Mumbai Update - project news from Mumbai [Archive] - Page 3

Citi-Zen

January 18th, 2005, 07:43 AM

World Bank to grant $1 bn for Mumbai projects

Renni Abraham in Mumbai | January 18, 2005 09:34 IST

Maharashtra's plan to transform Mumbai city into a global business destination got a big boost with World Bank willing to finance Mumbai-specific projects through a $1 billion loan assistance.

What's more, the Bank is also willing to provide a counter guarantee to back the state's market borrowing programme for these projects.

This WB move is expected to upgrade the state's credit rating and bring down its cost of borrowings. The state will raise over Rs 6,000 crore (Rs 60 billion) from the market to finance the developmental projects.

A senior government official told Business Standard, "We had extensive talks last night with Union minister of state in the PMO, Prithviraj Chauhan, on the proposed recast plan for financing various Mumbai-specific initiatives. We were told by Ashish Singh, secretary to Chauhan, that the proposal to the World Bank, forwarded by Maharashtra to the Centre, would be despatched in a couple of days."

"This will mean that Maharashtra, which has seen it's credit rating downgraded repeatedly in the past by rating agencies, would find its rating on a par with top corporate houses at AAA+ as its borrowings would be backed by the World Bank," the official said.

"We hope to negotiate low interest loans from financial institutions on the basis of the WB backing," he said adding that private investment would also become readily available with the WB backing.

According to the informal discussions with the WB, the state government was told that after the Union government forwards its proposal to the WB, the Bank would set up a group of five of its officials, who along with five business leaders and state bureaucrats from Maharashtra, would prepare a business plan for the projects in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai within 100 days.

The meeting between chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Chauhan on Sunday evening focused upon the Dharavi slum redevelopment project towards which the state has to contribute Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion)

The international cargo and passenger hub and international airport at Navi Mumbai, the sea link from Worli to Nariman Point, beautification of the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus as well as the carving out of three more station platforms at the Carnac Bunder railway stations besides the development plan for the Bombay Port Trust were also discussed.

Discussions also centred around transforming Mumbai city into an international financial centre with Chauhan noting that there was a need for the Reserve Bank of India, which has expressed its reservations, to change its mindset on the issue.

http://www.rediff.com/money/2005/jan/18wb.htm

Suncity

January 18th, 2005, 02:33 PM

Well those look good!

Liquid

January 18th, 2005, 03:16 PM

I think in 5 years time Mumbai will have one of the best selection of residential high rises in the world!!!

Liquid

January 18th, 2005, 03:20 PM

Cool. Lets hope none of the one billion gets 'lost' during implementation of these initatives.

centralized pandemonium

January 18th, 2005, 04:33 PM

Building boom reshapes Mumbai

Mumbai, January 18: Out of Mumbai's shanty sprawls and rain-worn architectural reminders of its colonial past sprout shiny new apartment complexes, malls and offices that are reshaping the world's fifth-biggest metropolis.

The heart of India's financial capital is burgeoning along with the rest of the country, and the development threatens to overshadow the lingering glamour of its Art Deco facades.

Scaffolding creeps up the side of textile mills that fuelled Mumbai's 19th-century boom, even as far-flung suburbs expand and pile pressure on the teeming commuter train system.

While half or more of its 17.4 million residents live in shanties, Mumbai is also home to super-rich scions of Indian industry and a solid middle-class. The United Nations expects it will be the biggest urban agglomeration after Tokyo by 2015.

"It's a turning point for the city," said Anuj Puri, who heads the construction and real estate sub-committee of the Confederation of Indian Industry.

"I think people will refer back to the boom of the mid-2000s. It started in 2002 and I don't know when it's going to end."

In posh areas, real estate calculations are such that slum-dwellers sometimes get flats adjoining the luxury complexes that replace their shanties. But for the most part, the poor usually only take part in the construction boom as workers.

Factories make way for self-contained complexes of shops, offices and residential buildings, all catering to the emerging middle-class Indians whose big-spending ways are largely funded by cheap loans sold aggressively by banks.

In the Parel mill district, not far from upmarket south Mumbai, the hectic pace of building is matched by a steady stream of buyers willing to spend 7.5 million rupees ($171,600) -- 10 times the annual salary of many professionals -- for two bedrooms and a shorter commute.

Much of Mumbai's mill land is set to be converted into flats selling for up to $144 per square foot, and many wonder how the already-overburdened city will accommodate all the new building.

"The existing infrastructure will not suffice," Puri said.

FLOODS AND TRAFFIC

All Mumbaikars, as residents of the city renamed Mumbai in 1996 are known, echo the desire for better infrastructure -- shorthand for improvements to roads, trains and water supply.

Unlike much of India, power cuts are infrequent. But the notorious traffic offers a ready and credible excuse for anyone running late. And while floods are common during the four-month monsoon, a lack of piped water is an issue in many parts of town.

As Mumbai competes for white-collar jobs with smaller Indian cities, officials know only too well how important it will be to solve infrastructure problems that may be beyond exaggeration.

"Overcrowding itself is a small word," said Commissioner Suresh Joshi of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which plans to spend 415 billion rupees to build more roads, improve commuter trains and develop slums.

City officials also appear to be serious about an alternative sea route, ferrying commuters over water to their jobs on the southern tip of the city. Funds have also been set aside to redevelop Dharavi, deemed to be Asia's largest slum.

THE NEXT SHANGHAI?

While the population of the island city on the Arabian Sea remained about the same at just over 3 million in the three decades to 2001, the MMRDA estimates that the overall city's population has doubled.

Most of the growth has occurred in increasingly urbanised suburbs, which house Mumbai's biggest malls and movie theatres. Even the famous Bollywood movie studios are in a suburb.

Without doubt, Mumbai had changed before the boom, and well before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he wanted it to emulate Shanghai, a symbol of China's leap to economic prominence.

But some people worry about what the city might leave behind amid all the gentrification.

"As an architect and urban planner, I also want my city to be beautiful and have good infrastructure, but not at the cost of people who have built the city," says Neera Adarkar, who has co-authored a book about Mumbai's mill worker communities.

Parel's new apartments loom over working-class communities that have developed over decades. "There is a huge section of people who are not considered when the elite talks about turning the city into Shanghai," she added.

http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=40866#compstory

29A

January 20th, 2005, 11:16 AM

Good new people.
Just came from emporis, and its official. The S D towers are 210 meters high each. not 180, not 190 but 210!. Finall we have broken the 200 mark. There were rumours abt them bieng shorter. Its not true

Hindustani

January 20th, 2005, 07:04 PM

absolute beauties.

gyrations95

January 21st, 2005, 01:03 AM

Rs 2.5 cr for Ghodbunder Road
January 20, 2005

http://web.mid-day.com/metro/thane/2005/january/101898.htm

Minister of state for public works Anil Deshmukh has proposed a fast-track repair project with a budget of Rs 2.5 crore for improving Ghodbunder Road in the next three months. He also has ambitious plans to convert it into an eight-lane expressway with a budget of Rs 60 crore allocated for this 14.90-km road in the next two years

centralized pandemonium

January 23rd, 2005, 08:00 PM

I was just looking at the 300 tallest buildings in the world. SD Towers at 210m will be #249. Whoa, that's so cool. I hope more buildings like that are built.

IndiaRocks

January 24th, 2005, 06:32 AM

:)

Here's an u/c pic

http://img38.exs.cx/img38/6378/dskdurgamatatower13nv.jpg

Is it me..or is the building on the left actually leaning? :) or is just the picture?

Madhusudhan

January 24th, 2005, 06:55 AM

I was just looking at the 300 tallest buildings in the world. SD Towers at 210m will be #249. Whoa, that's so cool. I hope more buildings like that are built.

If the SD Towers is a success, we might just get more of the 200+ meter one's. :)

kshatriya

January 24th, 2005, 07:34 AM

^ Just a correction, you should've said "ones". ;)

Anyway, hope more 200+ towers come up. We have a few mystery commercial towers too that are likely to exceed 200m comfortably. I am still optimistic about them because the SD towers were also in the dark for nearly two years before we got info.....and now they're going up and ready to dominate the skyline! :)

Liquid

January 24th, 2005, 09:44 AM

Riya stop being so optomistic!! Its not healthy, especially when you know that our cities are lightyears behind others in terms of skyscraper development!!

I find the solution in:
:cheers:

Liquid

January 24th, 2005, 10:19 AM

'India Rocks'. wow India's very own leaning tower of piza. That pic answers my questions as to why people daren't attempt to build any skyscrapers remotely tall in Bharat.

Madhusudhan

January 24th, 2005, 11:43 AM

Another nice looking project from Kalpataru builders - Kalpataru Synergy - This project is almost ready with minor finishes left!

1 Rendering
http://img169.exs.cx/img169/4528/kalpatarusynergyrendering5ex.jpg

Construction photos
2
http://img169.exs.cx/img169/7610/kalpatarusynergy1uw.jpg

3
http://img169.exs.cx/img169/2979/kalpatarusynergy21pk.jpg

4
http://img169.exs.cx/img169/596/kalpatarusynergy34bn.jpg

5
http://img169.exs.cx/img169/5369/kalpatarusynergy41nq.jpg

drwho

January 24th, 2005, 12:06 PM

nice pictures!! good job:)

glas and concrete,the perfect match:)

nova

January 24th, 2005, 03:37 PM

Great! Thank goodness the actual project actually looks like the rendering! :D

Madhusudhan

January 24th, 2005, 03:55 PM

Even though many commercial projects are on in Mumbai, but this one somehow stands out. This building despite it's medium size, is a alot more classier.

IMHO

Jai

January 24th, 2005, 09:24 PM

Its just a lens trick

centralized pandemonium

January 25th, 2005, 08:58 PM

Just looked up at emporis. They have added DSK Durgamata and Zahra too.

centralized pandemonium

January 25th, 2005, 09:16 PM

Does anybody have info about the height of RNA MIRAGE, Planet Godrej, Suraj Towers, th e Legend, Rushabh, Oberoi Woods towers, Oberoi Skyheights, Beaumonde, Asiwarya heigts, Twinkle Towers and Four Seasons. All of these are above 35 stories. Hilton with 35 stories is 117m and WTC with 35 stories is 156m.So what is the height of these buildings.

gyrations95

January 30th, 2005, 07:20 AM

Mumbai's lifeline under threat
NAUZER BHARUCHA

http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1003136.cms

In the last two-and-a-half decades, as many as 35,000 slums have come up, either kissing these huge pipelines or located right on top of them. Not one of these slums was touched in the ongoing demolition drive because civic sources say most of them came up before the cut-off date of January 1, 1995. Rehousing the encroachers free of cost will entail a huge financial burden on the municipal exchequer.

kviv314

February 3rd, 2005, 01:59 AM

kviv314

February 3rd, 2005, 02:21 AM

hi, have any of u guys heard abt this? 4 towers , three 30 storey ones and one 50 storey one, are coming up in parel. construction company is piramal holdings. their website is under construction. anyway...i was wondering what the height etc is. if any of you have good sources then do try to find out.
they haven't advertised this in the papers.....construction has already begun. its next to the sheraton towers in parel(the new 5 star hotel)
hope someone can help!
also, its not listed on emporis

centralized pandemonium

February 3rd, 2005, 03:21 AM

I think the renderings are not out yet. BTW, welcome to the forums Vivek.

IndiaRocks

February 3rd, 2005, 05:04 AM

Biggest Slum Demolition Driver Ever - To help Mumbai become India's Shanghai

Not for socialists..

India's 'biggest slum demolitions'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4222525.stm

Mehrunissa stands in the ruins of what was her home in the western Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) and loudly curses the men and machines that are pulling down her neighbourhood.

At Annabhau Sattenagar, evicted slum dwellers ponder their future

"Why didn't you stop us when we set up home here? Where do we go and stay now?" she screams.

Annabhau Sattenagar is a bleak eight-acre shantytown in north-west Mumbai ringed by hills, a nuclear power plant, drab housing blocks and stinking abattoirs.

Six years ago, Mehrunissa and hundreds of others paid a slumlord to fill up the swamp-land with soil and erect tin-roofed homes for them.

Slumlords are the men who make their livings by wheeling and dealing in illegal property deals that make new slums possible.

In no time, a shantytown grew out of the bog. Some 12,000 people lived in nearly 3,000 huts with electricity and cable television connections.

The men and women here sold vegetables, pulled rickshaws and did menial work for a living. Their children went to the local municipal school.

Feeble resistance

That was until last week when municipal workers with their bulldozers and dumper trucks roared into their fetid neighbourhood and began tearing down their homes.

By the end of an overcast day some 2,600 homes had been razed to the ground.

In pictures: Mumbai homeless speak out

Weary, bedraggled residents like Mehrunissa initially threw stones and lit small fires to deter the demolition squad, but the police chased them away.

At night, they sneak back to the ruins - soggy concrete, tatty tarpaulin, rotting tin and dry faeces - and reclaim what they call their 'land'.

They sleep under the stars even as the twisted tin lacerates their bodies and rodents bite their new-born children.

Mehrunissa's neighbourhood is the latest to be razed in a demolition drive against illegal constructions in Mumbai.

Mumbai's municipal authorities reckon this is the "largest ever" demolition exercise in urban India.

Since the drive began last December, 67,000 illegal constructions have been demolished - shantytowns have taken the brunt simply because they have encroached upon 14% of the island city's area.

'Demolition man'

A total of 123 acres of prime government-owned land has been already freed up in a little less than two months since the drive began.

The target is to free up another 375 acres by ridding them of their residents and their wretched homes.

We want to put the fear of the consequences of migration into these people. We have to restrain them from coming to Mumbai

Vijay Kalam Patil, Mumbai municipality
This is part of a $6bn urban rejuvenation plan for India's richest and dirtiest megalopolis, where writer Suketu Mehta says the "first world lives smack in the centre of the third".

Leading Mumbai's demolition squad is 45-year-old Vijay Kumar Nagorao Kalam Patil, a wiry, reticent revenue officer on secondment to the city's municipality.

Surrounded by a posse of commandoes, the indefatigable Mr Patil trudges from one site to another making sure that the work is progressing smoothly.

"It's not easy. There is a lot of resistance. We are attacked, our trucks are set on fire," he says.

"But work is workship. It has to go on."

Affordable housing

Politicians say the makeover will turn Mumbai into the next Shanghai, which is touted as a symbol of China's economic prowess.

Urban planners say that the makeover will only happen if the government builds new homes to house 7.5 million of the city's 12 million people who live in slums - that's more than 60% of the population.

That's not all.

At least 5% of Mumbai's people live on the roads, and 2% are simply nomads. Another 2.5 million people live in dilapidated buildings which have been officially tagged as 'dangerous'.

Policemen guard a demolished shantytown
Planners say that the only way out is for the state to build low-cost housing in a city where real estate is frighteningly expensive and drives people even with reasonable incomes to live in slums.

Demolishing slums is not the only way to free up land in Mumbai. Some 585 acres of land occupied by textile mills have been lying idle for ages after the businesses shut down.

'Big money'

For the moment, the state government says that it will provide housing only to slum dwellers who came into the city after 1995.

In a land-scarce city, slums have come in the way of building new roads, bridges, schools and playgrounds. By one estimate, there are 35,000 slums alone which sit on top of or run alongside the city's water mains.

The lure of a job in Mumbai draws droves of poor from all over India - in many cases entire villages have moved into slums replicating the village names and sequence of homes.

Urban planners like Chandrasekhar Prabhu say municipal authorities, policemen and politicians have connived over the years to build slums and settle migrants there.

There is an acute shortage of low cost housing in Mumbai
"It's big money. The slumlord grabs the land, pays off the police, municipal worker and the local elected representative. Then he sells it to somebody for a hefty price, who in turn parcels it into lots and sells huts to the poor," he says.

The cost of a shanty, he says, could range from anything between 50,000 rupees ($1,100) to 300,000 rupees ($6,600), depending on the location.

'Fear of migration'

Mr Prabhu says slums have been torched or razed and then set up again.

"You allow illegal settlements, make money. Then you burn them down or demolish them and rebuild them and make money again."

The sun is setting over gloomy Annabhau Sattenagar.

I ask demolition man Vijay Kalam Patil if he is thinking about the fate of the thousands of sleepless, hungry evictees who are squatting, fighting, and defecating in the cold, squalid ruins.

"If they set up unauthorised constructions and squat on government land, why should I think about them?" he asks.

People evicted from a slum squat on an adjacent vacant land
"We want to put the fear of the consequences of unfettered migration into these people. We have to restrain them from coming to Mumbai."

Urban affairs analyst Kalpana Sharma says this is "sheer madness".

"How can you ask people to stop coming to Mumbai? This is a democracy. Why don't you demolish the slums only after building housing for the poor?"

Curiously, the rich and the middle classes in Mumbai are not asking these questions.

kviv314

February 3rd, 2005, 08:51 AM

thanks man..hope the renderings are out soon...just wanted to know the exact ht etc...anyway..wht else is new? looks like things have slowed down a bit..

Madhusudhan

February 3rd, 2005, 08:59 AM

hi,
guys....have u heard that there is a new apratment complex coming up in parel with three 30 storey buildings and one 50 storey building.
its called ashok towers and is in the peninsula park complex.
its being built by piramal holdings. i cannot find any pics of it though.
so does anyone know anything moreabt it? details? height of the 50 storey tower?

Where did you hear about this? This tower has already been discussed over here. Can you provide your link, better if it a tentative photograph of the project..?

:)

Madhusudhan

February 3rd, 2005, 09:06 AM

kviv314

February 3rd, 2005, 09:42 AM

peninsula is the construction company, but they say that their websit is underconstruction. peninsula.co.in
i have the brouchure...went to the construction site and got it. the apartments look amazing. this looks like a promising complex apart from the design of the buildings which is quite normal. nothing unique,unfortunately. they should have been more radical considering the size of the complex. anyway. hope they get some renderings up soon on emporis. its funny though how emporis hasn't listed this building as 'under construction'. looks like the bombay guys workin for emporis are slacking!

kviv314

February 3rd, 2005, 09:44 AM

i will try to scan the images of ashok towers from the booklet or take a pic of them with my digi cam and upload them soon!

kshatriya

February 3rd, 2005, 09:50 AM

i will try to scan the images of ashok towers from the booklet or take a pic of them with my digi cam and upload them soon!
That would be great, waiting for it. But one thing, the Bombay editor at emporis works very hard, and his efoorts are highly commendable. I guess they were waiting for better renders and conformation. Indian construction cos are very lazy replying to mails... :)

kviv314

February 3rd, 2005, 11:44 AM

i need help uploading the pics for ashok towers! i dont know how to do it!

kshatriya

February 3rd, 2005, 12:03 PM

Vivek, you can try any of these -

Photobucket (http://www.photobucket.com) - Need to sign up, will get a free 100 mb account. Just follow instructions, it's very easy

Imageshack (http://www.imageshack.us) - Don't have to sign up. Easy to use again, just follow instructions.

kviv314

February 3rd, 2005, 12:41 PM

hey kshyatriya......thanks for ur help...hopefully i will have them up soon.

kviv314

February 3rd, 2005, 01:14 PM

im not that great at taking pics of pages from a booklet, but here they r!

this is the pic of the 4 buildings. dunno wht the blue dots are. they were marked in the booklet. guess they just indicate some floor for some kinda reason?
http://img223.exs.cx/img223/5844/41sv.jpg

this one is an aerial view of the complex.
http://img220.exs.cx/img220/4111/76gw.jpg

this last one shows the road map! hope that clears any doubts abt the location!
http://img219.exs.cx/img219/8516/dsc008134re.jpg

kshatriya

February 3rd, 2005, 03:30 PM

Great one vivek! We will start a new mumbai projects thread once I scan my brochures. It doesn't look half as bad as some people said.

Madhusudhan

February 3rd, 2005, 04:31 PM

Which other interesting projects do you have in your brochures? Any info about Aiswarya and Twinkle Towers. The emporis site says that approval for Aspen Cooper has been given, but Aishwarya and Twinkle are still on the proposed stage!

kshatriya

February 4th, 2005, 07:23 AM

Hey guys, within such a short span of time, we've had 4 towers breach the 50 storey mark, and many more over 30. Looks like a trend to build taller and taller is catching up. This is how it looks like now -

S.D Tower 1 - 60F - 210m

S.D Tower 2 - 60F - 210m

Planet Godrej - 51F - ?

Ashok Towers A - 50F - ?

Rusabh - 40+F - ?

RNA Mirage - 41F - ?

The Legend - 40F - ?

Oberoi Woods Towers 1,2,3 - 40F - ?

Beaumode Tower 1 - 40+F - ?

Oberoi Skyheights - 35F - ?

Beaumode Towers 2 and 3 - 35F - ?

Twinkle Towers - 35F - ?

Aishwarya Heights - 35F - ?

Four Seasons Hotel (proposed) - 35F - ?

That's around 20 new towers, all will beat most of the current top 10!

And all those 30+ ones, there are plenty of those!

Wow the boom is getting bigger and bigger! Hope some tall commercial towers spring up, where's that damn 420m WTC?!

Madhusudhan

February 4th, 2005, 08:16 AM

Madhusudhan

February 4th, 2005, 08:27 AM

Beaumode Tower 1 - 40+F - ?

I thought as per the drawings, all the beaumonde towers were of 35 storeys.....do we have one that sticks out? :)

Oberoi Skyheights - 35F - ?

The renderings that have been posted here, came with a caption that says it's a twin 38 storey project.

Twinkle Towers - 35F - ?

Again, as of now, it's just a proposal, and no one knows, where in Mumbai it's to be build.

Aishwarya Heights - 35F - ?

Same as above.

Four Seasons Hotel (proposed) - 35F - ?

I don't think this one will be build, because the builders have abandoned the plans citing, that constructing condos is more lucrative than a hotel, since hotels require constant maintaining, whereas from residentials, one can recover the investment at the point of sale. So, it's gonna be condos instead of this project.

SD Towers were initially planned to be a 3 storey project; does anyone know if the third tower is going to comeup?

Madhusudhan

February 4th, 2005, 08:33 AM

Also, regarding Planet Godrej....is it a 5 or a 7 tower project?

Madhusudhan

February 4th, 2005, 08:40 AM

Regarding WTC: there have been two different noises being made by the NTC....

1) It's gonna be 104 storeys.
2) It's going to be a 53 storey cluster project, covering a huge area with massive convention facilities.

Not sure which of the two will win, but the likelihood is that it's gonna be the second one. And I am sure, this project won't be abandoned, because the current state government is doing it's best to make Mumbai into another Shanghai!

We can expect several 50 storey projects, to be approved in the coming months! This news must be music to the ears of Hafeez Contractor. ;)

Madhusudhan

February 4th, 2005, 09:13 AM

kshatriya

February 4th, 2005, 09:33 AM

A 40 crore rupee idea has been mooted to redevelop a cluster of existing commercial buildings into something fancy and posh.

Read this:
http://ww1.mid-day.com/news/city/2005/february/102887.htm
interesting article about the above said project.
Hey I know about this, the group eiffel heights proposed to do this in retur for permission to build a 50+ storey tower in Nana Chowk. This was way back i 2002, so I thought the plan was shelved, but maybe it's happening!

Here's the article

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/13505982.cms

Now it's designed by Hafeez Contractor, could it be Twinkle?

Madhusudhan

February 4th, 2005, 10:27 AM

Hey I know about this, the group eiffel heights proposed to do this in retur for permission to build a 50+ storey tower in Nana Chowk. This was way back i 2002, so I thought the plan was shelved, but maybe it's happening!

Here's the article

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/13505982.cms

Now it's designed by Hafeez Contractor, could it be Twinkle?

But Twinkle is 3 conjoined towers, and they are definitely not 50 storeys. Could be Aishwarya, which is a single tower, but even that doesn't look 50 storeys to me.

Madhusudhan

February 4th, 2005, 10:30 AM

If Nana Chowk is at Worli, then it must be Aishwarya!

Re-edit:

Then again, after rechecking I found that even Twinkle Towers are proposed at Worli. But definitely none of their renderings indicate anything remotely close to 50 storeys.

kviv314

February 5th, 2005, 06:19 AM

in the ashok towers pics, the map shows that there is this 'centre point' at a bend. now is that a new shopping centre? also, i forgot to mention that the guy at the ashok towers office was saying that a crossroads 3 !!! will b opening nearby.(note - the apartment complex is being built by the piramals) so my guess is that what he meant was that centre point is a shopping centre. what do u guys think?

centralized pandemonium

February 5th, 2005, 07:18 PM

Shanghai, here comes Mumbai

MUMBAI: Advocates for showcasing Mumbai as another Shanghai got a shot in the arm on Thursday with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) proposing a whopping Rs 400.63 crore for upgrading the city’s road network in the 2005-06 budget estimates. This is a big jump from last year’s civic budget, which had allocated Rs 257 crore for the roads.

The budget, presented by civic chief Johny Joseph to the standing committee, shows a modest surplus of Rs 72 lakh and contains noproposals to hike taxes. The annual budgetary outlay has been pegged at Rs 7,020 crore.

In a major thrust to strengthen infrastructure and improve services, the civic administration plans to undertake capital works at a cost of Rs 2,123 crore in the coming financial year for amenities that include water supply, sewerage, roads, public toilets, storm water drains, solid waste management and medical services. But Mumbai’s network of roads—many of them potholed and unwieldy seem to be on top of the BMC’s priority list. About 57 km of roads will be cement concreted at a cost of Rs 202.09 crore while another 172 km will be asphalted at a cost of Rs 197.73 crore in the coming financial year.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1010882.cms

kronik

February 5th, 2005, 10:34 PM

well they better find good, alternate sources for this money because the FM aint taking Maharashtra financial mismanagement no more.

Maharashtra`s annual plan freezed at Rs 9,700 cr (http://www.business-standard.com/bsonline/storypage.php?&autono=179983)

Maharashtra government on Friday said the annual plan of the state for 2004-05 has been freezed at Rs 9,700 crore, forcing it to reorganise the economic planning activity.

The state government had made an annual plan of Rs 19,500 crore for 2004-05 and sent it to the Union government for approval, state finance minister Jayant Patil said.

On the estimated plan for 2005-06, Patil said the state had already had a meeting on it and the report was being sent to the centre for approval.

“The plan includes provision for development of metropolis and other issues,” the minister said adding, he would not disclose any details on the plan before it gets approved by the Centre.

centralized pandemonium

February 6th, 2005, 04:53 AM

Medha Patkar booked for unlawful assembly

February 05, 2005 23:26 IST

Police have registered an offence against social activist Medha Patkar for violating orders prohibiting assembly of more than five people.

Patkar, who is leading a tirade against the demolition drive undertaken by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation against slums that came up after 1995, was booked under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the police said in Mumbai on Saturday.

A first information report has been filed against her for assembling more than five persons without prior police permission, they said.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/05medha.htm

centralized pandemonium

February 6th, 2005, 04:53 AM

Should this be here or in Mumbai discussions?

Suncity

February 6th, 2005, 05:31 AM

It's okay here, but I guess we had one relevant thread in Chaibar too.

Madhusudhan

February 6th, 2005, 04:22 PM

TRIVIA

If we go by the current height of SD Towers in Mumbai, once completed, it will stack up as the 45th tallest building in Hong Kong. A difference of 3 meters will take it to the 40th position. Thus effectively, India's tallest building will stand 40-45th on the current HK skyline scale. A big improvement, considering our present tallest stacks up at 177th position.

:)

Madhusudhan

February 13th, 2005, 01:03 PM

Newsclip

Hiranandani to redevelop Maitri Park

By: Manthan K Mehta
February 9, 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A copy of the plan submitted by Hiranandani to residents
Maitri Park — one of Chembur’s most famous landmarks — is likely to be redeveloped by the Hiranandani Group. Residents of Maitri Park say the Hiranandanis will redevelop their society over the next four years.

Apart from being offered latest amenities in their new homes, residents will also get additional FSI at no extra cost. “The decision to award redevelopment contract to Hiranandanis was taken in April 2004. However, there were some technical problems that delayed the deal,” says Bhagwan Thadhani, the secretary of Maitri Park.

In 2004, the residents had shortlisted three developers — the Hiranandanis, Kalpatru and Evershine. But Hiranandani and Kalpatru backed out of the bidding process, leaving the field open for Evershine Developers.

“However, the general body did not repose faith in Evershine Developers and passed a resolution to this effect. The residents also unanimously decided to convince Hiranandani to develop the property,” says Thadhani.

Two months ago, the Hiranandanis submitted a redevelopment proposal to Maitri Park’s general body at a meeting held in Chembur Gymkhana. “More than 97 per cent of the members approved the proposal,” says Thadhani.

The Maitri Park redevelopment project offers a good deal to the original occupants of the society even as it gives the Hiranandanis extra FSI in the heart of the suburb.

Providing the details of the project, Bhagwan Thadhani, secretary of the society, says, “The residents will get flats that are twice the size of the original flats. If a resident owns a 400 square feet flat, he will get a 800 square feet flat post redevelopment.”

Maitri Park was developed
in the early 60s
The group plans to develop 12 towers with 20 floors each. There won’t be more than three flats on each floor. “The builder is likely to pay around Rs 8 crore as corpus fund to the society. However, the final amount has not been finalised,” says Thadhani.

Among the facilities to be introduced by the builder are a jogging track, a clubhouse, a swimming pool and a shopping complex. “The maintenance cost for the new flats will depend on the municipal taxes that will prevail in the future,” says Thadhani.

When asked if there was any opposition for the redevelopment plan, Thadhani says, “There were a few residents who opposed the plan initially. But we explained to them the benefits such as new flats with no additional cost. It is not surprising that a majority of them turned in favour of the deal.”

The project is likely to be completed over a period of four years. “Issues related to alternate accommodation to residents during the redevelopment period are yet to be finalised. The agreement will be signed only after the general body approves all the points.”

Surendra Hiranandani, one of the developers says, “I would not like to speak about project because we are still discussing the issue.”

manthan@mid-day.com

The FSI limit for Maitri Park
has been raised to 2
From 267 flats to 800

There are 267 members in the Maitri Park Co-operative Housing Society. Maitri Park, which is located on Sion-Trombay Road, is one of the landmarks of Chembur.

Spread across nine acres of land, Maitri Park was developed between 1962 and 1968. After the redevelopment the total number of flats in the area may go up to 800 in Maitri Park.

Maitri Park was constructed with a floor space index of 0.5. Since the FSI limit has been raised to two in the area, the residents and developer, both can reap the benefits in terms of space and money.

It’s a good deal, say residents

Prakash Jagtiani
Banking manager with HLL and a resident of building no C-3/3
“Apart from the additional space, we are happy with the amenities that are on offer. It is a good deal.”

Naval Shinde
Legal advisor with a private firm and a resident of building no 46
“The buildings are old and have many problems related to leakages. Once we shift to new residences, the residents will not have to bother about minor problems.”

Suncity

February 17th, 2005, 01:43 AM

Some new towers [dunno status]

Casa Grande

http://img141.exs.cx/img141/5532/casagrandemk5sl.gif

Cosmic Heights

http://img141.exs.cx/img141/9833/cosmicheightsmk3ce.jpg

elitecavalier

February 17th, 2005, 02:39 AM

Suncity

February 17th, 2005, 03:19 AM

Nice pics

man i see so many of these renderings, makes me wonder if all these are actually built.

Casa Grande is u/c as per Mid-day.

http://203.199.69.66/hot_property/area_focus/2004/august/89925.htm

Cosmic Heights is a Ajmera project in Wadala. Not sure about its status.

Madhusudhan

February 17th, 2005, 03:26 AM

Nice pics

man i see so many of these renderings, makes me wonder if all these are actually built.

http://img38.exs.cx/img38/8836/sdtower128rm.jpg
I just want the S D Towers to be finished so we have something nice to brag about :).

Yeah, in three years time mumbai will have a handsome skyline. Something we all can be proud of ! Btw, SD Towers is just the beginning, considering how hot the Indian economy is!

Madhusudhan

February 17th, 2005, 03:30 AM

On the emporis website, you can actually follow the progress of many projects in different cities of the world. Can someone who's based in Mumbai or anyother city of India, take weekly shots of some prestgious projects. This way we can see how far some of these skyscrapers have come. I think the first tower in the SD complex, must be nearing 170 mts or so in height. It looks well over 150 already in this two month old picture.

Madhusudhan

February 17th, 2005, 03:44 AM

Casa Grande is u/c as per Mid-day.

http://203.199.69.66/hot_property/area_focus/2004/august/89925.htm

Cosmic Heights is a Ajmera project in Wadala. Not sure about its status.

midday also states that RNA Mirage should be ready by June 2005. If this is so, then by now it should be peeking out well considering it's unique design. Has anyone who has been to Mumbai recently, seen a unique 40 storey building in the Worli area, that's also under construction?

Suncity

February 17th, 2005, 04:33 AM

elitecavalier

February 17th, 2005, 05:26 AM

Yeah, in three years time mumbai will have a handsome skyline. Something we all can be proud of ! Btw, SD Towers is just the beginning, considering how hot the Indian economy is!

Yea I really hope so, but im just worried about that idiot Sonia Gandhi :( . How much effect will she have on this anyway?

29A

February 17th, 2005, 06:11 AM

This is really strange. I went to emporis, but I could not find any mention of RNA Mirage. How can this be?

centralized pandemonium

February 17th, 2005, 06:12 AM

^^^ I think it is there. You have to go to the later pages tho.

Suncity

February 17th, 2005, 06:36 AM

Some more..maybe Kshatriya can find out more about them during his next vacation.

Rameshwaram, Prabhadevi

http://img201.exs.cx/img201/9659/rameshwarammk6qx.jpg

Guruprabha

http://img201.exs.cx/img201/56/guruprabhamk3nz.gif

Maharajah, Goregaon

http://img201.exs.cx/img201/1908/maharajamk1sz.jpg

kshatriya

February 17th, 2005, 09:54 AM

http://www.lohan.com/images/projects/fsmweb_1rev.jpg

This beauty is already u/c! Has this article been posted before? It's the first one i've seen that says it's underway. Funny why it isn't already being seen on the recent skyline shots....or maybe it is? I can't find the link to the original article, but here's a link to a forum it was posted in , looks like a '03 article, so that's another doubt, has it 'as-is-typical', hit some roadblock?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=281829

Four Seasons is here. After testing the waters for almost a decade, the world's most upmarket hotel brand is entering the country with the Jatia group of Asian Hotels.

It is acquiring a "strategic" stake in Magus Estates & Hotels Pvt Ltd, a special purpose vehicle floated by the Jatias for their upcoming property at Dr E. Moses Road, Worli, Mumbai.

Four Seasons has also entered into a 20-year management contract for the property. The hotel, of course, will be called Four Seasons Mumbai. Four Seasons will also help in marketing it abroad.

"It will be a 5-star hotel by international standards and will compete with the best hotels in the world. The service will be in consistency with Four Seasons worldwide. It will meet future standards and will be the best hotel in Mumbai," Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts chairman & CEO Isadore Sharp told Business Standard.

Work has already begun on the Rs 260-crore project which will comprise 180-190 rooms and some 40-45 apartments. The hotel will be functional by the third quarter of 2005, Shiv Jatia, the managing director of Asian Hotels Ltd, said.

When asked if Four Seasons will acquire a controlling stake in the venture, Jatia said that the Jatia group would have a majority stake.

Four Seasons, which operates 58 properties worldwide (25 more are under development), has been looking at the Indian market for over ten years. And over the years, there has been a lot of speculation on which Indian hotel chain would it tie up with.

"We looked at many opportunities but could not come to a conclusion. We see this project as the right opportunity and the right partner for us," Sharp said.

According to Sharp, the tourism industry has shown an uptrend in the last 4-5 months and the business prospects for the sector will improve further in the future.

"I think 2004 will be the first full year of the recovery. We should see normal to good growth over the next five years," he said.

"The last two years were the worst phase for the industry in the last 50 years. But it is over. Hotels in Mumbai are running at 80 per cent occupancy, though 2,000 new rooms have been added in the last two years," Jatia added

Suncity have you seen this article before? I am just optimistic that it really is underway and rising, given how pathetic media coverage for such things usually is. I don't think we will get updates for any project, big or small, from the media as long as there's Shahid and Kareena, or Salman Khan......

Only one doubt, we haven't been able to spot it in Ubermensch's recent skyline shots, or maybe we just haven't looked closely enough?

kshatriya

February 17th, 2005, 10:03 AM

According to this Jan 2005 article, the four seasons is 'on the anvil' and is 250 rooms. Has the height been increased?

ITC's smart mover advantage (http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2005/jan/22spec1.htm)

Arti Sharma in Mumbai | January 22, 2005

It's an unlikely setting for a luxury hotel. Surrounded by chawls and mill-chimneys, the exposed brick colonial facades of ITC Grand Central loom over the overcrowded landscape.

On the face it there may be nothing unusual about the 242-room property that has replaced what was a defunct cigarette factory in central Mumbai. However, the opening of the Central is a sign of how the heart of Mumbai is changing.

"We foresaw the transformation of the area and are focusing on the need for a hotel to service the business traveller. It also gives us the first-mover advantage in this market," says Sarabjit Dhawan, vice president - west, ITC Welcomgroup.

Over the last five years, hotels, offices and recreation hubs have shifted from the south to the north of the island city.

"There was a desperate need to decongest the central business district so areas like Andheri-Kurla and Bandra-Kurla saw tremendous activity," says Kekoo Colah, executive director of Mumbai-based realty firm Knight Frank.

The shift of companies and space constraints in the south saw 12 hotels come up in proximity of the financial capital's domestic and international airports as well as the newly established suburban business districts. ITC's new property signals the emergence of a new market in Mumbai.

"We've traditionally divided the market into the north and the south. Now the central part will be a separate market altogether," says Charles Bennet, senior consultant with hospitality consultants Mahajan & Aibara.

As a result, privately owned mill land has been transformed into swank, glass-facade office buildings, retail and high-rise contemporary living spaces.

In due course, the 25 mills owned by the state-owned National Textile Corporation are expected to undergo a similar makeover.

Developers are now eyeing the release of 73 acres of land (about 55 football fields) from just five of the total NTC-owned mills. Once this happens, real estate analysts expect to see a reverse shift from the north back to central Mumbai.

ITC's move then comes as no surprise. "There is no other hotel in this vicinity. For people who have business in the offices in the area, there will no longer be any need to travel to the south or north," agrees Dhawan. That may change in the future. Another hotel -- a 250-room Four Seasons is on the anvil.

But will ITC's property take away business from the north and south hotels?

Says Rajiv Kaul, vice president, Mumbai Hotels, Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, "It's a development to watch with interest, not fear, because the central district opening up is good news."

Agrees John Toomey, director of marketing- India, Marriott International, "It won't change the Mumbai hotel market. Location is still the key; people who need to be in the south will choose between properties there, and similarly in the north. This is another option for people to avoid commuting between the two extremes."

Dhawan is also banking on food and beverage revenue from its five restaurants.

All Mumbai hotels have seen robust business in the last year and ITC's new property only adds 200-odd rooms to existing supply. While there may be some scepticism about its pricing given the location (rooms start at an introductory price of Rs 6,000 plus taxes), most analysts say ITC has definitely made a smart move.

kshatriya

February 17th, 2005, 10:28 AM

This is the official website of the developers, Suncity has posted this earlier -

http://www.magushotels.com

Some 'Project Documents' are not available for public viewing.....there is some more information though.

This is it's location

http://www.magushotels.com/Location.asp

Suncity posted this recent Worli aerial from the Kalpataru website, of this area. According to the location, it should be somewhere here, but NOT in this pic. So maybe it won't be seen immediately in the skyline as there are other talls u/c there (that 40 somehting tower in the pic, plus Horizon towers etc.)

http://img105.exs.cx/img105/5292/aerialmumbai19tj.jpg

:)

Madhusudhan

February 17th, 2005, 12:49 PM

Is it believable that the hotel will be functional by 2005, as the promoters of the project say in the interview? By this yardstick, it should be fully visible by now. The cladding and interiors themselves take a good 6 - 7 months, which means as per Jatia, the full structure should be visible.

ps: Can that tall building from the Kalpataru aerial be Four Seasons?

Madhusudhan

February 17th, 2005, 01:12 PM

Some new towers [dunno status]

Casa Grande

http://img141.exs.cx/img141/5532/casagrandemk5sl.gif

Cosmic Heights

http://img141.exs.cx/img141/9833/cosmicheightsmk3ce.jpg

The color scheme in both these towers is getting repetitive, as many before announced projects, duly indicate a preferrence for yello/mustard/white facade combo. Besides, both these projects remind abit of both Ashok Towers and Oberoi woods, architecturally. Are colored concrete boxes the future of mumbai skyline?

kshatriya

February 17th, 2005, 01:45 PM

ps: Can that tall building from the Kalpataru aerial be Four Seasons?
Location doesn't match exactly and neither does the look. It is somewhere more 'inland', behind Horizon.

kshatriya

February 17th, 2005, 01:53 PM

Great, so the boom continues then!

Well, even HK and Shanghai have coloured concrete boxes in dozens, it's just the glitzy, postmodern, glass supertalls in a cluster that make all the difference, giving a futuristic look to the skyline. With SD Towers, and other similar projects, we will bridge that missing link. That is what Mumbai needs to complete it's skyline. Everything else, the backdrop, the setting, are all in place. Right now, this wave of high rises will result in a nice density, we just need a cluster or two of supertalls...

Suncity

February 17th, 2005, 04:55 PM

Building Castles in the air...? Kshatriya if you get time on your next visit, this is another mystery that needs to be solved :)

I found an address of a different company...

One Two Three India Com Ltd.
Plot No.114, Building No.2, 2nd Floor
Magus Estates & Hotels Pvt. Ltd. Compound
Dr. E. Moses Road
Worli, Mumbai-400018, India.

So it seems there is a plot/compund with that name.

Now here are two maps showing the E Moses Road

http://img63.exs.cx/img63/5621/magus28xg.jpg

http://img210.exs.cx/img210/4540/magus39nm.jpg

And here is a pic...[the ??? probably isn't FS but what is it?]

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/9605/magus19bn.jpg

The hotel website says...

The hotel, to be called Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, located at Worli (mid town Mumbai), overlooks the Arabian Sea, Mahalaxmi Racecourse and Wellington Golf Course.

The hotel site's key advantages are its strategic location in Worli, proximity to Dr. Annie Besant Road, which is the commercial focus of the area, as well as its proximity to the emerging commercial precinct of Parel's mill district. The site has good access and the development of flyovers on the main access routes in the area will further improve the access. The site area is also poised to become a premium residential district of Mumbai.

Magus Estates & Hotels Pvt. Ltd.
Four Seasons Hotel - Mumbai
114, Dr. E. Moses Road,
Worli, Mumbai - 400 018

Suncity

February 17th, 2005, 05:08 PM

Don't they have any controversy surrounding this hotel? We would then surely have a lot of media coverage!!!

;-)

drwho

February 17th, 2005, 05:31 PM

good news:)

well i guess they will let us do the detective-job ;)

drwho

February 17th, 2005, 07:41 PM

i like this one,gives some kind of neo-gothic fealing:)

Something like Buckley Court?

Godrej Glenelg

Plot No. 13, Off. Colaba Reclamation Scheme, Prakash Pethe Marg, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai - 400 005

http://www.godrejproperties.com/gif/glenelg/mainpic.jpg

More info at http://www.godrejproperties.com/ResiGlenelg.htm

29A

February 18th, 2005, 06:29 AM

Here are some interesting statistics for asian cities :-(population/skyscrapers)

www.emporis.com/en/bu/sk/st/ma/ct/ci/?id=100004

RafflesCity

February 18th, 2005, 06:56 AM

skyline can be seen forming nicely in this pic :)

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/9605/magus19bn.jpg

kshatriya

February 18th, 2005, 07:27 AM

Don't they have any controversy surrounding this hotel? We would then surely have a lot of media coverage!!!

;-)
lol yes. Let's not base any project status now on media reports. :)

I have a good feeling it's u/c, but we are not able to see it, maybe somehow missing it, or construction is proceeding slower than expected, so it may not have risen high enough yet.

kshatriya

February 18th, 2005, 07:32 AM

skyline can be seen forming nicely in this pic :)

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/9605/magus19bn.jpg
Yeah. That is an old pic too, in Ubermensch's recent photos, you can see how many new towers are coming up, we need a newer shot of that place with Zahra, which must've topped out even. Four Seasons will be a nice addition too.

:)

Madhusudhan

February 18th, 2005, 12:54 PM

Suncity

February 18th, 2005, 03:04 PM

Have you checked the Godrej properties website? There it still mentions that Planet Godrej is going to be 45 storeys. Can someone clear the air as to whether it's 51 or 45 storeys project under construction?

In their previous website it was 40 storeys. These builders are fishy people when it comes to floors. But Kshatriya got the number from the exhibition I believe. So 51 storey must be the latest. Now if they want to go up to 75 floors, I have no problems!

:)

kshatriya

February 18th, 2005, 03:12 PM

Yeah 51 storeys was what the Godrej people at the exhibition *told* me, there's no mention of no. of floors at all in the brochure.

It's interesting, there are quite a few whose height suddenly jumps up! :)

Madhusudhan

February 18th, 2005, 06:44 PM

In their previous website it was 40 storeys. These builders are fishy people when it comes to floors. But Kshatriya got the number from the exhibition I believe. So 51 storey must be the latest. Now if they want to go up to 75 floors, I have no problems!

:)

On a different note I am interested to know whether gravity plays a big role in deciding the base width/height ratio of the building. In other words, if a building is too thin, is it really safe to build it so high. This is one angle which is very interesting because alot of building projects in mumbai are vertically tall, but the base is small since there's traditionally been a paucity of land lots. It's all a hypthesis, and if someone with an engineering background could step forward and provide insight, that would be deeply educating for all of us.

Madhusudhan

February 18th, 2005, 06:53 PM

Well, it's supposed to be ready by next year, so whatever confusion persists, would be resolved shortly. And I still don't understand from what perspective they call it a five tower project. It looks like any tall and wide building, as far as it's structural representation goes. You can't even describe it as having five wings, but just one wide building project it is!

kviv314

February 22nd, 2005, 04:22 PM

if u guys wanna c a nice compilation of nice buildings under construction in bombay and also general pics and panoramas of bombay, go visit my website-

http://viveksphotos.fotopic.net

also, its worth going back to thumbnail view after viewing full size pic as the direct linking of one full size pic to the other is not properly done by this fotopic website. i had contacted them and they said that they are trying to rectify that problem and that it was a common one.

have fun!

Madhusudhan

February 23rd, 2005, 01:08 AM

Jai

February 23rd, 2005, 01:28 AM

What's this (http://images5.fotopic.net/?iid=yszqka&outx=600&noresize=1&nostamp=1)?

And what's that building in the background of the Rameshwaram render?
http://img201.exs.cx/img201/9659/rameshwarammk6qx.jpg

drwho

February 23rd, 2005, 01:33 AM

Jai hm,havnt seen that one before,where did you find it?

Jai

February 23rd, 2005, 01:36 AM

The hyperlinked one was from the Vivek's album labeled "Skyscrapers under construction in Mumbai." I'm not sure that's being built in Mumbai.

Edit: I found a pic of the building (temple) in question
http://www.astro.caltech.edu/~kartik/India/bombay/bombay-Images/44.jpg

Jai

February 23rd, 2005, 01:39 AM

Suncity

February 23rd, 2005, 04:36 AM

The temple is the famous Shri Siddhivinayak Temple.

Rameshwaram is coming up in Prabhadevi were the temple is located.

The other building (which looks like the Dubai building) is HM Suites by Gowani Builders. I don't know if it is just a proposal or has been built.

The architects are dellatecnica. But their new website doesn't have the building featured anymore. So I guess it must be a never built one.

http://www.dellatecnica.com/newsite/index.htm

centralized pandemonium

February 23rd, 2005, 05:49 AM

BPOs review building design in Mumbai

http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=13676397

kviv314

February 23rd, 2005, 07:37 PM

some of the buildings might have been on the forum, but for most, i looked up thru other sources.
also, some of the photos in the bombay pics section have also been accquired from suraj's and kshatriyas pics, i am in touch with suraj and have acknowledged him for his pictures, but i couldn't get in touch with kshatriya so if u read this, please pm me! thanks!

Jai

February 23rd, 2005, 08:57 PM

Wow, that's Siddivinayak Temple? I went there when I was very young, but don't remember it looking like that

centralized pandemonium

February 28th, 2005, 05:40 AM

Sewri-Nhava bridge may get boost in PC's budge

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1034962.cms

centralized pandemonium

February 28th, 2005, 05:41 AM

Budget likely to aid Mumbai

http://web.mid-day.com/news/city/2005/february/104534.htm

centralized pandemonium

February 28th, 2005, 05:42 AM

PM backs four Mumbai projects

http://ww1.mid-day.com/news/city/2005/february/104576.htm

centralized pandemonium

February 28th, 2005, 05:43 AM

Finally, some good news for Mumbai.

kshatriya

February 28th, 2005, 12:01 PM

Vertical limit (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1030777.cms)

[ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2005 12:00:01 AM ]

Sign into earnIndiatimes points

Until now, the process of redeveloping Mumbai's dilapidated buildings never managed to gain momentum for one simple reason - the returns simply didn't justify the effort and investment required. But things could change soon, following a state government proposal to offer 50 per cent additional floor space index (FSI) for redevelopment projects. If implemented, this would increase the FSI available to redevelopers from the present 2.5 to 3.75, and effectively, enhance the profitability of such ventures.

However, the fate of this proposed incentive is still unclear, pending the verdict of an ongoing public interest litigation (PIL) filed by former municipal commissioner J B D'Souza, in The Bombay High Court. The issue that has been raised is whether allowing the additional FSI would compound the existing problems by further burdening the existing infrastructure.

While the need for having adequate infrastructure remains undisputed, housing industry representatives feel that there should be a greater emphasis on upgrading it rather than delaying redevelopment and replacing dilapidated structures with modern high rises. After all, as they point out, whether one has five big towers or 20 smaller structures within a certain radius, the number of families residing there and the resultant drain on the infrastructure is pretty much the same.

The basic contention is that water consumption in high-rise projects is no greater than that in complexes where a group of four or seven-storey buildings have the same number of flats spread over several wings. Even the myth about high-rises needing more car parking spaces because they mostly attract the affluent classes no longer holds true - the space allotted in most projects targeted at the middle class is also filled to capacity these days, with new residents being forced to park their vehicles outside the society compound in several cases.

While it is important that the infrastructure should be sufficient to sustain a residential project, the rule is applicable to all projects, irrespective of whether they are vertical or horizontal. After all, a builder can only develop as much as the FSI allowed, so the focus should really be on improving infrastructure and increasing FSI levels. This would allow greater expansion towards the sky instead of locking up the remaining ground space.

Architect Kartik Punjabi points out, "If you go vertical instead of spreading flats horizontally, there is more room for green open spaces and recreational areas. In fact, towers also make better sense for flat buyers because of the greater space efficiency. For instance, if two staircases and the entrance lobby are servicing 70 flats instead of 20, the share of built-up area per flat reduces substantially, so you have to pay that much less."

He also emphasises that the concept of high rises is so successful abroad because there is a greater FSI allowed (in some cities it can be as high as 25), so builders are able to plan their structures in a way that maximises benefits based on the potential for development. The first six to seven storeys are used for car parking, health clubs, gymnasiums, termed non-view areas, and the flats begin from the eighth floor and upwards. This way, there are ample facilities within the building itself and all flat buyers are assured of a good view and sufficient ventilation.

Today Asian countries like Singapore and Hongkong have managed to remove the slum areas and old structures and specifically implemented higher FSI and modern technology, with the result that today they are considered to be among the most beautiful cities in the world. Mumbai too could be on par with them if only additional FSI is allowed.

According to PRA estimates, out of 19, 642 cessed buildings in Mumbai, only 700 have been redeveloped during the past 25 years. In comparison, nearly 400 redevelopment schemes have been made applicable during just the last three years after the Sukhthankar Committee's recommendations were made effective in 2001. This indicates that the pace of redevelopment will increase if incentives are given.

The additional housing stock would also reduce the pressure on the infrastructure in other parts of South Mumbai localities because it would come up in localities where the price tag per sq. ft. is relatively lower.

In effect, entire areas languishing today because the economics don't justify reconstruction of individual buildings could be transformed within just a couple of years. Until now, redevelopment efforts have been restricted only to somewhat affluent areas. However, additional incentives would encourage people to target projects in previously unviable areas like Lalbaug, C P Tank and the interiors of Mahim as well.

Water consumption in the new project would be more systematic and PRA representatives contend, actually reduce compared to existing levels. The redesigned building would have proper parking spaces provided, thereby reducing the cars parked on the road outside the building by residents at present.

All this is, of course, subject to the Bombay High Court's ruling on the PIL, which was still being heard when Times Property went to press. Until then, residents in Mumbai's dilapidated buildings are keeping their fingers crossed and anxiously waiting for Judgement Day to arrive.

• A government proposal on FSI could boost redevelopment projects in the city
• While some say this will put pressure on infrastructure, other experts disagree

magestom

March 1st, 2005, 12:53 AM

Calling suburban Mumbai realty!

Netscribes / Manisha Khosla
February 23, 2005

Real estate in suburban Mumbai is in the midst of a boom like never before. Propelled by demand for real estate from the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, both commercial and residential realty have seen an explosion in the recent past.

Mumbai’s western suburbs, like Andheri and Malad, and central suburbs such as Vikhroli and Powai are reaping rich dividends courtesy the demand for space from call centres and allied BPOs that require a specific kind of real estate customised to their needs. This involves plug-and-play office spaces with central air-conditioning, 100 per cent power back up, good amenities and facilities for employees, unlimited bandwidth and adequate parking. According to reliable industry sources, nearly two-thirds of the total suburban office transactions in Mumbai may be attributed to demand from this sector.

The trickle-down effect of this office space absorption has also been felt on the suburban residential markets, with more people working in BPOs investing in homes for themselves. The western suburb of Andheri has emerged as a preferred location in this context owing to its superior connectivity with both the western and the central suburbs. However, distant areas like Malad, Powai and Vikhroli too are gaining popularity on the back of affordable levels of property prices, emergence of self-sufficient townships, a robust rail transport network and infrastructure, which includes good restaurants, entertainment centres and multiplexes.

There has been demand-led residential and retail development and, consequently prices of realty too have risen. Residential real estate that was available at Rs 1,700 per sq ft in Malad in 2002, today commands costs nearly Rs 2,400 per sq ft. Even flats in distant Mira Road retail at Rs 1,700 per sq ft today.

Hindustani

March 4th, 2005, 09:36 PM

`World's second longest bridge' — Six consortiums in fray for Rs 4,000-cr sea link
Vinod Mathew

Mumbai , March 3

THE Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, that found special mention by the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, during his Budget speech, is up and running. Six international consortiums are pitted against each other in the RFQ (request for quotation) stage for the first phase implementation of what is billed to become the second longest bridge in the world. Currently, the longest such linkage is the one between Malmo in Sweden and Copenhagen in Denmark.

"If there are no further delays, the Government should award the contract to the successful consortium by June-July. Thereafter, it will take up to 40 months to complete the engineering and construction work of the trans harbour sea link. As of now, there is an in-principle decision to name the bridge after JRD Tata," a State Government official told Business Line.

The first phase is estimated to cost Rs 4,000 crore and will have a 22.5-km, six-lane sea link connecting Nhava in mainland Mumbai and Sewri in the island city. From Sewri, there will be two `dispersal systems' — essentially overhead bridges across the existing roads. One will be an eight-km bridge connecting Sewri with Colaba and another, a four-km bridge between Sewri and Worli. The Union Government funding is expected to be around Rs 1,000 crore.

The project has attracted the interest of Indian majors such as Reliance Energy, L&T, Gammon India, Shapoorji Pallonji, IL&FS. Among the international heavyweights are Hyundai, Bouygues, Italthai and China Harbour. Of the six consortiums that are in the fray, only Hong Kong company has sought to bid on its own.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) that floated the global tenders for building the sea link on a BOT basis in early 2004, after a number of delays, had opened the RFQ on January 10. The MSRDC has also appointed Jean-Miller, France in association with the Delhi-based Stup Consultants for advising them at the RFP (request for price) stage.

It is understood that MSRDC was keen on implementing the project on its own even after the global tender was floated a year ago. Another reason cited for the delay is MSRDC not getting the requisite clearance from the Ministry of Environment & Forest. With Mr Chidamabaram mentioning the project by name under the National Urban Renewal Mission, no more delays are likely.

This project is seen to be of vital importance with the Mumbai Western Expressway sea link (also mentioned by the Finance Minister in his Budget speech) remaining a non-starter as periodic delays have led to high cost escalation. The project cost of Rs 4,000 crore is only for the first phase of the Sewri-Nhava sea link as the second phase envisages a railway link at an outlay of Rs 2,600 crore.

A dream project of Sir J.R.D. Tata, who chaired a committee for its implementation way back in 1981, the trans harbour link may finally get commissioned by 2009.

Reliance Energy Ltd - Hyundai Engineering & Construction, South Korea

L&T-Gammon India-Bouygues Enterprises, France

IL&FS-Laing O'Rourke, UK-Macquarie Bank, Australia

Shapoorji Pallonji Construction, with German partner

Italthai Engineering, Thailand-Skalska, Sweden

China Harbour Engineering, Hong Kong

nithin

March 4th, 2005, 11:25 PM

great news!!

muttan

March 5th, 2005, 12:52 AM

Wow!! This bridge is gona Rock

Suncity

March 5th, 2005, 06:07 AM

Beaumonde Project (http://www.shethbeaumonde.com/)

http://img214.exs.cx/img214/6334/shethbeaumondebldg8ta.jpg

The view (slightly old as Raheja Empress is complete)

http://img214.exs.cx/img214/3326/beaumondeview38of.jpg

What an apartment would look like...[for crores?]

http://www.shethbeaumonde.com/HTML/output/images/g24.jpg

http://www.shethbeaumonde.com/HTML/output/images/g23.jpg

http://www.shethbeaumonde.com/HTML/output/images/g28.jpg

http://www.shethbeaumonde.com/HTML/output/images/g29.jpg

http://www.shethbeaumonde.com/HTML/output/images/g25.jpg

http://www.shethbeaumonde.com/HTML/output/images/g30.jpg

http://www.shethbeaumonde.com/HTML/output/images/g31.jpg

star_gazer

March 5th, 2005, 06:29 AM

Stunning

How many floors are you looking at ?

Suncity

March 5th, 2005, 06:34 AM

Stunning

How many floors are you looking at ?

The website says 2 levels of podium + 33 storeys.

29A

March 5th, 2005, 06:36 AM

Hmm..This is very, very nice. One of the best residential towers i have ever seen. and thats the truth. I am glad that mumbai is having this project. I am guessing that this is probably around 35 - 40 floors
Very nice!! excellent renders

29A

March 5th, 2005, 06:40 AM

World's 2nd longest, by 2009 standards or today's standards?

Suncity

March 5th, 2005, 06:41 AM

World's 2nd longest, by 2009 standards or today's standards?

Ignore that part. As long as they build a nice bridge it doesn't really matter.

star_gazer

March 5th, 2005, 06:44 AM

Is this the same sealink project which is going to connect bandra and worli ??

Sridhar

March 5th, 2005, 06:48 AM

No. That is called the Bandra Worli Sealink. This is the Nhava-Sewri Sealink, also called the Trans Harbour Bridge or the J.R.D.Tata Bridge. It will connect the island of Mumbai to the mainland, across the harbour. The Bandra-Worli sea link connects two parts of the island (also over the sea) and will eventually be extended further to Nariman Point. That will be called the Western Island Freeway or simply Western Freeway. The above article refers to it by a new name - the Western Expressway Sealink. But whatever its name, it will essentially go over the sea, hugging the coast from Bandra to Nariman Point.

On another note, the Trans Harbour Link project also proposes to construct an Eastern Island Freeway (from Sewri to Nariman Point). Any guesses about the alignment? It could be along existing BPT land or could be an elevated highway along existing roads as mentioned in the article (though I am not sure how they are going to build one without major demolition and land acquisition).

Combined with the Western Expressway, Eastern Island Freeway, conversion of Western Express Highway and Eastern Express Highway from semi-expressway to full expressway and two more east-west expressway links being constructed under the MUTP, the island city will have a pretty decent expressway network in a few years. What is required is to expedite the conversion of the two express highways into access-controlled freeways. They will also need to be expanded from the current 6-lanes + shoulders (effectively 8-lanes since the shoulders are also used for traffic now) to 12 lanes + shoulders.

nova

March 5th, 2005, 06:49 AM

Whoa!! I want to live there! :D

centralized pandemonium

March 5th, 2005, 07:03 AM

Can anybody loan me Rs 50 lacs?

star_gazer

March 5th, 2005, 07:05 AM

only 50 lacs(unless you have a fat bank balance to augment) will buy you a bathroom probably :)

nova

March 5th, 2005, 08:07 AM

only 50 lacs(unless you have a fat bank balance to augment) will buy you a bathroom probably :)

Yeah.. I'm thinking the apartments there will run into the crores. So, anyone up to loan me a couple of crores? :)

The design of this project is stellar.

Madhusudhan

March 5th, 2005, 09:09 AM

Only 33 floors!

I read on this very forum that 1 of the towers was 40 storeys. This besides, is the ground floor included while counting in India?

fred_the_cute_guy

March 5th, 2005, 09:47 AM

This looks amazing! Lifestyle at peak... :)

kshatriya

March 5th, 2005, 10:16 AM

Hmmm this should've been taller. Great project nonetheless.

drwho

March 5th, 2005, 12:01 PM

Sun! awesome interior pics!.:) :) :)

kshatriya

March 5th, 2005, 01:33 PM

Hey so they're planning an 8km elevated road from Sewri to Colaba? Cool.

gyrations95

March 7th, 2005, 05:11 AM

Cool interiors!!! On a similar note I wonder if anyone has checked out the interiors of the model apartment of Nirmal Lifestyles project in Mulund. They are making 10s of high rises there. Its really amazing what 30 lakhs can buy in Mulund. Yep, you can get similar interior and exterior stuff minus the sea view for anywhere between 30-35 lakhs. Main, you might probably wanna check that out instead of staying in a bathroom :)

Suncity

March 8th, 2005, 03:27 AM

Mystery Project:

Three towers - Not too tall. www.nirmallifestyles.com

Is it for real or just a render for advt?

http://img201.exs.cx/img201/7483/nirmal30kd.jpg

centralized pandemonium

March 8th, 2005, 04:49 AM

^^^ Sorta looks like a cross between SD and Shreepati.

centralized pandemonium

March 8th, 2005, 04:52 AM

Is it three different towers or just three renderings of a single tower from different angles.

kshatriya

March 8th, 2005, 05:02 AM

It definitely is a real project, because in the flash movie in the home page, this project appears along with other real u/c nirmal projects. Looks good, just have to wait for them to update their site.

It looks like 3 towers of 25-30 stories, with massive spires.

Suncity

March 8th, 2005, 05:26 AM

^^^ Sorta looks like a cross between SD and Shreepati.

It does!

Suncity

March 8th, 2005, 06:42 AM

What's happening to Centaur Airport Hotel? I believe it was finally bought over by the Sahara Group and rechristened Sahara Star.

Looks like they covered the pool area and are spending some money to renovate.

Old:

http://img87.exs.cx/img87/1860/centaur21jl.jpg

New (Pic by Steve Roden; Feb 23, 2005)

http://img225.exs.cx/img225/2058/centauraerial26iq.jpg

drwho

March 9th, 2005, 12:46 AM

Mystery Project:

Three towers - Not too tall. www.nirmallifestyles.com

Is it for real or just a render for advt?

http://img201.exs.cx/img201/7483/nirmal30kd.jpg

could be real its sure looks awesome.

btw thanks for the update on Centaur Airport Hotel,got to find more pics on it.

Jai

March 11th, 2005, 05:45 AM

Something like Buckley Court?

Godrej Glenelg

Plot No. 13, Off. Colaba Reclamation Scheme, Prakash Pethe Marg, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai - 400 005

http://www.godrejproperties.com/gif/glenelg/mainpic.jpg

More info at http://www.godrejproperties.com/ResiGlenelg.htm

Excellent, Suncity!

I hadn't caught this building before. But I'm glad to see that there are new projects that preserve and restore the original colonial building on site!

Suncity

March 17th, 2005, 04:30 AM

Excellent, Suncity!

I hadn't caught this building before. But I'm glad to see that there are new projects that preserve and restore the original colonial building on site!

It's kind a cool.. But I guess there are many heritage conservationists who don't like the idea.

Suncity

March 17th, 2005, 04:32 AM

drwho

March 17th, 2005, 05:09 AM

that looks cool!!:)

looked on the net on where in Mumbai they will build it,didnt find any location maps.

Jai

March 17th, 2005, 07:32 AM

It's kind a cool.. But I guess there are many heritage conservationists who don't like the idea.

Well, the only other option is that the old buildings would be torn town. There has to be compromize between builders and conservationists. Better this than nothing. :)

kshatriya

March 17th, 2005, 12:54 PM

that looks cool!!:)

looked on the net on where in Mumbai they will build it,didnt find any location maps.
Its in Bhandup, SC mentioned it too. Its already u/c. About six 25 storey towers. :)

drwho

March 17th, 2005, 03:12 PM

Its in Bhandup, SC mentioned it too. Its already u/c. About six 25 storey towers. :)

ah cool:)

Luckystreak

March 17th, 2005, 03:13 PM

Does anybody have an idea on any improvements with regard to the Metro proposal in Mumbai with DMRC

centralized pandemonium

March 17th, 2005, 03:19 PM

Salaam Mumbai: State plans special fund

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1054066.cms

kronik

March 17th, 2005, 10:00 PM

Bandra-Worli sea link to be ready by 2007 (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/03/18/stories/2005031801121700.htm)

Work is in full swing for the Rs 1,306-crore project, which is estimated to save fuel and vehicle operation costs to the tune of Rs 100 crore a year. Moreover, motorists using this bridge will save about 30 minutes of travel time, largely at 23 traffic signals along the route. The project, being planned on a build-operate-transfer basis, will have a six-km link between Bandra (at the beginning of the Western Express Highway) and Worli. The sealink is a "cable-stayed" bridge, with eight-lane traffic exclusively for fast moving four-wheelers. Advance surveillance systems and emergency support systems are also being incorporated into the sealink.

"The Government is keen on the project, and we want to open the link by the scheduled time. The sealink will comprise 600 piles, of which 289 have already been completed," Mr Deshmukh said.

The sealink has been designed so that there is a 20-metre clearance between the base of the bridge and the sea below, ensuring uninterrupted sea transport. The other facet of the project is a toll plaza with 16 lanes at Bandra, equipped with an automated toll collection system.

Madhusudhan

March 17th, 2005, 11:19 PM

More pojects

I guess this is the Dreams-At project at Bhandup shown in the Hafeez Contractor website.

Dheeraj Dreams

http://www.dheerajdreams.com/

http://www.dheerajdreams.com/images/flash.jpg

http://dheerajgroup.com/images/dreams.gif

Bhenchod Contractor ki gaand mein challi hai...tabhi saala aise projects design karta hai. Since most of his recent projects look like clones, I wonder if most of his associate architects will also end up as nothing more but just CLONES. Since my persistent thrashing of Hafeez Contractor is not appreciated by one someone on this forum, I am therefore obliged to think ki uski gaand mein bhi meri naam ki challi hai. ;)....aur yeh challi itni aasani se nikalne nahi waali. :lol:

Madhusudhan

March 17th, 2005, 11:26 PM

BTW, the DREAMS-AT-BHANDUP buildings look like syringes...maybe it's about time to put one of these syringes up Contractors' posterior.

drwho

March 18th, 2005, 02:05 AM

Madhusudhan

March 18th, 2005, 05:42 AM

Madhusudhan,
That kind of language is not tolerated on this forum. If you want to criticize a architect then you do it in the right way and give a reason to why you dont like someones project.

this is the last time of warning,do we see another post like this then you are banned for good.And if you cant live by the rules then leave.

drwho

I don't think there's anyone more succinct and yet elaborate, in criticising Hafeez Contractor. How many more words do you want me to use? Words like CLONE, REPETITIVE, UNINSPIRING, DISNEYISH, ALLOVER-THE-PLACE, have been used to describe him. There's a Hindi saying - Topi pehnaa raha hai- and that's literally what Contractor is doing! Have you seen some of his latest projects? They're all capped the same way, with identical TOPIS!!!

Btw, there's no point in being overtly prude, since I am criticizing and "abusing" someone who's a public figure (therefore open to scrutiny), and not a member of this forum. The so called abusive language is not personal in any way! It might not be in good taste for you, but neither are Hafeez Contractors' projects - bar few- to me. I don't see anything repulsive in calling a dominating architect - albeit a horrible one- A BHENCHOD!

Nitro

March 18th, 2005, 12:36 PM

Though i agree with you about some of their projects not being vy unique, you must admit these guys are probably the best architects that India have got. You must remember they are constrained in what they can produce due to various reasons, height controls, FSI, suitability with surrounding environment, cost etc.

theguy

March 18th, 2005, 02:27 PM

how tall is this building?

RafflesCity

March 18th, 2005, 03:45 PM

Sridhar

March 18th, 2005, 05:34 PM

Madhusudhan

March 18th, 2005, 06:31 PM

dear Madhusudhan

please do not get too personal with other forumers as I understand from post #204. Whether it is indirect or not, insults and such language are not necessary and if you keep up on throwing abuse at other forumers you will have to face the forum rules, as suggested by your friendly mods. :)

dear RafflesCity

Your point is well taken! I will also take the opportunity to pointout that there are people on this forum who indulge in provocation, and getaway unscathed. I think there should be forum rules against provocation too. BTW, it seems this forum is a bit uptight than the rest of the subforums on this website. I have read far more flagrant language in other subforums, but as long as the spirit is right, the limits of acceptibility can be liberal. This is however not the case on the Indian subforum. I don't like Hafeez Contractor, and I have used very decent language w.r.t him in my previous posts. However, there's one idiot on this forum who has always provoked and baited me for this. Can I ask why? To be honest, I posted knowing fully what sort of response it would elicit. Since, I have been provoked alot, for a change it wasn't bad being the provocateur. Abusive language besides, I seriously think there are people over here, who care less for a democratic credo and more for a decent language. It's these mini-hitlers who consider themselves prima donnas, who really deserve to be kicked out. BTW, I appreciate that you interjected, because I consider you a far better mod than the one that's designated for the Indian forum. I have said so, considering well that I am entitled to my opinion, and that too without being abusive.

Madhusudhan

March 18th, 2005, 06:37 PM

I can say unreservedly that Madhusudhan deserves to be kicked out of the forum for the use of such language. I know now that the guy, given an opportunity will probably come out with an abusive post about me as well. I don't really care. But there is no useful purpose served by having such people on the forum. I am for free speech, but not abusive, disruptive behavior.

Mods will surely do the needful as there is enough provocation on this thread.

Sridhar you're beneath my dignity...I never had any tolerance for haughty nutbags like yourself! As far as I am concerned, you can jolly well goto HELL. And, No I am not going to abuse you for your fulminations against me.

Sridhar

March 18th, 2005, 06:38 PM

See I told you he will come out with an abusive post and he has (even though he may think that calling somebody a 'haughty nutbag' is not abusive). I rest my case.

Mods, please do the needful.

sherlock01

March 18th, 2005, 08:41 PM

Madhusudhan, this is really no way to have a civil discussion. I don't agree that you are using decent language at all. It's not just the abusive language but uncalled for personal attacks against forumers and non forumers are not in good taste.

Interestingly such language and attacks were the very subject of discussion at a "Media and Law" course that I am taking in a Mass Communication course. I am sure you can express your disagreement with Hafeez Contractor and other forumers in much more civil and acceptable language.

Even if you have already expressed your negative views against Hafeez contractor repeatedly, what do you expect us to do? Not discuss their designs or start disliking their designs as well? Far from your arguments of this forum not being democratic, I think your own arguments don't appear to be democratic.

Please resume healthy and open discussions, which is what this forum should be. I am very certain, that nobody including myself on this forum would mind reading your views about Hafeez or anybody else if they are made without personal and malicious remarks, no matter how critical they are.

kronik

March 18th, 2005, 10:11 PM

I am happy with the way Suncity is running the India Forum.

And Contractor, or anyone for that matter can be criticized without being personal and abusive.

being liberal with language does not mean rattling away swears in all directions.

and I have used very decent language w.r.t him in my previous posts.

No you havnt! if you had, you wouldnt have so many people breathing down your neck.

Madhusudhan

March 18th, 2005, 10:14 PM

See I told you he will come out with an abusive post and he has (even though he may think that calling somebody a 'haughty nutbag' is not abusive). I rest my case.

Mods, please do the needful.

Go fuck yourself..i don't give a rats' ass. If this petty mindedness is what you want to purvey, then, so be it. I'll see to it that this forum becomes the biggest failure in the history of this website! Now it's WAR!

Madhusudhan

March 18th, 2005, 10:17 PM

I am happy with the way Suncity is running the India Forum.

And Contractor, or anyone for that matter can be criticized without being personal and abusive.

being liberal with language does not mean rattling away swears in all directions.

No you havnt! if you had, you wouldnt have so many people breathing down your neck.

It seems Hafeez Contractor is the baap of most Indian forumners. No wonder you all get so peeved at his mere negative mention. Lap it up suckers! :bash:

drwho

March 18th, 2005, 10:27 PM

It seems Hafeez Contractor is the baap of most Indian forumners. No wonder you all get so peeved at his mere negative mention. Lap it up suckers! :bash:

we are not fans of Hafeez ,and sure he has works that one dont like,but that doesnt justify the way you criticize.

Madhusudhan

March 18th, 2005, 10:41 PM

we are not fans of Hafeez ,and sure he has works that one dont like,but that doesnt justify the way you criticize.

drwho...I have nothing against you, never had any. But I have sworn to ruin this subforum at every possible opportunity. And I'll keep coming back with the worst at every turn. You guys have harassed a decent contributor like me, now you'll pay for it. The mod of this subforum is going to be one helluva of a busy man, trying to delete every thing that I'll post.

I designed this subforum for you all, and now I'll destroy it!

tonymathew

March 18th, 2005, 11:27 PM

^he he it is lucifer kicked out of heaven

gyrations95

March 19th, 2005, 05:33 AM

I'll see to it that this forum becomes the biggest failure in the history of this website! Now it's WAR!
Common dude, this is a public forum. You ought to give everyone a chance to express themselves regardless of whether they are a Hafeez Contractor fan or not. By the way these posts can be moved to the Mumbai Discussions thread. The acceptable threshold for language would be higher there :)

gyrations95

March 19th, 2005, 06:18 AM

Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road .. Mumbai firm to concretise Section II

http://projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=8870

The Mumbai-based Unity Infra-projects Ltd has been awarded the contract worth Rs 53.12 crore for widening and converting Section II of the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) into a concrete road.

Work order for Section II was given by MSRDC, a project implementing authority, on behalf of MMRDA, and work on this part of JVLR commenced on February 10 this year. A tentative date of completion of this project is April 2006.

They will be equipped with automatic traffic signals with timer control, retro-reflective synages, landscaping, tree plantation along the sides of the roads, and beautification of the Powai lake.

This road is being widened and developed since 1999. Some people are just shameless.

29A

March 19th, 2005, 06:43 AM

My god dudes,
What is going on here. Instead of discussing skyscrapers, why are u fighting amongst urselves?. There is no need for ruining this subforum Madhusudhan. I think u should act a little bit more mature than this. This kind of act will get u nothing. I hope that u appologise. I would personally feel bad if we lose forumers. All that bieng said, lets discuss skyscrapers.

nithin

March 19th, 2005, 03:05 PM

just because you dont like hafeez contractor it doesnt meen that you have to declare war! :S

tonymathew

March 19th, 2005, 06:12 PM

this is funny grown men fighting anout something so insignificant

Sridhar

March 19th, 2005, 06:56 PM

There is no fighting going on. If somebody were to decry Hafeez Contractor, there would surely be no problem. At least I would have no problem. But if somebody abuses everybody around, including members of the forum and threatens to disrupt the forum, there is surely a problem.

Terming this as 'fighting' is not just inappropriate, it tends to legitimize the appaling behavior shown by one member and one member alone.

tonymathew

March 19th, 2005, 07:07 PM

well get back to the subject and ignore me lol :)

centralized pandemonium

March 19th, 2005, 07:45 PM

New Policy Finalised for a More Powerful Mumbai

The government of Maharashtra is all geared up to transform Mumbai into a world-class city. Besides working on new projects like the trans-harbour link, the government now has plans to solve problems of power shortage.

The State has finalised a policy to encourage investment in the power generation sector. Maharashtra government is planning an addition of 5000 MW to its electricity generation capability over the next five years.

The state government is planning to increase the electricity generation capacity by 250 MW each at Parali and Paras plants. Power projects at Uran and Khaparkheda are going to be expanded. Moreover, a new policy of setting up a power project at Talegaon generating 1400 MW electricity is also finalised.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1055738.cms

Suncity

March 19th, 2005, 10:30 PM

Kalpataru Estate

Render
http://www.kalpataru.com/projects/project_images/estate/kalpataru-estate.jpg

Status
http://www.kalpataru.com/projects/project_images/estate/progress-photo1.jpg

Kalpataru Synergy

Render
http://www.kalpataru.com/projects/project_images/synergy/synergy-perspective.jpg

Status
http://www.kalpataru.com/projects/project_images/synergy/progress-photo2.jpg

drwho

March 20th, 2005, 01:59 AM

Sun!! you made my day:)

nice pics on updates!..things that we have waited for:)

i like the roof on Kalpataru Synergy:)

Jai

March 20th, 2005, 10:43 PM

Madhusudhan,

I don't like Contractors buildings either. However, you crossed the line of decency many times already, and this is now too much.

Stop bringing down the level of this forum with your egotrips and tirades.

Sun, take out the trash. Petty jags like this guy who put their own egos over what is good for the country and for the idea of rational discussion, or who's petty enough and with apparently enough idle time from lacking real-world relationships and commitimants to 'dedicate' themselves to derailing rational discussion in this forum deserve to be banned.

So Madhu/Vimo, I don't care a damned jot for your beliefs or your contributions, however insignificant they are, and I usually don't curse, but, for fuck's sake, either take the dick out of your ass and conduct yourself like a normal person, or simply fuck on off outta here and cry in a dark corner like the whiny little bitch you have shown yourself to be.

I suggest to all members we all ignore further posts by this pouty mcschoolgirl here, and assist all we can in maintaining this forum's reputation by reporting offending posts and posters.

God! What egos!...

-Jai

Jai

March 21st, 2005, 03:37 AM

Here's another hysterically whiny article, but interesting nonetheless...

Cry for Mumbai, our little India (http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=66284)

It’s a miracle of sorts: Mumbaikars are talking. About their city

AMRITA SHAH

Mumbai is in the news. Not like Jharkhand and Bihar and the Indo-Pak series are in the news, but in a more fundamental, a more reflective sort of way. Non-Mumbaikars may not be aware of it, but a deep churning is going on within India’s commercial capital. A churning over what Mumbai should be.

About time, one may say. For too long Mumbai has seemed an aimless, inchoate, uncontrollable entity, at the mercy of people with multifarious agendas: property grabbers, rioteers, smugglers, contract killers, gun-happy policemen, slum lords and terrorists. Those who would seek to change its character, its name. Those who would seek to make a fetish of its elements — Bollywood, the underworld, the slums.

Perhaps its helplessness to resist plunder was written in the very nature of its origins. A disconnected bunch of islands that metamorphosed into a city by wresting land from the sea could not but provide a stomping ground for predators. The battle between the city and nature has been an ongoing one. The image by which Mumbai is best known has crowds, many of them fresh immigrants, “streaming” out of the erstwhile Victoria Terminus station. Slums “sprout” everywhere. The city “spreads” beyond its limits like a cancer. The monsoons “flood” the streets every year. Bombs “burst”. Mangroves have been “hacked” away from the seafronts by greedy builders. And over a hundred have been “mauled” to death by leopards.

With such odds stacked against it, and younger, newer metropolises raising their glossy towers like rude fingers, is it any surprise that Mumbai had begun to lose its sheen?

And so what is happening right now is a miracle of sorts. An unexpected windfall. Mumbaikars are talking. About their city. From launching SMS campaigns to organising meetings in seminar halls — urban activist Gerson DaCunha claimed to have attended as many as 11 of the latter variety recently — they are discussing the problems of the city. Angrily, hopefully, determinedly but, most significantly, with a sense of ownership.

Too little, too late? Studies show a growing incidence of respiratory diseases among the new-born. Sixty per cent of the city’s population is now said to live in slums. Malaria and jaundice hit the rich pockets of South Mumbai with a unprecedented virulence this winter. Central Mumbai’s lucrative mill lands have all but slipped from the public domain. Is there any hope at all?

It is difficult to gauge. A conference last week, organised by the Asiatic Society of Mumbai at the historic Town Hall, which brought together town planners, architects, activists, bureaucrats, sociologists and cultural theorists, was short on hope but brimmed over with solutions: from hard-headed suggestions on the slum crisis to ideas for a cultural rejuvenation; from planning strategies to simple transport fixes.

Just talk, one could say. Yet a city of many islands can neglect bridges only at its own peril. This realisation was made startlingly clear by the conflagration of 1993 and led to the setting up of mohallah committees, sparked off local initiatives by citizens’ groups with the co-operation of municipal authorities and one of the aims of the move over the last few years to reclaim public spaces which was to provide arenas for people to interact.

And it is talk that is currently revealing the priorities of the city’s residents. Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh might do well to heed the fact that a cross-section of Mumbaikars, from industrialist Anand Mahindra to the man in the street, do not share his vision of Mumbai as another Shanghai — or even Singapore as others have proposed in the past — but would like Mumbai to build on its own unique character. Or that while certain celebrities may support slum demolition, such as actress Raveena Tandon who started an SMS campaign to support Deshmukh’s drive did, a large number of Mumbaikars want solutions to include the poor.

The churning that is going on in Mumbai has implications for the rest of the country. For despite the growing attractions of other cities it continues to be a magnet for the enterprising and the helpless from all over. In it one can find the richest possible variety, of caste, class, region and religion in India. Perhaps it is something in the air: naturalist Sunjoy Monga claims Mumbai city lies in one of the world’s biologically diverse hotspots with a hundred varieties of flowering plants, 50 species of reptiles, and all sorts and manner of birds including thousands of flamingoes that make a pilgrimage to a dirty creek in the north-central part of the city every year.

Mumbai’s future matters. Because in the idea of Mumbai is the idea of India itself.