.com/6futjp.jpg

http://tinypic.com/6futn5.jpg

http://tinypic.com/6futsk.jpg


Check out http://fasttrackprojectskerala.org/gallary/index.html

Will keep everyone updated on the progress of the project. Tk care.

Regards,
Ajay

Ajay> hey looks awesome!:eek::cool:

Ajay,

Thank you for posting those great pictures. Hope to see more in the near future.

:applause:

Sona

AjayPP...................awesome. That international terminal is going to be the most modern & sleakest in South Asia upon completion. I love the design.

Hi,
Yup, it is a damn impressive building. :eek2: Very similar to the glass and steel terminals at such landmark airports as Kansai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lampur. It's also equipped with the latest equipment such as intelligent baggage handling systems and common check in counters which allow passengers to check-in at any counter.
Domestic Terminal 1B at Mumbai is now being rebuilt. Its design is by Hafeez Contractor, but it pales in comparison to this edifice. I guess even when the new terminals come up at Hyd, B'lore, Mumbai and Delhi come up, they will still lag behind in design. Looks like Indian airports are finally breaking away from the blocky, concrete genre! :)

Ajay

finally, india is waking up and starting to build modern standard airports.... for centuries now our airports look as if they were built in the MIDDLE AGES.... all i can say is that INDIA WELCOME TO THE 20th Century... lets just hope that we see many more such wonderful projects being undertaken in the country.

Wow.. great pics :)
Good thing Gok adopted this fast track system... Very appreciative

. all i can say is that INDIA WELCOME TO THE 20th Century


You mean the 21st, don't you ;).

Nice designs of the airport AjayP :applause:. Kee p it up :okay:

BTW, welcome to SSC India :).

Hi Ajayp

Great Work. I have been searching for these pics to post it in Economy>Airport thread since I first saw a small photo in The Hindu. Using a glass structure for the whole building is a welcome change. Design could have been more enticing.

By the way, the Leela Scottish announced their investment only 10 days back, much after the Technopark one was announced. And Leela are investing Rs 80 crore at Infopark. This is to be finished in less than 2 years will be 700,000 sqft.
If you consider clusters, then the Smart City announced at Kakkanad is unmatched in the whole South with a whopping 20,000,000 sqft.

And I am not certain about heights of Green Hills nor any other projects in the state, except TechTowers at Kaloor which is 80 mtrs. 24 storeys per se does not mean "tallest".
Moreover there is no dearth for plans which get muddled in controversies. The Tallest structure in South India was announced in Kochi 4 years back. Imagine, it was a medical college building with 52 storeys at Kakkanad. But the "promoters"-UIMS got the clearance for the college only last year. And it has started functioning in a modest 15 storeyed building near Vyttila, though they have not yet shelved the big 'un :)
Hence my claim that, among the structures under construction Green Hills at Kakkanadu is the tallest in state.

Hi,
Here are a few more interesting pictures:

Firstly, the Infosys Delivery Centre coming up near Technopark. The site filling and levelling for this structure is currently underway at a huge 50 acre site. The first phase of the DC will accomodate 3500 people. In 2 additional phases it will accomodate a total of 12000 plus people in the next 2-3 years.

http://tinypic.com/6gzyxi.jpg

Next, the new 5 Star luxury hotel coming up at Vazhuthacaud (Women's College junction). It is a huge 250,000 sq.ft., 12 floored structure. Owned by the Dodla Int'l Group (whose other properties include Taj Coromandel, Chennai), constructed by L&T and likely to be operated by the Hyatt Group, it will be one of the premier hotels in South India. I am posting the artist's impression as well as two photos of the building under construction. The latter are a couple of months old and the main civil work is now complete.

http://tinypic.com/6h01me.jpg

http://tinypic.com/6h02mg.jpg

http://tinypic.com/6h0oie.jpg

Wat Nik says about the unpredictability of buildings in Kerala is true. Which is why one good idea will be to take into account those buildings which have started construction or have been tendered out.
The biggest case in point is this Smart City. With the scam between the DIC and GoK now coming out in papers like The Hindu, things look uncertain. Moreover, there is no evidence that a 20 million sq.ft project can ever be sustainable (currently Asia's single largest IT Park is 2 million sq.ft.), and would cost many more times the 1500 crores budgeted by DIC. Guess we should wait and watch on this one.
Will keep updating with new pix and news as I get them. Tk care.

Regards,
Ajay

hey ajay what are those two light blue and white buildings on the left hand side (in the background) in the first image of the hotel constuction.

Hi Ajayp

Are these from your own cam ? I'm interested in getting some beaut snaps if you are in Trivandrum right now.
Particularly photos of one lake that one sees from train enroute Trivandrum, but past Quilon(i guess). I am not able to name the place. It is lake saddled by two hillocks. So great but natural setting.

This forum rarely provides good shots of Kerala landscape as most Keralite participants are like me, too lazy :) (Of course there are exceptions like Suraj)

Hi all,

This is my first post to this forum, it is indeed a very much interesting one.

CJ, the two blue buildings on the left of the hotel at a distance are the Kerala State Housing Board Buildings. Infact it is not two, but three. One building has two 9 storeyed blocks and the other one is a stand alone 9 storeyed tower.

I have some interesting views with me, hope I would be able to post it as soon as possible.

http://img92.echo.cx/img92/787/kowdiarpalace3gu.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img92.echo.cx/img92/953/akulamworldmarket14hf.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Aerial view of NH bypass, Trivandrum. Akkulam lake and other waterbodies are seen. A multispeciality hospital, Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) is seen at the right extreme end. This photo is around 1 year old, now KIMS is expanding to 11 floors from the old 6 floors.

You could also see the 'Southern Air Command' Head Quarters.

The building you see by the side of NH is the agricultural wholesale market.

The canal snaking through the palmgroves is the TS Canal or 'Parvathi Puthanar'. It was used in earlier days for cargo movement. Now the Govt has chalked out a plan titled 'Theerapatham' or canal walk by which the 22 km of this canal from Akkulam lake to Kovalam would be developed for Tourism. Resorts, Hotels, Parks, Amusement centres etc are planned along the two shores and the land use is at present frozen. IL & FS are the consultants for this project.

URL=http://img295.echo.cx/my.php?image=aakulam18lf.jpg]http://img295.echo.cx/img295/165/aakulam18lf.th.jpg[/URL]

There are two tourist centres and boat clubs, Aakkulam and Veli.

Aakulam tourist village is in the northernmost part of the lake.

Veli toruist village is the more developed one and it is in the opposite side (not in the pic).

A walkway, about 500 m long, jutting out in the lake is being construted from Veli lake to the bridge. It is almost complete now. It will be extended to Akkulam also.

http://img295.echo.cx/img295/165/aakulam18lf.jpg[/URL]

http://tinypic.com/6iemuf.jpg[/URL]

http://img152.echo.cx/img152/4869/skylieapt9na.jpg[/URL]

Hi all,
Kewl pix from Sudheesh. :) Nik, got the pix from a friend, who is now planning to go on a clicking spree across Tvm. If u have any specific requests do lemme know. Will try my best to get the requisite images. For today, here is an interior pic of the 550,000 sq.ft. Bhavani MTF at Technopark. This was constructed by L&T ECC and houses US Technologies and Infosys (till they shift to their upcoming campus). Below that is a satellite image of Technopark. The resolution is poor, about 15m. However I am trying to get NASA imagery which is of 5 m resolution.The third image is a NASA LandSat 7 image, again at 10-15 m resolution, this time of the whole of Trivandrum city.

Regards,
Ajay

http://tinypic.com/6hncpd.jpg

Interior of Bhavani MTF

http://tinypic.com/6hnfo1.jpg

Satellite Image of current Technopark campus. 15 m Resolution; False colour.

http://tinypic.com/6hnqzk.jpg

Satellite Image of Trivandrum city area. LandSat 7, NASA. 15 m resolution; True colour. Note that major features like Trivandrum International Airport, Aakulam Lake, NH Bypass etc are clearly visible.Note the fact that even the city area looks relatively green, with only high-rises jutting out of the canopy, something that other cities have lost. The effect from a plane, on the approach to the Airport, is breathtaking.

Ajaypp, Sudheesnair..........................awesome. nice images both of you. akkulum is so lush green. nice aerials.

http://img296.echo.cx/img296/5981/heeragate4ra.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Heera Gate Apartments.

http://img296.echo.cx/img296/2425/capitalone1lh.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/9770/diamondcastle1cy.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

A commercial cum residential complex

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/3476/alliancemainimg4yy.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Alliance Tower

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/783/edheights4mg.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Ed Heights

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/5723/112300213ck.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

see the mist engulfing the area.

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/8982/112300165wh.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

The Board reads "KTDC Restaurant & Beer Parlour

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/6963/112300180tv.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Aerial view of Park Centre, Chandragiri buildings.

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/6350/tp24xe.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Aerial view of NILA building.
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/2139/technopark6pc.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

'Bhavani' building Atrium

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/4734/tp31ul.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/5337/tp40rl.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

This is the present 70000 sft facility in Technopark. A 3.5 lakh 'Global Training Centre is coming up next to this in 14 acres, apart from the development centre in 50 acres.
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/3220/trivandrumfront9fo.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Atrium
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8385/trivandrumatrium71yp.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/5332/trivandrumatrium44dn.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

In the night
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8865/trivandrumnightinside6sf.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/694/trivandrumwaterfall2zd.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3804/20030318image00047nf.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)


This woods are those in the Kowdiar palace grounds.
The life in those upper floors would be a bliss, away from the heat, grime and dust and good scenery around.
You can also see a TV tower (Doordarshan Kendra, Trivandrum) in the background.
This is the Eastern side, towards the western ghats.

Recently opened 10 acre 5 star property of TAJ.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4334/muthoottajcov7nr.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/9051/muthoottajcov5sn.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

www.tajhotels.com/Leisure/ Taj%20GREEN%20COVE%20RESORT,KOVALAM/recreation.htm

Hi,
I am posting another satellite pic of the Tvm city region. This one is from the same LandSat 7 satellite but has height information coded in. This involves combination of radar altimeter data with satellite images to get a 3-dimensional look. The height of features like the Western Ghats have been exaggerated ( 7 times normal). Key landmarks like Technopark, Int'l Airport and VSSC have been marked out.

Ajay

http://tinypic.com/6id8g5.jpg

Orthographically coded Satellite Image of Trivandrum City Area. Viewed from the South. LandSat 7 image;True Color; 15 m resolution

http://img288.imageshack.us/img288/1637/bhavani6hg.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/456/bhavani20qj.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3073/dharma5nu.jpg[/URL[URL=http://www.imageshack.us]http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8409/dharma32fa.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1296/dharma10ay.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/545/edheights21dt.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/6874/edheights11tx.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9660/heeratwins0nr.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9244/heeratwins11wc.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/3497/heeratwins29mj.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Hi,
Here is yet another satellite image of Trivandrum city area. This one is looking in from the West towards East and again topographically coded (to correct scale). The Western Ghats are clearly visible beyond the city area.

Ajay

http://tinypic.com/6jpl3k.jpg

Sudheeshnairs...............................excellent images of trivandrum highrises. I like them.

AjayPP.................awesome CGs. Techno parks is going to be located close to beach area. Thats great.

A nice view of Technopark amidst its green cover. In terms of news, the land handover for the new TCS Delivery Centre happened today. It will have 5000 engineers in 2-3 years time!

http://tinypic.com/6jpph2.jpg

Cool photos!!!

Keep 'em coming.

:)

Hi,
Yup, Technopark is quite near the sea side. In fact, standing on Park Centre or Bhavani, the sea is clearly visible on the other side of a lush green carpet.
In fact, that's one of the many things I love about Trivandrum - the lush greenery. :) I don't think many cities with a million plus population will have this much green cover. In fact, as you see from the satellite images as well if you take a look from a plane, only the dozens of high-rises in the city stick out from the canopy. This also demonstrates that lack of congestion in the city as the bulk of the people are able to live in 1 or 2 storied houses, due to the way the city is distributed, unlike in most other big cities where the congestion forces most people to live in high-rises. :okay:

Regards,
Ajay :nocrook:

hi all

The satalite image showing that Airport having two runways , last september when i land there, there was a singel runway...

Can anybody put more light on that..Is the Trivandrum Airport Expansion and Renovationsi happeneing before Delhi and mumbai airport ..???

i will go there in September again.. get you guys many snaps...

Rajesh

Hi,
Dr_k, u r right - the International Airport has only one main runway. The other tarmac stretch u see is probably the main taxiway which goes diagonally from the apron to the main runway. Incidentally, it is one of the longest main runways in the country at 10,000 feet.

The picture below is a close-up of the Airport. The main runway is lined up parallel to the coast, while there are two taxiways visible - one perpendicular to it and another one approaching directly. The main apron is beside the second taxiway, also at an angle to the main runway. The apron is one of the few in the country equipped with underground fuel lines. This means that fuel doesn't have to be trucked to the aircraft in huge bowsers. Rather a small pump truck drives up to the aircraft, hooks upto an outlet from an underground network of pipes and simply transfers it to the aircraft. :cool:

The new International Terminal will come up on the opposite side (city side) of the main runway to the current one. Land has been handed over to the AAI and construction is due to commence shortly. In fact, land clearance has started already I think.


http://tinypic.com/6p24u9.jpg

i will go there in September again.. get you guys many snaps...

Rajesh

That will be great!!!!

:)

Ajay, good satellite pictures...

Like to add a little to the last photo of Technopark posted by Ajay. You could see part of four buildings in that, Bhavani, Pamba, Periyar and Gaythri. The shot seems to be taken from the NH Bypass.

A mutlispeciality hospital near to the NH bypass. Earlier it was a six floor building now being expanded to eleven floors. One of the biggest hospitals in Kerala.

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/7026/kimshospital2bm.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4332/flat30cc.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Pattom Road.

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/3195/pattomrd4um.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

You can see two TVM city buses in this snap. The blue one is one of the new fleet of 150 Hi Tech 'Ananthapuri Fast' buses. The green one is the old model City Fast. :)

The public transport in Trivandrum city is the best in Kerala. Recently 150 Hi Tech buses, named 'Ananthapuri Fast' were pressed in to service, with white and blue colour by KSRTC. The old green 'City Fasts' are being phased out. There are also Mini buses of Eicher, Tata and Ashok Leyland (Red colour)to service the inner roads, apart from the red and yellow ordinary buses. There are also 'Ananthapuri Air Buses', which are low floored, back engine ones which operate to Tourist centres like Kovalam.

Red coloured 'Double Deckers' are also in service. The legacy of Double Deckers can be dated back to more than 50 years ago when such buses where imported from Great Britain. Hope to get snaps of those too.

Apart from these state owned buses, there are other private bus operators in the city.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/7742/palayamflyover0ld.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

This 2 lane flyover is about 15 years old. The photo is not clear, will try to get a better picture.

To the right is the 'Chadrasekharan Nair Stadium'.

In the back ground, you can see the 'Kerala Niyama sabha'

As anywhere else in the city, here also the building is sarrounded by lush green cover.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2894/floatingrestaurant8hw.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img286.imageshack.us/img286/4117/veliwalkway25en.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

This walkway i had mentioned at one of my earlier posts.

It extends up to Aakulam NH Bypass bridge now.

Will be extended up to Aakulam tourist village

A scenic walk from one tourist village to the other. :)

Paved walkway with granite slab seats.

This walkway crosses two road and two railway overbridges.

You can glide over the waters up to the Akulam bridge in speed boats and safari boats.

The VSSC building is seen in the background.

Thanks sudheeshnairs for the pics and descriptions. Keep them coming. Is there a way that you can get some aerial / bird's eye view of the city from a tall building?

Thanks Suncity, I will try to get some aerial views. But unlike other cities, it would be impossible to get a view of a larger area of the city from a single point since Trivandrum is a city full of hills and undulations. It is often said as a city of seven hills or sometimes seventeen hills. Cotton Hill, Barton Hill, Kanaka kunnu (golden hill), observatory hills etc are examples. So at any point, a hillock will be blocking the view.

Moreover the tall buildings are all in lowest points, ie, with a lesser AMSL, since the International Airport is within the corporation area. Anyway will try to get a snap from some of the 16-17 storeyed buildings.

Will be trying to give an informatory as well as detailed pictorial description of Trivandrum city

Thanks Suncity, I will try to get some aerial views. But unlike other cities, it would be impossible to get a view of a larger area of the city from a single point since Trivandrum is a city full of hills and undulations. It is often said as a city of seven hills or sometimes seventeen hills. Cotton Hill, Barton Hill, Kanaka kunnu (golden hill), observatory hills etc are examples. So at any point, a hillock will be blocking the view.

Moreover the tall buildings are all in lowest points, ie, with a lesser AMSL, since the International Airport is within the corporation area. Anyway will try to get a snap from some of the 16-17 storeyed buildings.

Will be trying to give an informatory as well as detailed pictorial description of Trivandrum city

Looking forward to it.

Cheers

Trivandrum is a city of much Tourist attraction and gets about 1 lakh foriegn tourists and about 6 lakh domestic tourists, annually. It has a good mix of lake, beach, hill, dams and wild life sanctuaries nearby. The tourist villages of Aakkulam and Veli are on the banks of the Aakkulam and Veli lakes. We have seen some of the scenic views in this thread.

The main beaches are Kovalam and Sankhumukhom. Kovalam caters mainly to International tourists and has a number of beaches like Grove beach, Eves beach, Light house beach etc. Recently further south places like Chowara, Poovar etc are gaining importance and many upmarket resorts like Poovar Island resort, Estuary Island, Isolo-di-coco, Travancore Heritage etc have come up. Sankhumukhom beach is a city side domestic beach.

There are three reservoirs nearby, Aruvikkara dam, Peppara Dam and Neyyar dam. Aruvikkara dam is the main source of drinking water for the city, supplemented by the Peppara dam. Peppara and Neyyar are also wild life sanctuaries. The Neyyar dam has the rare distinction of having a LION SAFARI PARK. There is also a crocodile farm. It is just 30 kms from the city. Its catchment area has the distinction of having the second highest peak in Kerala, 'Agasthyarkoodam' at 1890 metres above MSL.

The major hill station is Ponmudi, 55 kms away with 22 hairpin bends enroute. There are some tea estates in PONMUDI area. Other hill stations with tea estates are BONOCCORD and BRAEMORE. BONOCCORD is the base station for trekking to the Agasthya hills.

http://img276.imageshack.us/img276/1803/veliwalkway8hj.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img276.imageshack.us/img276/9632/floatingrestaurant18js.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

You can see the walkway to the left of the restaurant.

A boat club is seen on the right side.

Pedal boats, safari boats and speed boats are available.

^^^

The walkway looks cool!!!

An amusement park is proposed in Veli by the Abu Dhabi based 'Southern Fun City' in 20 acres. The project is yet to be started since the land acquisition is not complete, 40 cents in the middle is yet to be acquired by the Govt and handed over to SFC.

Another amusement park, 'Happy land' is getting ready about 20 kms from the city.

http://img276.imageshack.us/img276/6027/flat26iq.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

The GF and FF houses a Maruti showroom(only part of FF is seen), one among the three showrooms Maruti is having in the City.

http://img276.imageshack.us/img276/5169/heeracastle3hi.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img276.imageshack.us/img276/7023/heeraplaceheights8kp.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5638/ppdcliffdale6rd.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

This is a 16 storeyed tower.

Was able to cover only up to 12 floors..

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8955/ppdseasons3za.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

This is a 17 storeyed tower in the making.

WOW! Trivandrum is rising skyward!

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/9859/kowdiarrd5kl.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

This road would be looking different shortly.

It is included in the Trivadrum Roads Development Program.

Punjj Lyod has taken up the 250 crore work.

It involves widening and developing to international standards of 42 km roads in the city, in the first phase.

Work is already going on along the footpath. You can see workers in the foot path in the right side of the road.

Ring roads in Trivandrum Capital Region

Government of Kerala has identified the need for the development of Thiruvananthapuram Capital region to serve the needs of the capital and to be a symbol of the development of Kerala. The cabinet subcommittee on capital region development has approved a proposal to develop nine important road corridors, three link roads to the National Highway bypass, two flyovers and one underpass as part of the capital region development scheme. The scheme covering 42 km of roads envisages the development 65 junctions and 94 busbays.

Components of the project are:
•Widening and strengthening of 42 Kms. of roads
•Geometric improvement
•Improvement of 65 junctions
•Flyovers at Bakery junction and Melepazhavangadi and Underpass at Palayam junction
•2 metre footpath on all the roads
•Road signs, markings and solar – based traffic signals
•Provision of storm water drains, new streetlights and tree planting
•94 Bus bays abutting the roadway
•Reorganisation of existing utilities (telephone, electrical lines etc)
No future road cutting

The project envisages to achieve:

•Widening and strengthening of 12 corridors- 42 Kms. and 65 major intersections
•Dispersal of traffic from city centre
•Improved links to NH bypass
•Uninterrupted movement along Ring Road and across M.G.road by providing Underpass and flyovers
•Highly strengthened road surface
•94 Bus bays – Buses stopping away from road
•2 metres wide continuous footpath, signalised zebra crossings and other facilities
oAll roads have 2 m wide footpath. Footpaths will be paved.
oModern street lighting systems.
oHigh Mast lighting at major junctions.
oMajor junctions will have signaling.
oCross ducts to take care of future needs of laying fresh utility lines. No digging of roads will be permitted.
oFlyovers in its real sense – First in Kerala.
oVehicular Underpass – first in Kerala, unique in many ways

The Consortium of Punj Lloyd – CTNL was found to be the lowest bidder.
The Concession Period for the Project would be 17 years 6 months, which would include Implementation Period of 30 months and Operations Period of 15 years

Aerial perspective of Underpass at Palayam.

http://img273.imageshack.us/img273/3307/upaerial3pu.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Another view

http://img273.imageshack.us/img273/627/upperspective18mz.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img273.imageshack.us/img273/1042/underpass19et.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Another view

http://img273.imageshack.us/img273/6892/underpass29au.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

The date of the photo can be seen, was taken on 18th March 2005.

Now the project is about 75% complete.

Roads all set to go green

Sunday, Jun 26, 2005.

Staff Reporter

14 corridors identified for landscaping project

Landscaping project features
Footpaths, traffic islands, medians and roadsides to be landscaped
15- year maintenance contract for trees and plants
Endemic species identified.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government is giving finishing touches to a landscaping project for the 14 corridors identified for development under the City Roads Improvement Project.

Designed to add to the beauty of the road network, the project involves specific plans for greening footpaths, traffic islands, medians and roadsides.

Two hundred trees are to be planted on the Shanghumughom-All Saints College road in the first phase of the project which is scheduled to take off next week. Hundreds of saplings and tree guards are being prepared at a nursery set up at Chackai.
Project managers said it had been decided to spare 372 trees which had been identified for felling on Kowdiar-Museum Road.

The initial proposal to axe the trees had led to protest from nature lovers and citizens, forcing the authorities to redesign the project.

Chairman of Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority P.K. Venugopal said all the healthy trees would be spared the axe. "Only a few old trees on the Vellayambalam- LMS stretch will be cut down", he said.

Widening of the LMS- Kowdiar Road involves reducing the width of the footpath by one metre and adding it to the carriageway to facilitate smoother flow of traffic. The footpaths will be covered with cobblestones or interlocking tiles.

Prepared by the Kerala Road Fund Board in association with Consulting Engineering Services, the landscaping project involves a 15-year maintenance contract. "For every tree that will be cut down for road widening, two others will be planted", an official said.

Expert committee

The Government had set up an expert committee to identify the species for each road corridor. The committee recommended trees of small to medium height to be planted on footpaths, in the additional space beyond the duct provided for utilities.

Experts have also proposed a row of shrubs along the road boundary or a strip of grass on the edge of the carriageway. Medians are to be greened with small shrubs to reduce the problem of headlight glare during night.

At traffic junctions and islands, the plan proposes small shrubs or grass. Medium-height trees requiring limited area for spread of roots and overhead canopy have been suggested for footpaths.

This is because trees with large root spread will damage the pavement and adjacent structures over a period of time.

The consultants have recommended flowering trees but ruled out fruit- bearing varieties which would entail maintenance problems and attract birds and monkeys. Endemic species of trees and shrubs easily available from local nurseries have been identified.

Urban landscape

"The project is designed in such a way that the trees merge with the urban landscape", an official said. Same species will be planted in a linear fashion along a particular corridor to create identity and to enhance road aesthetics.

The trees included in the list include `oongu, `chempakam,' `poomaruthu,' neem, `ashoka,' `Gulmohar,' Royal Palm, Umbrella babul and `konna' (Cassia fistula), popularly known as Golden Shower.

The shrubs selected for planting include roses, croton and hibiscus besides medicinal plants like `amrut,' `aadalodakam,' `erukku,' `kacholam,' `kaithonni,' Aloe vera, `thulasi' and `ramacham' (Vettiveria cicenoides).

Sudheesh,

You are doing a excellent job in getting good new photos of Trivandrum everyday. Trivandrum has lot of good buildings with old style architecture. It'll be good if you can get some snaps of Padmanabha swamy temple, Kuthira maalika, Central RAILWAY station building, Secrateriat, AG's office, Residency, Science and Technology Measuem, PWD office etc.

Sona
:tiasd:

Thanks Sona,

Will try to get those photos also, but some time is needed.

Will continue with more posts of the beautiful Trivandrum.

Sudheesh,

Thanks for posting those cool pics of Trivandrum. Keep up the good job.
I have a few addons to Sona's list. Kanakakunnu Palace, Observatory, University college.....

Take care
Anantha

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

This is a 7 storeyed tower of stone architecture, built in 1700s.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8532/padmanabha0fm.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Trivandrum has a lot of Victorian style buildings, this is one among them. :)

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/9639/pmgoffice2je.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

View from Gandhi Park.

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/4499/eastforttrivandrum5kd.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

This was taken prior to the lighting up of East Fort.

You have seen the lighted East Fort in one of the earlier posts.

It is a continously changing display of lights

The Fort would be bathed in continously changing hues and colours.

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/73/museum26qo.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

The style of this building is a mix of Victorian and Travancorean architecture.

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6416/museum15lj.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/8650/technopark71pu.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

The board says all.
Technopark is now one among the three biggest IT parks in Asia.

Poised to grow about 3 times by 2007.

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9409/technopark57ae.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

No wonder it is said as the world's greenest Technopolis.

Technopark, the first IT Park in the country to be assessed at CMMI Level 4 is all set for its 2 nd and 3 rd phase of expansion. After its 1 st phase, the park has a built-up space of 15 lakh sq ft over an area of 156 acres and is home to 75 companies providing employment to 7,500 people. All the space available is currently occupied and several new companies have shown serious interest in setting up shop in Technopark. Besides, several existing co's are also ramping up their operations creating a huge demand for work space. This has prompted the Government to go in for the 2 nd and 3 rd phase of expansion.

2 nd Phase:

Technopark is constructing a 6 lakh sft state of the art building inside the campus. This 11 floor centrally air conditioned building, with facilities for basement parking and roof top restaurants, is expected to cost Rs. 50 cr. This will be the single largest office structure in the state. 86 acres of land, adjoining the campus, has been acquired. Out of this, 50 acres has been ear marked for Infosys and the balance 36 acres for US Software.. TCS has been allotted 25 acres within the campus for their software development centre. This is in addition to the 14 acres of land allotted to them for setting up their new 'Global Training Centre' which will be the largest in the world. IBS Software has been allotted 5 acres of land for constructing a 2 lakh sq. ft. office.

The 2 nd phase of expansion which is expected to be completed by end 2007 is expected to see an investment of around Rs. 1000 cr and an additional employment creation of 20,000.

3 RD Phase:

100 acres of land will be acquired to meet with the anticipated demand for space by IT/ITES companies. L & T has evinced interest in setting up a 30 acre ‘Info City' here.

The entire 186 acres under the 2 nd & 3 rd phase of expansion will be promoted as an SEZ for IT / ITES.

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7901/proposedlandforinfy16ov.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

This is the recently acquired 86 acres of land.

50 acres for Infosys & 36 acres for US Software.

Land development works have started, you can see it in the pic.

This is also a verdant green landscape.

A stark contrast from the grey and barren lands we see by the side of HITEC city or TIDEL Park.

Will be posting the pictures of the Infy & US campuses.

Please wait till 2006-2007 :)

A 'skyline' apartment coming up by the side of another.

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6107/skylinewimbledoncourt3le.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/8456/kowdiarmanorandsnilayam9is.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/4330/bcantihomes9ag.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/6453/regentscourt3rx.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/6938/samariascentre7ok.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

SAMARIAS Centre is one of the old highrises of the city, at 11 floors.

Lavender Gardens.

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/811/ptc4uj.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Only an eight floor apartment, but looks different! :)

Poovar Island Resort.

View of the 'Floatels'.

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5711/poovar14he.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

The Kovalam-Poovar belt along the southern coast of Trivandrum
The maximum revenue earner for Tourism in the State.
There are about 150 hotels & resorts in the area.
Room occupancy rates touching up to Rs.15,000/- a day.

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6471/poovar28tf.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6830/poovar32me.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5965/poovar47et.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

This photo was taken by me.

Going back from Poovar Island reort.

It is accessible only by boat.

In the background you can see another Resort, Estuary Island.

Infact there is one more resort, Isolo-Di-Coco which is also next to this.

http://tinypic.com/6z3qtw.jpg

Shankhumukhom-Palayam road.

Work is going on

This road is the first in the list of 14 corridors to be landscaped.

The International Airport boundary wall is by the side.

http://tinypic.com/6z3qf4.jpg

http://tinypic.com/6z3pzs.jpg

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/3719/punjloyyldworkinprogress14uk.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

You can see a hoarding of Indian Air Force, that compund is the Air Force station at Shankhumukhom.

Trivandrum is the seat of Southern Air Command.

The headquarters is at Aakkulam.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1531/nikunjamestatesnxt7rc.gif (http://www.imageshack.us)

Nikunjam Estates Nxt

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3655/nikunjammornarch4fq.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Nikunjam Monarch

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/2797/nikunajmroyale3xe.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Nikunjam Royale

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/2980/nikunjantowers2bg.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/6720/nikunjamestates9lz.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/1963/nikunjamretreat7mr.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/1433/rhapsody8zk.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The foundation stone for the Habitat Centre
proposed for Thiruvananthapuram, will be laid by the President on
July 18.
This ambitious project will be implemented as a joint venture between
the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) and the Kerala
State Housing Board (KSHB), said K.M. Mani, Minister for Revenue and
Housing, in a written reply to a question raised in the State
Assembly by K. Mohankumar, MLA recently.

The two agencies are in the process of setting up a Special Purpose
Vehicle (SPV), a company with equal equity participation by both, to
implement and run the Habitat Centre. Modelled on India Habitat
Centre, New Delhi, the project will come up on a 3.25-acre land along
the Kowdiar Avenue Road in the city, already assigned to the KSHB by
the State Government.

Unique environment

The centre would be an assemblage of habitat-related activities,
providing a unique working environment within the city. It is mainly
aimed at developing an integrated physical environment in which
various professions and institutions, dealing with different aspects
of habitat and related environmental issues, would function, interact
and attempt to resolve habitat related problems in a co-ordinated
manner, the Minister said.

The proposed complex would offer a wide variety of facilities ranging
from convention centres, commercial and office space, exhibition hall
and art gallery, habitat museum, hotels, restaurants, cultural centre
and clubs, spread over an inbuilt area of 3 lakh square feet.

Mascot Hotel, a 68 room FIVE STAR property.

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/6660/mascot6nv.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/741/mascotgall032ee.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/6180/mascotgall069gb.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/5348/mascothotel4uf.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Photo taken from the road outside.

This 7 storey tower faces an oval swimming pool.

Will try to get a good snap :)

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/7893/chaithramgall046mc.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/6972/chaithramgall011xh.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/2623/samudragall019lv.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/3652/samudragall038bj.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/2021/samudragall040ob.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Hi Sudheesh

Nice Pictures of Trvandrum development.. can you post any pictures of the Road which they are modifiying... Like near the Museum, near palayam.. yesterday when i talked to my home, they say a lot of construction is going on in the city.. anything going on around the East Fort Bus Stop..?? I definately feel that they should construct a underpass and make the area more beautiful and well maintained.. i had even make a sketch of the area with the new roads and Pedestrai Brides areound there.. i will post it soon..

This september i will be there... hope to meet you...

The road around the Airport had definately got a new look.. i hope they make a good pedestrian walkways on both side and good marking on it..


i feel the pedestrian walkways are not utilized in india properly, just because of the way it is constructed..

1. The pedestrian way is too high , people are lazy ( even me ) to climb over it an walk..

2. There is no way you can distinguish between pedestrian and road, because from pedestrain side to the middle of the road.. it is covered with dust.. so people just walk on the road..

If we clrealy draw a line ( i mean the pedestrain and the road should look distinctive) then people will use it.

Thanks to all.. just share my idea here..

Rajesh

Hi Rajesh,

Thanks for the compliments. Have only a couple of photographs regarding the road development. Will be trying to take new ones, only hindrance is the time factor, :) and nowdays, it is raining..

But be sure that TVM would be getting the best roads in India. As I have mentioned in the earlier posts, every road would be having 2 metre footpaths, and it would be paved/tiled. (just like Dubai ):) All roads will have storm water drains as well as covered culverts for cables/other utilities. Every 50m, a transverse duct would be provided to connect both the sides of the road. So no further road cutting.

At present work is going on in the Kowdiar road, Palayam-Airport stretch, Underpass at Palayam, Flyover at Powerhouse across MG road, Bypass links from Fort to Enchakkal, Kumarapuram to Bypass via KIMS etc.

As you may be aware, this entire project is on private participation, Punj Llyod-CTNL consortium is doing it, and they would maintain it for 15 years. Also please note that these roads would be landscaped also. :)

Signals, High Mast lamps, modern street lighting etc would be there along this 42 km network.

East fort area, Punj Lloyd is at present doing works of the 'Amayizhanjan Canal raising and desilting. This stretch is also in the program, a Six lane one from Attakulangara to LMS. Seems that it would be taken up later.

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/2682/underpass14kw.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

This is the Palayam area, approach to the Underpass.

University Building is seen ahead.

University library by the side.

To the right is the flyover, a green city fast is going towards it.

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/2306/punjloyyldworkinprogress3kz.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/417/underpass29th.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5388/underpass5iu.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://tinypic.com/70xqig.jpg

The first and largest Five star property in Kerala.

194 rooms in 65 acres.

Previoulsy owned by ITDC under the brand 'Ashok'.

Under disinvestment process, taken over by the 'Galfar' group.

Now the tourism major, 'Leela group' going to take over this at 140 crores.

http://tinypic.com/70ygeu.jpg

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A Three star hotel on Eves beach, Kovalam, Trivandrum.

http://tinypic.com/710gm9.jpg

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Sudheeshnairs....................excellent underpass construction images. BTW. What is this clock tower building????????. Train station???????? :)

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/2682/underpass14kw.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

This is the Palayam area, approach to the Underpass.

University Building is seen ahead.

University library by the side.

To the right is the flyover, a green city fast is going towards it.

Sudheesh,

It looks like the face of palayam is changing.Lot of things are happening at Trivandrum. Do you know how long does it take to complete the Palayam underpass and bakery Flyover?

Anantha

Great pics Sudheesh!

Hi all,
Yup, the face of the city is undergoing a sea change. In fact, it is one of the most comprehensive Urban Development projects happening in any Indian city. As you may know, Phase One of the Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Project (TRDP) involves some 45 Km of main roads, 2 flyovers and an underpass. An additional two flyovers, at Pattom and Peroorkada are also under active consideration.

The completion date for the Palayam underpass is July 31st and it looks like it will be met. :) I was at the site on Sunday and most of the main concreting work is complete. The underpass itself has been fully cast as have the approach ramps. Work is progressing fast on the approach roads. The underpass is quite cavernous and looks like having 3-4 lanes. It's much wider than the underpasses I have seen at Chennai or B'lore which are 2 lane underpasses.

The fly over work is all set to start off in earnest. It was held up due to the delay in the KWA shifting a water main. Now that has been completed and the canal on one side of the road has been fully enclosed in a concrete box, which will support a roadway. Piling work will commence right away. Punj Lloyd already had one auger drill on site. Looks like one or two more have arrived, since they want to speed up work. Auger drills allow the use of pre-cast piles which are much faster to construct.

It has still not been finalised if the Bakery Junction Flyover will be totally pre-cast or whether the span beams would be cast in situ. The former is preferred since it is much faster, however Punj Lloyd was almost forced to adopt the latter approach since it was felt that the massive tractor-trailer rig which carries the 75-80 ton concrete beams may not be able to negotiate all the turns from Punj Lloyd's Chackai casting yard to the flyover site. However, now that the Underpass has been completed, I have heard they might try that. I will confirm and let you know.

The work on the Thakaraparambu flyover has also started, with the relocation of another water main. Again, some delays have crept in due to the KWA's "lightning" pace of execution. However, since pre-cast construction is being used in this case, work can be speeded up later if need be.

Hope this update helps. Will have more pix of all three construction sites when I visit Trivandrum next time or maybe Sudheesh will have more by then.
The two of us will also get snaps of the TCS and Infosys construction sites.
Take care and keep posting.

Regards,
Ajay

Thanks for the compliments Jai and Hindsutani :)

The clock tower is the University of Kerala head quarters and not a train station.

The Trivandrum Central Railway station is also a stately building. Hope to cover it along with the new Satellite terminal works at Kochuveli.

Anantha, hope Ajay has clarified your queries. The palayam underpass would be over by July 31st. The work for the Flyover at Bakery Jn is going on..The completion date seems to be March 31st 2006.

Vehicles coming out of the underpass would be straightaway entering the flyover.

http://img304.imageshack.us/img304/7081/kovalamlighthouse0oo.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Kovalam is characterised by roack promontories like this.

There are four major promontories and five beaches.
Lighthouse beach, Eves Beach, Le Meridein Beach, Grove beach and Samudra beach.

Now a new one, infront of Taj Green cove and Uday Samudra has been developed.

Hi all,
As Sudheesh said, the Kovalam Poovar area is composed of multiple beaches seperated by rocky promontaries. The satellite image below will make this clear. :)

Ajay

http://tinypic.com/71sqc6.jpg

The Vizhinjam fishing harbour and its breakwaters are clearly visible to the right of the Kovalam beaches in the picture. The Vizhinjam International Container Terminal will come right next to it and extend to the next promontary. As you can see from here, it is isolated from the tourist areas by the promontaries and hence doesn't pose any threat to tourism. In fact, even the towering quay cranes will be almost invisible from elsewhere. Thus, the current fuss being raised in a national daily concerning the "threat posed to Tourism" is utter nonsense!

http://img304.imageshack.us/img304/7107/seaface42ad.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Lighthouse beach has the largest concentration of beach view restaurants.

Fresh catch from the sea is displayed to be grilled or cooked for the tourists.

You can savour it in the gentle sea breeze with beer.

The beach becomes lively in the evenings with beach volleys.

In the night, beach looks like a necklace with the restaurant lights on..

Thanks you sudeesh and Ajay for your Valuable info on the development ..

Eager to see that all...

rajesh

http://tinypic.com/73kxgy.jpg
http://tinypic.com/73kxs5.jpg

Rajesh, this is the Palayam-Airport stretch.

Side ducts for utilities are being constructed, this is an old photo, now almost complete.

Hi,
As is pretty obvious, new projects in Trivandrum are dime a dozen these days, but let me outline some of the mega ones to get a real sense of the massive development spurt here:

1) Thejaswini - Technopark's latest addition - 11 floors and a whopping 600,000 sq.ft. Currently completing the tendering stage. Completion time - 15 months. It will be the largest stand alone office structure in the State

2) Peepul Park - TCS' Global Training Centre -350,000 sq.ft. - 40% completed.Completion time - end-2005. Builders - M/S Shapoorji Pallonji. This will be one of the largest corporate training hubs in the world.

3) 5 Star Luxury Hotel Project at Vazhuthacaud -11 floors - 200,000 sq.ft. - Civil works completed. Built by L&T ECC. Due to open towards end of 2005 and to be operated by the Hyatt group.

4) Infosys Campus - Will accomodate 10-12,000 engineers in 3 phases - Phase I will accomodate 3500 engineers. Estimated size (based on industry standard of 180-200 sq.ft. per person) - 5-600,000 sq.ft in first phase and upto 2,000,000 sq.ft. eventually. Completion time - Phase I: Mid - 2006; Final - 2008. Site filling in progress.

5) TCS Delivery Centre - Spread over 25 acres adjacent to Peepul Park, will accomodate 3-5000 engineers and have about 6-800,000 sq.ft. of space. Land has been handed over and construction is due to start on completion of Peepul Park. Completion time - less than a year/ end-2006. Builders: Most likely M/S Shapoorji Pallonji (they hold a stake in Tata Sons and hence are preferred)

6) US Software Campus - Plans to accomodate 10,000 by 2007. Phase one will have 3000 new employees (US Soft just issued an order with Cisco for network supply for 3000 personnel) Estimated size 4-500,000 sq.ft. (Based on current US Soft utilisation) Completion time 8-12 months.

7) IBS Campus - 250,000 sq.ft. Land acquired. Completion time not yet specified - probably 8-12 months.

8) IndiOne - business class hotel from the Taj Group. 50,000 sq.ft. Work to start in a couple of months.

9) Various large retail establishments - including Kalyan Silks, Malabar Gold Fort, Pothys,Allukas, Varkeys (10 floor commercial tower) and more - estimated total of 6-700,000 sq.ft. Completion time - next 4 - 10 months. Construction of Malabar Gold Fort, Kalyan, Varkeys etc is already underway.

10) New complex of Sri Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences - estimated size 300,000 sq.ft - project cost of about 100 crores. Completion time - 15 months.

This means an amazing 3,000,000-plus sq.ft. of IT, hospitality and commercial space will be added in the next 15 months in Trivandrum - comparable to some Metros!! In addition to this, massive amounts of residential space is also being added in the same period. The IT boom alone will mean a demand for 3-5000 units in the next 2-3 years!
:eek2:

The action is hotting up in Trivandrum. Guess there is gonna be a lot to post in the coming weeks and months!!! :happy: C ya all. Tk care.

Regards,
Ajay

wow.. Thanks ajay..

But you know what i always think.. when you come from Palayam to Airport ,, you arrive in opposite side of the terminal and the runway, then you need to turn right, drive half a kilometer, till the end of runway and then turn left and then turn right ( drive half a kilometer ) and reach the Airport terminal.

what if , they make an underpass , below the runway.. to the terminal... It will be magnificent...!!! On one side, it will reduce the drive time and another it will look amazing when the Aircraft go over the road. ( like Copenhagen Airport)

Just my dreams...!!!!!

Rajesh

Hi Ajay,

You have missed out Asian School of Business

"ASB will function in a centrally air-conditioned building within the Technopark campus in Trivandrum during the first phase. The international ambience of the premises will enhance the state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities. The campus has nearly everything you need within easy reach - be it banking facilities, cafes, recreation centres to bus bays. By 2007, ASB will have its own campus in a 15-acre property, close to Technopark. This campus will be an integrated facility, comparable with the best in India".

The Board of Governors has bigwigs in the Industry and Academics like:

1) Dr. S Ramadorai, (Chairman, ASB), CEO & Managing Director, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.

2) Mr. S Gopalakrishnan (Kris), Co-Founder, Dy. MD and COO, Infosys Technologies Ltd

3) Prof M R Rao, Dean Indian School of Business Hyderabad.

4) Prof. M N V Nair, Founder-Dean of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

5) Prof. Prakash G Apte, Director, IIM-Bangalore.[/I]

6) [I]Prof Samuel Paul, Former Professor & Director IIM (A) for over 2 decades

The list is not ending here.....


The aim of the ASB is to be the one among the top 10 management institutes in India. Seeing the profile of the Directors, it seems to be an easy task.. :)

Eager to get the snaps of the new building of ASB.

You may visit the website www.asb.edu.in

Hi Rajesh,

There is a small correction, it is not half a kilometer each as you said, infact it is abt 6 km from Chackai to the Airport via Sankhumukhom. Infact you will be moving in a rectangular path around the runway which is 3398 metres which is one of the lengthiest in the country.

By the way the new International Terminal is coming up in the Chackai side itself, that is the entry would be from the NH bypass. So no need for the circumferencial trip as you mentioned. The entry from the NH would be a six lane and there is a need of a bridge across the T.S Canal. The present International Terminal & Domestic Terminal would be remodelled to a function as the Domestic terminal.

So this would necessitate a need to link both the Terminals, on both sides of the runway..

Hope you got a clear picture.

Thanks Sudeesh for Clarifying this..

But i am curious, do you know the timeline for the New International Airport ?

Hi Rajesh,

I think that the International Airport work is scheduled to begin by August 05. There is a say that the Prime Minister may come for inauguration of the work. I heard that work may take 30 months for completion.

Will be briefing up the updates...

http://img322.imageshack.us/img322/3435/mp7ka.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

This is a Sarovar Park Plaza hotel.

About 50 rooms at present, drawn up expansion plans for double capacity.

Glass and steel is always attractive. :)

Hi Suncity,

I managed to take some aerial view, but the building was not much tall.

And it was after office hours,(6PM), so not much light!

Hope to get on top of that tall building, it is about 18 floors high.

Next to it also there is a tall, but lean one.

http://tinypic.com/73ky84.jpg

This is also a 15+ tower, raising its head from the green cover.

10 floors is seen above the green line.

http://tinypic.com/73kzrb.jpg

That red buiding is the Rajiv Gandhi Center for BioTechnology.

Nearby are Apartments, that white one is 15 floor one.

You can see an elevated piece of land/hill running like a line.

It almost extends to the coast, it is the 'Thiruvallom Hills'.

A film studio, 'Chitranjali' is functioning there.

http://tinypic.com/73l07s.jpg

Eastern side, away from city.

Mukkuni mala(meaning Mukkunni Hill) is in the background.

It is 1074 ft above sea level.

Indian Air Force has a radar station there.

Firing range of the Miliatry is also there.

Red roofed building is the Head Quarters of 'State Bank of Travancore'

Behind that lush green foliage of Acacia trees, there is the 'Pangode Military Regiment'.

http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/7312/dscn60116qn.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

It is green, green every where. :)

http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/6570/dscn60159yu.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

This stretch will also look different shortly.

It is included in the road development projects.

Infact half of the front yard of the compound I am standing would be taken for road widening.


http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/1894/dscn60171wh.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://tinypic.com/73kuub.jpg

Roof tops are cool in Tvm in the evenings.

This is a party area at the roof top.

You can see some more apartments at the far end.

http://tinypic.com/73kthy.jpg

Seeing this, we may sing "The woods are lovely, dark and deep"

But it is very much thickly populated beneath the green cover.

http://tinypic.com/73ku53.jpg

Perhaps you can make out the line of the Western ghats in the far east.

The first row of clouds is just touching it.

Aerial distance would be about 40 km only to the Ghats.

http://tinypic.com/73kujd.jpg

The only International School in Kerala, the Trivandrum International School is set in a serene 15 acre campus on a hilltop on the outskirts of Trivandrum. It is about 20 km north of Trivandrum The curricula offered are ICSE, (University of Cambridge) IGCSE and `A` Levels and International Baccalaureate. The present body of students are of parents currently residing in USA, UK, Switzerland, Singapore, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Thailand, Columbia...... and, of course, Kerala and the rest of India.

Trivandrum's cosmopolitan ambience - international IT corporations, the high profile space research center, national laboratories and centres of excellence, and a legacy of fine-art and culture - offers the perfect backdrop to Kerala's first international school
http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/4026/trins23hl.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/9180/trins8fu.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Looks like a hill station.

The Trivandrum-Kollam NH 47 is passing just infront and in the valley of this hill

http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/6697/trins42lx.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/4820/trins37xa.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

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http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/4861/trins50xi.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Thanks Sudheesh for the rooftop views. I like those kinds of pics. Looking forward to more such pics.

Trivandrum is such a greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen city.

Hi,
It's great to see the kinda response this thread has evoked in the last few days, both in terms of number of views and replies. Sudheesh and I am planning to put up a lot of images in the days to come. Sudheesh will continue posting, while I will take snaps of Technopark and surrounding areas when I fly to Tvm for the 23rd-24th weekend. Keep urself tuned to this channel for more. :)

Ajay

:cheers: great job sudheesh....ur showin the wonderful metro face of trivandrum...the glorious capital city of kerala...i really like all of them..plz continue posting pics....there are a lot of other buildings and monuments here...secreteriate, kerala university kariavattom campus, college of engineering, KINFRA video park,KINFRA APPAREL park, Medical college, dental college, SCT and SAT campus, SUT hospital, University college, Mar ivanios college, Women's college, AGs office, SPENCER PLAZA, ayurveda college, central library, fine arts college are only some of these.

Wow great to see so many new forumers


Welcome :cheers1:

Hi all,
Some of you have been curious about the Capital City Development Programme (CCDP). Here is a link to the Kerala PWD web-page which carries details as well as the current status of various projects, mostly pertaining to the Trivandrum Road Development Project (TRDP).

Kerala PWD - Capital City Development page (http://www.keralapwd.net/pwd/public/tvm.jsp)

Hope this helps, will post more pix at the earliest.Tk care.

Regards,
Ajay

Hi,
Check out this neat web-based facility offered by the Kerala PWD:

Shortest Distance Calculator (http://www.keralapwd.net/pwd/public/route.jsp)

It is still being updated, but is already pretty comprehensive. :)

Ajay

Hi Suncity, I am planning to get more aerial views...

Infact there is a lot to cover in Trivandrum, modern face of city, old historical buildings, parks & gardens, tree lined avenues, several roundabouts, new highrises etc...

Welcome Sumesh, my younger brother's name is also Sumesh!! :) Going to the Apparel Park, Film & Video Park and getting snaps will take anyway one full day, also these are all not public places where one can easily enter and take photos, but it won't be that much difficult for me since I worked with KINFRA some years back :) Only thing is that I will have to take leave for a day!!

Happy to see that the forum is getting active... :)

Samrudhi Apartments.

http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/2563/samrudhi1ft.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

An upcoming shopping plaza at Peroorkada

http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/7387/nadanmainimg6dx.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Hi all,
Some details of the upcoming Infosys campus at Trivandrum have appeared on the website of Sobha Developers, who are tradtionally the builders for Infy.

Sobha Developers' Projects Page (http://www.sobhadevelopers.com/projects/contractual/)

Each individual Software Development Block is about 125,000 sq.ft. Since Infosys plans to have about 3000 developers in phase One (mid-2006), there will be about 3-4 of these SDBs - about 500,000 sq.ft. in all. There is also a 35,000 sq.ft. Food Court in phase One, as well as other facilities like a Gym, Spa and Clubhouse. Will keep you updated as more info becomes available.

Ajay

http://tinypic.com/900opf.jpg

A Trivandrum 'Skyline'

Trivandrum is a city of glorious tradition.

Most of the modern buildings also sport some tiled crown.

http://tinypic.com/900rrn.jpg

Trivandrum aerials are different from the usual Indian cityscapes.

Not much clluttered and match box type buildings.

http://tinypic.com/901tv4.jpg

This side it is all coconut palms...

http://tinypic.com/901ump.jpg

The architecture is in the lines of Roman-Dutch architecture.

Built during the period of Maharajah, Ayilam Thirunal Rama Varma

During his reign from 1860-1880.

The paint job looks good. :)

http://tinypic.com/9020lj.jpg

http://tinypic.com/90239c.jpg

http://tinypic.com/9024iw.jpg

Suncity had earlier posted this apartment complex.

Now two more blocks are being added.

A 17 floor 'Autumn Hue' and five floor 'Spring bloom'


http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/6442/seasonsnew5rx.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://tinypic.com/905zmg.jpg

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First phase of airport road to be opened on July 31

T. Nandakumar

Road to have a 9.5-metre carriageway

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Driving down to the Shanghumughom beach for a breath of fresh air promises to be an altogether different experience for city residents.

The reconstructed stretch of the Airport-Palayam road corridor from Shanghumughom to All Saints College is all set for inauguration on July 31. The 2.2 km-road is being widened and developed under the City Roads Improvement Scheme. Designed to accommodate three-lane traffic, the road will have a 9.5-metre carriageway with a 2-metre footpaths on both sides.

Green corridor

The tarring work of the road is almost over, leaving only the final wearing coat to be applied. The footpaths will have a compacted earth surface, which is to be greened with grass turf and trees. The planting materials are ready and the pits for the trees have been dug.

"Once completed, the road will add another green lung to the city. The planting work is scheduled to start next week," says a project official. The footpaths on either side have been provided with box drains to carry storm water.

Work on the second phase of the Airport-Palayam road corridor from All Saints College to Chakka has picked up after an eight-month setback caused by the delay in shifting underground power cables. Officials said the work may be delayed by a few more weeks as most of the construction teams have been diverted to the Palayam site where the underpass is nearing completion. The road from the fire station to the Chacka bridge is to be developed as a four-lane corridor.

Meanwhile, work on the underpass at Palayam has reached a frenetic pace. Construction teams are working round the clock to meet the July 31 deadline.
The underpass and the approach roads will be provided with medians, road markings, signages and lighting within the 75-metre-long section running under the main road. Other safety measures include crash barriers on top of the retaining walls and concrete berms within the underground section to prevent vehicles from colliding with the sides. The underpass has been designed exclusively for vehicular traffic. Pedestrians will have to take the footpaths running along the service roads.

WOW! Nice pics and information!

Memories in black & white.

http://tinypic.com/90ayci.jpg

The Secratariat Building, you have seen it in colour a few posts earlier.

This building is about 125 years old..

http://tinypic.com/90azv4.jpg

http://tinypic.com/90bkpl.jpg

Now this building house 'KITTS'.

Kerala Institute for Tourism & Travel Studies.

The premier institution in tourism and travel studies.

http://tinypic.com/90bltt.jpg

http://tinypic.com/90bo6s.jpg

A rare view

Taken by Sri Marthanda Varma Elaya Raja.

Seems to be of the year 1949.

http://tinypic.com/90boqx.jpg

http://tinypic.com/90budd.jpg

Hi all,
Since Sudheesh has kicked off the nostalgia mode, lemme post a few pictures of the historical buildings of Trivandrum. Thiruvananthapuram has a collection of colonial and pre-colonial buildings, which is not just unrivalled in the State but one of the proudest in India. Now, that's a true sign of class of a city! :)


http://tinypic.com/90zmuc.jpg

The Victoria Jubilee Town Hall

http://tinypic.com/90zrea.jpg

The Public Library - as it started off.

http://tinypic.com/90zsw0.jpg

Kanakakkunne Palace

http://tinypic.com/90zt3c.jpg

The Diwan's Residence

http://tinypic.com/90ztps.jpg

University College - The oldest and proudest in the State

Hey Ajay, these rare photos are really cool... Keep up the good work
cheers

OOps.. I should've said Ajay & Sudheesh.....keep up the good work guys..

cheers..

You have seen some in landmarks of Trivandrum as in the old days.

Now let us see their present day views...

http://tinypic.com/91b28n.jpg

University College.

http://tinypic.com/91b50w.jpg

Public Library

The Napier Museum - Centerpiece of one of the best Museum -Zoological Garden complexes in India.

http://tinypic.com/91bbsz.jpg

An early view of the sprawling, lush green Museum Campus which houses the Zoological Gardens, Napier Museum, Natural History Museum and the Sree Chitra Art Gallery now.

http://tinypic.com/91bcip.jpg

One of the oldest Golf Clubs in the country, Golf Links is now one of the most prestigious locales of Trivandrum. This is a view from the early days.

http://tinypic.com/91bec4.jpg

http://tinypic.com/91b5op.jpg

Manuscript Library

Another old photo of the Residency, now called the Thycaud Government Guest House. The campus also houses KITTS.


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A view of the Chackai canal in its heydays as an inland navigation channel. It was just one element in the extensive water transport system which existed in Travancore and its vassal states like Cochin.
Some parts of the system are being renovated as part of the National Inland Waterway project. Historic structures like the Boathouse on the Chackai canal are also being rebuilt to their former glory.


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This impressive cutting was part of the inland navigation system which existed in erstwhile Travancore. Considering it was done by hand, it's an awesome feat of engineering! :)

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Vizhinjam container terminal to have berths for cruise liners

T. Nandakumar

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The proposed deepwater container transhipment terminal at Vizhinjam, near here, will offer berthing facility for cruise liners, giving a fresh impetus to the growth of tourism in the neighbouring beach resort of Kovalam.

A high-level official in the ports department told The Hindu that the Vizhinjam seaport would provide state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate giant luxury ships carrying thousands of passengers.

"We are looking at the potential to develop Vizhinjam and Kovalam as a stop-over for luxury liners plying on international routes. The tranquil conditions inside the container port will be ideal for berthing large cruise vessels. The entire tourism industry in the region, especially Kovalam, stands to benefit from the big-spending tourists travelling in these ships," he said.

Project officials say the development of the terminal would lead to a significant increase in the number of business travellers and tourists. This will translate into higher occupancy levels in existing hotels and development of new resorts, they point out.

Regional circuits


The project report for the Vizhinjam seaport also points to the possibility of developing regional tourism circuits linking Kovalam with popular destinations like Colombo, Maldives and Lakshadweep. Seeking to allay concerns raised by a section of resort owners and hoteliers, Chief Executive Officer of the Vizhinjam Seaports International Limited (VISL) Jayakumar said the proposed container terminal would be located five km away from the Kovalam beach.

"The channel entrance for the proposed port is located nine km away from Kovalam to ensure that ship movement does not impact on tourism. The Kovalam beach, the waterfront from Kovalam to the fishing harbour and the beach stretches along Adimalathura and Poovar will be left untouched. The development of the port is confined to a three-km stretch of the coast south of the existing fishing harbour," he explained.

No displacement


"There will be no displacement of fishermen for the project. Not a single tourist resort will be acquired or relocated. A handful of resorts at Mulloor will find their sea view interrupted by the busy port but they will be the ones to benefit most from the enhanced tourist traffic," Mr. Jayakumar said.

According to a report submitted by the technical consultants, fishing activities are also expected to benefit from the Vizhinjam project. Computer simulation studies reveal that the construction of a breakwater for the port would enhance the tranquil conditions inside the fishing harbour and ease the berthing of fishing vessels. The studies show that the development of the terminal would have no adverse impact on the coastal environment.

According to a study conducted by IL& FS, the strategic advisor to the project, the Vizhinjam project will save valuable foreign exchange to the tune of Rs.1,000 crores annually by providing the facility to transfer container cargo from mother ships to smaller vessels.

The inherent advantage of a 24-metre draft endows Vizhinjam with the potential for development as a mega container transhipment hub capable of handling the giant post-Panamax class of carrier ships.

Eighty per cent of Indian containers are currently handled at the hub ports of Colombo, Salalah and Singapore.

The first phase of the Vizhinjam project, estimated to cost Rs.1,850 crores, envisages the construction of a 1,245-metre-long berth to handle vessels of 8,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units). The phase is slated to be completed in five years. In the second phase, four more main lines and nine feeder berths will be constructed. In the final phase, the berth will be lengthened to 2,860 metres enabling monster ships of 12,000 TEU to dock. The total cost of the project is put at Rs. 4,200 crores.

As many as 17 companies, including foreign firms, have expressed interest in developing the Vizhinjam terminal. The last date for submission of techno economic bids for the project is July 31.

The Hindu, July 20, 2005

The best possible location in India or perhaps in whole of Asia to build an International Container Transshipment Terminal is ‘VIZHINJAM’ located at Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala, in the southern peninsular region of India. Vizhinjam is the most naturally gifted harbour with more than 25-30m depth within 1 nautical mile from the coastline which is the most important peculiarity of this harbor. None of the Indian ports have the recommended depth of 14m as such by nature, but only by dredging done daily with an annual expenditure of about 27-30 crore rupees, for each Port. Vizhinjam harbor has 25-30m depth without any drudging.

Vizhinjam is only 1-3 nautical miles away from the international sea channel, whereas Kochi, Mumbai, Madras & Vishakhapatanam are 260, 480, 480 & >600 nautical miles respectively from the international sea route. These are very essential feature for an international transshipment hub to receive and accommodate huge mother-ships like Suez max or Malacca max.

Another important landmark about Vizhinjam is that there is merely anynoticeable change (about 30cm) during tidal variations, which helps to receive ships at anytime unlike other ports where ships have to wait in far sea for weeks at the time of low tides. Presence of international and national airports within 16 km from Vizhinjam is also an advantage.

Vizhinjam Port's natural depth and closeness to international channel makes it easily reachable by foreign ships all over the world, as it is time-saving so more economical. So, it’s clearthat there is no need for Indian ships to take their cargo to ports like Singapore, Dubai, & Colombo for transshipment.

Last tourist season two cruise liners, 'M.V. Hebridien Spirit' and 'M. V. Island Sky' had berthed twice at Vizhinjam.

The picture you see in Ajay's post above is that of one of those vessels.

Hi,
Here is an image of an international cruise terminal. This will give a flavour of the facility being planned at Vizhinjam. The super-cruise ship that is seen berthed at this terminal will be of 100,000 tons+ displacement and over 1000 ft long, other Indian ports will be hard pressed to handle such a giant. Vizhinjam, on the other hand, can easily handle ships upto 300,000 tons displacement with hardly any dredging.
Lol, makes you wonder why they are spending all those hundreds of crores digging up the seabed elsewhere?!! :bash:

Facilities at a major cruise terminal will include a terminal building (akin to an airport terminal building), long term parking facilities, bus facilities, cold storages, warehouses and so on, in addition to the berth and cargo handling facilities for the liner itself. :)

Ajay

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The proposed International Container Transhipment Terminal would be coming up further south of this existing harbour.

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Right next to the lighthouse is Vizhinjam.

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As Sudheesh mentioned, the upcoming International Container Transshipment Terminal is coming up next to the existing fishing harbour. The following satellite image shows the outline of the terminal, as well as the fishing harbour - its breakwaters are clearly visible.

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As you can see in the above satellite picture by Ajay, Neyyar river is joining the sea further south of the area proposed for the International Port and Cruise Terminal. This area is 'POOVAR' which also boasts of a good number of upmarket resorts. You have seen in earlier posts, some of the views of those resorts.

A cruise terminal coming near to it will be pushing up the prospects of the tourism in the region.

Jampacked with Trains....

Trivandrum Central is the biggest and the most revenue generating railway station in Kerala.

You can spot 11 train rakes in the terminal sidings.

The main station building is seen on the left.

There is an second entry from the opposite side, with ticket counters and restrooms (Only station in Kerala with this facility, the second one will be the upcoming Kochuveli Satellite Terminal, Trivandrum)

This photo is taken from the foot overbridge connecting these two terminal buildings.

The other foot overbridge is also seen infront.

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Photo Courtesy: Mr. Jimmy Jose, IRFCA.

This is the most beautiful station building in Kerala.

Trivandrum is getting a Second Terminal Station at Kochuveli, about 12 km away by road. It would be bigger than this station. First phase work is going on. Sampark Kranthi Express operates from Kochuveli, apart from Bangalore weekly specials. Will be posting the pictures of that station soon.

There is also another city station, Trivandrum Pettah, about 5 km away. Most down trains stop there.

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Trivandrum always mesmerized people.

No wonder it did with all these greenery and flowering trees!

A truly Garden City

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Majestic buildings peeping out from green cover.

The building with green glass facade is the Five star hotel Muthoot Plaza.

The red building on the right hand side is the Spencer Plaza with a Food World outlet.
The building on the far right is the Four star hotel South Park.

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That tall building is the Co-Bank Towers.

A 15 storey one constructed in the 1980s, was the tallest buiding of those times.

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This building also had 'Escalators' for the first time.

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See the green canopy

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Suncity, hope it was a good doze of aerials.

To break the monotony we will see some road views.

The green sloping lawns you see in the far is the "Kerala Raj Bhavan" compound.

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These are the posh & royal avenues of the city.

I would be posting the busy down town areas also.

Keep tuned.


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