Not sure where to put these projects:

Deenadayal City Mall, Gwalior

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/6192/deenadayalmallgwalior9is.jpg

More info at http://www.arggroupjaipur.com/html/citymall.htm

The total built-up area, comprising the lower basement, basement, and the ground, first and second floors, is expected to add up to 2,25,000 sq. ft. The building will house more than 150 outlets consisting of kiosks, showrooms, bazaars, restaurants and anchor stores. They will range in size from 80 sq. ft to 30,000 sq. ft, covering just about every activity, including retail, services, entertainment and food and beverages.

______________________________________

Sahara begins construction of Sahara City Homes at Gwalior

http://www.saharahousing.com/gwalior300505.asp

The Sahara City Homes township at Gwalior, spread over 108.20 acres of land with 3579 houses will be a hub for all the assured facilities of security, health, education, well-connected transport and communication. The residential township will have a unique mix of high-rise apartments, mid-rise apartments, independent row houses, independent semi-detached houses and independent Bunglows.It will also have a fully developed infrastructure with an easy access to all the basic amenities providing leisure and happiness. Perhaps one can get an idea of the magnitude by considering that it will provide to its residents a lush green environment, well-lit wide metalled roads, water features, integrated landscaping and special light effects in townships.

____________________________________________

Madhavrao Scindia counter magnet city

Anyone has more info about this project? The site hasn't been updated.

www.ncrgwalior.com/

But some reports suggest that some work is done.

Wedding Mall, Agra
Omaxe group (http://www.omaxe.com/)

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/36/weddingmallagra0hp.jpg

____________________________________

TDI Mall, Agra
Taneja Developers & Infrastructure Limited (http://64.14.22.221/)

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/4273/tdimallagra9qe.jpg

Siliguri

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051003/asp/siliguri/story_5312828.asp

After Calcutta, Siliguri will be the next information technology hub in West Bengal.

Laying the foundation stone of the Siliguri Software Technology Park opposite the Uttorayon township at Chandmoni, IT minister Manab Mukherjee said: “The decision to open this park was taken in Calcutta at a meeting with my colleague Asok Bhattacharya. The park will be functional by December,” he assured.

Construction for the office of the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) has already begun even though the foundation stone was laid today.

IT parks had come up in Durgapur, Kharagpur while Haldia would follow suit.

But the north Bengal centre was better placed to flourish as an industry. Nasscom chief Kiron Karnik listed some of the reasons:

* Siliguri’s geographical proximity to Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and even southeast Asian countries was a major advantage

* A good functional airport, with links to all the international airports in the country

* A suitable climate, almost similar to Bangalore

* Low cost of living compared to other centres

* Availability of human resources with a comparatively better knowledge of English, especially among Hill students.

A huge new Tata Town!

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051003/asp/frontpage/story_5313236.asp

Townships accompanying large industrial projects may not be in fashion as much as in the days before liberalisation, but the Tatas will build another Jamshedpur.

Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda announced today that Tata Steel had chosen the spot — Tontoposhi, around 30 km west from here — to set up the country’s largest integrated steel plant of 12 million tonnes. Just as in Jamshedpur, there, too, a township will come up, spread over 10,000 acres.

A Tata Steel official said: “The company has always been shouldering its corporate social responsibility. We shall provide our employees at the new plant with housing and other facilities. That is precisely the reason we are looking for over 10,000 acres.”

Townships that are coming up now are designed as real estate projects — unconnected to industry — developed by the government or privately.

Unlike in the Nehru-Indira Gandhi days, when the public sector and some private companies took upon themselves the task of building infrastructure around their area of operation, it is now the government that is expected to perform the role.

Tontoposhi, the site chosen, has no infrastructure to support industrial activity.

Tata Steel sources said the company picked Tontoposhi because it is close to two railway stations, Gamharia and Sini. Subarnarekha and Kharkai rivers pass through the area, providing a source of water for the plant.

Munda said: “Most of the area falls under either government or raiyati (private) land.” Tontoposhi also happens to lie in his constituency.

The Tatas kicked off a week of action Jharkhand in its short life has not seen before. Steel magnate L.N. Mittal is expected in Ranchi on October 8 to sign an agreement to set up a 12-million-tonne steel plant.

“Mittal has agreed to work here on our conditions,” Munda said. That should mean no iron ore export.

Amazing projects, thanks for sharing. :)

Well it seems, Jharkhand with several mega investments, will soon become a rich state, and that too in much shorter time than many other states.

EDC plans multi-storey complex in Panaji

PM News Bureau



EDC Ltd, the financial and investment corporation of Goa government, is planning to develop a multistoried building that will have an IT park, shopping mall, entertainment centre, restaurant, health club, office area, exhibition halls, multiplex and apartment hotel and adequate parking facility. The project will be developed on 18,120 sq. metre land located on plot No.35 at Patto Plaza, Panaji.
The Rs 50-crore project cost will be met partly from internal accruals and partly through borrowings from financial institutions. The project is likely to be developed in phases, depending on factors such as cost of construction, sale and fund flow. EDC has floated a tender inviting an architect for providing architectural, structural and other services that includes electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, fire fighting and landscaping.

Dynamic to build 3 multiplexes (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=204193)

Delhi-based Dynamic Continental (P) Ltd is coming up with three multiplexes in Ludhiana, Mullanpur (near Chandigarh), and Dehra Dun. The company will invest Rs 50 crore, Rs 300 crore, and Rs 54 crore in the three cities, respectively.

It is also evaluating options for Amritsar and Bathinda to set up two more multiplexes.

The Mullanpur multiplex will have 12 PVR halls, besides shopping centres. The Ludhiana multiplex will be functional by December next year.

"The multiplexes in Ludhiana and Dehra dun will occupy 178,000 square feet and 225,000 square feet, respectively. We have had no competition so far here in Punjab. We will be the first one to have a PVR cinema here in Ludhiana. This multiplex will have four PVR theatres and will accommodate 1,000 people.

Tiwari inaugurates IT park (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu2&leftindx=2&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=204196)

Uttaranchal Chief Minister N D Tiwari today laid the foundation stone for the IT Park in Dehra Dun, which will be built at a cost of Rs 85 crore.

Named “Doon Cyber Tower,” the IT park is being developed by the State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttaranchal Ltd (SIDCUL), a state government enterprise.

The floor spaces in the park, having a health club, food courts, power back-up, and serviced apartments and connectivity, will be leased out to IT firms and BPO units.

Tiwari said the park would be spread over 400,000 square feet. Feedback Ventures has been appointed Project Manager to the Park. It is expected to be completed in a year.

i dont know if chandigarh is a small city, but i couldnt find a thread to put it in....

Coming: Chandigarh Science Park (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1286512.cms)

To give a boost to biotechnology in the city, the administration is planning to have a Chandigarh Science Park alongside the Botanical Garden in Sarangpur. Also a logistics and assembly park has been planned near the railway station and national highway-21.

The science park will be set up to promote higher education, research and development, biotechnology, health services, et al. The Chandigarh Logistics Park will be set up at Raipur Kalan to promote high-tech manufacturing, logistics and supply chain management facilities.

i dont know if chandigarh is a small city, but i couldnt find a thread to put it in....

Coming: Chandigarh Science Park (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1286512.cms)

Not excatly a small place if the metro area is considered. But this is fine.

Meanwhile in Ludhiana

Ludhiana City Centre
http://todayhomes.co.in/index.htm

Not much details though...

http://img281.imageshack.us/img281/9080/ludhianacitycenter4xk.jpg

Speaking of Chandigarh

Fashion Technology Park Project at Mohali in Chandigarh (http://travelvideo.tv/news/more.php?id=7227_0_1_0_M)Reporting by M.M.Khanna, Journalist, Services India, Chandigarh
“There are architects, who create in space, there is Mr. Hafeez Contractor, who creates in time. A prophet more than an architect, he has the ability of seeing years ahead of his times, Thus changing and revolutionizing the defination of architecture. Heading the foremost architectural firm in India, he is most renowned for creating some of the country’s largest multi-facility layouts and building designs, those are unique in concept.” This statement was given by the CEO of Fashion Technology Park Project, Mr. Jagjit Singh Kochhar, about the architect, who had designed the proposed Fashion Technology Park at Mohall.

Mr. Singh was talking to the Representative of Travelvideo.tv in Mount View Hotel at Chandigarh, during a two day’s Seminar on subject of “India as a global hub in fashion” Mr. Singh explained to the Representative Of Travelvideo.tv, Mr. M.M.Khanna that this proposed Fashion Technology Complex, had been promoted by the Chandigarh Overseas Private ltd. Ltd, a Greenfield Venture Group who had taken on a series of new projects and developments in the value-added real estate segments such as MultiComplex, Shopping, Malls and Industial Parks. He said that it would be situated in Sector-90 of Mohali & completed in next 18 months. He told that this park would be an integrated infrastructure of 14 acres of land, with a total construction of 11.5 lac sq.feet at the cost of Rs 220 crores.

...

Mr. Singh explained that The Business School of Fashion would form the hub of the Fashion Technology Park, which would develop and deliver a repository of acquaintance, innovation, product development related services.

...

He said that Industrial Zone would be another centre at the park, which would face amphitheatre along with galleries, design studios and workshop spaces would provide a platform for cross cultural exchanges. He said that these exchanges would create flavor and ambience of a global village. He said that the zone would be of a-class construction, intelligent buildings, 100% power back up, centrally air-conditioned and terraced gardens.
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/852/19ln1.jpg

http://www.fashiontechnologypark.com

Zicon Mall, Kanpur
http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/7408/17ii.jpg

Kanpur Mall, Kanpur
http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/8899/27iy.jpg

Calicut Mall, Calicut
http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/5776/39qh.jpg

Arizona Mall, Agra
http://img437.imageshack.us/img437/4122/15hu.jpg

http://img437.imageshack.us/img437/6974/26iq.jpg

http://img437.imageshack.us/img437/6686/38qj.jpg

Kanpur and Calicut Malls ROCK!

Kanpur Malls are amazing. incredible. :)

Ashok Cosmos-2, Agra
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/3095/19sz1.jpg

Biggest underground aquarium coming up in Jammu (http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=109910)

The country’s first and biggest underground aquarium is coming up at a cost of Rs 8.50 crore at Bage-Bahu in Jammu. The aquarium, which would be dedicated to the people within three months, is expected to be a major tourist attraction in Jammu city, according to a J&K government release last week.

The aquarium will house an aquatic animal museum, 24 aquarium caves, a sea world, laboratory to check quarantine diseases, a multimedia centre and a souvenir shop. According to the release, it will also have a big library.

Ansal Properties signs pact with UP Govt for hi-tech city in Lucknow (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/12/01/stories/2005120101451900.htm)

THE Delhi-based Ansal Properties & Infrastructure Ltd (APIL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Uttar Pradesh Government to develop a hi-tech city in Lucknow.

"The township is expected to be completed in five to six years. The hi-tech city will have 24-hour power back-up, optical fibre and satellite communication facilities," a company release said here.

Of the total land area in the hi-tech city, 40 per cent will be earmarked for residential purposes, 20 per cent each for green belt and roads, eight per cent for commercial buildings such as malls and other shopping complexes and the remaining for the development of infotech and bio-tech parks, transport, communication and recreational facilities.

"The project would entail an investment of Rs 2,600 crore and would create assets worth over Rs 4,400 crore, generating more than 1 lakh jobs in the area," it added.

World Trade Park, Jaipur
Status: unknown
website: http://www.wtpjaipur.com/
An old news article: http://onlypunjab.com/fullstory2k5-insight-news-status-2-newsID-11903.html

Renders

1
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/2641/wtp7jai9ik.jpg

2
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/7905/wtp4jai5rt.jpg

3
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/4634/wtp3jai9ju.jpg

^ I think the quality of the publicity ensures, that this project will get built! Good for Jaipur, as it is a city with some real wealth. There won't be any problem in selling space in this project! :)

While the WORLD TRADE PARK project (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=6425641&postcount=19) is interesting

WTP
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/989/wtp1jai8qx.jpg

Jaipur must be having a mall/commercial building boom! Don't know how many of these projects are underway. They are all from Maithel and Associates website http://www.maithel.com.

1 - completed (http://www.uniquebuilder.com/projects.htm)
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7003/milestonela5co.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=milestonela5co.jpg)

2
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/393/citysquarejaipur6qn.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=citysquarejaipur6qn.jpg)

3
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4599/cosmosjai2rt.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cosmosjai2rt.jpg)

4
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/953/crystalcourtjai3vw.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=crystalcourtjai3vw.jpg)

5
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/4996/buildingformrabhayjai9ec.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=buildingformrabhayjai9ec.jpg)

6
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/4461/crystalpalmsjai0tt.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=crystalpalmsjai0tt.jpg)

7 - this is a completed project

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/299/crystalmaljai8ju.jpg

For other projects check out the website.

There's actually a heck of a lot of nice buildings coming up in Jaipur. They are all low to mid rise, including a lot of subdivisions with traditional Rajasthani architecture

A sample...

Finetech Prim Perch
http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/9272/primperchnightview3xv.jpg

LNMIIT - L.N. Mittal institute for Information Technology
http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/8105/lnmiitj9sa.jpg

Trimurty Dave Apartments
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/7230/davebig5sm.jpg

Joybharat Royal Abode
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2937/rabig4gy.jpg

Sun>WTP-project looks cool!..has it got a green light for the u/c?:)

Sun>WTP-project looks cool!..has it got a green light for the u/c?:)

Don't know.

There are some amazing projects coming up in Baroda too. Wait till my dad gets a digital cam on 12th dec. I will post them then

Sun>WTP-project looks cool!..has it got a green light for the u/c?:)

Jaipur would be getting a landmark if the WTP comes through. A very beautiful and futuristic project. :)

Any SSC forumer based in Jaipur who could shed some light on the status of this project?

well i couldnt find a thread for Vizag projects...

Vuda plans Rs 35cr commercial complex on jail land (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu2&leftindx=2&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=208232)

The Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (Vuda) has decided to attract private investment for the construction of a commercial complex on the land where the Old Jail is located.

The jail, which is in the heart of the city, is spread over 22 acres. Besides the commercial complex, which would come up in 4 acres, Vuda is developing a public park in the remaining 18 acres.

“The proposed project would cost around Rs 35 crore. We have already selected the design prepared by one of the reputed architect companies from Dubai and are planning to invite bids for the project,” P S N Raju (Ravi), chairman, Vuda, told Business Standard.

The proposed complex will be the tallest in the city with 30-32 floors, including three floors of parking space. Vuda would allot the land to a private investor on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.

well i couldnt find a thread for Vizag projects...

Vuda plans Rs 35cr commercial complex on jail land (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu2&leftindx=2&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=208232)

That's an interesting news. Thanks Kronik. Maybe we can turn the Vizag thread to cityscapes + projects??

That's an interesting news. Thanks Kronik. Maybe we can turn the Vizag thread to cityscapes + projects??

an excellent idea Sun. I was thinking of proposing it myself.

Compact Disc to set up Rs 500 cr knowledge park (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=208582)

Chandigarh-based Compact Disc India Ltd is going to set up a multimedia knowledge park in Uttaranchal with an investment of Rs 500 crore.

The state-of-the-art knowledge park complex in Dehra Dun will be spread over 12 acres and will have ready-to-move built-up spaces, a shopping plaza, apartment suites, residential apartments, and multi-level parking, besides an animation studio and an educational institution of world standards.

It will be made available to organisations globally in the field of information technology, multimedia production, electronics, computer robotics and allied business.

Forty five thousand square feet area has been earmarked for multilevel parking with a capacity of 4,000-5,000 cars.The Uttranchal government has allotted 4acres for land near the Multimedia Knowledge Park for residential accommodation of the employees.

http://epaperdaily.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=CAP/2005/12/17/1/Img/Ad0011913.png

Surat to get grand convention centre (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1337850.cms)

the Ahmedabad-based Bhagwati group has decided to set up a worldclass hotel-cum-convention centre in Surat. The centre-piece of this facility will be a ballroom without columns spanning 20,000 sq ft.

The convention centre would have four banquet halls where special events like exhibitions, fashion shows, product launches and premiers would be held along with wedding and reception parties.

It will also have 120 luxurious suites and other club facilities like swimming pools, gymnasium, card room and billiards room.

He said the convention centre would be first of its type in the country and would accommodate up to 5,000 guests at a time. A Mumbai-based architect firm has been roped in to design the convention centre.

Centrally-funded tourist resort at Maner, Patna (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1345910.cms)

Want a herbal massage, work out at a gym, enjoy the pleasures of steam and sauna bath or even relax in a jacuzzi? Visit the tourist resort at Maner, 29 km from here. Not right now though. It will be ready with all the accessories and facilities in three years time.

CM Nitish Kumar on Sunday laid the foundation of the proposed tourist resort on a 86-acre plot at Ahiyapur amidst much fanfare and sought the assurance of the department concerned that it would be ready for inaugurated on this day in 2008.

To be funded by the Centre, the project is estimated to cost Rs 7.04 crore. The Union tourism ministry has already sanctioned Rs 4.07 crore as first instalment.

Apart from the above-mentioned facilities, the resort will also have indoor game hall, restaurant, conference hall and 17 AC rooms, 2 AC suites and also a jogging track. An attractive tourist centre will also come up at the site.

Thursday, January 12, 2006 12:13:05 amTIMES NEWS NETWORK


SURAT: If Ahmedabad recently went to town taking pride in the announcement by a Luxembourg-based group that plans a Rs 760-crore hotel-cumentertainment centre, Surat couldn't have been left behind for long.

The very happening Dumas Road, which leads to the Arabian Sea, is the site selected by a San Diego-based NRI to set up a Rs 500-crore project which will have a hotel, a condominium tower and multiplex.

The ambitious project, which is just a reflection of Surat's growing potential to attract investment, has been conceived by Chhatrala Business House (India) Pvt Ltd and will be located on about 20 acres of land identified by the state government and offered to investors during the last Vibrant Gujarat investors' summit.

Surat, at present, has only one 5-star hotel and there is an acute need felt by industries in and around Hazira, apart from the diamond and textile sectors, for quality accommodation in the city.

As per the plan drawn up by the promoters, this will be the tallest building of Gujarat at 40 storeys, unless the high-rises planned along the Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad soar higher into the skies.

Shailesh Patel, one of the three promoter-brothers of Chhatrala group, said in keeping with the identity of the city, a diamond-shaped 300-seat revolving restaurant will be the crowning glory of the hotel tower.



P.S For more on this story go to
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1368081.cms

Ludhiana City Centre

1
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/7473/lcc20ar.jpg

2
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/2865/ludhianacitycentre12wv.jpg

More details at http://todayhomes.co.in/home_lcc.htm

A mall called Treasure Island (http://www.kalanigroup.com/english/projects.htm) has opend in Indore recently.
Photos by Chandoo (http://www.chandoo.org/blog/).

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/6080/mallindoretreasureislandchando.jpg

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/4831/indoremall37ns.jpg

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/1463/indoremall28ko.jpg

Unfortunately like almost every other project there is no photo

Mega mall in Kanpur gets off to a good start
Kanpur January 18, 2006
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=212115


The city warmly applauded the opening of the first pure shopping mall styled Mega Mall, by turning out in large numbers on the X-mass and New Year’s eve, when 35,000 and 40,000 footfalls were recorded, confirming once again, that its image of a rundown city where quality places will be vandalised, was false and the residents appreciate whatever is good and preserve it.

The survey, conducted by the company Kan constructions and colonisers Ltd, the owner and builder, that there was great demand for a mall of international standards and 5-star ambience in Kanpur has turned out to be correct.

In fact it all started with the multiplex Rave 3, which was the first of the modern structures to appear in the city, which conclusively proved that so-called backward cities are after all not so backward and they appreciate the modern way of living and are wanting to join the mainstream.

Since then, the city has not looked back. Structures, being built every day, are now dotting the city and massive construction is taking place with the old being demolished to be replaced by new well designed structures.

The Mall is designed by the Mumbai-based Hafeez Contractor and has a complete transparent glass front. Kan constructions is a three-year old firm floated by an architect and two industrialists.

The architect, Asad Akhtar, is the director and manages it. He told Business Standard, that the total constructed area was 1.25 lakh sq ft,divided into six stories and underground parking, with central air-conditioning, and all modern amenities. Another USP is the parking space for 300 vehicles, of which 90 can be accommodated in the underground parking. The mall has complete captive power plant run on diesel. There is a roof top restaurant.

Thus it has attracted major brands— Globus of Mumbai, a hi-fashion store—is the anchor tenant. The mall introduces Pizza Hut in the city for the first time.

Indore to get its first Inox multiplex soon at Sapna Sangeet Mall
http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=92052

Indore, Jan 22: Inox Leisure Ltd, which operates a chain of multiplexes in seven cities across the country, is all set to launch its first multiplex at Sapna Sangeeta Mall here. Inox Indore will start operating in February and will house three screens with a sitting capacity of 1,080 seats.

Inox to open in Darjeeling
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=211489

Inox will be expanding its presence in West Bengal. The Darjeeling property would be set up at the Rink Mall with three screens and 811 seats to be operational in February 2006.

The Puja Complex facility in Kharagpur will have four screens and 1200 seats and will be operational in September 2008.

An entertainment centre for Darjeeling
http://www.flonnet.com/fl2201/stories/20050114006311900.htm


IF there is one thing the people of Darjeeling feel their beautiful town lacks, it is a cinema hall. Earlier the town had two cinema halls. Unfortunately, both have been closed for a while. But with the Rink Mall, a Rs.25-crore city centre project due to be operational in January, there will be no dearth of evening entertainment, especially in the winter months, for the residents and for tourists.

The structure has in it a commercial complex, a shopping mall and a family entertainment centre (including a multiplex). Coming up in the heart of Darjeeling town, the 1,50,000-square foot Rink Mall is developed by M/s Maryland Resorts Ltd. It is strategically located opposite the town post office and will also have a dedicated parking space at the bottom floor - the first of its kind in Darjeeling.

The Rink Mall is unique in that it is the first of its kind in the hill stations in eastern India. The developers are also planning a resort of sorts inside the premises of the city centre. "The resort will mainly be for quality tourists, but the room rents will be economical - Rs.1,500 to Rs.2,000 a night, including breakfast," said Garg.

Constructing a structure as big as the Rink Mall in the hills can be dangerous unless all necessary precautions are taken. "The land on which the Rink Mall stands is flat and stable. We proceeded only after going through all the required tests of soil, for earthquake, etc. We will be using the most advanced fire-safety measures; there will be no compromises in ensuring the safety of our customers," said Garg. A considerable chunk of assistance in financing the ambitious project is coming as term loan from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO). The rest will be generated through equity participation.

NEO CITY - Bhubaneswar, Orissa

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/2334/neocitybhubaneswar5ky.jpg

Project (proposal stage?) by Calcutta based Shrachi group

http://www.shrachi.com/bengalshrachi/neocity.htm

Ludhiana City Centre

1
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/7473/lcc20ar.jpg



It reminds me of a giant cruise ship

A "dream" project?

http://www.nationalgames2007.com/

Mega Sports Complex - Ranchi (?)

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/509/megasportscomplexranchi11vl.jpg

More info here

http://www.nationalgames2007.com/ng2007/ng_07_mega.htm

Old news

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Jun272005/national213312005626.asp

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug212005/business156352005820.asp

Intelligent design (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu4&leftindx=4&lselect=5&chklogin=N&autono=212438)

Manit Rastogi, Sanjay Bhardwaj and Sonali Srivastava make up the architecture firm Morphogenesis. Together they have built the Metropolitan Mall in Gurgaon; restored the PVR Plaza Cinema in New Delhi’s crumbling Connaught Place; they have built a township in West Bengal, the Maker Towne business district in Mumbai and the British School in New Delhi.

Among their latest projects, two stand out especially to illustrate their special blend of computer technology and creativity.

The first project is in Dehradun, where the team is building an iconic new structure that has to not only be functional, but also be a symbol of the strides in IT Uttaranchal sees itself taking in the future.

“We had to incorporate some symbolism of progress,” says Rastogi, “but we didn’t want to make it too dull, or block out the natural environ of Dehradun, the mountains and the sunshine.”

They created a program that would provide the perfect shape (according to the latitude and longitude of the site), so that whichever part of the building you stand in, at whatever time of the day, you are exposed only to diffused light rather than direct sunlight.

Dehradun’s steel and glass “Cyber Tower”, when completed, will be 5,00,000 sq ft, and will cost the government of Uttaranchal Pradesh a cool Rs 80 crore to build.

The second project that stands out is a project with the Amarnath shrine board. “This pilgrimage is the largest in the world,” says Srivastava. “But it’s disorganised, there’s no formal housing for pilgrims, and the area is prone to heavy snowfall and avalanches.”

“Our project with Amarnath,” says Bhardwaj, “consists of three stages. First, we had to think of accommodation. Here we ran into various problems of strategy. The area is 13,500 ft above sea level, has extremes of weather, and the roads are barely negotiable at the best of times. We realised it would be difficult to transport the raw materials up there, and build on-site, and it would also be difficult to build off-site and then assemble on-site. The problem was transport.”

A brainstorming session brought the perfect solution: to carve the rooms into the mountain. And this is exactly what the team is planning to do.

Morphogenesis has also designed a dwar just before the cave. “Right now, there’s no symbolic arrival point to signify the end of the journey,” says Srivastava. And the journey is arduous: 45 km by the traditional route, and 13 km (which still takes half a day to walk) from the new base camp.

Using stone mined from the mountain, the Morphogenesis team designed a concept that involved eight pillars of stone, each denoting the eight points of the compass, (“because pilgrims come from all corners of the world,” says Srivastava), and a waterway, which tapers down in the direction of the Amarnath caves, symbolising journey’s end.

The last part of the project is a mandap, where bhajans and other functions can be organised. This structure was another challenge to create. “Steel gets very brittle in the snow,” says Bhardwaj, “so we made a shell-like structure that can fold into itself come every winter, and be put up again relatively easily in the summer months when the pilgrims come.” Construction on this project will start this summer, and is expected to take at least 3-4 years to complete.

The three architects also have other projects up their sleeves, such as a mall in Chandigarh that changes colour at night, and India’s first cable-stay suspension building in Raigarh for Jindal Steel.

A "dream" project?

http://www.nationalgames2007.com/

Mega Sports Complex - Ranchi (?)

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/509/megasportscomplexranchi11vl.jpg

More info here

http://www.nationalgames2007.com/ng2007/ng_07_mega.htm

Old news

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Jun272005/national213312005626.asp

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug212005/business156352005820.asp


Not any more!!!

Nagarjuna to build Ranchi games village (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=214729)

IL&FS Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited has closed its first large infrastructure project on PPP basis in Jharkhand.

The agreement for development of the National Games Housing Complex (NGHC) at Hotwar, Ranchi was signed recently between Nagarjuna Construction Company Limited (NCC) and the state government of Jharkhand.

NCC emerged as the successful bidder out of 20 companies that expressed interest in the project after a competitive bidding process.

Under the terms of the agreement signed, NCC will design, finance and implement a self-contained township with up to 1800 dwelling units through a special purpose company. The private developer will construct 1200 dwelling units by August 2007 and make these available for the stay of athletes and officials during the National Games 2007 at Ranchi.

In return for providing the land for NGHC, the government will get 216 dwelling units free of cost in addition to the cost saving on the accommodation of athletes and sportspersons during the Games.

IL&FS IDC Limited is working on a number of PPP projects in the state including an auto component SEZ, an industrial water supply scheme and a bridge across the river Kharkai connecting Jamshedpur and Adityapur.

Cata Appliances to set up manufacturing unit in Himachal Pradesh (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=215942)

Cata Appliances Ltd, a 51:49 joint venture between Ultrapure Technology & Appliances India Ltd and Spain-based home appliances manufacturer, Cata Electrodomesticso S L, has finalised its plan to put up a factory at Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, at an investment of Rs 21 crore for the manufacture of kitchen appliances.

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CM launches mid Himalayas watershed development project (http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=254620&n_date=20060220&cat=India)

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today formally launched the Rs 365 crore World Bank-aided, project, ''Himachal Pradesh Mid Himalayas Watershed Development Project,'' at Kothipura near here.

Presiding over a public meeting, Mr Singh said the project was ''multipurpose and multipronged'' under which emphasis would be laid on drinking water, irrigation, agriculture, horticulture, improving cattle wealth and fodder for them.



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Ski resort braves gods’ wrath (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060220/asp/nation/story_5869741.asp)

The gods of Kullu — some 400 of them — are against the Rs 5,000-crore Himalyan Ski Village being built by a Ford scion at Manali, 265 km from here. At least, so say the official interpreters of the gods’ will: the temple oracles of the region.

Some 400 oracles — priests believed to possess the mystical power of communicating with the deities — on Thursday said a resounding “no” to the project at a congregation organised by the Opposition BJP in Kullu.

But the state government is determined to make a success of the project that promises a “world-class” ski village on the lines of Switzerland’s St Moritz, god willing or not.

The project, the largest proposed foreign direct investment in the Indian tourism industry, was sucked into controversy as soon as the state signed an MoU with Alfred Ford’s Himalayan Ski Village Project Private Limited last October.

The project, to be completed by 2009, is likely to start towards the end of this year. Alfred Ford, the great grandson of Henry Ford, will get the ski slopes — stretching 14 km between Kothi and Jagatsukh in Manali — designed by experts from Vail, Colorado.

The village will have a 600-room five-star hotel, 300 chalets, food courts, a handicraft village, theatre complex, convention centre and a sanatorium.

The industry fears the political heat might scare Ford into shifting the project to Kashmir, whose government is believed to have sent feelers.

AML Steel to set up 2mn steel plant in Jharkhand

MUMBAI: Chennai-based AML Steel Ltd said it will set up an integrated steel plant with two million tonnes per annum steel making capacity in Jharkhand with an investment of Rs 1,944 crore.

To be implemented in three phases, the first phase of the project has already commenced with an investment of Rs 114 crore, company Managing Director Ashok Agarwal told reporters here.

The first phase of the project would be operational by January 2007, while the whole project is expected to go on stream by 2012, he said, adding, the project would be funded through debt and equity.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEB20060221073439&Page=B&Title=Business&Topic=0

SPS-Synergy to build township at Durgapur
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=216068

The steel city of Durgapur will get its first integrated knowledge and health city spread over 300 acres soon. The mega project will be set up by the SPS-Synergy Foundation promoted by the SPS and Synergy groups.
The Rs 600 crore project is likely to be fully completed by 2012 with parts of it being inaugurated earlier in phases.

The foundation stone of the integrated knowledge and health city was laid by the commerce and industry minister of West Bengal, Nirupam Sen.

The first phase entailing an investment of Rs 150 crore will comprise a medical college with 500 bed hospital, a residential school, a nursing college, sports complex and common amenities like housing complex and outdoor sports complex. In the second phase of the project, a dental college will be set up along with management and technology colleges. A super specialty medi-care centre, an indoor sports complex and other township amenities will be set up in the third phase. In the final phase, an old age home, a homeopathy and naturopathy centre, pharmacy college, medical hall and a health hotel will be set up. The township was expected to accommodate around 30,000 people.

IT firms flood SEZ in Mangalore (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu2&leftindx=2&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=216259)

The Karnataka government is flooded with applications for allotment of land at the proposed information technology special economic zone (IT SEZ) in Konaje near Mangalore University. Though it is running out of land, it is considering expanding the SEZ by another 500 acres.

According to highly-placed sources, the state government has completed the land allotment process. The combined investment at the proposed IT SEZ is likely to be around Rs 700 crore and create at least 1.5 lakh jobs direct.

Prominent IT firms that applied for land at the IT SEZ include Infosys Technologies, Wipro and NRIs based in Australia and Dubai.

The Australian NRI firm Numagine Technologies and Dubai-based NRI firm Mangalore Internet City have been allotted 35 acres and 50 acres respectively.

According to the new SEZ norms recently laid down by the Centre, at least 25 acres are required for setting up a sector-specific SEZ (for instance, for IT, biotech, gems and jewellery) and 250 acres for a general SEZ. At least 25-30 per cent of the land in any SEZ should be reserved for utilities like roads, drainage, green belt and effluent treatment plant.

apparently IT firms are causing floods all over the place....

IT firms queue to Goa, new hi-tech centre inagurated (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu2&leftindx=2&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=216343)

IT giants such as Infosys, Microsoft, Gold Shield, ICICI OneSource, 3G (Hutch), GE, Convergies and many more will be opening their call centres in the state by mid-2007, according to Dayanand Narvekar, IT minister of the state.

The stateopened a new hi-tech IT centre, Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat, situated at Dona Paula. The facility was inaugurated by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. "Goa has created the infrastructure to become a hub for investment," she said.

An area measuring one lakh sq mt has been earmarked for Wipro in the Goa University campus located at Dona Paula, adjacent to the IT Habitat, he said. "It was Azim Premji, Wipro chairman, who expressed interest to start operations in Goa, and this has come as a major boost for us," he added.

Heated realty growth in Amritsar (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=216772)

Amritsar seems all set to witness the culture of multiplexes, villas, luxury apartments, service apartments and penthouses.

Experts believe that besides the government�s decision to set up SEZ here, real estate rush in Amritsar has also been triggered by leading developers from Delhi and local counterparts.

Delhi-based Advance India projects Ltd (AIPL) is bringing the concept of service apartment and penthouses to Amritsar in its upcoming townships. The total township would be spread over 115 acre and boasts of villas and condominiums, besides service apartments.

Also Noida-based Nitishree Group is launching an exclusive Shourya NRI City on Jalandhar Amritsar Highway, targeting NRI�s. The city will comprise of 2&3 bedroom independent bungalows, plots and split level hi-tech wifi villas.

Sources in the industry also revealed that Clarion is bringing privileged living in the form of English country living with sprawling luxurious bungalows and buildings.

One such group is Sharma and Gangaher Builders and Colonisers Private limited, which has tied up with Delhi Based Tewari Global Infrastructure Limited to develop Amritsar Global City. The City which is coming up in about 200 acres on NH1, promises to bring international style township living with breathtaking architecture, greenery water bodies, integrated health club, jogging track, nature parks, shopping malls etc.

Another local Developer, The Heritage group is developing three residential projects over 175 acres. These include Heritage City, a 55 acre group housing and row housing project. Second Project is Heritage Enclave which is coming up over 30 acres on airport road. The third project would be integrated township spread over 70 acres.

The Third local group Impact Projects Private Limited is coming up with Impact gardens over 50 acres on Amritsar-Wagah Bye pass.

Apart from this, Punjab Urban Development Authority( PUDA) is developing a massive 650 acres Urban estate on GT road. Housefed on the other hand is building multi storied super deluxe flats at New Amritsar Development Scheme on GT Road.

Amritsar will have its first shopping mall in a year�s time. About half a dozen malls are being planned by Delhi builders like AIPL, Omaxe, Today Home and Infrastructure, MBD group, Dynamic and Continental etc, have their plans to set up multiplexes.

DLF lines up Rs 10,000 cr for Punjab (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=217579)

The DLF group will invest Rs 10,000 crore in Punjab to develop retail malls, a special economic zone, and shopping centres in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Amritsar and other cities in the state over the next five to eight years.

“In the first phase of infrastructure development, we are going to start work on an SEZ in Amritsar, spread over 1,000 acres, with an investment of Rs 800 crore,” DLF Info City Developers (Kolkata) Ltd Managing Director Yogesh Verma told Business Standard.

The Amritsar SEZ will be divided into four phases ---- textile and garment sector, energy, food processing and a free-trade zone.

The company is also planning another SEZ in one of the industrial townships of Phagwara, Jallandhar and Ludhiana.

Greenply: On expansion mode (http://www.business-standard.com/smartinvestor/storypage.php?leftnm=lmnu6&leftindx=6&lselect=11&chklogin=N&autono=217566)

f the total funds raised, a majority will be used for commissioning a new plant at Uttaranchal, while some portion will be used for loan repayment.

The new Uttaranchal plant will have a plywood-producing capacity of 6.6 million sq metres. This plant was expected to be commissioned by July 2006, but is currently two months ahead of schedule. It will also have a particleboard producing capacity of 1.8 million sq metres, to be commissioned by October this year.

New Voltas plant starts by June (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1447763.cms)

Tata Group company Voltas Ltd on Monday said it would start production from its Uttaranchal plant by the middle of this year and said it was investing Rs 26 crore on promotion and retail expansion of its air-conditioners.

"By June this year, the first phase of our new plant at Pantnagar in Uttaranchal will start operations with production of refirgeration units," Voltas Ltd Senior Vice-President K J Jawa told reporters here.



-----------------------------------------

Bajaj Auto to invest Rs1,500 crore; to expand capacity to 51 lakh units (http://www.domain-b.com/companies/companies_b/bajaj_auto/20060313_invest.html)

In the first phase of the expansion, the company plans to expand motorcycle capacity to 36 lakh units per year by the year 2007.

The company would set up a new green field unit at Pantnagar in the state of Uttaranchal. New manufacturing facilities in Uttaranchal are eligible for significant tax benefits. Tata Motors is also considering a new facility in Uttaranchal for its newly launched small commercial vehicle.



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Tally makes Uttaranchal foray (http://www.business-standard.com/iceworld/storypage_link.php?chklogin=N&autono=218312&lselect=1&leftnm=lmnu9&leftindx=9)

Tally Solutions, a Bangalore-based accounting software company, has set up 15 training centres in Uttaranchal and is making forays into other northern states.

Tally, which has developed the world’s first concurrent multilingual business management software to facilitate entrepreneurs to maintain their accounts in the language of their choice, is holding talks with the Uttaranchal government for providing IT education to students through public private partnership (PPP), Vice-President Avinash Gupta said.

what tatas will be manufacturing in Uttaranchal, in the first phase....

Tata Motors to invest Rs 2,500 cr (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=218375)

Tata Motors Ltd will invest Rs 2,500 crore in a plant in Uttaranchal to make its fast-selling light commercial vehicle, Ace, and possibly its forthcoming Rs 1 lakh car. The plant will come up at Pantnagar and have a capacity to produce 350,000-400,000 vehicles a year.

Responding to a huge demand for the Ace, Tata recently announced that it would double the vehicle’s production to 60,000 a year. The manufacturing location of the Rs 1 lakh car has been a subject of much speculation.

Tata Motors, according to this official, will take up 1,100 acres in Pantnagar, an industrial cluster where two-wheeler major Bajaj Auto plans to set up a motorcycle manufacturing unit.

http://ace.tatamotors.com/images/ad_big1.jpg

UP govt allows commercial complexes on theatre land (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu2&leftindx=2&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=218656)

The UP government has decided to allow the owners of closed movie theatres to utilise the land for building commercial complexes, on the condition that they build a minimum 300-seat mini theatre in the complex.

According to sources in the UP entertainment department, over the past decade, with the advent of cable television, the number of cinema-goers had plunged considerably. The 900 cinema halls in the state, with a capacity to seat one billion people in a year, saw barely 12.4 crore viewers in the past year.

In Agra alone, where movie theatres were the major crowd pullers about a decade back when there were no other "attractions" in the town, 22 theatres have shut down and another is on the verge of closure leaving just 29 theatres and last year, these movie halls managed to pull just over 2.5 lakh viewers against their total capacity of seating 3.91 crore in a year.

About 250 cinema halls had either shut down or were on the verge of closure, but permission had not been granted to the owners of these theatres to utilize this 2000 sq yard of prime theatre land for commercial activities and as a result, all over the state, this land was lying completely waste.

While earlier, movie theatre owners had been given the option of opening multiplexes on this land, the restriction of having at least 4000 sq yards of land for building a multiplex resulted in the failure of this scheme as most cinema halls were constructed on 2000 sq. yards of land.

Talking to Business Standard, Mohan Swaroop, Commissioner Entertainment, UP said to devise a way out of this problem, the state government had now decided to allow the owners of the movie theatres that have been shut down, to demolish the theatre and construct a commercial complex in its place, leaving minimum space at any floor of the complex for a 300 seat mini-theatre to ensure that the land that had been allotted to the movie theatre owners by the government for popular entertainment, continues to serve that purpose.

Bajaj, Ashok Leyland eye Uttaranchal (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=218896)

After Bajaj Auto, Ashok Leyland is also exploring the possibility of setting up a manufacturing unit in Uttaranchal.

Bajaj Auto is the latest entrant in the race to establish a greenfield manufacturing unit in the thriving Pantnagar industrial estate in Kumaon region with an investment of Rs 500 crore.

Meanwhile, Ashok Leyland is in talks with the top Uttaranchal government officials for setting up a new unit in the state.

For this purpose, the company is exploring the possibility of installing a manufacturing unit at Sitarganj industrial estate which is being developed by State Industrial Corporation of Uttaranchal Limited (SIDCUL).

Already, Tata Motors had deposited initial amount of Rs 7 crore for setting up a manufacturing unit at Pantnagar industrial estate which is already bursting at seems with hefty investments from top-notch companies like Britania, Parley Biscuits, Nestle India.

On the other hand, Bajaj Auto company would invest Rs 500 crore in its Pantnagar industrial estate manufacturing unit for motrocycles.

Sitapur SEZ Phase II almost complete
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/03/19/stories/2006031902610300.htm

A hospital u/c in Shillong - photo ruth998

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7138/newhospitalshillongruth9984zz.jpg

E.I.D. Parry has decided to expand its sugar business with investments of Rs 850 crore over the next two years and by acquiring Parry Neutraceuticals Ltd as a subsidiary to focus on sugar and bio-products business.

This will mean that its capacity in sugar, alcohol and power generation will be more than doubled through this investment. E.I.D. Parry has four sugar mills - in Cuddalore, Pudukottai, Karur and Tiruchi - with a total crushing capacity of about 35 lakh tonnes of sugarcane a year.

Source (http://sify.com/finance/equity/fullstory.php?id=14166738)

Uttaranchal:Land of opportunity (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1457586.cms)

The state is a safe and secure destination for investors, has a tourist-friendly environment, with a culture of ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’ or ‘Guest is God’. Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary (Industries), Uttaranchal, elaborated on the goals and objectives of the government.

The state aims to augment capital, infrastructure and resources, and promote technology and innovation for agricultural and industrial upgradation. He said that efforts are being made to make the government effective, transparent, responsive and accountable. The Uttaranchal government aims to encourage public-private participation in infrastructure development and delivery, Mr Chopra pointed out.

Describing Dehradun as the ‘Knowledge Capital’ that boasts of many famous organisations like the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, FRI, IMA, DEAL, IRDE and IIP, Mr Chopra said that Doon Valley is the nerve centre for quality education with institutions like Doon School, Welhams and RIMC. Uttaranchal also offers the best in technical education and has institutions like UPES, ICFAI and Doon University.

Special incentives for tourism include exempting new tourism units from luxury tax and new ropeways installed from entertainment tax for five years from the date of commencement, and exempting new amusement parks from entertainment cost for five years from the date of becoming fully operational. These measures, along with a 100% exemption from entertainment tax for new multiplex projects for a period of three years and the conversion of land use being made admissible for hotels, motels, resort, health spa, yoga and meditation centre, tourist village entertainment/amusement/water park/natural and botanical park, would accelerate tourism growth in the state.

The State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttaranchal (SIDCUL) is setting up a 65-acre state-of-the-art software technology park at Dehradun with intelligent buildings and a hi-tech habitat centre. In addition, an STPI earth station will be set up at Dehradun with a connectivity of up to 100 mbps. Reliance Infocomm, BSNL and VSNL are laying a fibre optics network. The state government has signed MoUs with Cisco Systems, Intel Corporation, IBM and others for setting up research academies.

Around 40 acres of the 65-acre IT Park at Shastradhara Raod, Dehradun was saleable. The built-up space would be 40 lakh sq feet and the park will soon have roads, drainage, sewerage, water supply, provision for internal electrical and telecom/data connectivity. Doon Cyber Tower will have a 4-lakh sq feet built-up area. The construction will commence in March ’06 and the target for completion is January-March ’07.

The state is developing infrastructure by creating a State IT academy at hermitage building, Nainital, specialised e-governance projects and standards for-governance applications.

He said private sector IT parks have been successful and the state has the fastest growing BPO sector, with 26 BPOs, including Astra, with 500 seats already operational. HCL will commence operations by April.

The Uttaranchal government has taken initiatives to set up a world class bio-IT park on 500 acres of land abutting NH-87 that would also house a bio-incubator and engage a professional advisor to catalyse the park development based on a public-private partnership model.

Four agriculture export zones (AEZ) have been created for litchie, basmati, floriculture and aromatic and medicinal plants. The AEZ for walnut, exotic and off-season fruits and vegetables and organic produce are being set up.

The government wants to make Uttaranchal the organic capital of India and has declared it an organic state. A team of 20,000 farmers in 1,200 bio-villages are being formed. A thousand hectares has been certified as organic as per international norms, more than 75 product ranges are available, and a dedicated agency provides a single window for forward link.

Mr Chopra emphasised that for a land-locked state with limited surface connectivity, developing air connectivity was of immense importance. He said the test runs of air travel have been successful in Uttaranchal and the state aims to be among the top global tourism destinations by 2010.

He said the state had two airports at Jolly Grant and Pant Nagar, three airstrips at Chinyalisaur, Gauchan and Naini Saini and six helistrips at Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Hemkund and Haridwar.

DLF, Punjab sign MoU for SEZ in Amritsar (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=220012)

Spread over 1100 acres, the entire SEZ will comprise of four sector-specific zones for the textile and garments industry (400 acres), engineering industry (350 acres), food processing industry (250 acres) and a free trade and warehousing zone (100 acres).

"DLF will be investing Rs 1,000 crore towards the development of this project. The project will also catalyse an investment of about Rs 5,000 crore in urban development and associated infrastructure. It will create over 25,000 employment," Singh said.

The Centre is planning to develop seven minor ports in seven maritime states at an estimated cost of Rs 9,000 crore (Rs 90 billion).

The seven non-major ports include Azhikal (Kerala), Dharamtar (Maharashtra), Magdala (Gujarat), Cuddallore (Tamil Nadu), Gopalpur (Orissa) and Narzapur (Andhra Pradesh).


Source (http://in.rediff.com/money/2006/mar/28port.htm)

KARNAL: Liberty Shoes will set up three new manufacturing units — one at Roorkee in Uttaranchal and two at Ponta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh — to double its production capacity to one lakh pairs of footwear per day in the next three years and will invest Rs. 160 crore for the expansion plans. "We are coming up with three plants in 2006-07. We are increasing our capacity from 50,000 pairs per day to 75,000 pairs within the year and to one lakh pairs in three years,'' Liberty Shoes CEO, Adesh Gupta, told reporters here.

Source (http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/28/stories/2006032809861600.htm)

MindTree logs on to Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, March 27: MindTree Consulting will set up a software development centre in Bhubaneswar — its first in the eastern region.

MindTree, co-headquartered in Bangalore and Somerset in New Jersey, is the fifth big IT player to have zeroed in on Bhubaneswar. The other four are Infosys, Satyam, TCS and Wipro.

Subroto Bagchi, chief operating officer of MindTree, yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government to set up the centre at Infocity, the IT hub spread over 250 acres on the outskirts of the city. The proposed development centre would be of the same size as its Bangalore centre.

“We have a long-term goal of recruiting about 5000 software professionals at the Bhubaneswar centre,” said Bagchi, adding that at least 1000 would be employed within two years of operations.

Around 30 acres will be acquired in Infocity and the construction work will start in 2006-07. The Bhubaneswar centre will focus on R&D, consultancy and software development.

MindTree develops enterprise solution methodology for business-to-business and business-to-consumer applications and communication services.

Bagchi, however, declined to reveal the investment amount for the project. “It’s too early to say, but it will be substantial,” he said.

N. Krishna Kumar, president & CEO (IT services) of MindTree, said the company found the political leaders of Orissa quite responsive.

“Availability of talents weighed in favour of Bhubaneswar,” said S. Janakiraman, president & CEO (R&D services). The company had a number of efficient managers from Orissa and Bengal, he added.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik said his government was keen on developing Bhubaneswar as a major IT destination and had, therefore, adopted an industry-friendly IT policy. He said the first SEZ for IT and ITES would start in Infocity soon.

An IT city will come up in Bhubaneswar soon, said chief secretary Subas Pani. According to state IT minister Surya Narayan Patro, 4000 IT professionals were already working in Bhubaneswar and the annual software export from the state had crossed Rs 500 crore.

Last month, a senior team from Wipro Technologies, led by chief information officer Laxman Badiga, visited the city to finalise the company’s plans for a development centre. Wipro is keen to start its operations this year with about 150-200 professionals.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060329/asp/business/story_6026455.asp

HSIDC to set up tech park at Rai (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu2&leftindx=2&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=220326)

The Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) has decided to develop a technology park at its industrial estate in Rai on the lines of the parks being set up at IMT, Manesar and Panchkula.

The allotment of plots of various sizes had been made to 12 anchor units, he said, adding that prominent among these were Agilent Technologies, HCL Technoparks, Shapoorji Pallonji (Tata group), T3 Infra Tech Private Limited and Primrose Projects Private Limited.

He said the technology park at Rai would be set up over an area of about 56 acres of land located on NH-1 adjacent to the existing industrial estate and food park.

In addition to the technology park, the HSIDC has also allotted land to Container Corporation of India Limited (Concor), a government of India undertaking with the ministry of railways, for setting up a cold chain complex at Rai.

Punjab developer plans Rs 952-cr industrial park (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=221176)

Promoting information technology and fashion technology in the region, Chandigarh-based Sukhm Infrastructures Private Ltd is planning to come up with a Rs 952-crore industrial park in Punjab in two phases.

In the first phase, the park will be spread over 125 acres (one acre is 43,560 sq feet), for which land has been acquired in the Roopnagar district and is around 8 km from the Chandigarh Airport.

The park will have knowledge centres focused on information technology, fashion technology (jewellery designing, perfumeries and cosmetics),industrial plots and a commercial zone . In the second phase, which will be spread over 100 acres, the project will include a real estate project.

In the commercial zone a speciality mall with three-screen multiplex, shopping mall , conventional hall and a 140-room five star hotel site will come up in7.5 acres.

As part of the social amenities 50 acres have been marked.

Closest to Bhatia’s heart is the home for the elderly and destitute, which will be looked after by an international accredited NGO, Indian National Portage Association .

He further added that in the second phase the residential zone will cover 22.5 acres and consist of 1,200 multistoreyed apartments including penthouses and four-bedroom houses.

Digital planetarium and dinosaur park to be built at Science City (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu2&leftindx=2&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=222068)

Pushpa Gujral Science City (PGSC) at Kapurthala, which has completed its first year of opening, is all set to build the country’s second digital planetarium and the first Dinosaurs’ Park, which will be operational within an year.

Apart from the planetarium, a Dinosaurs’ Park depicting pre-dinosaur era, dinosaur era and post-dinosaur era with the dummy of 45 dinosaurs would be built in the science city within next eight months.

About the other innovative projects of the science city, Khandpur said the science city was now vigorously working on the next phase of its development, which include buildings for the Energy Education and Awareness Park, which would demonstrate uses of various forms of non-conventional energy sources.

He further revealed that four exhibit galleries are under construction to house four new galleries including the science of sports, ecology and environment, health and Biotechnology and emerging technologies.

Khandpur further said ministry of railways had agreed to set up a Railway Gallery in the Science City and funds required for setting up the gallery had been made in the current Railway budget. Highlights of the gallery would be a steam engine, a children toy train and engine simulators, he said.

To apprise public with the military equipments, a special pavilion for Defence would be built in the science city and even the Air Headquarters have already sanctioned a MIG 23 for the Science city for the display and communication was already on with Indian Army for providing other material like tanks and missiles for the exhibition purpose, Dr Khandpur added.

Health city planned in Himachal (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu2&leftindx=2&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=222064)

Himachal Pradesh could soon have its first health city to give a boost to untapped health tourism in the hill state.

According to government sources, the health city is being proposed at Mundadhar in the Solan district.

In addition to this, the government also plans to open a private medical college at Mandi and two private nursing colleges in Shimla and Kangra to train professionals to meet the need for trained manpower.

The plan proposes to provide urban facilities for rural folk, in line with Kalam's presentation.

The state government has sent a plan for the development of health infrastructure, including roads in Shimla, Kinnaur, Mandi, Sirmaur and Chamba districts, to the Central rural development ministry for approval.

PVP Entertainment plans 6 hotels, movie halls (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=87520)

Ludhiana-based PVP Entertainment Ltd is coming up with multiplexes and hotels at six sites in Punjab with an investment of Rs 150 crore and above, spread over three years.

He said Ludhiana would get multiplexes in two locations, with an investment of Rs 100 crore. Another multiplex was slated to come up in Jalandhar where the land surveying was going on.

Gupta said, "The first project we are going to start on will be in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar where a multiplex will come in a11,000 sq yard area at Ludhiana. The second multiplex in Ludhiana will be spread over 15,000 sq yard.”

Simultaneously consolidating its hold in the hospitality sector PVP Entertainment Ltd plans to come up with four-star 60-room hotels spread over 21000 sq yards in Ludhiana with an investment of Rs 15 crore

The developers have another 5,021 square yard hotel site to be developed in Ludhiana.

Big biz eyes Bihar in big way (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1486738.cms)

Good times appear to be in store for Bihar, finally. Some of the country's top trading and financial institutions have expressed their eagerness to give Bihar a try.

A select group of the country's top industrialists recently participated in a FICCI-sponsored meet — "Bihar Investment Promotion Campaign Programme" — in New Delhi.

The industry bigwigs who met Nitish Kumar included Bharti Telecom (Airtel) Jt MD Rajan Bharti Mittal, hotelier Lalit Suri, Xpro chairman Siddharth Birla, Bata chairman P M Sinha and Apollo Tyres CMD Onkar S Kanwar.

Bihar's resident commissioner in Delhi C K Mishra told TOI on Monday that Indian Leasing Finance Services (ILFS) was preparing a project report for setting up a textile park in Bihar.

"Similarly, hotelier Lalit Suri has also evinced keen interest in setting up star hotels in the Buddhist circuit, including Patna."

Some of the investors discussed the idea of town planning such as setting up projects like Greater Patna. Several others, including Fortis, expressed their desire to build and operate state-of-art hospitals in the state, said the resident commissioner.

Over a dozen prospective investors have so far submitted concrete project reports to invest in various sectors like real estate, energy, health, food processing, entertainment, roads and educational institutions. They are interested in getting land in prime locations for their projects.

Noted filmmaker Prakash Jha has already taken lead — as a facilitator — by getting Manmohan Shetty's Adlabs agree to set up a series of shopping malls-cum-multiplexes in Patna and other cities in the state.

CM Nitish Kumar is likely to lay the foundation stone of the first such project adjacent to the industrial estate at Pataliputra Colony in the state capital on April 27.

JMD plans Rs 100 crore mall in Ludhiana (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=223819)

Real estate firm JMD Promoters Ltd today announced its foray in Punjab with an investment of Rs 100 crore to build a shopping mall in Ludhiana.

The mall - JMD Govardhan City Centre - which is scheduled to be completed in next 12-15 months will offer 2.5 lakh square feet of area for retail, entertainment and food court.

Besides this mall, the NCR-based company is also planning to develop two more projects in Ludhiana. The company is also conceptualising to have its presence in other cities of the state, which includes Mohali, Amritsar, Chandigarh and Zirakpur.

MBD Neopolis, Ludhiana

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/09/26/stories/2005092601501300.htm
THE Rs 150-crore MBD group, a Delhi-based publishing house, plans to enter real estate with the construction and management of a Rs 100-crore project in Ludhiana-MBD Neopolis. The project would have a shopping mall, a multiplex, and a five-star deluxe hotel, all in one building. The company had earlier entered the hospitality industry with a joint project with Radisson hotel in Delhi NCR. The latest project would be spread over four acres with 800,000 feet of developed space. The first three floors of the building would house the retail outlets, the next would house the five-screen multiplex, and the hotel would be from the fifth till the ninth floor.

____________________

http://www.mbdneopolis.com/

Allah O Akbar. It seems business might be making a comeback in Bihar!

Sweet music to Nitish ears as sugar major chooses Bihar (http://http://www.indianexpress.com/story/3823.html)

Rekindling hope in India’s heart of darkness, Coimbatore-based sugar major Rajshree Sugars and Chemicals Ltd has chosen Bihar for its foray into the north to set up two integrated sugar complexes.

The single-window State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) has already received Detailed Project Reports (DPR) from Rajshree in this regard. The company proposes to set up two integrated sugar complexes by investing a total of Rs 480 crore in two Bihar districts: Rs 242 crore for the East Champaran project and Rs 238 crore for the one in Madhubani.

Early next week, the company will file a DPR for another project in Muzaffarpur district. Apart from the three new mills, Rajshree has also applied for revival of three state-owned mills, now shut, in Madhubani, Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur.

Rajshree’s proposed mills will not only produce sugar but will help tide over part of the power crisis in the state. Each of its two sugar mills will have a minimum crushing capacity of 5,000 TCD (Tonnes Cane/Day) with co-generation units, producing 30 MW of power each. They will also have a distillery to produce ethanol.

If the departments do not raise any objections, then the project will be deemed to have been cleared. Rajshree is keen to start the projects at the earliest. On behalf of the company, Dr M Naidu (Advisor, Research and Development) has been camping in the state for the last two months. “We are very happy with the response from the government and more than hopeful about getting the clearance,” he said.

The proposal to revive 15 state-owned closed sugar mills is also likely to take shape by this month-end. Already, a number of companies have shown interest in acquiring these mills.

Shimla to get 7 satellite towns (http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=93814&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

To disperse the growing number in crowded Shimla, the Himachal Pradesh government is working on a plan to develop at least seven satellite towns on the outskirts of this popular resort town.

“The government has hired several town planners to identify locations on the outskirts of Shimla, some of which include Kufri, Mashobra, Shogi, Junga and Ganahatti,” said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Sunday.

“These settlements would be self-contained and each of them would be developed to accommodate about 20,000 persons,” Singh said, adding the government was also considering planning new constructions in old town of Shimla without disturbing the heritage monuments in downtown Shimla.

“Restoration and renovation of the existing buildings in the specified areas would be restricted to the original plinth area and no addition would be permitted,” he said.

He warned that after construction work of approved buildings is complete in the fast upcoming New Shimla area, which lies to the west of the town, no additional constructions would be allowed here.

Moved article to Ahmedabad Thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=8752505).

Moved article to Ahmedabad Thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=8752505).

Simplex Infra eyes Jharkhand stadium project (http://www.business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=94724&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

Kolkata-based construction company Simplex Infrastructures-led consortium has emerged as a leading bidder for the Rs 250 crore stadium deal from the Jharkhand government.

Senior executives of Simplex confirmed that it had bid for two stadiums at Ranchi in association with the UK-based construction firm Laing O' Rourke.

The deal is likely to conclude this week.

------------------------

Sanjeevani sets up plant in Roorkee (http://www.business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=94552&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

Sanjeevani, an Ahmedabad based biotech company, has set up a manufacturing plant at Roorkee and will also set up a Research and Development in the next two years.

The company has invested around Rs 4 crore for its Roorkee plant, which will start production by the end of the year.

Sanjeevani has been outsourcing products from 13 places so far.

The plant will have a capacity of 12 lakh bottles of 200 ml syrup, 1.5 crore capsule and 4-5 lakh tablets, per month.

Formed in December 2003 with Rs 17 lakh, Sanjeevani started its business from North Eastern Region (NER) India.

A major chunk of the growth has been generated from NER, contributing as many as 65 per cent of the business today.

It is among the top ten pharmaceutical companies in the NER.

The company's products have now spread to more than 14 states in the country including Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Pondichery and Tamil Nadu.

It has also recently set up a marketing operations division at Goa.

Focus on Himachal

Himachal herbs show promise (http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=95033&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

Some 120 farmers from seven districts of Himachal Pradesh could venture into medicinal farming if the Centre approves a Rs 10-crore herbal project.

State government officials said this project was sent to the National Horticulture Board for approval and the farmers belong to the Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una, Solan and Shimla districts.

In fact sources say the state government is already working on stage II of this plan, by preparing another larger Rs 100 crore herbal plan involving 1000 similar projects for farmers and self help groups across the state.

Each farmer or self help group will grow these herbs on 35 canal area for which exposure visits by experts will be arranged. The stage II plan is expected to be sent for approval soon to the Centre.
------------------------------------------------------

Himachal to clear hydel mess (http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=95034&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

The construction of the 1,020 Mw Khab Hydro Power Project in the tribal Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, close to the Indo-tibet border, is vital for checking silt, power generation loss and flash floods and would increase the life of hydro-power projects downstream the Sutlej river, a senior power official said yesterday.

Sharma said environment clearance has been accorded by the Union forest and environment ministry for the first phase of Khab Project (631 Mw) but the agreement with the Himachal Pradesh government was yet to be signed as the 70 per cent employment to local people clause imposed by the state government was under consideration of the Union power ministry.

Sharma said the SJVN was also taking up three projects in Uttaranchal which included the Devesari Hydro Electric Project (33 Mw) and the Jakol Sankari Project (35 Mw).

He said the agreement for execution of the 412 Mw Rampur Project in Shimla district had been signed and work had begun.

--------------------------------------------

CII`s Himachal housing plan still on paper (http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=95039&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

Himachal Pradesh has been able to attract more than Rs 20,000 crore of investment in the past four years since the tax benefits for the industry were announced by the Centre.

This has created ample employment opportunities in the upcoming industrial towns of Himachal Pradesh but the lack of housing infrastructure, particularly in the belt of Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh, has affected migrant workers in the region.

About 100,000 persons are working in this belt and about 70 per cent of them are the semi-skilled workers who live in near-by localities.

Most of the managers commute from Chandigarh and Panchkula as the modern amenities of life are not available there.

The CII (Confederation of Indian Industries), Himachal Pradesh Council, prepared a draft and submitted to the state government for the housing of industrial workforce last year and was discussed at the Single Window Clearance Cell.

Ashok Tandon, former chairman, CII (Himachal chapter) told Business Standard the scheme was for 24 (8 + 8 + 8) dwelling housing cluster/ per agriculturist land, which would be in the shape of two- storey Studio Apartments for two workmen /dwelling and if necessary a small family could also be accommodated in each dwelling.

The issue has been hanging a fire because state government would lose about Rs 12 crore on account of revenue and stamp duties.

Tandon said the principal secretary (housing) had assured that the government would take the decision on this very shortly.

The project would help about 24,000 workmen. As more units are likely to put their facilities before the sunset clause next year the situation would get worse. The medical and education facilities are poor in these towns. The recreational facilities are also not available.

A lopsided development has been taking place in the state as no attention has been paid for the development of physical and social infrastructure. By proposing this housing porject, the CII has shown its corporate social responsibility.

Masterplan to beautify Mysore soon (http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=95422&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

Mysore will shortly have a committee, being constituted by the government of Karnataka, for its beautification as part of boosting its image as a heritage city and tourist centre.

As part of this beautification, a proposal has already been drawn to erect arches on the six major approach roads to the city, on the model of the eastern Jayamarthanda Gate of the Palace, protect the 500 metre area around the Chamundi Hills for making it into a green belt, take steps to takeover rest of the illegally occupied lands around it, and have another peripheral ring round around 15 km radius of Mysore, in addition to the recently developed ring road about 8 kms off.

Despite opposition from environmentalists and others, the ropeway to Chamundi Hills, the 900-ft landmark of Mysore, may also come up, as land has already been allocated to the builder.

The issues that were discussed include reviving the glory of the famous Dasara procession by making it more attractive, protecting the identified 243 heritage structures, including the over century-old Devaraja market, reviving the lakes around Mysore, setting up of a separate authority for organising the Dasara celebrations.

Sonepat: Next destination (http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=SKYLINE&file_name=sky1%2Etxt&counter_img=1)

Fifty kilometres north of Delhi in the neighbouring state of Haryana lies Sonepat — a town of great antiquity. Today, Sonepat is emerging as the new residential destination for Delhiites after Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. The area is witnessing a spurt in real estate development with many developers and builders having launched large residential projects and others working on new plans.

Also, this town on the Delhi border forms one of the largest industrial zones of Haryana.

The area between Kundli and Sonepat town falls under a highly industrialised zone. Atlas Cycles, Hilton Rubber, Indo Asian Fusegear, ECE, Hindustan Everest Tools and Satnam Overseas are some of the well-known brands which have units here. The majority of these industrial units are concentrated on both sides of the GT Road.

Last month, Kamal Taneja of Taneja Developers & Infrastructure launched his new project Kingsbury Luxury Condominiums in Kundli, Sonepat. Today, or so he says, over 50 per cent of the township has already been booked.

As city limits are extending, there is a growing demand for housing solutions among the middle classes in that area and Sonepat is the emerging as Gurgaon of the west. With real estate prices touching the roof at Rs 10,000 per sq ft within the city, Sonepat, which falls on one of the busiest national highways, is certainly the best option.

According to T Chakrabarti, Head, India Property Research, the rapid development of Gurgaon does raise the question whether other areas leading out of Delhi, such as NH1 to the north and NH2 to the south-east would follow suit. Unlike NH2, which has a fair amount of ribbon and residential development, NH1, till recently, has been largely out of sight in terms of large-scale housing development.

“The 300-acre TDI City of Taneja Developers, Omaxe Group’s project and a 250-acre Sushant City located five kilometres north of the Delhi border has filled the gap that existed for long. This first large-scale development by these big developers proved to be a benchmark and it is understood that others may follow suit,” adds Chakrabarti.

Moreover, the Haryana government’s upcoming Kundli-Manesar-Palwal corridor or the Western Express certainly augurs well to boost the demand for luxury condominiums in the region. The 135 km business corridor with an investment of over Rs 65,000 crore is expected to drive investors as well as prosperity in the area.

If that’s not enough, the upcoming Rajiv Gandhi Educational University at Kundli is expected to add another fillip to the development of the area. In addition, the Haryana government is coming up with a Rs 30,000 crore township dedicated to petroleum, chemical and petrochemical industries in the region.

That explains why the Tanejas are not alone in stepping into Sonepat for real estate development. Realtors like Ansals, Omaxe and Parasvanath also have projects in Sonepat in various stages of development.

While the Ansal Township comprising 58 villas and 2,000 apartments with all modern facilities is ready, the Ansals Highway Plaza that will house brands like Big Bazaar, Bikanerwala and Pizza Hut, and its shopping complex Roman Court, is scheduled to be completed in 2007.

Fashion tech park coming to Amritsar (http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=96173&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

After signing deals with firms in Ludhiana, the Fashion Technology Park, Mohali, is setting up shop in Amritsar to give impetus to the textile industry and rural artisans.

With the establishment of the Fashion Technology Park at Mohali and with the initiatives taken by the organisation, the textile units of the city are expected to revive, because the proposed park will not only provide them with the latest technical know-how but also showcase their products in India as well as abroad.

Business School of Fashion (nucleus of the Fashion Technology Park) CEO Pikender Pal Singh said, “The project has the potential of engineering a low-cost economic revolution in India and abroad, complementing the entrepreneurial skills of the region.”

“Our main endeavour is to provide linkage among various stakeholders in Punjab and technical know-how to enhance skills so that artisans can compete in the global market. We have registered 1,500 artisans in Punjab and want to add 3,000 more this year,” Singh said.

Varanasi in 2047?

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/5251/riverofgods1iw.jpg

^^ :dunno:

Hope for it.... :)

Spanish Garden
Guwahati, Assam
Developer: Brahmaputra Group and Land Space Construction
Architect: Hafeez Constructor
http://www.nkrealtors.com/spanish_intro.html

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/5389/spanishgardenguwahati8mr.jpg

Varanasi in 2047?

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/5251/riverofgods1iw.jpg

where did u get that from?

It's the cover of the novel River of Gods (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591024366/002-8508088-2276054?v=glance&n=283155), by Ian MacDonald. Interesting book

Chandigarh attracts 49 high-value SEZs (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=97649&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

Investors are making a beeline for putting up SEZs (Special Economic Zones) in Haryana. The state has received 49 proposals for SEZs, out of which 35 have got approval from the Centre.

The Reliance Industries Limited has already launched its multi-product SEZ in Ghari Harsaru in Gurgaon that would cover 25,000 acres of land. Prominent among the new players is M/S Unitech Commercial Developers Limited at Kundali, Sonepat, who propose to put up 20,000 acre multi-product SEZ at an investment of Rs 22,000 crore.

The firm claims to generate employment for 1,20,000 people. M/S SRM Infrastructure Limited intends to invest Rs 500 crore in an area of 5000 acre in Mewat (Nuh) while M/S MGF Land (P) Limited is planning an SEZ in an area of 10,000 acre in Boda Kalan, Gurgaon.

However, out of 49 proposals, only four companies; Orient Crafts, DLF, Reliance and Unitech, possess land.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is glad to have received a plethora of proposals that account for about Rs 1,50,000 crore of direct investment in the industrial infrastructure of the state.

This would help in mobilising three times more investment in manufacturing sector. But the flip side of the picture is that most of investors plan to put up their ventures in the NCR (National Capital Region).
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Rajkot gets nod for Rs 763 cr revamp (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=97630&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

Of the 68 cities being considered by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) scheme, Rajkot is the only city in the western region to have been selected for development.

Vijay Anadkat, Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) Special City Engineer said, “We aim to spend Rs 763 crore under this project in five years. The plan is extendable to seven years, as JnNURM Scheme is targeted to end by 2011-2012, and the amount could stretch up to Rs 1,200 crore.”

A team of experts, comprising officials from World Bank and US-based Wilbur Smith Consultancy Firm visited the Rajkot Municipal Corporation last Wednesday to discuss the future course of action with the Rajkot municipal authorities.

The scheme aims to provide reform driven, fast-track planned development of the identified cities. Of the four cities selected initially for the Model City Development Plan under JnNURM scheme, including Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Hyderabad, Rajkot is the only city selected in entire western India for this proposal.

MoUD selected only four cities for Model City Development Plan in initial stage. Following the approval of City Development Plan and after signing MoA, Rajkot being one such selection, entire project has been given to World Bank’s Water Sanitation Management Program for monitoring it completely, on behalf of MoUD, which is in turn handed over to the US based consultancy firm Wilbur Smith Consultancy.

Presently, RMC is managing 104.86 sq km spread, and with RUDA being involved in this scheme, facilities for additional 300 sq km will have to managed, which would include surrounding villages falling on the peripheri of RMC limits, including Mota Mauva, Kotharia, Shapar-Veraval, Velnathpara etc places, explained Anadkat.

“Rajkot shall have state of the art basic infrastructure, appropriate water supplies, drainage-sewerage and sanitation facilities and ofcourse well planned development of the city too, which is vision 2021 for the city and we are all laced to work in that direction,” said Mukesh Kumar.

Neemrana Hotel, Punjab sign deal (http://www.business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=97736&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

Neemrana Hotel Private Ltd, New Delhi, and the department of tourism, Punjab, today signed a deal on a joint venture model to develop the historical Rajindra Kothi as Punjab's first heritage hotel in Barandari Garden.

The state government will offer the private partner the property for an annual lease sum of Rs 1 crore. The private partner will invest about Rs 5 crore for the upgrade of the 39-room property.

Amarinder Singh said the group had so far developed 11 heritage sites in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Maharashtra, Uttaranchal, Karnataka and Haryana, and now Patiala in Punjab was the 12th heritage site.

The group had been entrusted with the conservation, preservation and reuse of Rajindra Kothi as Heritage Hotel on the basis of lease agreement for thirty years and the project was likely to be completed by 2008.

Unfolding the plans to develop Patiala as a major tourist destination since the city was studded with palaces, museums and gardens encompassing rich cultural and traditional architecture blend into what is called ' The Patialavi Culture '', Capt. Singh said that the old & glorious monument of Sheran Wala Gate would be rebuild with its original grandeur and design with inbuilt Gurudwara, Temple, Church and Mosque as a testimony to the age old cultural and secular values of the erstwhile princely state of Patiala.

He also said that the Mohindra Kothi where the state government had granted permission to run the newly established Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law from the current academic session provisionally till it constructs own campus would also be preserved and conserved as a heritage site along with 'Mai Di Saran' . He said that state government was also committed to preserve the landmark monuments marking the rich historical past like the Quila Mubarak, Old Moti Bagh Palace, Sheesh Mahal and Bahadurgarh fort as Patiala had been declared as Counter Magnet Town under the NCR Plan.

Floatel at Kumarakom:

A floating museum and ethnic restaurant is being planned in the sparkling backwaters north of Kumarakom in Kerala.

Very soon this charming paradise will have a long walkway on the backwaters, a moden boat terminal and a unique estuarine aquarium.

Indore municipality plans a facelift for the city (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=97984&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) is planning to construct eight multi-storied parking areas and four footbridges.

With this purpose, a three-member team, comprising IMC commissioner Kumar Purushottam, corporator Lalit Porwal and an IMC official, had visited Toronto and Vancouver to study the feasibility of the projects.

The commissioner said “The IMC has decided to follow the arrangements practised by those cities. Though we don’t have big plots where such arrangements could be made we are thinking of making the display of sanctioned map before every building, which is more than three stories high, compulsory.”

Appreciating the parking at multi-storied buildings in the two cities, the commissioner said such parking spaces would also be developed at eight multi-storied buildings in Indore.

Parking facility will be developed at Harsiddhi near Premsukh Talkies on Jawahar Marg, Jinsi in front of Indore Press Club, Dhakkanwala Kuan and near the zoo on AB Road.

A detailed project report will be prepared soon, he said. Foot-bridges with elevators also will be constructed at four places in the city.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/07/17/stories/2006071700730200.htm

Genpact may set up a 7,000-seat business process outsourcing facility in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. "Genpact has been allotted 50 acres of prime land near the airport in Bhopal for its BPO operations. The operations are expected to begin in about one month," said Mr Anurag Shrivastava, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd, on the sidelines of an Assocham seminar on e-governance. Among the reasons cited for the company to set up its facility in the city is a huge pool of English speaking people and the setting up of STPI (software technology parks of India) with an investment of Rs 7 crore.

When contacted, Mr Pramod Bhasin, President and CEO, Genpact, told Business Line, "We are considering the proposal very seriously. We are in discussion with the State Government." If it comes up, it will be one the largest facilities of the company in the country. Genpact currently has operations in Gurgaon, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Jaipur, employing 14,000 people.

Can anyone tell me where is this ? :

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4049/getimageks3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It was in Times Property.

Rs 2,430 cr earmarked for Indore`s revamp (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=98751&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

The recent Indore Development Plan (IDP) 2021 promises to turn the city into a metro along the lines of Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, claimed the state housing and environment minister, Jayant Malaiya, while releasing the draft of the plan.

What could make a difference in this plan is that unlike the previous plans, land use patterns have been left flexible, which will open the door of opportunity for the construction industry in the city.

It allows easy conversion of residential land to commercial and vice versa. The development works identified for the first phase of IDP, call for an expenditure of Rs 2,430 crore. This phase would include development of 80 km of new roads, five overbridges and 15,000 residential units for the slum dwellers. Seven different kinds of taxes have also been proposed for these works.

According to Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) sources, the development plan of the city, which came into existence with the publishing of the entire plan, is proposed to be conducted in two phases and the first phase would be implemented from the year 2007.

Under the first phase of development 5,400 hectare of land would be acquired and an investment of Rs 500 crore, and another Rs. 1,930 crore will be spent on its development. Around 70 per cent of the land acquired would be used to developed new roads and for the maintenance of old ones.

Apart from this, the Khan and Sarswati rivers (which pass through the populated areas of Indore from southwest to northeast) would witness environmental development; five new overbridges (to be constructed) and the Transport Nagar would also witness a thorough development.

Development of basic facilities in partially developed areas would be conducted in addition to development of water mains in the two new urban centres, and broadening of crowded roads of the main city, increase in the water supply to be made in two new sub-urban areas, development of sensitive and other important areas of the city, re-development of 60,000 slum areas, development of basic infrastructure facilities in the partially developed areas through social participation, implementation of smooth traffic system in all investment units.

The master plan also talks of a super corridor, to be developed between the Airport and MR-10 road. Moreover, residential constructions would not be allowed in this corridor. They would be limited to 18 types, such as corporate offices, hotels, theme parks, shopping malls, multiplexes, education institutes, sports complex, multimedia centres, export zones, ready made complex and the others.

Under the new plan, residential lands can be used for hostels, rest houses, marriage halls, old-age homes, hotels, retail outlets, restaurants, multiplexes, schools, post-offices and sports complexes.

Commercial property on the other hand can be developed into IT Parks, hotels, conference centres, shopping mall, multiplexes, educational institutions, research institutes and hospitals. Another category of land, specialised commercial land can be developed into wholesale markets, godowns, bus stands, etc.

Industrial lands can be used to construct cold storages, junkyards, depots. The plan also proposes a conservation area including a bird sanctuary, wooded lands, and parks.

It also proposes the use of recreational lands for a zoo in the city. Transportation land has been proposed in the plan for a racing track, parking areas, railway yards, stations, bus stand and a full-fledged airport. Under the new plan, agriculture land can also be converted to residential and commecial purposes, including IT parks.

Chadha group to get up township in Mohali (http://business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=99356&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

Country Colonisers (P) Ltd, a subsidiary of the Chadha group, headed by prominent liquor contractor Ponty Chadha, will invest nearly Rs 600 crore in three phases to build a mega township “WestEnd Estate”, spread over 200 acres, at Mohali.

The project will be funded through bank loans and internal accruals. This will be the company’s first housing project in Punjab and the group is planning to build townships in Patiala, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Ludhiana. The funding of the project will be through internal accruals and banks.

Moreover, the group is investing another Rs 100 crore to build a second mall at Mohali. The group’s first mall is under construction in Ludhiana and expected to be operational by April next year.

The company has acquired 150 acres for the project and the process of acquisition of the rest of the land is on. The township will offer a variety of villas, plots and apartments with different levels of specifications.

Plots will be available in two sizes of 350 square yards and 500 square yards. Apartments will be of four categories, depending on the number of rooms whereas the villa would come in a mega size of 500 square yards.

Shimla shopping mall plan cleared (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=99499&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

The Shimla civic body has cleared a plan to build the much-delayed multi-storeyed shopping complex in the heart of the town at the subzi mandi ground.

The Shimla municipal corporation had decided that the work on the Rs 7.5-crore project will be handed over to the Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Authority(HIMUDA) for construction.

However it isn't clear whether the project will only be built by HIMUDA on behalf of the Shimla civic body or if it will be handed over on a build, operate and transfer basis.

The multiplex, to be located in the highly congested area of the hill station, will have all the modern facilities of a shopping mall.

Construction in the core area of Shimla has been almost completely banned recently, but this shopping complex had already been granted permission some years ago.

I hope they have planned a big multilevel parking spot for this project. Like i said before, India's hill stations need such multi-level parking lots. The tourist traffic takes its toll on their beauty and environment.

IT SEZ soon for Jaipur
projectsmonitor.com
Jaipur might soon see an IT SEZ if the Rajasthan government approves the plan. Singhal Infratech Pvt. Ltd has forwarded this prestigious project to the state, which is also looking out for strategic partners and co-developers. The SEZ is being planned on the main Ajmer road, 6 km away from Mahindra & Mahindra SEZ.
The company has bought 104 acres after spending nearly Rs 100 crore.

Eighty-three per cent of the SEZ will be utilised as processing area while commercial complexes and shopping malls will be constructed on the remaining land. "We are distinctly looking for architects and developers from the south as they have first-hand experience in developing IT SEZs in southern India," states Ghanshyam Singhal, Chairman, Singhal Infratech Pvt. Ltd.
The company expects an investment of nearly Rs 820 crore for the entire project. The SEZ expects to get power from the Rajasthan State Electricity Board and will also buy it from wind power generating units. As part of their back-up plan, the company is approaching diesel-generating manufacturers that will supply 1.5 times more power during power crunch.

"We have done water harvesting around the periphery of the SEZ which is around 20 feet deep and has a dam close by," added Singhal. The state government is meeting on August 8 to decide the future of the SEZ.

Site earmarked for mega power plant
projectsmonitor.com
With the identification of land for the 2,000-mw coal-based thermal power plant at IB Valley, the Orissa government has taken a major step towards implementation of the mega project. The joint venture project of Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd and Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd is now slated to come up at Rengall village in Sambalpur district. Collection of land details is in progress.

Union Minister of State for Coal Dr. Dasari Narayan Rao said that after firming up the project site an MoU would be signed with the Orissa government and only then will the project be taken up for implementation. The annual coal requirement for the project has been estimated at 11-12 million tonnes and Talabira II & III coal blocks have been allocated for joint mining by NLC, MCL and Hindalco.
The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 9,000 crore and the project is expected to generate power in the 11th Plan period. Preparation of feasibility report, environment report, survey work etc., is under way.
Meanwhile, the Central Electricity Authority has made a tentative power allocation from this project to the western region and Orissa.

http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=101047&subLeft=1&leftnm=3
Ring road may be a reality soon

Our Correspondent / Chennai/ Hubli August 10, 2006

With the groundwork for the proposed semi-ring road (SRR) project taking off, Hubli is set for the fast lane.

Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) has invited bids for the appointment of a consultant to chalk out a detailed project report in view of the need to integrate all major national and state highways, and arterial roads in and around Hubli.

According to a top official, the consultant will inspect all areas surrounding the ring road and submit a detailed project report to the authority in a month or two. The authorities will initiate the process to acquire land and invite global tenders once the report is ready.

Mooted about five years ago, the SRR project will be a long-term solution to traffic congestion in the years to come.

The proposed ring road will link the Pune-Bangalore National Highway (NH4), Hubli-Gadag (NH 273) and Hubli-Bagalkot (NH 63) highways covering a distance of 40 km. The authorities expect to divert the trucks coming into the city besides several other private vehicles bound for other states.

Once the ring road comes up, several arterial roads, apart from highways, will also have better connectivity. The SRR will also give a chance to develop satellite townships. Official sources said that plans are afoot to develop integrated and self-sufficient clusters around the ring road.

The project is, however, not free from hurdles. Residents on the outskirts may oppose the ring road plan on the plea that the authorities cannot all of a sudden decide on the construction of such a wide road through a dense colony. The residents are apprehensive of losing their houses.

http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=101538&subLeft=1&leftnm=3
Indore BRTS gets green signal

The Central Sanctioning Committee (CSC) of Urban Devleopment ministry has given an in-principle approval to Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) for Indore under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

The Rs 868-crore project was approved at CSC meeting headed by Anil Baijal, Union urban development secretary, in New Delhi on Friday. The committee has sanctioned Rs 100 crore for the first phase of BRTS on Agra-Bombay Road for Indore and Rs 74 crore and Rs 64 crore for Pune and Ahmedabad respectively.

Indore City Transport Services Ltd (ICTSL), the BRTS implementing authority, has proposed inclusion of three routes in BRTS - the Riverside Road, A B Road and Ring Road. The CSC has asked the district collector to implement the A B Road pilot project in a year.The department would sanction the remaining amount after reviewing the pilot project.

At the meeting, Indore district collector Vivek Agrawal and Chandramauli Shukla, ICTSL’s officer in-charge, presented the city’s plan worth Rs 868 crore. Representatives from Pune and Ahmedabad proposed Rs 800 crore and Rs 900 crore respectively for the cities.

Union minister of state for urban development Ajay Maken also looked at the the ICTSL City Bus Project. Maken praised ICTSL’s efforts and promised to give priority to the city’s BRTS project. ICTSL would spend Rs 30 lakh a day to complete 12 km pilot project on AB Road in a year.

http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=11933
Work on Sardar Patel Ring Road by end-2006

Sadbhav Engineering, Ahmedabad, expects to start work on its recently-awarded Sardar Patel Ring Road project by December 2006. Speaking to ProjectsToday company officials stated that the concession agreement for the project will be signed by the first week of September 2006. Financial closure is expected by December 2006, immediately following which construction work on the project would begin.

http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=11928
Convention centre at Shivaji

Shivaji University of Kolhapur, Maharashtra, is setting up a five-star convention centre on university campus on BOT basis. SU authorities have accorded "in principle" approval to the proposal. The varsity has floated a tender for this project.

The state of the-art convention centre will be constructed on a plot of land at the eastern end of the campus near Rajaram Tank. It will be connected to the national highway leading to Mumbai and Bangalore as well as to Ujalaiwadi Airport of Kolhapur.

The convention centre aims to be a centre of global repute and cater to big industries coming up in Kolhapur's industrial belt, namely Gokul Shirgaon and Shiroli on the one hand and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation on the other. The MIDC industrial area is being developed some 10 km from the university campus.

http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=101814&subLeft=1&leftnm=3
ONGC to restart Hazira on Aug 19
Press Trust Of India / New Delhi August 17, 2006

Oil and Natural Gas Corp will restart its flood-hit Hazira gas plant in Gujarat on August 19, two days ahead of schedule to avert a fuel supply crisis, particularly for CNG operations in the Capital.

"The situation is better than anticipated. We think we will be able to restart the Hazira gas processing complex earlier than the previously anticipated date. We are hoping the plant will come alive on August 18," ONGC Chairman and Managing Director RS Sharma said after visiting the marooned facility.

Sharma, who took a chartered flight from Dehradun to visit the plant as soon as the water level receded, said Hazira would restart in phases, six million standard cubic metres per day to begin with.

The shutdown of the plant, which received 40.5 mmscmd gas from ONGC's Bassein and B-55 fields and ONGC-Reliance-BG operated Panna/Mukta and Tapti fields, cost ONGC Rs 21 crore in revenues and Rs 16-17 crore in profits per day.

“Preliminary estimates put the revenue loss during the entire shutdown period at about Rs 500 crore and profit loss at over Rs 200 crore," he said.

Sharma’s Hazira visit, whose crisis management skills helped ONGC save hundreds of lives when a key facility in Mumbai High fields caught fire last July, infused new life in operations for restarting the facility with over 650 employees and labourers working round-the-clock to remove 2-3 feet slug, repair 1,400 motors and replace digital control systems.

Hazira, whose shutdown tripped half of India’s gas supplies, would be back just in time before stocks for CNG operations in Delhi and some power plants run out. Sharma said the Hazira plant would resume its normal operations by second or third week of September.

"Twenty teams have been created to attend to various repair, refurbishment and replacement jobs."

As per the ONGC's insurance policy for onshore facilities, insurers would pay for all the repair, replacement and refurbishment after deducting $2-million (Rs 9.2 crore), he said.

Sharma said his visit to Dehradun, where he had gone to attend the company's Golden Jubilee celebrations and Independence Day function, paid off the huge multiples. "The employee morale is very high. Everybody wants to put the facility back in order as soon as possible.

The damage was quite a lot... 45 employees were trapped on the first floor of the plant for 48-hours, surviving only on biscuits and sugar cubes. I met the stranded employees but no one seems to be complaining, they all want the plant to restart."

ONGC had to shut its Bassein, B-55 and Panna/Mukta and Tapti gas fields on August 8 as the water-marooned Hazira complex could not take any gas. About 40.5 million standard cubic meters per day of natural gas went out of the system as a result of the closure, affecting operations of industries.

ONGC's Hazira produced 1,650 tonnes of LPG, 3,350 tonnes of aromatic naphtha, 417 tones of kerosene and 48 tonnes of diesel and supplied 40.5 mmscmd gas to Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishapur (HVJ) pipeline for shipment to industries in the north.

Officials said natural gas supplies up north have been rationed with power, transport sector (CNG in Delhi) and fertiliser sectors getting priority.

Gas supplies in Delhi to commercial establishments like hotels was cut to sustain CNG supply to automobiles for another week.

The shutting of Hazira Gas Processing Complex has also affected the operations of Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HBJ) pipeline and its operation are likely to resume within a day of resumption of Hazira complex.

International cricket stadium in Kota soon

Kota, Aug 17 (UNI) Kota will soon have a cricket stadium of international standards after the state government cleared the proposals in this regard.

Sources told UNI that Kota's J K Pavilion will be upgraded to international standards and work on the project will start soon. Kota's Urban Improvement Trust had sent a Rs 18.59 crore proposal to the state government for upgrading the pavilion to international standards.

Although the upgradation work will not start before the monsoon is over, around Rs four crore would be spent on the first phase of construction work.

UNI XC RRT PM ND1722

^^ Small steps....but they all count.

Thnks man.

:)

we all should keep our eyes open for news from the north-east.

`Sports academy at khuman lampak in nlcpr priority list` (http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=33103&typeid=1)

The youth affairs and sports and public works department minister Govindas Konthoujam has said that the ministry of DoNER had retained the establishment of National Sports Academy at Khuman Lampak as one of the priority projects for Manipur for the year 2006-07.

The minister stated that the prime objective for the establishment of sports academy was to groom sportspersons from their childhood stage. The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 27.61 crore. Another project namely district sports complex at Tamenglong at the cost of Rs. 12.60 crore is also included in the priority projects, he added.

The other projects are - installation of 2x1 MVA 33 KV sub-station at Willong at the cost of Rs. 4.64 crore, System Improvement of Water Supply Scheme at Moreh town (Rs. 7.18 crore), Augmentation of Water Supply at Tungjoi in Senapati district (Rs. 3.57 crore) and improvement of Jiri-Tipaimukh road from 6 to 60 km (Rs. 19.07 crore). The total amount agreed by the ministry of DoNER for sanction of these projects is Rs. 74.67 crore.

--------------------------------------------

Shillong: Video-conferencing facilities inaugurated (http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200608071450.htm)

In a giant leap to bridge the distance in the remote North East, National Informatics Centre (NIC) today launched video-conferencing facilities in 92 locations in the region for faster decision making, cutting down of travelling time and cost.

Inaugurating the facilities at the North-Eastern Council (NEC) auditorium here, Meghalaya Information Technology Minister, R G Lyngdoh, said the facilities would enable the authorities to take faster decisions in developmental matters besides cutting down the cost and time of travelling for this.

Later, in a live demostration, NIC centres located in Delhi, Tura, Baghmara (in Meghalaya), Itanagar, Lohit (Arunachal Pradesh), Imphal (Manipur), West Tripura, Guwahati, Bhopal and Aizawl (Mizoram) Were Connected to Shillong centre.

Nagpur SEZ land rates treble in a year

The Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), which is setting up a special economic zone (SEZ) and a multi-modal air cargo and passenger hub at Nagpur (Mihan), has increased the rates of the SEZ land for the third time in a year.

The Gurgaon-based infrastructure company DLF had to shell out Rs 35 lakh an acre, compared with Rs 15 lakh an acre paid by Satyam, which was the first to acquire land in the area.

Later, the rate was increased to Rs 25 lakh. “The cost of land is rising at a rate of 10 to 12 per cent every year owing to escalation in the rates of cement and steel. The present rates are slightly below the approved increase and they had been so maintained to woo more investors to the region. A hike can be effected soon. So far over 600 acre have been allotted at different rates,” said R C Sinha, managing director, MADC.

DLF plans to build an IT and IT enabled services (ITeS) hub on the 153 acre land it has acquired in the SEZ. It is in talks with leading companies in the field such as Genpact, Nokia, Ericcson and ABN Amro for space in the proposed project. A DLF spokesperson confirmed that an “in-principle” green signal had been received from these companies.

According to an agreement between DLF and the user companies, the basic infrastructure will be provided by DLF, from which these companies will buy space.

“DLF would invest over Rs 1,500 crore in five to eight years as the area will be developed in phases,” the spokesperson said.

Similar zones have been developed by DLF in Hyderabad, Cochin, Ambala, Kolkata and Pune and it has a client base of 300 companies. The SEZ is to come up over an area of 1,400 hectare. Of this, 400 hectare have been earmarked for facilities such as road, power transmission and distribution system, green zones and drainage.

Major companies which have booked land include, Satyam, L&T, Dell Corporation, Shaporji Pallonji, Ambuja Reality-RNZ Group Combine, and KSL Industries.

Though Infosys had evinced interest, it has not yet purchased a plot. Similarly Patni Computers has chosen to set up its facility at Aroli near Mumbai, Sinha said.

MADC has allocated contracts worth Rs 324 crore for provision of basic facilities in the SEZ. It has till now been able to meet its expenses through internal accruals and through land sale.

http://www.business-standard.com/general/storypage_test.php?&autono=101862

Genpact India, formerly GE Capital International Services, has proposed to invest Rs 152 crore in Bhopal for the development of Information Technology enabled Services.

Although the details of the project are yet to be known, the Project Clearance and Implementation Board of the state government has given clearance to the project.

“The Board has given in-principle sanction for allotting 50 acres and recommending the proposal to the Central government,” a government source told Business Standard.

The state government has shown its aggressiveness in attracting investment in Information Technology sector despite its efforts to market a Crystal IT park in Indore came to nil.

Further the state government also announced an IT policy to offer sops and concessions to the companies that will make investment in the “It is yet to be declared which land area is to be allotted to the company, since prime localities of the city are already occupied by builders, said a government insider.

Hardly five Information Technology companies are functioning in state properly. The state government has announced in its new IT Policy that it will create jobs for one million people.

An area of 100 acres has been earmarked near Bairagarh Airport for development of an IT Park. The state government will also reimburse 30 percent of the total cost prospectively of an IT company operating in the state and providing jobs to 100 people.

Stamp duty is also exempted for IT companies on certain conditions, rate of property tax are at par with residential complexes. Rebate on land is available at rate of 25000 per job created by IT company.

DS sets up rubber thread unit in Tripura (http://www.business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=101899&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

Rs 243 cr IT SEZ to come up in Indore (http://business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=102157&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

Parsvanath Developers Ltd, a Pradeep Jain-promoted Parsvanath group company, has proposed to set up an information technology-based special economic zone in Indore.

The company will invest Rs 243 crore in the project. The Centre has approved the project.

A top official of the department of industries said: “We have been told by the company that the necessary survey will start in a couple of days and the project is likely to take shape by December this year. A land area of 25 acres will be allotted to the firm.”

If the project comes up, it would be the second IT SEZ in Indore. The government-created “product specific IT SEZ” is already there in the form of a Crystal IT Park.

Another IT SEZ in Gwalior, which has been informally announced earlier this year, is yet to take off. The minuscule investment from IT companies is limited to few e-governance projects, which are either at stagnation stage or failed to reach commoners due to frequent changes either in bureaucracy or in policies.

HP joins IT park league; to pump in Rs 200 cr (http://www.business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=103381&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

After Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana, now it is Himachal Pradesh that’s leaving no stone unturned to boost the IT sector in the state.

The state will soon have an IT park, spread over 25 acres, with an initial investment of around Rs 200 crore in the first phase. Moreover, 10 developers have given expression of interest (EoI) for the development of the park.

The government has identified land in Solan and Shimla. But the exact location for the first phase of the purposed park is yet to be decided. Also, the government possesses land at all these locations, and so the acquisition is not a problem.

When contacted, IT Secretary Sanjeev Gupta said, "For the development of the park, 10 developers, including SKIL Infrastructure Ltd, Omaxe Infocity, Zoom Developers, Uppal Housing, Parsvanath Builders, and DLF, have shown expression of interest.”

He added that the department had also identified one site that is Raja Ka Talab near Pathankot. The work on the purposed park is likely to started by the third week of October and likely to be completed within one and a half year.

Dynamic Infradevelopers's Garden City, Ludhiana:
http://www.dynamicinfradevelopers.com/

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/9107/gardencitygate2gs5.jpg

Ludhiana a city with its own culture where traditions embrace modernity, a place that values the old and yet is ready to meet the future. To this grand city and its unique people, DYNAMIC INFRADEVELOPERS presents Garden City.

A place where you can escape the daily pressures of life. Lose yourself in lush greenery, clean breeze and to add to your comforts, a host of facilities including shopping 7 Commercial, Clubs, Swimming pools, gym, parks, school etc.

So escape to Garden city where mind meets soul and build a dream house. Enjoy the pleasures of life. Turn your dreams into reality.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8163/image46yp8.jpg

From DYNAMIC INFRADEVELOPERS comes the promise of acres-n-acres of landscaped greens offering independent plots and villas to help own abode.

Landscaped gardens
Security walls and around the clock manning
Underground cabling
Power back-up for street-lights
Wi-Fi broad band internet access
Potable water for the entire complex

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6549/28garden20citydq9.jpg

DREAM LOCATION
Only 1km from NH-1 and 3.5. kms from the airport, this PUDA approved township offers the perfect ambience of systematic planning & defined luxury.

Just 1 km off NH-1
3.5. kms from the airport
20 minutes drive from the city center
10 minutes from Apollo Hospital

A quick count of the above gives a quick estimate of 20+F. For a city like Ludhiana, that's quite a step.

Sukhm signs deal with Punjab on IT park (http://www.business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=261513&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

Chandigarh-based Sukhm Infrastructures Private Ltd has signed an agreement with the Punjab government for putting up an integrated IT park in Mohali spread over 220 acres, which would be the second biggest IT park in the region (Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh) after Rajiv Gandhi Technology Park (RGCTP), Chandigarh, and is likely to put Mohali on the national radar soon.

The park will be developed in phases with a project cost of Rs 952 crore in the first phase and another Rs 800 crore in the second phase, funded by internal accruals and FDI, and is likely to be completed in three years.

The company--a consortium of Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance group, the Dalmias, Bergruen (US), and Yellow Stone (Chandigarh-based real estate firm)--will develop the park in two phases. The first phase will be spread over 125 acres and the second phase over 95 acres.

The park would be even bigger than Quark City, he added. The park will have an IT tower, call centres, software development companies and IT training institutes.

Also, the IT-enabled fashion tower will come up on about 4 acres.

Centre releases Rs 119 crore for JNNURM
New Delhi | October 16, 2006 8:55:43 PM IST News From Webindia123.com

The Centre has released over Rs 119 crore to take up various projects in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Uran Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

The Government has released Rs 61.94 crore for Maharashtra as first instalment to take up projects in Nanded city under the Mission. Projects for water supply, underground sewerage and sewerage treatment, improvement of water supply system and sewerage system in the city will be undertaken in Nanded city under the sub-mission Urban Infrastructure and Governance. The total central share for the city is over Rs 247.76 crore.

The Union government also released over Rs 24.71 crore to Maharashtra as the first instalment to take up projects in Pune. The projects sanctioned for the city are preservation of lakes and nallas improvement (augmentation of weirs, restoration of lakes' bio premediation and landscaping of nallas and rivers), and river ecosystem. The total central share under the Urban Renewal Mission for Pune city is Rs.98.87 crore.

For Madhya Pradesh, the first instalment of over Rs 12.30 crore was released to take up Bus Rapid Transit System in Indore city. Under this project, 11.45-km-long Bus Rapid Transit System would be constructed. Total central share for this project is over Rs 49.22 crore.

The Union Government has also released the first instalment of Rs 5.17 crore to Gujarat for storm water drainage system in Ahmedabad. The total central share for this project is about Rs 20.70 crore

The Centre also released the first instalment of over Rs 6.47 crore to Andhra Pradesh for projects like grid improvement works, building additional storage facilities on south of Musi and north of Musi in Hyderabad and for providing sewerage system in Vijaywada city. The total central share for these projects is over Rs 25.89 crore.

The Centre has also released over Rs 8.49 crore as first instalment to West Bengal to upgrade sewer system in Kolkata city.The total central share for the project under the JNNURM is over Rs 33.99 crore.
UNI NR PK GC1931

DLF set to invest Rs 8000cr in MP (http://business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?autono=262173&leftnm=1&subLeft=0&chkFlg=)

After announcing an investment of Rs 10,000 crore in Tamil Nadu, realty company DLF Ltd today said it would invest Rs 8,000 crore in Madhya Pradesh over the next four to five years.

DLF’s top management, led by Managing Director T C Goyal, met Babulal Gaur, Madhya Pradesh’s minister of industries and commerce, to finalise the plans.

The money will also be used for the infrastructure development of the Bhopal airport, said Rajiv Talwar, group executive director, DLF Ltd.

Sources close to the development said the company considers Madhya Pradesh a high potential state. Some of the planned projects include housing, special economic zones, information technology parks and a convention centre with a hotel in Bhopal. Similar projects are also planned in other bigger cities such as Gwalior, Indore and Jabalpur.

For similar projects, Bangalore is supposed to be next on DLF’s radar. It is planning residential spaces, malls and IT Parks in and around the city.

Earlier this month, DLF had announced that it would be setting up multi-product SEZs at Tamil Nadu in public private partnership. Terambalur and Nanguneri have been earmarked for these projects.

The company will also be building ring roads in Madurai, Coimbatore and Kochi. Its other projects in the state include the development of residential space in Chennai and Madurai. The total acreage of the residential project is 100 acres. DLF will also be developing an IT park on a 42 acre plot in Chennai with a total built up area of six million square feet.

The company had also 5,000 acres in Dankuni, West Bengal earlier this year for an integrated township and industrial hub.

Five-star club coming up in Ludhiana (http://business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=262115&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

Club Nirvana will be the first five-star club of the state. But at Rs 1.50 lakh membership fee and Rs 300 monthly fee, only a privileged few will be able to afford it.

Promoted by the makers of the Texla brand of televisions, Enchanted Woods Club Ltd, and built over 25 acres of prime land at Rs 45 crore (excluding the land cost, which is around Rs 50 crore), it will be one of the biggest clubs in northern India (excluding the NCR).

Club Nirvana will consist of a five-star hotel, retail outlets, golf-putting greens, conference halls, an auditorium, communication and business centres, limousine services, etc.

The entire project will be carried out in three phases and will take almost a year to be completed.

In the first phase, only the club part will become operational; the second phase will witness banquets, business centres, a spa, roof-top restaurants and a helipad, and in the third phase, the 84-room hotel, the interiors of which will be done by a Chinese designer, will be operational.

Satya to develop modern township in Indore (http://business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=262726&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

Satya Group is developing a modern township--Malwa County— on the Agra-Mumbai National Highway, which is set to become an eight-lane road.

The Centre has already accorded permission to the project. The proposed township is very near to the posh Vijay Nagar colony.

Malwa County, to come up on 110 acres with all modern facilities, has already received necessary permission from the departments concerned.

Satya Group, a reputed firm from Delhi, has joined hands with some local developers who are well-acquainted with the needs and tastes of Indoreans.

Kulbhushan Kukki, Indore-based associate of Satya Group, said, “The township will have a shopping mall-cum-multiplex, banquet halls, IT parks, a school, playground and medical facilities besides several other facilities like swimming pool, outdoor and indoor sports facilities and a gymnasium.”

The township will have rainwater harvesting facility as well as sewage water treatment plant.

Shimla`s tunnel plan hits blockade (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=262936&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

The much-hyped tunnel plan which aims to de-congest Shimla seems to have run into trouble.

A Bangalore-based company, which was assigned the task of preparing a project report, is currently carrying out a survey of the proposed tunnel, which will be bored in the heart of the town from the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) lift to the Rivoli bus station.

Engineers of the Himachal public works department say underground water reservoir tanks installed on the ridge since the British days, which supply water to most parts of Shimla, are coming in the way.

The threats of these tanks bursting are creating problems for people here. Experts are trying to find out other routes to build this tunnel.

Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Rs 1,000 crore is to be spent on the building of three two-way tunnels in Shimla.

Parikrama in Panchkula
http://www.suncityprojectsltd.com/parikrama.htm

A 25 acre group housing complex in Panchkula, 6 km from Chandigarh Airport and 8 km Railway Station.

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/2739/panchkulaproject1ae1.jpg

Jalandhar science city to come up by 2008 (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=264107&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

The Rs 30-crore second phase developmental work at Pushpa Gujral Science City (PGSC), located on the outskirts of Jalandhar, is set to become the largest Science city in Asia.

RS Khandpur, director-general, PGSC, here today said it would be completed by mid 2008.

The cost of the mega project was Rs 100 crore, of which Rs 70 crore had been spent in the first phase. A decommissioned MIG-23 Aircraft was stationed at the Science City today.

So far over 500,000 visitors have visited the Science city since it was opened to the public. PGSC, in its second phase, will have galleries, namely Cosmos, How Things Work, Life Through the Ages, Science of Cricket, Living Earth, etc.

L&T plans Rs 20,000 cr project
Sandeep Mishra
[ 11 Nov, 2006 0053hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]


BHUBANESWAR: The Larsen and Toubro (L&T) group unveiled plans to invest over Rs 20,000 cr in Orissa, which will include establishment of an alumina refinery and a smelter unit. The group's CMD, A M Naik, announced this after holding discussions with CM Naveen Patnaik.

The company, which has been engaged in discussions with the state government since the past several months on its proposed aluminium project, however, has put a rider on its planned investment in the mineral sector.

It wants the state government to recommend its application for bauxite mining lease to the Centre before it starts investing in its proposed alumina refinery near Kashipur in Rayagada district. The company, according to officials, intends to have its smelter plant in Sambalpur district. Officials said L&T has planned its aluminium venture in association with Dubai Aluminium (Dubal).

"Our purpose in visiting the state was to expedite work on our proposed aluminium plant and other plans. We intend to invest Rs 15,000 cr in the aluminium project in two phases. But the state government has to recommend mining lease to the Government of India so that we can expedite the process," Naik said.

Steel and mines minister Padmanab Behera pointed out that going by the state's mineral policy, the application for mining lease can be forwarded to the Centre only after the applicant makes a certain percentage of the total investment.

If the L&T proposal materialises, then it will be the fourth major investment in the aluminium sector in the state after Hindalco, Vedanta Alumina Limited and Utkal Alumina International Limited. A number of other companies, including Orissa-based India Metals and Ferro Alloys (IMFA), have also evinced interest in entering the alumina sector.

Naik said the L&T group, which is a stakeholder in the Dhamra Port Company, is aiming to begin construction work in the Dhamra port project in January-February, 2007. The group has also agreed to build a bulk cargo handling berth at Gopalpur port. Naik added that the group is interested in participating in a rail corridor project in Gopalpur.

Grasim plans cement plant in Orissa
Our Bureau (thehindubusinessline)
Mumbai , Nov. 10

Grasim Industries said it plans to set up a 3.5 million tonnes-per-annum (mtpa) integrated cement plant in Orissa for Rs 1,200 crore. The project includes a 50 MW captive power plant.

The plant is expected to be commissioned in three years, said a statement from the company, which signed the memorandum of understanding with the Government of Orissa on Friday.

The State Government has agreed to assist in acquisition of the necessary limestone mines, land for the plant, in helping with laying a rail link, and adequate sources of fly-ash, slag and coal, said the statement.

This project adds to Grasim Industries' bumper capital expenditure plan for the next two years for capacity addition of 8 mtpa.

Around Rs 4,500 crore will be spent on Grasim over the next two years and Rs 1,520 crore on its group company UltraTech over the next three years, said Mr D.D Rathi, whole-time Director and Chief Financial Officer, Grasim Industries, at the time of the company's first quarter results earlier this year.

Grasim said it would spend Rs 2,475 crore on a greenfield plant for 4 mtpa , with a split grinding unit at Kotputli in Rajasthan, and on expansion of its Sambhupura unit in Rajasthan by another 4 mtpa. The capex also covers thermal plants, which will be set up at each of these locations.

Gomtinagar’s on the commercial map
From TOI epapaer

A much sought after part of the town for residential purposes so far, Gomtinagar is gaining ground as a preferred location for commercial spaces. Making their presence felt in the area are a host of corporate offices – Reliance, Sony, Nokia, Tata Consultancy Services, among others. Gomtinagar will see no less than seven malls in the near future including the up-and-running East End Mall, Fun Republic mall which is nearing completion and others which’re in various stages of construction. Apart from that, the area is also experiencing an influx of various Government offices including the RBI, Indian Oil and NABARD.

"Real estate in Gomtinagar is certainly sought after with hotels, malls, hospitals and even corporate offices coming up there," informs real estate agent Saroj Srivastava, adding that, "even till two years back, property prices in areas like Vibhutikhand in Gomtinagar did not cross Rs 500 per sq foot approximately. In fact property could be had at even below the circle rate. But now, property in Vibhutikhand, which incidentally is being touted by the authorities as the prime commercial location, is costing approx Rs 1600 to Rs 1700 per square foot. And the plots on the main road are even being quoted at Rs 2000 per square feet!" If
this is not an indication of the charm of the area, than what is?" Srivastava adds that another upcoming locality in Gomtinagar is Virajkhand where the asking rate presently is Rs 2000 per sq foot. "The construction of Sahara Apollo hospital in the area has certainly helped in its publicity, as did the Divine Heart hospital, which was inaugurated by the President." she informs.
LDA sources ascertain that Vikalp Khand alone has close to one lakh sq feet of commercial land available in the market.
Srivastava's sentiments are echoed by Atul Saxena, from the Eldeco group. Eldeco has constructed one corporate park in Vibhuti Khand spread over 70, 000 sq feet of land, and work on another such building is under consideration. Avers Saxena, "Gomtinagar is the most advertised area of Lucknow. Most government schemes as of now favour construction in Gomtinagar. Also, LDA is now following a policy of cutting out bigger plots of land which is suitable for large scale construction as opposed to other areas in the city like Aliganj, Vikasnagar, Mahanagar etc, which when developed did not have as large plots of land. Also, even before we came in the area was very well developed, with an upmarket crowd, which is certainly to our advantage. In fact, in Vibhuti Khand itself the presence of high profile colonisers has helped hike up property rates."
Something that Dr Anita Singh, of the Tata Consultancy Services too
agrees with: "Gomtinagar is the place to be," she says while talking about their decision to move to the new facility that the group will soon be occupying in the area. "We were planning to upgrade to approximately 1000 associates by next year, which made it important for us to change to new premises. And in all aspects Gomtinagar seemed ideal. In a place like Lucknow, commuting from anywhere to anywhere would not take more than 15 to 20 minutes. Besides which, we expect a lot of international clients, and so it was important for our office to have presentable surroundings. Gomtinagar fit the bill because most of the buildings in the vicinity were luxury apartments, so the location was good."
"While planning a facility in Lucknow, our organisation was foresighted enough to realise that this is where all the action would be happening," remarks Dheeraj Sharma, GM, EastEnd Mall while talking about the area. He adds, "In fact Gomtingar is doing to Lucknow, what South Delhi did to Delhi. Here too, I am happy to note that our convictions paid off. Despite other malls and shopping complexes opening up in the city, we see the serious customer coming here, which is a positive sign."
CP Sharma, chief town planner, LDA, while stressing on the fact that besides Gomtinagar other areas of the city like Kanpur Road, IIM Road, Raibareli Road too are seeing development in the commercial sector on a large scale, admits that the area is now reaping the fruits of the serious planning. "A well developed area like Gomtinagar acts like a magnet for people because of its facilities like wide roads, good traffic conditions, parking facilities, etc. Hazratganj does not have enough parking space and Aminabad is too crowded. So naturally people want to purchase property here, because everything's easily accessible."

Govt, L&T fail to resolve issue
Saturday November 11 2006 12:09 IST
BHUBANEWSWAR: The State Government and L&T failed to resolve differences over value addition of bauxite, which may further delay establishment of the company’s alumina project in Orissa.

Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of L&T A.M. Nayak met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat here on Friday and discussed several issues involving the company’s projects in the State.

Besides the issue of value addition, the progress of Dhamra port, establishment of a rail corridor at Gopalpur and setting up of a training institute for workers at Rourkela were discussed. Strengthening of the company’s engineering unit at Kansbahal was also discussed.

Addressing mediapersons, Nayak said discussions were held on expediting the company’s projects in the State. The alumina project would be started soon after the State Government recommends for leasing of bauxite mines for the company.

L&T has proposed to set up three million tonne alumina refinery at Kusumshila in Rayagada district in collaboration with Dubai Aluminium Company (DUBAL). Smelter plant and 600 MW captive power plant have been proposed to be set up in Sambalpur district. The total investment in the project is likely to be Rs 16,026 crore.

L&T had signed the joint venture agreement with DUBAL on September 17, 2005 to promote the proposed alumina complex in Orissa. The company had applied for prospecting licence for bauxite over Kutrumali and Sijimali deposits in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, which was granted during 1992-94.

After prospecting, L&T had applied for mining lease for the above-mentioned areas having a deposit of 297 million tonnes. These applications are under consideration of the State Government. While the State Government is insisting on 50 percent value addition in Orissa, L&T is not agreeing to this condition.

A meeting was held between the Principal Secretary and Prime Minister in New Delhi on June 1 to resolve the differences and start the project.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Subas Pani and the joint venture delegation was led by Abdullah Kalban, CEO of DUBAL. Besides the issue, the possibility of participation of the associated companies in development of road, rail and port infrastructure in the State was also discussed.

‘The alumina project would be started soon after the State Govt recommends leasing for the company’

Charter flights give a boost
DILIP BISOI Posted online: Monday, November 13, 2006 at 0209 hours IST Newindpress
Tourism in Orissa seems to have fully recovered from the shock of the super cyclone, which hit the state coast in October 1999, causing immense damage to the sector. After a drop in the tourist flows in 2000, the state has clocked growth of 12.3% last year, with the number of tourists going up to 46.66 lakh. This year, the state is expecting tourist flows to go up by at least 15%.
The projections for higher growth stems from the fact that the state has already received 34.9 lakh tourists, including 26,990 from abroad, in the first six months of the year. The second half is expected to be better as the introduction of chartered flights and the improvement in air connectivity step up flows during the peak season.

For the first time, chartered flights will bring in tourists from the UK, Russia and Australia to Orissa this year. Lanta Tour, a tour operator agency in Moscow, is committed to launch chartered flight operations to Bhubaneswar by December 2006. Orissa-based hotel groups - Tosali and Swosti -will be their collaborators in this project.

“The chartered flights to Orissa are the result of our concerted campaign in the Russian market in last two years,” discloses state tourism joint director Biranchi Mishra. “We participated in the two major tour operators conferences - Lesiure and Moscow International Travel & Tourism Show (MITT) - to persuade operators to bring in tourists on chartered flights to Orissa. Travellink Pvt. Ltd, a Bhubaneswar-based tour operator, is also bringing in a high-end tourists group from Australia on a chartered flight this year. “The group is coming for a 14-day tour to Orissa some time in December,” says Benjamin Simon, managing director of Travellink. According to him, spending by the group will be over Rs 35 lakh each.

• The state government has lined up a series of festivals to keep tourists engaged during their stay

The improved air-connectivity to Bhubaneswar is expected to bring in a greater number of travellers to the state this year. “The consistent lobbying with flight operators has also yielded some result,” says the tourism joint director, adding, “The air-connectivity to Bhubaneswar has increased in recent months.” Last month, while the national carrier Indian started a flight to Bangalore from Bhubaneswar, Kingfisher introduced a flight from Hyderabad to Delhi via Bhubaneswar. Air Deccan is scheduling a flight from Bhubaneswar to Delhi via Raipur some time later this month.

The state government has lined up a series of festivals to keep tourists engaged during their stay in the state. The Puri Beach Festival in November will be followed by the Konark Festival , Shreekshetra Utsav, Ekamra Utsav, Kalinga Mahotsav and Rajarani Music Festival from December to February.

The government is also toying with the idea of hosting a craft festival like the Surajkund Mela this year.

After the success of Raghurajpur, the state government is projecting pipili (appliqué), khiching (stone carving), barpalli (handloom), hirapur (tantra pitha and bell metal) and padmanavpur (handloom) as part of rural tourism. Tourist sites like Puri, Dhauli, Similipal, Chilka, Gopalpur are all getting a facelift. The government has facilities for easy access to sanctuaries like Bhitarkanika, Tikarpara and Similipal with a view to promoting eco-tourism. The state is also developing Ratanagiri-Lalitgiri-Udayagiri —Langudi as a Buddhist circuit and Puri-Bhubaneswar-Konark as a golden triangle circuit.

“The rapid industrialisation of Orissa has also contributed to the growth of the tourism sector,” admits JK Mohanty, chairman of the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Orissa (HRAO). According to him, many quality hotels are coming up to cater to the needs of tourists as well and business executives.

Many large groups like the Taj, Sinclairs of Kolkata, Redission of Delhi, Gautam Khanna’s Ananda Spa, and Laxmi Franklin have lined up high-end hotel projects in Orissa.

“Travelling has become easier and staying more comfortable in Orissa as tourism related infrastructure in the state has developed over the years,” says Mishra. The development of national highways and state highways has made access to tourist sites easier, he adds. Tourists, however, are complaining about the quality of infrastructure available at tourist sites.

While Puri lacks adequate hotels to cater to high-end tourists, the Chilika area lacks the required infrastructure for comfortable stay and entertainment, they point out.

This news is about the North-East and about multi-modes of transport. Since we do not have a dedicated thread on the north-east (yet), i'm posting it here.

Centre wakes up to NE’s connectivity problem (http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=146334)

Travelling to the Northeast (NE) and investing in the region will soon be easier and safer. The Centre plans to improve the region’s transport infrastructure by according top priority to the construction of three greenfield airports in Sikkim, Arunachal and Nagaland and conversion of the arterial network of railways in the region to broad gauge.

Identifying connectivity as the major hurdle in achieving socio-economic growth in the region, the government has listed a slew of measures to overcome this problem during the 11th Plan period.

The Centre plans to initiate multi-pronged action covering all modes of transport. It plans to provide rail links to Meghalaya and Sikkim and connect all state capitals with air and four-or two-lane national highways. All district headquarters will also be connected through national highways .

To harness the maximum potential of inland water, the River Brahmaputra National Waterway 2, which provides trunk route connectivity to the region, will be made fully functional.

The steps come in the wake of a decline in the per capita income of the NE states, which, in 1947, was slightly above the national average. It has now fallen to almost 40% below the national average. This fall has been attributed to poor connectivity, among others reasons.

PACL to buy land in Chhattisgarh (http://business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=265126&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

PACL India, the township and housing development company, said it would purchase upto 5,000 acres in different districts of Chhattisgarh during the current financial year for projects.

"The company has started the process for the same and has completed initial formalities to put the project on the roll," Anil Kumar Sahu, development manager of the PACL, said.

Western Orissa would comes under central region in the administrative set-up of the company.

"We plans to purchase 200 acres near Gandhamardan Mountain, which is famous for rich mineral deposits and in ayurvedic texts for establishing an Ayurvedic College.

PACL India, the official added, is now keen to come and invest in Chhattisgarh.

It has proposed construction of one thousand houses each in Raipur and Bilaspur for all categories of buyers.

PACL India said it will launch housing projects in all the districts of Chhattisgarh.

A high-level team comprising senior officials had visited the state and studied the feasibility of the projects.

Following the reports, land had been selected in different districts for the project.

Sahu said that the company would soon come out with the project after completing the official formalities.

He said the company had planned to provide cheap houses to the weaker sections of the society.

PACL official added that the company had identified lakhs of acres of unproductive land in different parts of the country.

It would transform unproductive land into productive land and give ownership rights to beneficiaries after enrolling them as members.

The company was also engaged in construction of houses and setting up satellite townships at places approved by the government.

The company under its social welfare projects establishes medical colleges, nurses training institutes and mobile health services to the rural population besides helping the affected people during natural calamities.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/20/stories/2006112006640300.htm
New ports may make a dent on VPT cargo

VISAKHAPATNAM: Two ports proposed in the private sector and the public sector Paradip Port Limited (PPL) are planning to stop flight of cargo from Orissa to Visakhapatnam.

The Orissa Government, which has signed MoU with 52 private parties for mega projects, including big alumina projects by Posco, Vedanta and L&T, has also announced its resolve to develop the required infrastructure to retain sea-borne cargo within the State.

The Gopalpur Ports Limited (GPL), being developed with an investment of nearly Rs.2,000 crores to handle 11 million tonnes by 2009 by a consortium comprising Orissa Stevedores Limited (OSL), Noble Group and Sara International, has exuded confidence that new ports will prevent investment on cargo handling facilities at Vizag by the industries coming up in Orissa.

For instance, the coal being taken from Talcher by Tamil Nadu could be handled at Paradip or Gopalpur or Dhamra port coming up in Balasore of North Orissa to cut expenditure on freight charges.

Obvious choice : GPL Director Mahima Mishra said the projected cargo of Paradip and Visakhapatnam is expected to go to 125 million tonnes in 2010 from the present 85 million tonnes. "For this spill over cargo, neither Paradip nor Vizag has the capacity and therefore, Gopalpur Port will be an obvious choice."

According to Mr. Mishra, who owns OSL, a stevedoring firm which handles over nine million tonnes annually from Vizag, Kolkata, Haldia, Paradip, Kakinada and Chennai ports, the Gopalpur Port will also handle LNG.

Tata's SEZ : Tata's Special Economic Zone is proposed adjacent to Gopalpur Port and is expected to produce steel products and value-added minerals for exports.

The rice of Orissa, which does not have export exposure, will be brought in at the SEZ for processing, packaging and then exporting from Gopalpur Port. The promoters of GPL also anticipate that they will get two million tonnes of fertilizer import for the eastern sector.

At present, the Visakhapatnam port is continuing its record as the country's premier port by handling 50 million plus cargo. Another satellite port is being developed with an investment of Rs. 2,000 crores at Gangavaram by a consortium led by D.V.S. Raju.

Asked to comment on how they were expecting to stop flight of cargo to Vizag, Mr. Mishra said: "in the post-globalization phase, only the fittest will survive. We will have state-of-the art ports. The locational advantage and competitive handling charges will attract more clients from Orissa to us than outside ports."

Business Park, Lucknow

http://www.halwasiyagroup.com/office-complex.html

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/6804/businessparklucknowhalwjz5.jpg

Parsvnath Planet, Lucknow

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/9209/grphouseluckparsvkukrejbt1.jpg

http://www.parsvnath.com/planet/perspective.asp

Uppal Plumeria, Lucknow
http://www.uppalchadhatownships.com/
http://www.cpkukreja.com/

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/4401/lucknowuppalkukrejajh1.jpg

Omaxe Heights, Lucknow
http://www.omaxe.com/

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/6112/omaxelucknowkukreja1et3.jpg

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/3981/omaxekukreja2lucknowjh5.jpg

Sky's the limit but a sky-bus will do
Prafulla Marpakwar
[ 15 Nov, 2006 1404hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

The times, it seems, cannot get better for Nagpur. On the one hand, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government has just sanctioned Rs 5894 crore for the city under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. Simultaneously, chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has promised to make the state's winter capital the growth nucleus of central India in the next five to seven years. TOI caught up with Deshmukh on the eve of the launch of the paper's Nagpur edition and found him upbeat about the city's future.

Q: What is your priority when it comes to Nagpur's development?
A: Nagpur is the first city in the country to get financial assistance under the JNNURM. Getting Rs 5894 crore offers a rare opportunity and our priority is to create state-of-the-art infrastructure for Nagpur's development. We aim to provide a sky-bus network (which will come up on a build-operate-transfer basis), replace the existing Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation-run system with one run by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, provide 24/7 water and, above all, ensure Nagpur is among the best Indian cities.

Q: How will the JNNURM funds be utilised?
A: We are planning to earmark Rs 590 crore for water supply and distribution, Rs 515 crore for the sewerage system, Rs 246 crore for the storm-water drainage system, Rs 50 crore for solid-waste management, Rs 1592 crore for slum development, Rs 250 crore for water recycling, Rs 250 crore for roads and bridges, Rs 1550 crore for transport and traffic management and Rs 15 crore for other social amenities. Fifty per cent of the funds will come from JNNRUM, 20 per cent from the state government, 5.6 per cent from loans from the open market and the NMC will mobilise the remaining 24.4 per cent.

Q: Has the NMC implemented the mandatory reforms as required under the JNRRUM?
A: It is the responsibility of the NMC to implement the reforms and I am sure that the NMC will take quick steps.

Q: Nagpur, like Mumbai, has a large number of slums. Are you planning any rehabilitation plan for them?
A: The NMC has already drafted an action plan for making Nagpur slum-free. In fact, when the document for the city's development plan was being drafted, it also examined the present status of slums in Nagpur. There are 427 slum pockets in Nagpur, housing 40 per cent of its population, with a high growth rate of 22 per cent in the last eight years.
We are planning their rehabilitation on the lines of Mumbai's Slum Rehabilitation Authority scheme. We will decide on rehabilitating slumdwellers once the Development Control Rules are amended.

Q: What type of industrial development do you expect in and around Nagpur?
A: Nagpur will emerge as one of the most important destinations for industrial investment in the near future. We expect major investments in the transport hub and the 2000-hectare SEZ, where the government and private entrepreneurs will pump in Rs 2500 crore and from which we expect between 1 lakh and 2 lakh jobs.
There are also proposals to set up railway and bus terminals in the SEZ on a build-own-transfer basis; negotiations are on with a Singapore-based firm for setting up the railway terminal. The Rs-500-crore Boeing maintenance, repair and overhaul unit near Nagpur and the likely investments in the IT sector will give a major boost to the industrial development.

Q: What are the main challenges before the NMC?
A: The NMC will have to make sincere efforts to upgrade Nagpur from a tier-2 city to a tier-1 city.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/19/stories/2006091917730300.htm
Minister urged to grant Rs. 63 cr. for projects

MANGALORE: MLA of Mangalore N. Yogish Bhat has appealed to the Deputy Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa to immediately release Rs. 63 crore towards development projects to be taken up in and around Mangalore.

In a memorandum submitted to the Minister, Mr. Bhat has said that the State Government had promised to pay a sum of Rs. 30 crore for the second vented dam across the Nethravati, which was the only drinking water source for Mangalore. He pointed out that Mangalore City Corporation had deposited its share of Rs. 10 crore towards the project. It was now left to the State Government to take action, he said. The court complex, which is coming up in Mangalore, needed Rs. 12 crore immediately. At present, the court is functioning from the hired premises at the Mangalore City Corporation building.

Skybus system : He said the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) had successfully installed the Skybus system in Goa.

A similar project could be considered for Mangalore. He wanted the Government to release a sum of Rs.1 crore for this purpose.

Himachal bans land sale in Baddi`s industrial belt (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=266282&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

To avoid further haphazard construction in Himachal Pradesh's fastest-growing industrial belt, a ban has been imposed on buying land until a master plan is in place.

Himachal government officials say the decision (late Monday) has been taken to ensure the planned development of the Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh industrial towns in Solan, some 120 km from here.

Since the central excise package was announced almost four years ago, Baddi and Barotiwala has witnessed the fastest industrial growth in northern India, leading to haphazard construction and other complications.

“The Himachal revenue department has imposed a ban on the sale, lease, mortgage, exchange and gift of land in Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial belt,” a spokesman of the state government said here on Tuesday.

“A lot of deviations took place. Industrial units came up even in green belts, residential areas, and farmland, among others,” he added. The ban will remain until a master plan for planned growth is ready soon, say officials.

But many say the ban has come almost four years late, because a lot of damage has already taken place. But the Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) will be allowed to carry on with its proposed acquisition of land in the region even while the ban is in force.

In view of the shortage of housing in the area, HIMUDA is in the process of acquiring some 4,000 bighas (a bigha is 14,400 square feet) to build houses and other infrastructure.

Some months ago the Himachal government set up the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Development Authority and posted an IAS officer to head this body, chalk out a development plan, and to look into illegal deals by property dealers in the area.

Since early 2003, the Himachal government has attracted proposed industrial investments of over Rs 22,000 crore, bulk of which has taken place in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial belt.

Nice projects :)

Kalam to lay stone for IIIT on Wednesday
Wednesday November 29 2006 11:23 IST Newindpress
BHUBANESWAR: A new chapter will be added to the education scenario in the State on Wednesday with President A P J Abdul Kalam laying the foundation stone of International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Bhubaneswar.

With this the city will join the league of selected few cities in the country to boast of an IIIT. The objective of the centre would be to carry out advanced research and technology development in information technologies and their societal, industrial and financial applications.

It will offer programmes at the post-graduate level. There will be 90 seats for the M.Tech programme and 25 PhD seats. The Industrial Development Corporation of Orissa has allotted 24 acres of land near Khandagiri at Gothapatna for the development of the centre. The State Government has earmarked Rs 10 crore for its establishment, of which Rs 5 crore has already been sanctioned.

Making a statement in the Assembly on Tuesday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that the institute would be modelled after similar institutions in Hyderabad and Bangalore. Naveen said that close to the institute?s site on the available government land, an information technology park will be set up to facilitate interaction between industry and the academia. The State Government will also take necessary steps to provide supporting infrastructure like improvement of road, water supply and electricity for this complex to be named the Knowledge city, he said.

IIIT, Bhubaneswar, will be a perfect example of a successful public-private partnership. Several software houses, which have a presence in the city like Infosys, Satyam, Tata Consultancy Services and upcoming firms like Mindtree Consultancy and Wipro will hold stake in the institute.

IT Director Vishal Dev said their active participation would also solve the problem of engaging qualified faculty. IIITs are not only known for the quality of the students, but also for the highly qualified faculty members. IIIT also seeks to closely work with industry leaders and help them in undertaking programmes needed in their sectors. The institute will initially function under the aegis of the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT), but will subsequently be converted into a deemed university. IIITs of Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kolkata already enjoy deemed university status.

Subroto Bagchi of Mindtree Consultancy will be the chairman of the governing body, which will look after the functioning of the institute. The members include Prof L M Patnaik of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Bangalore IIIT Director Sadhu Gopan, representatives of NASSCOM and Manufacturers Association of Information Technology.

Magneto Mall, Raipur
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/9041/19a0523vx5.jpg

Meanwhile in Ludhiana

Ludhiana City Centre
http://todayhomes.co.in/index.htm

Not much details though...

http://img281.imageshack.us/img281/9080/ludhianacitycenter4xk.jpg
Sun, the project seems to be underway! :banana:

View video clip of actual site construction of 20 November 2006 (http://todayhomes.co.in/lcc/lcc_vedio15.htm)

More images:
http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/1160/piclcc1273f4d6oj9.jpg
http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/9884/piclcc227401b6ez2.jpg
http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/384/piclcc127414d1ol1.jpg

Sahara Hospital, Lucknow
Designed by Hafeez Contractor

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/9506/hospital26d86c7xc8.jpg

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Bengal Shrachi's Neocity, Bhubaneshwar

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/9018/neocityheader27cf8c2cx1.jpg

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Marble Arch, Chandigarh

Designed by Morhogenisis Architects, is High Specification Group Housing complex for Uppals buliders.
http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1818/marblearch126118f4uo9.jpg

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Jindal Steel, Raipur, Chattisgarh

Designed by Morhogenisis Architects, it is the Administrative Offices for Jindal Steel.
http://img322.imageshack.us/img322/6532/jindalsteel124d2970bb2.jpg

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Amarnath Shrine Board, Amarnath, Jammu and Kashmir [Design Stage]

Designed by Morhogenisis Architects, Amarnath Shrine Board project is a makeover of the 13 kilometer stretch that connects the base-camp of Balatal with the Amarnath holy caves.
http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/6272/amarnathshrineboard1257ql1.jpg
http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/1707/amarnathshrineboard2257pm6.jpg
http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/8491/amarnathshrineboard3258eh5.jpg

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Vaishno Devi, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir [Design Stage]

Designed by Morhogenisis Architects, Vaishno Devi is a cultural centre for religious tourism, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ,Katra.

http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/395/vaishnodevi22574ca7fy7.jpg
http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/6821/vaishnodevi1257419bqc5.jpg

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Tiwari inaugurates IT park (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu2&leftindx=2&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=204196)
Renderings of the project:

Doon Cyber Center, Dehradun
A flagship development for the Uttranchal Government's IT initiative. A two building complex housing IT Offices, service apartments, food courts and allied facilities.

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/4707/dooncybe123841a2ag3.jpg
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/4646/dooncybe2238a7edjz5.jpg


More info on the building (http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/05/13/stories/2006051303530200.htm), designed by Morphogenesis Architects:
If Doon Cyber Tower for State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttranchal, Dehradun is the first computer generated self-shading building, the administrative office of the Jindal Steel manufacturing plant in Raigarh is said to be the first cable-stay suspension building.

[...]

Says Manit Rastogi, who is one of the directors, "Concerned with the glare and heat gain through glass and problems on energy consumption, Morphogenesis developed an in-house software program for generating self-shading forms using the theory of solar geometry.

Since the building has doubly-curved surface, direct sunlight will never penetrate the body and it will remain suitably shaded during the daytime." The building has an all-glass façade. On the excessive use of glass in buildings, which is traditionally considered to be a heat gathering material, Manit agrees traditional glass or regular float glass was indeed seen as one

Chandigarh signs MoU with Unitech for theme park (http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=267363&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

The Chandigarh administration signed a memorandum of understanding with Unitech Ltd for setting up an integrated theme park here.

The MoU was signed by Krishan Mohan, secretary Tourism),Chandigarh, and V K Chadha, executive director (Real Estate Division), Unitech Ltd.

The Chandigarh administration provided 73 acres of land to Unitech, and, in return, it will get an annual rent of Rs 5.5 crore and 1.1 per cent gross revenue from Unitech. About one million tourists are expected to visit the theme park annually.

Chadha said the cost of the project would be around Rs 600-750 crore. The first phase of the project will be operational in 30 months and it will be completed in 42 months.

“It will have a luxury and a budget hotel and we expect to rope in Inter Continental for the luxury hotel,” he added.

Krishan Mohan said, “Chandigarh has ample infrastructure and only 30 per cent of it has been utilised by its residents. The project like theme park will boost the economic activities here,” he added.

Naya Raipur, new capital of Chattisgarh - proposed project that may create a brand new state capital

http://www.nayaraipur.com/

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/3406/newraipur4ti7.jpg

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8353/neraipur2fg5.jpg

The netas have already laid the foundation stone three years back

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/6311/nayaraipurfoundationstoai5.jpg

Maharashtra to get two zoos (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=267579&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

Maharashtra government plans to develop two world class zoos in the state at Goregaon in Mumbai and at Gorewara on the outskirts of Nagpur.

Both the zoos will be developed on build-operate-transfer basis by private companies who will be allowed to construct a seven star hotel, budget hotels, convention centres, shopping plazas and eateries out of the demarcated zoo area for recovering their investment.

A proposal to this effect is awaiting clearance from the Law and Judiciary department, forest minister, Babanrao Pachpute clarified on the floor of the state legislative assembly.

He said that private sector giants had evinced interest in the projects which would require an investment of about Rs 2,000 crore.

The Gorewara Zoo, if and when it comes up, will be the only zoo in the world which is barely 6 kms from a thriving city of over 2.5 million people, said Pachpute. Work on this project is expected to start in 2007, he said.

Arguing that the zoo should not be looked as a non-productive activity, Pachpute said that it had the potential of generating terrific employment.

The state government has initiated steps to acquire close to 600 acres of land from the animal husbandry department at Arrey Milk Colony at Goregaon and 100 acres from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The Goregaon zoo, however, would be much smaller than the one being planned near Nagpur.

The Gorewara Zoo will sprawl over 1,850 hectares and would have huge ?open enclosures? for animals including the big cats. The animals will be in as natural an environment as can be provided in such a facility, Pachpute remarked.

He said that the zoo project here should not be viewed in isolation. ?It will be big all by itself, but along with several other not-so-well-known tourist spots in Vidarbha, it should prove a big hit when it comes on the international tourism circuit,? Pachpute explained.

There are four national parks and 13 wildlife sanctuaries in Vidarbha and once the city comes on the international circuit all will get the attention they deserve. The city will benefit by the tourist traffic that is generated and new businesses that will spring up, he informed.

A proposal given by the Nagpur University vice chancellor, S N Pathan for developing a bio-diversity park was also under consideration, Pachpute said.

He said that an eco-tourism policy had been prepared by the state and around 56 places identified for further development. Most of these places figure in Vidarbha, he maintained.

He said that the government intended improving on facilities available at the three tiger reserves near Nagpur and also encourage special package tours for Tadoba, Pench and Itiadoh reserves.

The state government is also planning to develop the Tadoba National Park and Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and make them better than the famed Kanha National Park of Madhya Pradesh.

Ahh, finally something else than malls and other mindless entertainment. Now I hope to see world class museums being built all over the country.

Science City to have renewable energy education park (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=267604&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

Pushpa Gujral Science City in Kapurthala will soon have another feather in its cap as work on the renewable energy education park is under way, to be completed very soon.

R Sharma, director, said the ministry of non-conventional resources had provided funds for the energy park and the Punjab Energy Development Agency the technical assistance.

The park is being set up at Rs 1.75 crore.

Gadgets are being installed to train students and the park will have a solar power plant of 20 Kw, a solar water plant, solar street lights, a solar restaurant and a 60-feet-high windmill.

However, for children a mini toy train that runs on solar energy, battery-operated cars and cycles, power-generating drum and energy slip would be the added attractions, he added.

Sharma said that everyday nearly 1,000 visitors, especially students, were visiting Science City, spread over 72 acres. Regarding expansion plans, he said four galleries--the science of sports, the ecology and environment, the health and biotechnology and the emerging technologies--would be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 12 crore by March 2008.

The gallery on science of sports will include virtual reality sport shows on cricket, tennis, football etc, where visitors would enjoy the excitement and challenge of favorite sports without ever having to set foot on a playing surface and investigate the mechanics of sport around an indoor field.

The ecology and environment gallery would attempt to highlight issues such as global warming and pollution, identifying ways and means to mitigate their adverse effects with the help of models, dioramas, information panels and interactive computer-based programs with touch-screen facilities and plasma display panels.

This ministry of railways has also approved setting up a railway gallery in the science city. The gallery will have a stream engine and engine simulators.

The India Meteorological department has installed an automatic weather station linked to satellite Kalpana. This will be followed by setting up a satellite receiving station and whether forecasting information system.

The science city has launched a computer-based learning system for physics, chemistry and biology from class I to 12 and it would be possible to teach any of these subjects on demand for any class.

On PM’s Tokyo list, Rs 5500-cr Buddhist infrastructure upgrade (http://www.indianexpress.com/story/18461.html)
CITHARA PAUL
Posted online: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 0000 hrs Print Email
Holy places in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to benefit most with new roads, airports, tourist centres proposed

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/7866/mid419213247c6sx4.jpg
Bodh Gaya in Bihar: on revamp list

New Delhi, December 12: The tourism sector in India is waiting eagerly for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Japan, starting tomorrow, with details of treaties involving Japanese investment worth Rs 5,570 crore likely to be finalised during his four-day stay.

The pacts would be part of the larger joint declaration to celebrate 2007 as the India-Japan Friendship and Exchange Year. The treaties come at a time when the inflow of Japanese tourists into India has been seeing a steady rise, growing 28% over the past two years, according to the Tourism Ministry.

The proposed projects will mainly cover Buddhist sites for infrastructure development with Japanese aid through next year. The Rs 5,570 crore fund will pay for works such as building roads, airports, tourist facilities and conservation in specified regions.

Buddhist holy places in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Himachal pradesh, Sikkim and Jammu & Kashmir are likely to benefit.

The two countries are also working on an eight-point plan to boost tourism, which includes preferential treatment in issuing visas, more direct flights and joint tourism promotions.

“Japan has a strong presence in the Indian tourism sector and we are expecting to double the Japanese impact in next three years,’’ said a senior ministry official.

There is more for the Buddhist circuit, covering Sarnath, Kushinagar, Piprawaha and Saraswathy in UP, and Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Rajgir and Vaishali in Bihar.

The Phase II of these projects, ending in 2012, will be providing Rs 680 crore for a period of seven years. Works include widening of highways, roadside plantations, conservation of monuments, construction of visitor and meditation centres, and power and water supply to Buddhist sites.

Japan will is also extend support to the Phase II of the Ajanta Ellora Conservation and Tourism Infrastructure Development Project. The places being covered by this project include Aurangabad, Daulatabad, Lonar, Nasik, Pune and Elephenta caves, apart from Ajanta and Ellora.

Sun, the project seems to be underway! :banana:

View video clip of actual site construction of 20 November 2006 (http://todayhomes.co.in/lcc/lcc_vedio15.htm)

More images:
http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/1160/piclcc1273f4d6oj9.jpg
http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/9884/piclcc227401b6ez2.jpg
http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/384/piclcc127414d1ol1.jpg

This city is getting soo many big malls...I saw the model for the Gold Souk mall for this city and it is the biggest one being built by the dubai group...It is much bigger than the one in Gurgaon!

Sahara Hospital, Lucknow
Designed by Hafeez Contractor

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/9506/hospital26d86c7xc8.jpg



This one is u/c

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2258/saharahospitallucknow2ji3.jpg

Emaar MGF's Mohali Hills near Chandigarh

http://www.emaarmgf.com/

This one is u/c

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2258/saharahospitallucknow2ji3.jpg


Did they reduce the number of floors?. It appears so, less number of floors than as shown in the rendering.

Did they reduce the number of floors?. It appears so, less number of floors than as shown in the rendering.
No, the foreground is blocking the background, and the building is snapped from a converging angle. That's why it gives the appearance of being thicker and shorter...otherwise it's 15 storeys alright!

Rajasthan gets new SEZ for IT majors
http://www.teluguportal.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=25392

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Saturday unveiled the foundation stone of Mahindra World City, a world-class platform for corporates to expand business and compete globally that already has software giants Infosys and Wipro as clients.

The world city, a Special Economic Zone spread over an area of 3,000 acres, is a joint venture between Mahindra Gesco Developers Ltd, a Mahindra Group Company, and Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Ltd (RIICO), an agency of the Rajasthan government.

Infosys and Wipro have chosen Mahindra World City, Jaipur, as their next growth centre.

As phase-I of the development, an IT and IT enabled services special economic zone is planned on 190 acres for which formal approval has already been received from the central government. Mahindra has also received an in-principle approval to set up multi-product special economic zone.

In the next phase of development, Mahindra World City, Jaipur, will offer facilities for industries from various sectors such as auto ancillary, apparel and textiles, gems and jewellery.

The project will also have state-of-the-art logistic facilities and an inland container depot. The project will be benchmarked along with the globally best operational SEZs in the world and offer multiple options to prospective companies.

Speaking on the occasion, Keshub Mahindra, chairman Mahindra Group, said: "SEZs have an important role to play for India to emerge as a manufacturing super power. The Mahindra Group's World City projects across the country are a step in making India the leaders in addressing this need of the country. I am delighted to be here in Jaipur."

http://www.mahindraworldcity.com/Jaipur/PDF/j_map.pdf

Proposed cargo hub in Nagpur gets shot in arm
BS Reporter / Mumbai/ Nagpur December 20, 2006
The proposed cargo hub project here got a boost on Monday when the Maharashtra Airport Development Company and Airports Authority of India signed an MoU for promoting the International Cargo and Passenger Hub Airport at Nagpur.

According to the Maharashtra Information Centre, New Delhi, the MoU envisaged development of a Multi-model International Hub Airport (MIHAN), the first of its kind between Southeast Asia and Europe.

According to the MoU, the Nagpur airport will be handed over to a new joint venture company in which MADC and AAI will have 51 and 49 per cent equity respectively.

The airport will be jointly developed by the JV and all the existing employees of the AAI will be absorbed in the new company, according to Umeshchandra Sarangi, principal secretary to the chief minister. Meanwhile, a two-member team from Singapore’s Changi Airport International paid a visit to the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Nagpur Airport on an invitation from MADC.

The team was here on a familiarisation trip to check up on the present traffic that the airport handles and work out the potential after the proposed cargo hub project comes up. “They came here as they wanted to see where Nagpur was located, what kind of infrastructure it had and what was the airport like,” a senior AAI officer revealed. The team also visited the site of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) which is being developed by MADC.

The visit, a sort of touching base for the international agency, would help it conclude whether the project was worthwhile for them, said MADC staffers. For MADC, the agency is the first to visit the airport after L&T Rambol drew up the project report for the cargo hub and also detailed requirements for the airport.

The MADC would eventually work out tender formalities and list its requirements. If Changi Airport International finds that it fits the bill it could respond to the global tender.

Changi Airport International is a Singapore-based company which specialises in airport development and its management. It offers an array of services ranging from consultancy, designing and construction of an airport to its actual running.

The company evinced interest in offering consultancy for the development of the Nagpur airport recently when MADC officials along with chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh visited Singapore for a road show.

Mall Matrix, Mohali
(with hotel)

http://www.parsvnath.com/mallmatrix/aboutus.asp

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/2076/mllmatrizmohaliparsvwa9.jpg

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/22/stories/2006122205621800.htm

Orissa Govt. signs MoU with Mittal Steel
A 12-million-tonne plant will be set up in Keonjhar district

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa Government on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mittal Steel Company N.V., an Arcelor Mittal company, for establishing a 12-million-tonne capacity steel plant in the State. The plant will be set up in the mineral-rich Keonjhar district with a total investment of Rs. 40,000 crore.

The MoU was signed by L. N. Gupta, Secretary of the Steel and Mines Department, and Malay Mukherjee, Member, Group Management, Board of Arcelor Mittal, on behalf of Mittal Steel Company. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Industry Minister Biswabhushan Harichandan and Steel and Mines Minister Padmanabha Behera were present on the occasion. The first phase of six million tonnes capacity will be completed in 48 months after the preparation of a detailed project report. The second phase of six million tonnes will be completed in 54 months after the first phase. The steel plant will include coke oven, steel making, rolling mills and a captive power plant of 750 MW capacity.

The company will be provided 8,000 acres — 6,000 acres for the plant, 1,000 acres for the captive power plant and another 1,000 acres for township. The plant will require 600 million tonnes of iron ore for 30 years, according to the MoU. The steel plant will require 125 million cubic metre of water annually which will be sourced from the Baitarani river and Kanupur dam which is under construction.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the project would create direct employment for 5,500 persons and indirect employment for 15,000 people. While assuring Mittal Steel of all support to the project, Mr. Patnaik urged the company to address the issues of rehabilitation and environment protection.

However, hours before the signing of the MoU, a rally was organised near the State Secretariat, opposing the signing of the MoU. The activists of Kalinga Sena, a regional political outfit, raised slogans against the State Government for its decision to hand over rich mineral resources to private companies without protecting the interests of the State and its people.

Huge India steel deal announced
The world's largest steel producer, Arcelor Mittal, has signed an agreement in principle with the Indian state of Orissa to set up a huge steel plant. The deal, or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the 12 million tonne plant will involve an investment of nearly $9bn. It was signed on Thursday by representatives of the two sides. The plant will be located on an 8,000 hectare site northwest of the state capital, Bhubaneshwar.

"We have always said that we want to have an operational presence in India. The Indian economy is demonstrating excellent growth and steel consumption is set to increase considerably in the future," Arcelor Mittal's President, Lakshmi N Mittal said. "Orissa is well known for its rich mineral reserves and as such is an ideal location for such a greenfield venture. "Mr Naveen Patnaik, its chief minister, has done an excellent job in attracting foreign investment to the region and it is showing signs of becoming one of the major steel industry hubs of the future."

'Proud' : The company says that the project's first phase will be completed in 48 months while the final stage would require an additional 54 months. Correspondents say that the plant is the first Indian operation of the European firm. "The project will offer 5,500 direct and 15,000 indirect employments," the government said in a statement after the signing of the MoU in Bhubaneshwar.

Chief Minister Patnaik said that Orissa was "proud" to have two of India's largest foreign direct investments - a South Korean company, Posco, is currently working on another multi-million dollar steel project. The chief minister said that he hoped that the projects would provide a "tremendous fillip" to the industrialisation process of Orissa.

The BBC's Sandeep Sahu in Bhubaneswar says that the announcement had come as a shot in the arm for the government, which has been concerned over the "tardy progress" of work on the Posco project. Our correspondent says that the Posco plant has been strongly resisted by local people, who have been displaced by its construction.

Orissa has so far signed MoUs with 42 companies to set up steel plants in the state, with a total investment of around $33bn. The state has nearly 27% of India's iron ore reserves.

Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/6200983.stm
Published: 2006/12/21 17:04:10 GMT BBC MMVI
Orissa - MOU with 42 companies - investment $33bn

Collage Group to invest Rs 2,000 cr in real estate in Punjab (http://business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=269371&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

After getting the Punjab government’s approval for its upcoming mega projects, the Delhi-based Collage Group is all set to invest Rs 2,000 crore in Punjab in real estate projects.

This will include a Viva Collage Mall in Jalandhar, an international standard Golf Course in 200 acres at Zirakpur and a housing colony and a mall in Amritsar.

About the Viva Collage Mall in Jalandhar, Khaneja said the project would begin this week and was expected to be operational in April 2009. Sixty per cent of the space in the proposed mall was given on lease to companies including the Aditya Birla Group, which signed its first agreement in the malls with the Collage Group, he added.

On the proposed layout of the Mall, Khaneja said it would have five floors. An agreement has been signed with Dubai’s Life Style chain for making the shopping attractive.

The first floor of the mall would be for women customers and for the anchor of this floor, an agreement had been signed with Max Fashion, which would open its store in 25,000 sq feet, he said adding that second floor would contain the home department and an agreement had been signed with Kishore Biyani’s Future Group for the floor.

The third floor would house five multiplexes and a food court, Khaneja said. About the incentives, Khaneja said their projects would enjoy 10- year entertainment tax exemption for multiplexes.

Since the mall would be situated on the outskirts of the city, special arrangements of shuttle buses from different venues would be arranged by the group to ferry customers .

Imagine, special shuttle buses to bring customers to a shopping mall! This new India is beyond me.

West End Estate, Mohali
http://www.chadhagroup.com/mohali.html

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/9228/westendmohalicityxt4.jpg

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/8063/westendmohali2zg4.jpg

Old news

Foundation stone of township project laid
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060726/cth1.htm#8

The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt. Amarinder Singh, laid the foundation stone of the first Integrated Mega Township Project – WestEnd Estate - at Sector 85 here today. The township is to be developed by Country Colonizers Private Ltd. within two years. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the Punjab Government had so far approved 62 township and housing projects worth Rs. 3500 crore in the state. He said that housing and township companies of national as well as international repute like Emmar, Vipul, Ansals, DLF would also be commissioning their projects soon at Mohali and other parts of the state. He said that it was the endeavour of the government to create the best infrastructure at Mohali so that it emerged as the world's most preferred investment destination. Earlier, the Chief Minister took a round of the site in the industrial area where the WestEnd Mall was being set up over an area of 5000 sq. meter at a cost of Rs.120 crore.

And some more recent news

Chadha Group signs Kapil
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061221/cth1.htm#24

Legendary cricketer Kapil Dev has been signed as brand ambassador by The Chadha Group to endorse its residential township project, Westend Estate, in Mohali. Under the project, the group will develop sports infrastructure for residents under the supervision of the cricketer. According to Mr Manpreet Singh Chadha, Director of the project, "We are developing the township on the pattern of sports villages. It will have international-standard sports facilities such as a cricket field, an air-pistol shooting range, a football ground, a swimming pool, a gymnasium and a billiards pool. These facilities will be exclusively available to the residents of the township." Speaking on the occasion, Kapil Dev said: "Providing world-class sports infrastructure in the country is the need of the hour and is necessary to produce more champions in the country.”

Several major projects lined up in Manipur (http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=12805&secid=28)


The Government of Manipur is establising a technology institute, a convention centre and a national sports academy in the state. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently laid the foundation stone for all the three projects.

The Manipur Institute of Technology will be converted into National Institute of Technology. Assistance of Rs 35 crore is being provided for the construction of college buildings and other facilities for MIT.
The National Sports Academy will come up at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex at a cost of Rs 18 crore.
The convention centre will be set up in Imphal at a cost of Rs 24 crore.
Other projects include:
It has been decided to upgrade the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal with facilities on par with AIIMS, New Delhi. This project will cost around Rs 130 crore which is being sanctioned by the North East Council and the Union ministry of health and family welfare.
Health facilities in remote districts of the state will be improved by setting up five 50-bed hospitals at Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel, Senapati and Jiribam. These hospitals will cost a total of Rs 75 crore.
Four-laning of 78-km long stretch of NH-39 from Maram to Imphal at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore. The stretch from Dimapur to Kohima to Maram is already included in NHDP-III and with the coverage up to Imphal, the state will have a four-lane highway to Dimapur.
Old Cachar Road, the historical route to Manipur, will be converted into a motorable road at a cost of Rs 86 crore. This project is included in the North East Council's 11th plan.
The Centre has sanctioned assistance of Rs 21 crore for the construction of six bridges at Bahu Bazar, Haokha, Leisangthem, Irong Ichin, Klyamgel Mang Mapa and Moirang-Kumbl.
The civil aviation department will be asked to begin work on installing night landing facilities at Imphal Airport.
The City Development Plan for Imphal has been approved under JNNURM with a total outlay of Rs 1,870 crore.

Naya Raipur, new capital of Chattisgarh - proposed project that may create a brand new state capital



Nice! I had read about it somewhere before! The regional ring road also sounds great.They should build it out of the city/town limits though :)

Deep Ganga,Haridwar by Delhi Apartments Pvt Ltd
Apartments and Commercial Spaces

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/3443/haridwarwx0.jpg

From TOI epaper - a report on Lucknow..

An eight-lane glittering flyover crisscrossing the Gomati; a walking plaza and a dedicated track for cyclists along the Lohia Path — city’s first ‘expressway’; and a six-lane bridge in place of the present messy Daliganj bridge. This is no crystal-ball gazing, but glimpses of Lucknow in 2007. So, at the end of the tunnel of chaos that Lucknowites are going through thanks to dug up roads and semi-constructed crossings, there is light indeed.

This could be the photo of the new bridge u/c
photo copyright vivekdodo

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/6382/lucknowvivekdoodbridgemi3.jpg

Yeah, this seems like it. I know where that place is.

Does anyone have a map of this "Expwy", additional info on it, or a map of Lucknow with the expwy highlighted?

Also, is this related to the Lucknow-Sitapur expwy (how's that one coming along?)

Raipur slums to be cleaned up (http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=270003&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

The slums in the Chhattisgarh capital will get a new look as the state government is working on a proposal to construct houses for the slum-dwellers under the Jawaharlal Nehru national urban renewal mission—a scheme floated by the union government.

The department of urban development in the state government is giving final shape to the project under which 27976 houses will be constructed for the slum dwellers in the Chhattisgarh capital with an estimated cost of Rs 392 crore.

The ministry of urban development last month approved the proposal to construct concrete houses for slum dwellers in state capitals and the big cities with population of more than 10 lakh under the Jawaharlal Nehru national urban renewal mission.

The Chhattisgarh capital is one of the cities selected for the implementation of the project. According to sources, Raipur is however the only city of the others selected for the project to get a huge amount of Rs 392 crore in the current fiscal to execute the scheme.

Raipur Mayor Sunil Soni told Business Standard that the department had started working on the project and completed the first step of selecting the land.

As many as 53 slums have been selected for the project in the state capital where more than 15 per cent vacant land belongs to the government, Soni said.

Soon after getting fund from the union government, the construction work will start in the state capital that houses 23 per cent populace in the slums and other backward settlements. The new project will provide all the basis amenities to the slum dwellers including power, drainage, drinking water and others.

Does anyone have a map of this "Expwy", additional info on it, or a map of Lucknow with the expwy highlighted?

Also, is this related to the Lucknow-Sitapur expwy (how's that one coming along?)

From what Ive read elsewhere,they are building a 1 KM flyover/bridge to replace the old bridge.This is not part of the Lucknow-Sitapur Expressway which starts from North Lucknow and around 80-85kms in length.

Spirit Global to invest Rs 2,000 crore in hotels in Punjab (http://www.business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=270157&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

With an investment plan of Rs 2,000 crore by 2010, New Delhi-based Spirit Global Construction Private Ltd, a real estate development group, is set to construct five-star hotels in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Chandigarh and Patiala, apart from five leisure-and-business hotels and resorts each, in the state.

The company is ready with 60 projects for 50-odd cities, including 16 malls and multiplexes, and 15 hotels (five-star hotels, five leisure and business hotels and five resorts).

The company will do the investment in a phased manner under the name “Global Malls”, and unlike most of the investors choosing only the advanced cities of the state, the company, in addition to the big cities, will target tier III cities as well, i.e. the suburban as well as rural areas of the state.

Under its phased planning, the company has decided to cover cities like Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur, Kapurthala, Nawanshehr, Ferozepur, Zirakpur, Ropar, Faridkot, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Muktsar, Moga, Bhatinda, Mansa and Hoshiarpur.

The company has tied up with Pyramid Saimira Theatre Ltd, which has almost 250 screens in multiplexes as well as other theatres in the country, according to Anuj Malhan, director, Spirit Global Construction.

With this tie-up, the malls and multiplexes will have services like pay-per-view parlours, interactive video-conferencing, web streaming, context-based advertisements, online and multi-party gaming.

“We are going to introduce the concept of thematic malls in our projects,” he said, adding the company had two of its projects lined up for Ludhiana, one on the Jalandhar-GT Road and the other on the Ferozepur Road, respectively.

Vascon plans Rs 130 cr IT Park in Nashik (http://www.business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=271452&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

Pune-based leading construction company, Vascon Engineers, is planning to set up an IT Park here in association with the Nashik-based Sanklecha Constructions.

The IT Park project, which is estimated to cost Rs 130 crore, will be the first private IT Park in Nashik and it will be located at Mumbai Naka area here.

“We are developing 7.5 lakh sq ft IT Park- `V-Tech’ at Nashik and our investment in the project will be around Rs 130 crore. The IT Park project will be completed in three phases within the next 2 years. We will develop 2 lakh sq ft area in the first phase that will be completed in the next 12 or 13 months. So far, a non-voice BPO - WNS Global Services has booked 2 lakh sq ft area in the proposed IT Park,” said R Vasudevan, chairman, Vascon Engineers.

“The IT Park will include offices with areas ranging from 5,000 sq ft to 8,000 sq ft. Modern elevation with structural gazing, a landscaped garden, ample car parking of one-level in the basement, 100 per cent power backup are the some salient features of the IT Park. Companies can set up call centres, disaster centres, back-office operations or BPOs,” he said.

“Along with IT Park, we are also planning a residential project here in the next few months and have identified land for the purpose. Besides, we are also looking for new location for the business project here,” Vasudevan said, but he didn’t divulge more details.

In the last three-four years, Nashik has become the major centre for auto and electric companies.

Besides, it has also emerged as the wine capital of India as half of the total wineries across the country are alone in Nashik district alone. Now, Nashik has already attracted around Rs 3,500 crore fresh industrial investments (new industrial units & expansions), which is likely to be made in the next two years, according to sources.

Besides, IT industry has also started taking momentum here. Around 18 software & BPO companies, including WNS Global Services and Aress Software & Education Technologies, are already operational here while, Tricom India, a non-voiced BPO company is commencing its Nashik unit this (January) month.

Another non-voiced BPO major Datamatics is also planning to set up its unit here. Nashik is expected to attract many IT & BPO companies in the next few years, according to sources.

Sobha Developers' joint venture for Kerala project (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/01/23/stories/2007012303662300.htm)


Sobha Developers Ltd (SDL) has set up a joint venture with Tree Hill Estates Ltd of Kerala to implement a Rs 600-crore integrated township project in Thrissur in Kerala.

The joint venture has launched a special purpose vehicle (SPV) called Puzhakkal Developer Private Ltd to build residential-cum-commercial infrastructure complex in the temple town, said Mr Pradumna Kanodia, Chief Financial Officer. He, however, declined to the give the details of the stake profile by the joint venture partners...more

Alpha One, Amritsar
http://www.alphagcorp.com/alphaOne_amritsar.aspx?id=1

http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/8814/alphaoneamritsarwm8.jpg

WTP Jaipur is progressing
http://www.wtpjaipur.com/

As of Jan 29th, 2007

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/2485/wtpsiteprogressjaipurha9.jpg

Ansal plans Rs 11,000cr realty spend in P'jab (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=20361)

Real estate major Ansal Properties and Infrastructure (APIL) today announced an investment of about Rs 11,000 crore in Punjab in next four years to develop 20 projects, including townships, housing, retail, commercial, and hotels.

APIL, the flagship company of the Ansal API Group, has also entered into an agreement with Ritesh Industries, a garment exporter, to build a housing project and business park spread over 42 acres in Ludhiana, with an expected revenue of about Rs 800 crore.

"We have already launched five projects in Punjab and would be launching another 15 in the state in next six months.

We will be investing Rs 10,000-11,000 crore over next three-four years to develop these properties," D Sachdeva, president, Ansal API, said here.

On the agreement, Sachdeva said the 42-acre land valued at Rs 150 crore had been provided by Ritesh Industries, while the development work would be done by APIL. The project would have a housing development of 2 million sq ft and 1 million sq ft of business park.

Shimla construction firm to foray into real estate (http://www.business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=273837&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

To cash in on the real estate boom and to meet the growing demand of houses in the hilly region, Shimla-based PK Construction Company, engaged in construction of roads, has diversified into the realty sector.

The company has floated a subsidiary called PKS Construction Company Private Ltd to undertake housing projects.

The new company would develop a housing project, spread over 8,500 square metres near Shimla with a total project cost of Rs 18 crore-Rs 20 crore and apart from the housing project it would also develop Congress Bhawan with a total project cost of Rs 2 crore.

Talking to Business Standard, Company Director Gaurav Sood said, “This would be the first planned housing project within municipality limits in Shimla. The proposed housing project would have 57 two bedroom apartments and 6 three bedroom apartments. Buyers have to shell out Rs 27 lakh for a two bedroom apartment whereas the three room site would cost around Rs 32.50 lakh.”

The project is expected to be completed by December 2008. Commenting upon the cost of the apartment, which seems to be too high in the hilly area, he said, “We already have sold out 15 per cent of the total apartments, this clearly indicates the demand. Moreover, there is hardly any land within municipal limits in Shimla.”

He added, “This would be the first planned housing project in Shimla and we have already sought all clearances from the concerned department, so we are expecting that the entire project would be completed by December 2008. So far the Congress Bhawan at Shimla with an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore would be completed by June.”

Boeing to invest $185mn in MRO, training centre
Press Trust of India / Bangalore February 7, 2007

After bagging aircraft orders worth about $20 billion from India, US major Boeing today announced its commitment to invest almost $185 million to develop aviation-related projects and facilities in the country.

Announcing that his company was also committed to invest a total of $1.7 billion in offsets, Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president (sales), Boeing Commercial Airplanes', said the firm would invest up to $100 million for a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Nagpur, and up to $75 million for a flight crew training centre and $10 million for initial pilot training.

He said on the sidelines of the Aero India show here that there was a tremendous opportunity for Boeing and Indian companies to work together on a multitude of projects and business initiatives, especially the shortage of pilots, airport capacity management and creation of a large skilled maintenance workforce and MRO facilities.

Keskar said Boeing was eyeing the domestic air cargo sector, which had expanded at an average annual growth rate of over 10%.

I got this photo of Ranchi (Jharkhand's Capital) from FLickr (Copyright Sanjiv)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/70/219115701_a77bb6aea6_b.jpg

Hey Vishal! Welcome on board SSC India!

Just to let you know,this is the projects thread where news related to projects are posted.Awesome pic of Ranchi! Please post that in the 'Townscapes across India' thread under the 'City folder' forum :)

Here (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=324439&page=11)is the link

Hey Vishal! Welcome on board SSC India!

Just to let you know,this is the projects thread where news related to projects are posted.Awesome pic of Ranchi! Please post that in the 'Townscapes across India' thread under the 'City folder' forum :)

Here (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=324439&page=11)is the link

Thanks indiansuite .... I was just looking for represantations of my native town and found this. Also, thanks for guiding me to the right spot ... Have made my posting there too ...

Luxury buses to ply on Nagpur roads
BS Reporter / Mumbai/ Nagpur February 23, 2007

Luxury buses are set to ply on Nagpur roads offering inter-connectivity within its municipal limits. The bus service will be started by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, which has taken up the initiative with the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation Limited (MSRTC) following the latter’s disinterest in operating city buses.

The MSRTC had run up huge losses in running the city bus service and proposed to restrict operations to certain key routes or shut them down completely. The civic body then decided to step in and invited tenders for running the buses. Called ‘Star City Buses’ they will now be introduced on two major arterial routes in the city from this week.

Municipal commissioner Lokesh Chandra said the two routes had been finalised and the private bus operator had brought seven brand new buses to the city.

Orders for more buses have also been placed. The routes on which the buses will initially be run are Khapri Octroi Post (Wardha Road) to Kamptee Road Octroi Post and Pardi Octroi Post (Bhandara Road) to Wadi Octroi Post (Amravati Road).

Rs 1,000 cr fun park in MP to come up in 2 years (http://business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=276291&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

International Amusement Ltd, the parent company of Appu Ghar, New Delhi, has proposed to set up an amusement park in Madhya Pradesh. The park will be known as Mega Tourism City and will come up in Indore with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore in a phased manner.

The State Project Implementation Clearance Board (PICB) has cleared the project “in principle” and has necessary support to the company.

“The company has plans to acquire land on its own for the project. The board (PICB) has given in-principle approval for the project and so that it can go smoothly on necessary clearances. The company has proposed to set up a golf course, mega shopping mall, multiplex, resort, budget hotel, arrival plaza and other similar facilities,” a government source who participated in the Board meet told Business Standard.

The project will take shape within two years and the investment will come in a phased manner, the source said, adding, “the company has plans to invest Rs 1,000 crore.”

Although company has been assured of offering all benefits in accordance with entertainment policy, the state policy has no provisions for amusement parks. It only offers concessions to certain category cinemas to a maximum limit of Rs 5 lakh.

Further Industry Policy 2004 also silent about amusement parks despite it falls under mega investment proposal.

Despite tall claims of state government of ‘Single Table” clearance policy, an amusement park developer need clearance from state apex committee, PICB, State Pollution Control Board, District administrative officers, local self government officials, Town and Country Planning Department, District collector, sub-divisional magistrate and lower rank land officials.

The Board has also framed a policy that the board will not acquire land for private companies on the choice basis. “Either companies will have to make their own arrangements or they will have to accept whatever is offered by the state government,” it said.

Another amusement park, to be created with an investment of Rs 60 crore, proposed by Subhash Chandra promoted ZEE Group Company Pan India Paryatan Ltd. failed to take off since the bureaucrats reportedly allocated a land area at higher prices.

The proposal is still hanging in balance despite the company has reportedly made several request on land issue.

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Vaishno Devi, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir [Design Stage]

Designed by Morhogenisis Architects, Vaishno Devi is a cultural centre for religious tourism, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ,Katra.

http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/395/vaishnodevi22574ca7fy7.jpg
http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/6821/vaishnodevi1257419bqc5.jpg

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In an addendum to this, it seems that Gianni Botsford Architects (http://www.giannibotsford.com/projects.html) are collaborating with India's Morphogenesis Architects on this project.

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Amarnath Shrine Board, Amarnath, Jammu and Kashmir [Design Stage]

Designed by Morhogenisis Architects, Amarnath Shrine Board project is a makeover of the 13 kilometer stretch that connects the base-camp of Balatal with the Amarnath holy caves.
http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/6272/amarnathshrineboard1257ql1.jpg
http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/1707/amarnathshrineboard2257pm6.jpg
http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/8491/amarnathshrineboard3258eh5.jpg

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From
They design architectural wonders (http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2006/jan/21spec3.htm), 26 Jan, 2006, about Morphogenesis Architectural Studious:
...

The second project that stands out is a project with the Amarnath shrine board. "This pilgrimage is the largest in the world," says Srivastava. "But it's disorganised, there's no formal housing for pilgrims, and the area is prone to heavy snowfall and avalanches."

"Our project with Amarnath," says Bhardwaj, "consists of three stages. First, we had to think of accommodation. Here we ran into various problems of strategy.

The area is 13,500 ft above sea level, has extremes of weather, and the roads are barely negotiable at the best of times. We realised it would be difficult to transport the raw materials up there, and build on-site, and it would also be difficult to build off-site and then assemble on-site. The problem was transport."

A brainstorming session brought the perfect solution: to carve the rooms into the mountain. And this is exactly what the team is planning to do. This has several advantages; not only will these rooms be self-heating, the entire carving process is mechanised and can take place fairly quickly. This is important as there are only a few months in the year when construction can actually take place.

Morphogenesis has also designed a dwar just before the cave. "Right now, there's no symbolic arrival point to signify the end of the journey," says Srivastava. And the journey is arduous: 45 km by the traditional route, and 13 km (which still takes half a day to walk) from the new base camp.

Using stone mined from the mountain, the Morphogenesis team designed a concept that involved eight pillars of stone, each denoting the eight points of the compass, ("because pilgrims come from all corners of the world," says Srivastava), and a waterway, which tapers down in the direction of the Amarnath caves, symbolising journey's end.

"We wanted to make it spiritual rather than religious," says Bhardwaj. "After all, people come to Amarnath to see caves and sculptures of ice, natural phenomena, not idols of gods."

The last part of the project is a mandap, where bhajans and other functions can be organised. This structure was another challenge to create. "Steel gets very brittle in the snow," says Bhardwaj, "so we made a shell-like structure that can fold into itself come every winter, and be put up again relatively easily in the summer months when the pilgrims come." Construction on this project will start this summer, and is expected to take at least 3-4 years to complete.
So supposedly construction has already started! :)

-Jai

Chandigarh to have its own film city (http://business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=276973&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

Once the project is through, Chandigarh will join the exclusive club of other film cities which include Mumbai Film City, Noida Film City and Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad amongst others.

The multimedia/film city project, first of its kind, is estimated to cost around Rs 800 crore and will spread over 30 acres. It will have a film studio, a multimedia park, a multimedia entertainment centre and a multimedia college and research centre. The project will be completed within 36 months. Parsvnath Developers will pay a premium of Rs 191 crore for the land with a lease period of 99 years.

The Film City will be designed and developed as per international standards having a digital studio to facilitate film and television productions, post-production facilities for digital films, high-tech animation facility, high-tech gaming facility and a cafeteria. The multimedia park will provide ready-built space for technology companies working in the multimedia industry and would also facilitate setting up of own software/multimedia development centres for them.

The entertainment centre will consist of a minimum four-screen multiplex with a total seating capacity of 900, a 200 room hotel and service apartments and a commercial estate.

The multimedia college and research centre will have features like facility for multimedia studies, modern equipment for animations, various international standard devices and software for gaming, research centre etc. The college will deliver graduate and post graduate courses in multimedia for 750 students along with a hostel facility.

From hippy hang-out to casino capital
By Zubair Ahmed BBC News, Goa

The atmosphere is electric. A Russian belly dancer shakes her body on one end of the floor. On the other, a Caribbean band sings effortlessly. Between them are men and women from various parts of India and beyond, enjoying a gambling night out.

This is Goa's own Las Vegas. The entertainment cruise ship, Caravela, sits majestically on the edge of the River Mandovi. On board, dozens of men and women join in live games of American roulette, poker and Black Jack.

'Casino Goa' : Goa is on the road to becoming the casino capital of South Asia, trying to take advantage of the uncertain political climate in the present casino hub, Kathmandu in Nepal...

Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/6405881.stm
Published: 2007/03/07 13:32:30 GMT

Orissa clears 4,000 mw plant

The Orissa government gave the go-ahead to the 4,000 mw ultra-mega thermal plant proposed to be set up by NTPC in the coal-rich Sundargarh district. The clearance was accorded at a high-level official meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Bhuvaneswar.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, state Energy Minister Suryanarayan Patra said the government had given the go-ahead after NTPC agreed to share one-third of the generated power with the state at a nominal price. Coal blocks for the ultra mega project have been identified.

This has been the state's demand, and the Power Purchase Agreement would be signed between the Grid Corporation of Orissa Ltd, the Power Finance Corporation and NTPC.

For execution of the project, it is likely to cost over Rs 18,000 crore, and would commence within a month. It is scheduled to be completed in one single phase by 2012. — PTI [05 March 2007]

Orissa plans another Fortune Tower to accommodate IT cos (http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=157101)

The state-owned Industrial Infrastructure Development Corp (IDCO) is coming up with a second Fortune Tower to meet the rising demand from the IT industry. The tower will have two lakh square feet of usable area apart from parking lot and other recreational facilities.

Seven acres have been identified for the proposed Fortune Tower-II, which will be a 17-storey building.

According to preliminary estimate, around Rs 20 crore will be needed to build the tower. The IT department has already given Rs 3 crore to IDCO for construction of the tower. IDCO has been asked to give special emphasis on the architectural aspect of the building.

A number of IT companies are approaching the state government for land within the city limits to set up their facilities. Since the entire floor space of Fortune Tower I is being occupied by IT and telecom companies besides Posco and Dhamra Port Ltd, the government has acquired 154 acres at Gothapatna to develop another IT hub. It has also allotted one wing of the Toshali Plaza in Satyanagar to the IT department.

Nahar to invest Rs 1200 cr in real estate (http://business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=277864&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

Punjab-based company Nahar Industrial Enterprises Ltd (NIEL) is set to invest Rs 1,200 crore in the real estate business in the state to construct residential complexes and an IT Park on 100 acres.

“The sites for the project have already been identified and the blueprint is being finalised with some of the famous architects of the country,” Kamal Oswal, vice-chairman and managing director of the company, said, adding that the projects would be in shape in two to three years.

“We have decided to invest around Rs 1,200 crore for developing residential houses and an IT park here,” he added, which will be completed with in 2-3 years,” he said.

“We hired a Delhi based property consultant, for preparing a blue print for the project to submitted by the end of this month” Oswal said adding that after receiving the report from our consultant, we will decide to go alone or to involve any partner in this project.

Regarding the sites of the proposed real estate projects, he revealed that the company has surplus land at three locations, including 100 acres at Mundian Kalan, 40 acres at Focal Point (Ludhiana) and 30 acres at Raikot in Ludhiana.

The kind development took place around the sites, has made it more conducive to develop it as luxurious residential complex and IT park, he said.

Aakriti Eco City, Bhopal

http://www.aakritiecocity.com/

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1561/birdseyeviewaakritiecocih3.gif

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1561/birdseyeviewaakritiecocih3.gif

Science City and Museum Centre, Surat (design phase)

Surat Municipal Corporation invited Architects to send in their design proposals as part of an open competition. HCP Design & Project Management Pvt. Ltd. won the design competition and was awarded the job. The building is made in structural steel and exposed fair finished concrete. The facade is made up of structural steel glazing lined with insulation on the inside. The partitions are in dry walls.The planetorium is a geodesic dome built on structural steel.

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/852/01sx9.jpg

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/3725/02ys1.jpg

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/395/03jn2.jpg

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/5470/04zl5.jpg

Conversion policy boosts hotels in Chandigarh (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=278950&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

Chandigarh's hotel industry is likely to flourish as a result of the introduction of the conversion policy framed by the administration of the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

The conversion policy, with the conversion charges of Rs 19,200 per square yard, has attracted even big brands in the hospitality industry like the Sarovar Group of Hotels and Resorts and Ginger Hotels, besides local players.

Proposals have been given for more than a dozen hotels in the industrial areas of Chandigarh as an outcome of the new policy.

Anil Madhok, managing director of the Sarovar group, confirmed that the group had decided on a hotel site in the industrial area of Chandigarh on about one acre. “It will be a 130-room budget hotel with a conference room and other facilities. We will invest about Rs 30 crore in addition to the land cost. The work on the site will commence in three months and it will take another 15 months for the completion,” he told Business Standard.

It is noteworthy that the delegates from the Indian hospitality industry during the Federation of Hotels and Resorts Association of India convention held in Chandigarh in November last year quoted the exorbitant land cost as the biggest constraint in putting up new hotel projects in the city. As the industrial area has a proximity to railway station as well as the Chandigarh Air Port, it is an ideal location for such projects.

Taj Group subsidiary Ginger Hotel is also likely to set up a 100-room budget hotel in Chandigarh. A company executive confirmed it but the details of the project are likely to be worked out.

The CSJ Infrastructure the Group company of L&T has also acquired a 22 acre plot in Chandigarh industrial area and a hotel project would be a part of the commercial site.

Besides this, a local chain of hotels ‘Orange’ promoted a BJP leader has also decided to promote two budget hotels of 36 rooms and 22 rooms each with the provision of conversion.

IDCO plans Orissa's tallest building
PM News Bureau

Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation is planning to construct a state-of-the-art tower in Bhubaneswar, which will be the tallest building in state. The proposed building would comprise 18-storey complex and it would cater to the needs of IT, ITES industries and corporate Houses. The cost of the project is estimated to around Rs 146 crore.

The proposed complex, Signature Tower, will come up on 5.47 acres of land, next to the existing eight-storey Fortune Tower. The latter is all steel and glass and has changed the skyline of Bhubaneswar city. Signature Tower will have nearly five lakh sq. ft built-up space in two basements, a ground floor and 17 floors with a total height of about 280 ft. The project would be implemented through public-private partnership. The tower will have modern facilities such as central air-conditioning, access and security controls, food courts, conference room, building management system and business centre.

The state-level single window clearance authority has approved the project. IDCO has shortlisted about 15 national and international companies, including DLF, Unitech, Omaxe, IVRCL, Eta-Star, Lanco, Parsvnath and Simplex, for developing the project. The final developer is expected be selected in three to four months.

Plumeria Homes, Lucknow

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6956/plumeriahomeslucknowyr0.jpg

PVR to set up 60 screens in east (http://business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=280488&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

PVR Cinemas, the Rs 180 crore multiplex chain, is foraying into eastern India this financial year. It is looking at setting up 50-60 screens in 7-8 locations in eastern India within the next 5 years.

Its first 8-screen-2200-seater multiplex would come up within the next 18 months on VIP road, inside the 500,000 sq ft shopping mall being built as a 50:50 joint venture between Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd and city-based builders' consortium the Diamond Group.

The mall is being built on the defunct Eastern Paper Mills campus, which was shut down in the eighties and referred to the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR). This mall would also provide parking space for 800 cars.

"We are investing close to Rs 18 crore in setting up the multiplex on VIP road. We have plans to invest close to Rs 100 crore in Kolkata alone in the next 5 years, with a typical cash breakeven time of 3 years per multiplex," informed Pramod Arora, president, PVR Limited. It is in talks with several mall developers for locations like Rajarhat, Howrah, Siliguri, Durgapur and Orissa.

PVR Cinemas that set up its biggest 11-screen-2000 seater multiplex in Bangalore in 2004 with an investment of Rs 24 crore, took some time to enter the eastern India.

At present, PVR Cinemas has 81 screens in 21 multiplexes across Mumbai, Delhi, Indore, Aurangabad, Noida, Gurgaon, Hyderabad and Bangalore. The company also plans to put up 50 more screens in the next 6 months all over India with an estimated investment of Rs 150 crore.

Around 60 screens are at present under various stages of construction and are expected to be operational in the next 12 months.

PVR plans to add another 250 screens in a couple of years and has earmarked Rs 300 crore for this purpose. It is also planning no-frill multiplexes in towns like Ranchi, Aurangabad, Latur and Vijayawada under a separate brand that would offer lower ticket prices catering to tier II towns.

BMC to beef up Orissa as investment destination (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=280320&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

In a significant shift from its treaded path, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, (BMC) has taken initiative to develop a number of projects in public private partnership (PPP) module.

The PPP module adopted by BMC comes in the wake of changing identity of the city, hitherto known as a temple hub, as the new destination for corporate houses following promises of Rs 4,82,000 crore worth of investment in the state over last couple of years.

If the BMC plan succeeds in Bhubaneswar, still considered a tier II city, it could well be the model for other similar size civic bodies to follow in different states.

The areas identified by the BMC are development of sanitation, roadways and traffic islands, water supply centres better known as ' jal kshetras' and giving a new and identifiable look to delivery and carrier vans of BMC for demarcation from other city civic vehicular traffic.

Of the 47 wards, BMC till date has identified 26 wards where about five private agencies have been engaged in the development of sanitation in the PPP mode. With the city still lacking a master plan for the development of the sewerage system spread over an area of 135 square kilometre, the necessity of sanitation has been increasing by the day.

BMC had already handed over the wards to private organisations for development in the PPP mode.

As for the development of road traffic, steps are being taken to develop traffic islands for imparting a new look to the city. The vantage points are the ever busy Vani Vihar, Rajmahal Chowk and the Rasulgarh area.

Till now, BMC has decided to develop two traffic islands in Vani Vihar, four such in Rajmahal and one in Rasulgarh, of the 20 traffic islands that cover the city. The parties to this PPP initiative are service sector leasers like Airtel and the ICICI Bank together with Hitech, Kalinga Fuels and the city-based Real Estate Developers Association ( REDA).

For the development of the city water supply centres BMC has requested the Lyons Club, Rotary Club and Marwari Yuva Manch to come forward. The city currently has 52 water supply centres or jal kshetras, one of the perennial sources for water supply.

Hi suncity
Do you have any latest pics of chandigarh IT park, as its phase 1 is over now and work is already being carried out by various It firms

Regards

Euromast:)

DLF to build convention centre in Goa (http://business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=280750&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

DLF Limited, Asia’s real estate and construction giant, DLF Limited, has bagged the Goa government tender to construct a 4,500-seater state-of-the-art convention centre and a 350-room capacity five star hotel, here at Dona Paula.

The total project would come up on a 25-acre land and it would be implemented on ‘build operate and transfer basis’ and the ownership would be transferred to the state government at the end of 30 years period.

It will also have a state-of-the-art mall, well-equipped gymnasium and other amenities.

As per the conditions applied by the Goa government, the entire project should be completed in 18 months. “The convention centre will have to be completed in 18 months,” Chief Secretary, J P Singh told Business Standard.

Altogether six firms had submitted their technical and financial bids. However, only five companies were left in the fray after preliminary scrutiny.

The DLF Limited was the highest bidder (pleading the amount to the state government) from the five contestants with Rs 161 crore. The second highest bidder was a consortium of Salgaonkar-Marriott, which had offered Rs 137 crore to the government.

According to him, the new convention centre would be used for all kinds of conventions, including the prestigious International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and other various exhibitions. “We will also resolve the dispute of land with the Goa University,” the Chief Minister maintained.

The Public Private Participation (PPP) project on 25 acres of land is under dispute, with a petition filed by teachers of the Goa University objecting to the government’s plans to take away its land.

However, the Panaji bench of Bombay High Court recently allowed the government to go ahead with the tender process until further orders.

Only 350 rooms? Why not 650? :yes:

DLF to build convention centre in Goa (http://business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=280750&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)



Only 350 rooms? Why not 650? :yes:

HI Kronik
Any pix of chandigarh IT park?

Master plan for new Chhattisgarh capital
PM News Bureau
Chhattisgarh is getting a brand new capital city called Naya Raipur. The master plan for Naya Raipur is going to be released soon and work on the project will begin thereafter. The new city will be about 20 km from Raipur and 6 km from the airport. The city lies between NH-6 and NH-43.

The Naya Raipur Development Authority has a total of 8,000 hectares to do infrastructure development. Another 22,000 hectares has been earmarked as buffer and green zone.

NRDA has got an initial grant of Rs 6.50 billion from the Chhattisgarh government and Rs 2 billion from the Centre (under the 12th finance commission). It is also taking a Rs 5.50 billion loan from Hudco, mainly for land acquisition and infrastructure development. For this, NRDA will be mortgaging land to Hudco. The main design of the new city will integrate the best of international cities as well as traditional Chhattisgarh culture.

Meanwhile, the Naya Raipur Development Authority has invited tenders for construction of the secretariat building in Naya Raipur. Tenders have to be submitted by May 15. The cost of the secretariat building will be around Rs 85 crore. The capital complex will be completed in three phases.

Five companies, namely Ahluwalia of Delhi, Shapoorji Pallonji of Mumbai, Simplex of Kolkata, Nagarjuna of Hyderabad and IDRPL of Hyderabad, have been selected to To participate in the tender. Fourteen companies participated in the pre-qualification tender, out of which nine were rejected.
[09 April 2007]

Hi suncity
Do you have any latest pics of chandigarh IT park, as its phase 1 is over now and work is already being carried out by various It firms

Regards

Euromast:)


It's difficult to get such pics...

:)

Here is Infosys
photo copyright gauravpahuja


http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/1631/infosyschandigarhgauravmh9.jpg

Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6737/rajivgandhitechparkchanea4.jpg

It's difficult to get such pics...

:)

Here is Infosys
photo copyright gauravpahuja


http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/1631/infosyschandigarhgauravmh9.jpg

Thankx:-) Suncity

New Delhi, April 11
India-born beer baron Karan Bilimoria, has ambitious plans for India and is looking at capturing a substantial part of the market with his products, specially focusing on opening new ventures in North India.

Having launched his brands of Cobra Beer in Chandigarh and Delhi in January last, Lord Bilimoria, who heads the more than £200 million company, while talking to The Tribune, said that his company had achieved a 400 per cent growth in India ever since the launch in November 2006.

After opening his first brewery in Goa at the same time, he has already opened two more breweries earlier this month in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and is looking at setting up a greenfield project, again in North India, by the end of the summer.

Lord Bilimoria says that emulating the UK achievements will be his goal in India. Although Bilimoria did not disclose his company’s investment plans, he said with India being the fastest growing economy around the world, the potential for his company is huge.

Cobra, which was initially brewed in Bangalore and shipped to Britain, besides being the fastest-growing beer brands in Britain, is also the recipient of numerous Monde Selection gold medals — the spirits equivalent of the Oscars.

New Delhi, March 28
The Hindustan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (HSMC) today announced a $4-billion investment plan for setting up a fab city in India in partnership with German semiconductor supplier major Infineon.

The HSMC will start the project with two foundries and would later scale it up to 10 foundries.

This MoU will help build a foundation for the production of integrated circuits for mobile phones, ID cards and automotives in India for the domestic market.

The announcement comes less than a week after the government notified the semiconductor policy, which gives tax sops to companies setting up fab units.

“We look forward to our cooperation with HSMC,” said Dr Wolfgang Ziebart, CEO of Infineon. “With this cooperation, we position ourselves as a reliable partner for the prosperous Indian semiconductor market”.

Dr Deven Verma, chairman, HSMC, said: “We have strategically selected Infineon, a leading supplier of chip sets for mobile phones, smart cards and automotive applications. This initiative will lead India to become a destination of choice for the future of manufacturing hi-tech products”.

Minister for communication and IT Dayanidhi Maran said: “The strategic cooperation with the HSMC for the fab project is in line with my vision for the semiconductor industry. The domestic demand for semiconductors is projected to reach $36 billion by 2015 riding on the booming electronic goods manufacturing in India. We need the fabrication industry to complete the full semiconductor ecosystem. Now, with a clear cut policy in place, fab units will attract large investments and the state governments could take it further by attracting large players like Infineon and the HSMC”.

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Mega Sports Complex, Ranchi
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8417/imageb33243842415bbe9e3xh1.jpg

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/6959/image1db6.jpg

Meinhardt Singapore Pte Ltd has been appointed as the Project Management Consultant by the Government of the state of Jharkhand in India to provide comprehensive design, Bid Process Management and Construction Supervision services for a Mega Sports Complex at Ranchi. 227 acres of land have been earmarked for the Mega Sports Complex, which will host the 34th National Games in February 2007.

The sports complex comprises a main multi-functional 35,000 capacity athletics stadium with 8-lane Practice Track; 3 indoor stadiums, of 4000 capacity each, for Gymnastics & Judo, Badminton & Table Tennis and Volleyball & Basket Ball; and 4 outdoor stadiums with sport facilities featuring a Velodrome, a 2000-capacity Tennis Centre, a 2000-capacity Aquatic Centre; Kho-Kho & Kabaddi grounds and a Shooting range. The state-of-the-art complex also includes 2 hostel blocks, an Administrative Building and a 24m high water tower.

SAA Architects Pte Ltd and Arun Loomba & Associates are architects for the project.

-------==--=--==-------

India Inc to give Bihar a facelift (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_Inc_to_give_Bihar_a_facelift/articleshow/1955313.cms)
Faizan Ahmad
[26 Apr, 2007 l 0218 hrs ISTlTIMES NEWS NETWORK]


PATNA: Even as investment proposals have started trickling in, Bihar currently seems to be more interested in preparing the right ground to translate the proposals into reality. As everything has to be started from scratch, the state has been trying to garner help even from "outside the box".

The innovative approaches, the government claimed, has helped create a climate for private investment and India Inc, while appreciating the moves, has agreed to become Bihar's emissary.

While chairman of Aditya Birla Group Kumarmangalam Birla will look after harnessing the private sector in Bihar, vice-chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra Anand Mahindra will be involved in harnessing agriculture. Similarly, Sunil Mittal of Bharti Airtel will extend his cooperation in mainstreaming the rural economy.

These are a few big names from the corporate sector who have agreed to change the face of Bihar through their active involvement and suggestions.

This is one of the positive outcome of the first-ever meeting of Bihar Development and Investment Promotion Council (BDIPC) held on Tuesday.

A dozen sectoral groups to be known as 'Abiding Initiatives', each headed by a top CEO, have been formed to help formulate and fine-tune policies. The easing credit flow initiative will be headed by ICICI MD K V Kamath, while noted architect Hafeez Contractor will draw the blueprint for urban design.

Priya Paul, chairperson of Apeejay Surrendra Group, who showed keen interest in tourism development will head the group on tourism, travel and employment potential and RPG Enterprise V-C Sanjeev Goenka will oversee the energy concern. Chairman Max India Analjit Singh has been involved in new health paradigm.

With a stress on popularising Brand Bihar, an initiative has been shaped for state's image building.

The free-wheeling discussion at the three-hour-long meeting yielded positive signs, BDIPC vice chairman N K Singh said on Wednesday.

CM Nitish Kumar, who took initiative to hold the meet, expressed the hope that the industry bosses will interact on a continuing basis.

Areva T&D India Ltd has announced that in less than 45 days of the announcement of a new power transformer factory, AREVA T&D has again broken fresh ground by laying the foundation stone of a new instrument transformer factory at Hosur, Tamil Nadu.

On June 12, 2007, AREVA Transmission & Distribution (T&D), one of the world's leading T&D Companies, held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new instrument transformer factory to be built in Hosur.

Thiru Arcot Veerasamy, honorable Minister for Electricity, government of Tamil Nadu laid the foundation stone of the new facility, at an official ceremony, which took place in the presence of the Areva T&D's CEO - Karim Vissandjee, Executive Vice President Products, BU - Marius Vassoille, Country President India - Rathin Basu, besides, key dignitaries from the government of Tamil Nadu and local officials.

"This strategic move demonstrates AREVA T&D's technical competence and market consolidation plans in the high-voltage instrument transformers business. The Company has planned to invest over 100 crore in this new manufacturing unit, and double its capacity", said Marius Vassoille, Executive Vice President, Products, BU, Areva T&D. The Company already has two manufacturing units in Tamil Nadu, and this is the third planned one. In total it has 8 fully functional manufacturing units in India.

The new manufacturing facility will directly employ around 300 people at full capacity, and throw open immense opportunities tar indirect employment by the creation of a world-class supply chain and vendor base. The Tamil Nadu government wants to develop the Hosur industrial township as a giant satellite town. With basic infrastructure facilities in place, it has been an industrial hub for more than two decades now and home to other big manufacturing plants.

According to the Company officials, Hosur site is expected to be a world class Competency Center for High Voltage (HV) Instrument Transformers up to 800 kV and Medium voltage ranging from 145 - 245 kV. It will also manufacture Line Traps up to 800 kV and Condenser Bushings for Power transformers up to 400 kV. Increasing its export potential to Asia (except China) is also in the offing.

Areva, the world leader in the Instrument Transformers product segment, with 26 per cent market share in this segment, is poised for greater investment opportunities in dynamic markets of developing nations of Asia, particularly India.

Globally, Areva's Instrument Transformer group has experienced great growth and development in the past two years. With the recent acquisition of RITZ High Voltage instrument transformers activities and Passoni & Villa, it is a worldwide leader in this field and holds the number one market position in the United States, Germany and Brazil.

With over 50 years of operating experience in the country, Areva T&D India contributes to around 9 percent to the overall order intake of its parent Company - AREVA T&D, and has an aim of doubling its market share in India by 2010.

http://www.equitybulls.com/admin/news2006/news_det.asp?id=13665

Here's a sweet looking 40-storey tower designed by one of India's best young, up-and-coming architects, Niteen Parulekar (http://www.npapl.com/site/index.htm):
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1130/image2ms6.jpg

The rendering is from a newspaper ad in TOI, but no name/location details:
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8821/ad0011605351fccdop8tg0.th.jpg (http://img341.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ad0011605351fccdop8tg0.jpg)

Yet another unknown tower/IT Park, 2 x 35 stories. Designed by architect Reza Kabul:
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6748/itpark4892461vi6.jpg

did it get built??...that'd be aweesome!!

-------==--=--==-------

Mega Sports Complex, Ranchi
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8417/imageb33243842415bbe9e3xh1.jpg

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/6959/image1db6.jpg

Meinhardt Singapore Pte Ltd has been appointed as the Project Management Consultant by the Government of the state of Jharkhand in India to provide comprehensive design, Bid Process Management and Construction Supervision services for a Mega Sports Complex at Ranchi. 227 acres of land have been earmarked for the Mega Sports Complex, which will host the 34th National Games in February 2007.

The sports complex comprises a main multi-functional 35,000 capacity athletics stadium with 8-lane Practice Track; 3 indoor stadiums, of 4000 capacity each, for Gymnastics & Judo, Badminton & Table Tennis and Volleyball & Basket Ball; and 4 outdoor stadiums with sport facilities featuring a Velodrome, a 2000-capacity Tennis Centre, a 2000-capacity Aquatic Centre; Kho-Kho & Kabaddi grounds and a Shooting range. The state-of-the-art complex also includes 2 hostel blocks, an Administrative Building and a 24m high water tower.

SAA Architects Pte Ltd and Arun Loomba & Associates are architects for the project.

-------==--=--==-------

Malls planned by MGF

Metropolitan Mall@Amritsar,PJ
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6826/mgfamritsargi1.jpg


Metropolitan Mall@Jaipur,RJ
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/3961/mgfjaipuraq8.jpg


Metropolitan Mall@Jallandhar,PJ
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/7753/mgfjallandharch1.jpg


The Galleria@Jallandhar,PJ - by DLF
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/8840/dlfjallandharue5.jpg

Alpha One, Amritsar by Alpha G Corp

AlphaOne, Amritsar, is a mixed use development located on the main G.T. Road, in close proximity to the central business district as well as the emerging ‘New Amritsar’.

The development will comprise retail, entertainment and a business hotel spanning an area of 25 acres. The design for the project has been conceived by leading international architects, ARCOP and is in conformity with global standards. The concept will position AlphaOne as a single destination point for the entire city.

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/691/am1cz1.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6971/am2ry1.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/9689/am3om2.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/5194/am4zj9.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6313/am5cv5.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2705/am6ww9.jpg


May Construction Update
Laying & fixing of reinforcement steel for lower basement slab is in progress
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/2279/am7qu0.jpg


Earth filling over foundation in tower area, is in progress
http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/745/1bigsz7.jpg

More construction pics (http://www.alphagcorp.com/constructionupdate-amritsare.aspx?id=11)

Visit their website (http://www.alphagcorp.com/alphaOne_amritsar.aspx?id=1)

ICICI to invest Rs 1.5K cr for western hub (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/ICICI_to_investRs_15k_cr_for_western_hub/articleshow/2254799.cms)
4 Aug, 2007, 0443 hrs IST, TNN

AHMEDABAD: ICICI bank has raised the amount it will invest in setting up a regional hub in Gandhinagar to Rs 1,500 crore. The company had initially committed Rs 1,000 crore at the Vibrant Gujarat Investors’ Summit 2007.

The bank is setting up four regional hubs across the country and will develop 17 acres near the Dhirubhai Ambani Institute in Gandhinagar at an initial investment of Rs 500 crore. The facility will cater to banking, insurance and security transactions of the bank. The regional hub will be a captive facility which will act as a banking and insurance BPO as well as a call centre.

The regional hub, to be designed by leading architect Hafeez Contractor, was originally supposed to be a 24-storey structure. However, it will now overlook the city from a height of 31 storeys.

“The project will come up in two to three phases with employment strength of 30,000. We will try to make it an anchor to the state’s GIFT project,” said ICICI Bank’s managing director & CEO KV Kamath at the inauguration ceremony. The state’s ambitious GIFT project spread over 500 acres will come up in Gandhinagar district and is likely to draw Rs 4,000 crore worth of investment.

Some projects designed by Benoy, a British firm

A new mall+hotel+office building in Jamshedpur,Jharkhand

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2949/327fullsize1vv3.jpg

The mixed-use development in the centre of Jamshedpur – a modern industrial city and home of Tata Steel – will be the largest retail destination in this region located outside of Kolkata.

Benoy is currently engaged as planners and design architects of the overall scheme, which includes a four-level retail centre, a hotel and office block.

The proposed scheme will create new public spaces for the city by incorporating a civic square and sunken gardens at its main entrances.

The development consists of more than 150,000m² of retail, 30,000m² of hotel and 30,000m² of office space

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/6072/327fullsize2uv1.jpg

______________
_______
___

Jodhpur Mall,Jodhpur,Rajasthan

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/5705/321fullsize1fx8.jpg


Located in the heart of Jodhpur – and less than 3km from the airport, this development totals 61,000m² and features a three-storey retail mall crowned with an entertainment level that boasts a multiplex cinema, food courts and fine dining restaurants.

The retail and leisure components link directly to the adjacent, 135 room five star hotel.


http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/6448/321fullsize2kg2.jpg

The retail hotel mix is a growing trend in India and for this project, Benoy’s designs propose a full retail frontage onto the road with a raised, private drop-off entrance at the side.

The hotel sits above the retail and is designed in the traditional courtyard style - offering most guest rooms wonderful views of the Old City and its palaces.

The over-riding architectural principle adopted for this project is the introduction of a contemporary interpretation of traditional Indian architecture.

A continuous variation of modular sandstone walls forms a front layer of balconies, alcoves, and shadows that create visual perforations along the main structure. Ruptures to the façade’s rhythm will highlight the entrances to the mall, where the walls playfully vary in height and angle.



http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/2751/321fullsize3tr2.jpg

DLF IT park@Gandhinagar,GJ - spread over 25acres


http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/1120/dlfgandhinagaret1.jpg (http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/9859/dlfgandhinagarsy6.jpg)

Parsvnath IT SEZ,Indore,MP

plan
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2893/11843320751ih0.jpg


http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/4235/11843320913df6.jpg


http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6522/1184332096420copyhl9.jpg


http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/1365/11843321045ji8.jpg


http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/7/11843321196ty7.jpg


http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4818/11843321267je6.jpg


http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6687/11843321338zx5.jpg


______________
________
Omaxe Mall,Ludhiana,PJ
http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/3562/omaxeev4.jpg


_____________
________
Omaxe Terminal Mall,Amritsar,PJ
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7286/pic2am6.jpg

For long Burdwan has been described as a rural and boring town. But now things are set to change for the better. In recent times a lot of work is going on.Not so long ago a new township called Ullas was set up. Now another township is on the anvil.Here is a list of some ongoing, approved and completed projects.
1.Ullas-a township(completed)
2.Renaissance-a township by Shrachi developers on the NH2.It will accomodate 40,000 people,have a police and fire station and a high school.(approved)
3.A new busstand with state of the art retail establishment on NH2.(construction on)
4.A housing complex with shopping mall at Jailkhana more.height 7 flloors,6 buildings .Big bazzar will be coming.(construction on)
5.City tower-A five floor shoping mall with a hotel in its upper two floors.(completed)
6.A housing complex near Ullhas.Nine floor-2 buildings.(work going on)
7.A health city near Renaissance.(approved)
Apart from these large scale projects many other buildings are also coming up at various parts of the city. However none of them is more than eight floor high. :banana:

Great updates animesh_cmc and welcome to the forum!

It would be excellent if you could provide more info about these projects. Photos are welcome too.

Great finds, IS!

Thx Jai. Its IU

Anyways, about this render you posted above-

Here's a sweet looking 40-storey tower designed by one of India's best young, up-and-coming architects, Niteen Parulekar:
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1130/image2ms6.jpg


It looks quite similar to another building Niteen has designed -

Tech tower,Vashi- Navi Mumbai
http://www.npapl.com/site/portfolio.asp?ixProject=193

The building could have been re-designed.

good stuff IU.

Zoom Developers to invest Rs 600 cr in Punjab (http://business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=303154&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

Zoom Developers Private Ltd, a construction outfit with interests in real estate and infrastructure, plans to invest about Rs 600 crore in different projects in Punjab.

The president and chief executive officer of Zoom Developers, Rumneek Bawa, said the company was coming up with a high-end housing complex in Patiala in 10.5 acres. The project will have 100-plus expandable villas with an area of 225 yards each.

The company is also mulling over a five-star hotel-cum-service apartment project in Amritsar. The company has also evinced interest in captive power generation and has received good response from the Chhattisgarh government.

“As we will have three major projects in Punjab, it will be viable to put up a captive power unit here as the captive power generation reduces the running cost of the projects,” Bawa said.

Zoom Developers is also constructing a budget hotel for Indian Railways near Chandigarh railway station, the execution of which is likely to start shortly.

Some projects by Emaar-MGF in Mohali,Punjab

The Views
The Views at Mohali Hills is a gated community of apartments and is part of a 3000 acre development of integrated master planned communities in Mohali. The project comprises of apartments in two, three and four bedroom sizes and penthouses. Apartments and penthouses will be fully Air Conditioned ( split units ) with power backup.
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9558/viewqj8.jpg

________________

The Villas
The Villas at Mohali Hills are not just a perfect blend of style and form but also promise to be fine living by offering Andalusian, Mediterranean and Spanish architecture. The interiors are an epitome of elegance and a quality lifestyle. These signature homes are appointed with premium brand amenities, providing every convenience for the ultimate in contemporary living.
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/497/villadj2.jpg

________________

Central Plaza - opening in Dec08
Central Plaza is designed to provide a dynamic tenant mix, from supermarkets, laundries and pharmacies to eclectic boutiques and stylish restaurants.
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/7986/hostipitalitybandsl5.jpg

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/5383/centralplaza1cq7.jpg

Shopping Malls coming in Calicut
Focuz Mall
http://www.focusmall.in/images/def_13.jpg
Space Mall
http://www.galaxy-builders.com/admin/uploadedimages/476.jpg
Marina Mall
http://www.marinamallcalicut.com/images/index_02.gif
Bluediamond Mega Mall
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t70/sanjupalayat/blluediamondhoarding60x341000.jpg
Dreams the Mall
http://i9.************/4t73w41.jpg

Sushant Golf City,Lucknow
Website (http://ansalapi.com/sushantcity_lucknow.asp)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/580/sgcdg0.jpg

wrong thread

wrong thread

cool. Thanks for the images Euromast.

There's a separate thread for UP and Uttarakhand here.

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9066/16362100020sanjay20treajf4.jpg

A linear sinuous structure multifaceted in function starts getting built in Bhillai, a small city in India well known for its steel production. The building weaves fluidly through the length of the site with the upper floors shifting in axis towards the main road creating a feel of movement. The three lower levels will house a retail mall, while the upper levels are created for office spaces in the front and incorporate a hotel in the rear. Unlike most mixed use buildings where distinctly different forms house different functions, in this building all the varied functions are integrated to create a homogenous structure with a strongly fluid character, allowing the built form to be perceived as a single sculptural entity. The spaces in plan as well as in volume weave through the long length fluidly encapsulating the building’s diverse functions.

DLF lines up Rs 400 cr spend for Vadodara project (http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1136113)

DLF Retail, part of the DLF Group, is planning to invest over Rs 400 crore in developing a five-star hotel and a mall-cum-multiplex complex in Vadodara.

The project will come up at the 28,430 sq m plot of land it has bought from Ambalal Sarabhai Enterprises Ltd for Rs 51.14 crore.

“We will begin this project in six months with an investment of over Rs 400 crore,” said Rakesh Sharma, chief executive, DLF Retail Developers Ltd. “The city centre development project will be completed in one shot. The total area of this project will be around some 1 million sq ft,” he added.

According to Sachin Shroff of Comfort Realty, the project is next to the Race Course road in Vadodara which is considered to be one of the prime locations in the city.

...

DNA Money

Niho Scottish City Centre, Jamnagar, Gujarat (http://www.niho.in/Commercial/projects_ongoing/jamnagar/scottish_city_center/main.php)

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/8097/picprojectty5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Jamnagar shall be proud of boasting the largest ever Shopping Mall cum Hotel complex in the region of Saurashtra and the State of Gujarat as on date. This centre will have an Hyper Market, Anchor Stores, Speciality Stores, Retail Stores and Entertainment Zone with 6 screen Multiplex, Food Court, Restaurants and Game Zone. The centre shall also incorporate a hotel with more than 80 luxurious rooms and suites with all the facilities and services to make it the best in Jamnagar. The hotel will be managed by an internationally renowned hotel chain, again for the first time in this part of Gujarat. The features of the centre are:


Located on the Bedi Port Road - The busiest commercial street among posh localities of Jamnagar
A centrally air conditioned Shopping Mall cum Hotel complex – The First in Jamnagar and largest ever complex so far in the state of Gujarat
Escalators from the parking area reach the highest floor of the complex. More than 7 lifts make the visitors most comfortable with 100% power back up facility
Grand Interior with state-of-the-art lighting and music system programmed to change periodically to give a refreshing experience during every visit
Adequate parking facility to accommodate up to 800 cars. Exclusive car park for the Hotel complex
Beautifully designed grand entrance and large atrium to take care of heavy visiting hours
The people are renowned for their entrepreneurial skills
Special services provided for such as ATMs, children play area, pay phones, mobile charge areas, enquiry counters, smoking zone, baby feeding area, crèche, etc
Well equipped with ultra-modern surveillance and security system

Vatika group is building a township called Vatika Infotech City on Ajmer road in West Jaipur. The plan includes building a city centre and residential midrises. All the buildings are designed by Studio U+A architects (http://www.studioua.com/)

Vatika City Centre:

The 30 acre Central Commercial District with 3.5 million sqft of retail, office and entertainment spaces is the primary gateway experience to Vatika Infotech City. Inspired by the Old City of Jaipur, yet realized in a contemporary District is an arcaded, shaded, landscaped pedestrian-oriented environment. A 100-meter tall signature office tower announces the presence of the Commercial District and guides the visitor from the National Highway 8 to the central boulevard. The heart of the Commercial District is the Grand Pedestrian Court with generous arcade along with three of its faces. To its north is the fabric-roofed Bazaar with shops & food outlets at ground level and offices above.


http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/7606/vicjaipur2tx7.jpg

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/1856/vicjaipur4or5.jpg

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/2391/vicjaipur1ic4.jpg

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4264/vicjaipur3mj5.jpg



street scenes :
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/811/vicjaipur7za1.jpg

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/8364/vicjaipur8ec3.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/7844/vicjaipur9uu9.jpg

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/9531/vicjaipur6xd3.jpg


Housing:

Located on a long and narrow 13 acre site overlooking the Central Park of the Vatika Infotech City,Jaipur, Group Housing 005 comprises of 460 premium apartments in 1 million sqft built-up area.

Overlooking the 30 acre Central Park of the township, Jaipur Group Housing 005 offers a range of building types. Landmark twin towers, visible from the gates of the township, terminate the vista up the length of the grand central boulevard of the township. Flanking the towers, the midrise blocks face the Central Park, providing a strong architectural boundary to the landscape. To the north, the Rowhouses step down in scale to meet the plotted residential area of the city beyond, facing a 20m wide green belt. A community garden between the blocks is a cool inner sanctum for the residents, a contemporary interpretation of a traditional courtyard with buildings around it.
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9813/vicjaipur14yw5.jpg

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6343/vicjaipur10vh6.jpg

click to view:
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/2478/vicjaipur11xw0.th.jpg (http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vicjaipur11xw0.jpg)
http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/1315/vicjaipur13po9.th.jpg (http://img110.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vicjaipur13po9.jpg)




Layout of the township
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/1186/vicjaipur5ph4.th.jpg (http://img231.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vicjaipur5ph4.jpg)


Construction images can be found here
(http://www.vatikagroup.com/TownShips/VatikaInfotechCity/ConstructionUpdate.html#)

^^

Looks good!

BTW why is it niho 'scottish'??

Alpha International City, Karnal, Haryana by Alpha G Corp (the same group building alpha one in Amritsar (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=14467794&postcount=208) and Ahmedabad (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=14467621&postcount=52))

Website
(http://www.alphagcorp.com/alphainternationalcity_karnal.aspx)
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/8428/alphaintcitynk1.jpg

Alpha International City is an integrated township located at Karnal, in Sectors 28 and 29 of HUDA on National Highway 1. The township will offer an ideal residential environment spread across 300 acres of plotted development backed by world-class infrastructure and civic amenities. The residential development will be followed by retail, commercial, educational and healthcare developments to build an integrated self-contained township. The first phase has already been launched through private placement and was a hundred times oversubscribed.

Pic from the Bhoomi Pujan-
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/6741/bpujankarnal3io8.jpg

Parsvnath to build 2 luxury hotels in Jodhpur (http://www.expresstravelworld.com/200712/market23.shtml)

Real estate firm Parsvnath Developers has said it will construct two luxury hotels in its 110.4-acre township in Jodhpur - a five-star and a three-star, consisting of about 250 and 225 rooms, respectively. The company however declined to give any further details about investment or management of the hotels.

The company has also offered villas called Parsvnath Royale Villas of sizes 200, 250 and 300 square yards as part of the township in the first phase. Apart from independent villas and hotels, the project would also offer floors, plots, shopping malls and an exclusive club. The project would be completed in three years, whereas, the villas would be ready in the next 24 months.


Infosys BPO to set up knowledge centre in Udaipur (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/businessline/blnus/15111705.htm)

JAIPUR: The Infosys BPO, the business process outsourcing subsidiary of Infosys Technologies, on Tuesday announced that it would set up a knowledge centre at Udaipur as it completed its one year of operations at the Jaipur centre.

Amitabh Chaudhary, CEO and Managing Director, Infosys BPO, said, the company would like to further strengthen its presence in Rajasthan, according to a release. The company is planning to set up a knowledge centre at Meera College in Udaipur as it has al so short-listed about 500 students from the government college, Alwar, for special training programme.


Parsvnath launches group housing project at Sonepat (HA) (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/02141527.htm)

Parsvnath Developers Ltd has announced the launch of Parsvnath Preston, a high-end group housing residential project, in Sonepat, Haryana.

The expected realisation from the project is over Rs 450 crore over the next three years, including the current fiscal. Spread over 28 acres, Parsvnath Preston offers over 1,200 units, available in distinct choices of two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments.

The project also enjoys facilities such as 100 per cent power back-up, broadband connectivity, round-the-clock water supply and dedicated car parking. The project will be ready for occupancy in a period of three years from the date of commencement of con struction.

I thought we had a thread on the north-east?

Casino in Gangtok to ski resort in Tawang to tours of Bodoland: N-E opts for the public-pvt route (http://www.indianexpress.com/story/274252.html)

With dozens of government-sponsored infrastructure projects either stuck in red-tape or languishing for one reason or the other, a slew of Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects are well on track in the North-Eastern states and may well be the mantra for development of the region.

From an international tourist destination in the heart of Bodoland to a five-star hotel-cum-casino in Gangtok to a resort-cum-golf course-cum-airstrip in Arunachal Pradesh, infrastructure development in the North-East is finally taking off with state governments rolling out the red carpet for private investors.

With the Taj Group having already set up a 100-room Ginger budget hotel in Agartala — it began commercial operations in mid-2007 — other states in the region have also woken up to the promise of PPP and are now lining up projects, assuring all possible assistance.

In Assam, for instance, the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) has moved swiftly on a project to set up a Rs 100-crore worth “international tourist destination” in the wetlands of Diplai Beel. Located close to the Chakrashila wildlife sanctuary, Diplai Beel is being envisaged as a tourist facility that can be a central point to tourist hotspots like Manas wildlife sanctuary and Ultapani on the Indo-Bhutan border.

Having given “conceptual approval” to the project, the BTC is now preparing to get land-acquisition done for the project.

In Sikkim, the government is all set to announce a tie-up with a “reputed” hotel chain to set-up a five-star hotel-cum-casino in Gangtok at a cost of Rs 120 crore. Having legalised casinos in 2004, the Sikkim government framed rules last year to regulate casino operations. After Goa, Gangtok

would only be the second place in the country with a casino. In Arunachal Pradesh, the pre-feasibility study for the Rs 138 crore resort-cum-golf course-cum-airstrip in Dirang has been completed and a Detailed Project Report (DPR) is under preparation. The Arunachal Pradesh government, meanwhile, is looking at the possibility of a ski-resort in Tawang through the PPP route. Similarly, a DPR is in progress for a ropeway in Cherrapunjee in Meghalaya, once the wettest place on earth.

Also under study is the development of infrastructure at entry and exit points of wildlife sanctuaries. On these lines, around 30 acres of land has been identified for setting up a high-end resort at Kaziranga while the bid process is on to develop Manas resort as a destination offering eco-tourism, wildlife and adventure sport.

The Taj Group, meanwhile, is expected to start operations for its second Ginger brand of budget hotel in Guwahati. A three-star 60-room hotel in Tezpur, being set up by Sarovar Group, is also likely to start this year.In most of these projects, state governments are contributing by providing land, getting professional consultants to market these projects and woo potential investors.

Ranchi City Centre, Ranchi,Jharkhand - designed by CP Kukreja for most probably Parsvnath developers

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/4341/11933809382tu4.jpg



Larger render of Jodhpur mall (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=15079356&postcount=210)-

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/2862/jodhpurmallqt7.jpg

It reminds me of a giant cruise ship

seriously this is beautiful!

IT Business Park for EmaarMGF, Goa By www.morphogenesis.org

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/9975/itparknewby8.jpg

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/1170/itparknew1px6.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9372/itparknew2nl2.jpg

From Morphogenesis architects:

Hotel Convention Centre, Dheradun

A mixed use project with a 5-star hotel, convention centre and retail components developed as a low rise development.
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/2631/conventioncentrebu4.jpg

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/3164/conventioncentre1re8.jpg

^^ It's being developed by Emaar MGF and will house the Holiday Inn Hotel.

Its good to see they're using Indian architects. I was worried that they'd try to bring a bit of the middle east to India with their projects, like what they're doing in Pakistan

Its good to see they're using Indian architects. I was worried that they'd try to bring a bit of the middle east to India with their projects, like what they're doing in Pakistan

I am just glad that everyone in South Asia is glad the way their country is developing. But then again, I wouldn't advise people to kowtow to names like Sheikh Zayed and act oblivious to the real local name ;)

Biggest underground aquarium coming up in Jammu (http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=109910)

I am really happy to know about the fact that the Biggest Aquarium is under construction In jammu. I just further want to know when its going to get started so that we can visit such unique places.

Thanking You

Biggest underground aquarium coming up in Jammu (http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=109910)

I am really happy to know about the fact that the Biggest Aquarium is under construction In jammu. I just further want to know when its going to get started so that we can visit such unique places.

Thanking You

cool. Thanks for the images Euromast.

There's a separate thread for UP and Uttarakhand here.

Have you any link where from i can get pictures or contacts related to Biggest Aquarium In india, Under Construction

DLF IT park@Gandhinagar,GJ - spread over 25acres

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/1120/dlfgandhinagaret1.jpg (http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/9859/dlfgandhinagarsy6.jpg)


here's the layout from a PDF (http://dlf.in/wps/portal/offices?jspName=itpark_gandhinagar/downloadpdf.jsp).

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/7752/dlf5rq2.jpg

Have you any link where from i can get pictures or contacts related to Biggest Aquarium In india, Under Construction

yes. The J&K Tourism website.
http://www.jktourism.org/cities/jammu/site-see/index.htm

And this video.
http://www.mediascrape.com/News/ViewNewsItem.aspx?newsItemId=30319&rootVideoPanelType=1