Mumbai Update - project news from Mumbai [Archive] - Page 6

Suncity

January 6th, 2006, 06:57 AM

'Slum-free Mumbai is possible'
Friday, January 06, 2006 00:21 IST
http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1005833

MUMBAI: Can Mumbai become totally slum free? In an interview with DNA, T Chandrashekhar, additional metropolitan commissioner, says it is possible, provided there is a political will to do it. Some excerpts:

Slums and housing are major issues: It is a vicious circle. Slums proliferate since there is no affordable housing. Since they encroach land, we cannot develop infrastructure, and quality of life deteriorates. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has plans to remove and rehabilitate the slums which are choking the city.

As of now, the focus is to remove 2 lakh slums around the airport, railway land, Western Express and Eastern Express highways and open spaces. Once this happens, Mumbai would be a more liveable place, and we can concentrate on removing the rest of 10 lakh encroachments.

TDR is the best option: Under the MUTP, we have created 50,000 houses. Each project plan was cleared in three days and we offered Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) to the developers. Sustainable use of TDR is the best option to clear slums. We have given a proposal on the same lines to clear slums around the airport to the Civil Aviation ministry.

But now, one litigation is disallowing TDR near the railway corridor. In fact, TDR along the railway land will bring down prices and ensure that people use public transports, like in Canada where the government has offered FSI 10 for lands along railway lines. I think the state government should fix the prices of TDR to control the buoyant market.

Demolition is not the solution: In Mankhurd, we have ensured that the occupants do not sell their flats for the next 10 years, though our survey shows that 10-20 per cent sell of their tenements. Enforcement is strict as we have given ID cards to the occupants, and the societies must certify every six months that the occupants are legal as we are paying for their maintenance.

No more free houses: We’ve acquired 170 acres of land, the cost of which is Rs550 crores. We have collected Rs235 crores from the developers. Today, even the government is not keen to offer free houses. We are switching from free housing policy to recovery policy.

Middle class need not fret: I understand the discontent among the middle class. But we have to pay to ensure that the two lakh houses are built to do away with slums. This will bring in employment and create jobs. There will be no free lunch after this. (REALLY???) It is easy to create new city, but tough to rebuild one. We have to pay a small price for it.

State eyes city's open spaces
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1360847.cms

Even as the state government is drawing up plans to free Mumbai of slums, city planners entrusted with the task of drafting the policy are eyeing other open spaces, like salt pan lands and no-development zones (NDZ), to rehabilitate squatters.

After getting a pat on his back from Congress president Sonia Gandhi, chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Tuesday asked his officers to draft a plan. As a first step, the government wants to give free houses to two lakh families.

"Our immediate plan is to clear hutments along roads, footpaths, water supply lines, the basins of the Mithi, Oshiwara, Dahisar and Poisar rivers and in the airport area. If we rehabilitate two lakh families, the city will look much cleaner," an MMRDA official said.

The task of preparing the plan has been entrusted to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which has successfully resettled more than 50,000 families at 31 locations in Mumbai.

These slums had obstructed several transport projects in the city. The state government is also seeking inputs from architect Mukesh Mehta for redesigning Dharavi.

Mumbai shining!
http://web.mid-day.com/news/city/2006/january/127777.htm

The BMC has promised that 17 roads in the city will be squeaky-clean in the next few months. No, the BMC hasn’t done it for you — these roads are being targeted only because foreign tourists use them.

The civic body has now set up a special squad to keep the roads clean of garbage, human waste and free of illegally parked vehicles and hawkers.

Said Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Vijay Kalam-Patil, the man in-charge of the drive, “Our objective is to showcase Mumbai as a clean city. Hopefully, people will now become disciplined.” The BMC started the clean-up drive from December 19, 2005, and expects to finish in the next few months.

Veer Savarkar Road at Dadar West has been identified as a VIP Road, but the adjacent Tulsi Pipe road will remain unattended.

Puja Sukhija, director of the NGO OASIS, said, “This step is a good start, but has to continue in other areas of the city.”

How will roads be kept clean?

The BMC has formed a special squad that comprises the assistant commissioner, nuisance detector squad, senior inspector of the licence department, senior inspector of shop and establishment department, maintenance engineers and engineer of roads department, 25 police, and encroachment removal staff.

The squad has been authorised to take action against those who dirty the roads.

Even though every ward has appointed two nuisance detectors, who make rounds with a security guard and a vehicle, it takes weeks for them to clean the area.

But in the case of these 17 roads action will be taken within hours. This shows that when they put their minds to it, the BMC workers can get results.

Said Kalam-Patil, “Municipal Commissioner Johny Joseph and Additional Municipal Commissioner Subrat Ratho have selected the roads and they are asking for daily action reports. Once we clean up the road, further maintenance will be done by the concerned ward.”

Detractors say the BMC had launched an anti-spitting campaign on August 15, 2000, which failed. “This is just another campaign in a new avatar,” said sources.

That’s the fine

• Spitting in a public place: Rs 100
• Throwing garbage: Rs 100 to 500

State sets 3-yr deadline to clear encroachments
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1357617.cms

Over 10 months after it wound up its encroachment removal drive owing to political pressure, the state government has set a three-year deadline to clear the slums coming in the way of key infrastructure projects.

The government plans to build two lakh tenements to rehabilitate the slum dwellers during this period. Unlike its previous campaigns, this time the government's focus will be on encroachments around the airport, water mains and key roads.

Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who presided over a meeting of top bureaucrats in this regard, said a committee will be formed under chief secretary R M Premkumar to outline the plans for rehabilitation of slum dwellers.

The state's grand plan is to make Mumbai slum-free by 2020. The largest concentration of slums is in Dharavi, Mankhurd, Govandi, Trombay, Kurla and Sion Koliwada.

"It may take four years instead of three to complete the work. But we must make a beginning," remarked a senior bureaucrat. "If we can construct 50,000 tenements to rehouse project affected persons under MUTP and MUIP, why can't we construct two lakh houses?" asked Premkumar.

The chief secretary said the proposals regarding construction of two lakh houses was still to be finalised. Sources said private developers could be asked to develop them on the lines of rehab colonies developed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for the project-hit.

The state is also in talks with the Centre and has sought release of salt pan land for housing purposes. Developer Mukesh Mehta, who made a presentation to Deshmukh, suggested that the government should consider integrated plans for development.

"Today slums are being developed in a disorganised manner," he remarked. Mehta claimed top builders were keen to invest in mega slum improvement projects.

He said a project to rehabilitate all the slum dwellers in Mumbai would cost Rs 98,000 crore. "The government will not have to spend it. Developers would build the houses for slum dwellers."

Suncity

January 7th, 2006, 10:44 PM

Bandra-Kurla auctions rake in Rs 1,044 crore
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=113719

State-run Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Friday has mobilised a record Rs 1,044 crore by auctioning nine prime plots in the plush Bandra Kurla complex (BKC). These plots would be developed for both residential and commercial purposes.

Kolkata-based TCG Group has quoted the highest price of Rs 1.53 lakh per sq metre floor space index (FSI) for a plot size of 3,940 sq mt at Rs 130 crore. It plans to use the plot for commercial purpose. In terms of biggest plot size and the financial bid, Jet Airways has quoted Rs 390 crore or Rs 1,35,890 per sq mt FSI for a 25,000 sq mt. It also proposes to use the plot for commercial purposes.

Mumbai-based Naman Developers has quoted Rs 1.1 lakh per sq mt FSI for 8,092 sq mt plot with Rs 204-crore bid. It plans to erect a five-star hotel there. Besides, the company has bagged 2,872 sq mt FSI at Rs 20.39 crore for residential purposes.

Starlight Pvt Ltd has quoted Rs 1,02,669 per sq mt FSI for developing two plots with a total size of 3,533 sq mt. The financial bid for the two plots was at a record Rs 204 crore.

Green Bird has bagged two plots with total developable area of 4,500 sq mt at Rs 135 crore. The company has not yet disclosed its plan.

Merchant banker Enam Financial Consultants has struck a deal at Rs 87.97 crore for a plot size of 3,687 sq mt.

MMRDA’s joint commissioner T Chandrashekhar told FE, “Today’s auction has once again proved that BKC is the leading prime area being looked at by developers. So far, MMRDA has developed over 90 hectares and is in the process of developing vacant plots.”

Suncity

January 8th, 2006, 05:01 AM

NG Royal Height
Andheri
33 storeys

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/3165/ngroyalheight3tr.gif

spyguy

January 8th, 2006, 05:42 AM

Wonder what that purple-ish thing in the middle is?

collateral

January 8th, 2006, 09:07 PM

Bombay Boy

January 10th, 2006, 03:41 PM

Slumdwellers will have to pay for rehab houses

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: Slumdwellers will now have to shell out money for their rehabilitation. The Centre allocates funds to the state to build low-cost houses for slumdwellers under the Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana (Vambay). The Central government also allocates funds to improve basic amenities in slums under the National Slum Development Programme (NSDP).
However, a state government official who participated in a meeting to review Vambay at Sahyadri on Monday said the Centre had proposed to integrate the Vambay and NSDP schemes. This means assistance will be given for integrated slum projects and not individually for housing and other improvement works.
The Centre will now allocate funds for these works under the National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM) which was sanctioned by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last month. Under the NURM, beneficiaries will have to shell out 10-12% of the cost of the house, which is estimated to be around Rs 80,000.
However, this has left state officials worried. “In some slums there is a need to improve houses and in others the structures are in good condition but there is a need to improve amenities. How do we implement the project?’’ an official asked. Funds under NURM will be given after the state adheres to certain criteria and that will at least take six more months.
Meanwhile, CM Vilasrao Deshmukh urged Mhada to construct 4,000-odd houses under the Vambay scheme in a phased manner.

Bombay Boy

January 10th, 2006, 03:44 PM

NRIs eye Dharavi after BKC auction
By: Deepak Lokhande
January 10, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dharavi is sitting on a goldmine and the NRIs at the Pravasi Divas at Hyderabad, can’t wait to get their hands on it. On Saturday, the MMRDA auctioned nine plots at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) adjoining the slum, at Rs 1,190 crore. This would have repercussions on Dharavi.

Sanjay Ubale, state secretary for special projects, who attended the Pravasi Divas in Hyderabad said, “The BKC auctions are certainly a boost to our Dharavi plans. With the Mithi river action plan and the Dharavi urban renewal master plan ready to roll, the slum colony will no longer be what it used to.”

Rs 5,600 crore investment

The government had earmarked a Rs 5,600-crore investment in Dharavi earlier. “It looked ambitious at one point, but not any more,” said an official at the delegation.

The state is now busy putting in place land titles before readying the tenders. “There are a few clarifications, which will take some time to sort out,” Ubale said.

No single bid

Since a single bidder will not be able to manage the entire 176 hectares at Dharavi, where over 76,000 families will have to be rehabilitated, the state government has divided Dharavi into 10 sectors and will offer them for development one by one.

With the highest floor space index (four as compared to 1.33 in suburbs) being coupled with the offer, the state government is hoping to rake in much more than the reserve price.

“A regular slum redevelopment scheme would not have worked out in Dharavi. We needed big and serious players and that was possible only if the state intervened with a master plan. We have done our bit and now let’s see how the response is,” said an official.

NRIs keen

The NRIs at the meet were impressed and wanted to know how the state planned to keep the scheme foolproof.

“I was a bit skeptical after the mill land development plans hit a hurdle. I hope nothing like that happens to the Dharavi scheme,” said Yatin Shah, a delegate who had come all the way from the US to attend the meet.

http://ww1.mid-day.com/news/city/2006/january/128105.htm

Bombay Boy

January 10th, 2006, 04:09 PM

Governor throws back Mumbai demolition Ordinance

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=85642

Bombay Boy

January 10th, 2006, 04:18 PM

NEW YEAR, Old Story

The BMC and the MMRDA are pumping in Rs 1953 crore to relay 389 km of roads all over the city. But some things, like missed deadlines, have not changed. So brace yourself for another long, bone-jarring drive this monsoon

By Clara Lewis/TNN

You had a harrowing experience on the road the last two monsoons. Well, brace yourself for the third edition of monsoon madness on potholed and dug-up roads this year.
Corporators in the BMC have been crying foul over the slow pace of road reapirs. They have not suddenly turned altruistic but, with the civic election just a year away, they are worried that the poor show on road repairs may cost them dear at the hustings.
They have reasons to fear; nearly 400 km of Mumbai’s roads are under the axe right now — some being done up by the BMC and some by the MMRDA — and work is sure to clash with the rains.
“It is a serious matter that the administration needs to address urgently,’’ said standing committee chairman Sunil Prabhu. Ward roads or minor roads haven’t been touched since the beginning of the current financial year. “Only three consultants have been appointed for all the 24 wards and they have only now started inspecting and designing the roads. It is anybody’s guess when the work will start and be completed,’’ a corporator said.
Then there is the work on 20 arterial roads that MMRDA started in 2004. Supposed to be completed by the end of 2005, work is nowhere near its end. TheN V Merani Committee set up to study the reasons for the flooding of the arterial roads, particularly the two expressways, recommended the immediate suspension of all work on roads and a review of the designs of the stormwater drains. That has not happened.
The BMC, too, has now taken up an ambitious programme that aims at improving the quality of roads. Since October 2005, 40 major roads have been taken up for concretisation and 383 more roads may be taken up for asphalting. The contract for asphalt roads is expected to be passed within a month and work will begin thereafter. So monsoon 2006 will surely precede their conmpletion.
Additional municipal commissioner in charge of roads Srikant Singh is optimistic but not many share his optimism. “We have included a clause in contracts that says contractors will have to maintain roads during the monsoon. There may be some inconvenience but it will not be bad. Even during the last monsoon, contractors plugged the bad patches during the monsoon,’’ he said.
Complicating matters is another fact: completion of work depends on permission from the traffic police. “We cannot start work unless they give us the permission. A case in point is Maharshi Karve Road where concretisation work is on. Permission to dig outside the Chandanwadi cemetery was granted after our officials followed it up practically everyday for a month,’’ an official said.
Most roads would require to be dug up as the BMC has now decided to complete storm water drain and sewer line works in conjunction with the road work. “Often it is poor sewage connections and non-existent storm water drains that are responsible for roads deteriorating much before their life period is officially over,’’ added sources.

Drive at your own risk

Watch out if you are driving on the roads now under repair, especially in the suburbs.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has given a go-by to all safety norms usually followed when roads are repaired.
Very few places — where repairs are on under the Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project — have signages, warning motorists about the work. Barricades, too, which are usually there when roads are dug up, are absent.
Only a few concrete blocks are there at most places. Not easily visible after dark, hitting them would be as bad as hitting the equipment or the dug-up road.
Motorists say the situation is particularly bad on Western Express Highway (at Borivli), J P Road at Andheri and S V Road. There have been several accidents, especially on the Western Express Highway, where vehicles are used to speeding when there is not much of traffic at night. TNN

THE ROAD MAP

BMC PLANS

Roads to be concretised: 64

Cost: Rs 342 crore

Total length: 57 km

Started in: October 2005

Deadline: It’s 12 to 15 months for most roads and 18 months for a few.

Roads to be asphalted: 383 (proposed)

Cost: Rs 359 crore

Total length: 161 km

MMRDA PLANS

Roads to be concretised: 18

Roads to be asphalted: 2 (Western Express Highway and Eastern Express Highway)

Total cost: Rs 1252 crore

Total length: 171 km

Started in: March 2004

Deadline: Already missed; most were supposed to be completed before 2005 end.

Bombay Boy

January 10th, 2006, 04:19 PM

MMRDA wants firms to doll up roads

By Devraj Dasgupta/TNN

Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority has invited corporates and public sector units to landscape several arterial roads in the suburbs and the Bandra-Kurla Complex.
The MMRDA wants these companies to beautify 17 of the congested suburban roads that cover more than 150 km. The sponsors will need to landscape central medians, separating two wings of a road, and traffic islands or rotaries. The companies also have to plant saplings along 300 km of pavementsand erect railings.
But the MMRDA has barred advertising agencies from taking over roads under theMumbai Urban Infrastructure Project or in the BKC as it anticipates commercial exploitation. “The ad agencies may put the logo of one company one day and channge it the next morning. Direct involvement of corporates will bring in accountability and fix maintenance responsibility,’’ an official said.
Officials expect several companies to participate in the beautification process as they will get to display their logos and advertise for five years. “Product display and advertisement of other companies or agencies will not be allowed on roads landscaped by a particular corporate,’’ the MMRDA official said. Stretches that form part of the plans include Andheri-Ghatkopar Link Road, the area surrounding SEEPZ, Eastern Express Highway, LBS Marg, Sahar Road and Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road.
The MMRDA wants to make the BKC the greenest Central Business District (CBD) by offering 100,000 square metres for five gardens. “The BKC, housing huge glass and steel structures of major banks and finance companies, should be balanced with lot of greenery,’’ the official said.

collateral

January 10th, 2006, 04:44 PM

Governor throws back Mumbai demolition Ordinance

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=85642

God bless India. This is why you can never compare India to China

spyguy

January 10th, 2006, 08:14 PM

Hehe.

gyrations95

January 10th, 2006, 09:05 PM

Metro phase-I bids to be finalised on Jan 17 (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu2&leftindx=2&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=211162)
Reliance Energy, Siemens India and IL&FS led consortiums in the race

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will scrutinise the final bid documents for the first phase of the Mumbai Metro rail project and will announce the final winner on January 17.

The final bidders for the project are three consortiums led by Reliance Energy, Siemens India and IL&FS. The project is expected to achieve financial closure by June. It will be on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

Technical bids were evaluated early last year and the three consortiums were shortlisted for financial bids.

Work on the first phase will begin this year and it is expected to be completed by 2013. The first phase will cover three corridors - connecting Versova-Andheri with Ghatkopar on a 15-km raised rail corridor, expected to be completed by 2008.

The 36-km long second phase will connect Colaba with Charkop in Kandivili via Bandra - around 12 km of this corridor will be underground. The 12.8-km long third corridor will be entirely underground, connecting Mahim to Mankhurd through the Bandra-Kurla Complex.

The first phase of the Metro rail project, expected to cost Rs 1,500 crore, has been conceived as a joint venture project in which the government and the private promoters of the project will hold 13 per cent equity each, putting Rs 190 crore each.

The remaining 74 per cent will be financed through debt, to be raised through market borrowings. A special purpose vehicle is being created for this purpose.

The state government’s exposure to the Mumbai Metro’s first phase is likely to be around Rs 800 crore, taking into account the cost of land to be provided by the government for a depot at Versova and the viability gap funding, which will be offered to the private operator.

Of the government’s share, MMRDA is likely to bring in other service providers in the city such as BMC and BEST while retaining 50 per cent of the equity for itself.

Almost 88 per cent of the people in the city travel by train and the Metro rail is expected to reduce congestion during peak hours by as much as 40 per cent.

The Metro will connect areas so far not connected through rail and provide an east-west rail corridor in the city for the first time.

Suncity

January 11th, 2006, 03:54 AM

Hiranandani has updated its website

Updates:

Heritage: ready
36 storeys

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/1562/heritagejan99yn.jpghttp://img28.imageshack.us/img28/177/heritagejan923lb.jpg

Suncity

January 11th, 2006, 03:58 AM

Octavius
33 of 36 storeys

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/4343/octaviousjan95pw.jpg

Suncity

January 11th, 2006, 04:00 AM

Eldora
29 of 29 storeys completed

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7368/eldorajan99hw.jpg

Suncity

January 11th, 2006, 04:02 AM

Evita
29 of 29 storeys completed

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/8586/evita9jan7ce.jpg

Suncity

January 11th, 2006, 05:00 AM

Lodha Grandeur
Prabhadevi
Floors: 27
Status: unknown
Developer: Lodha Group (www.lodhagroup.com)

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/9074/lodhagrandeur1xn.jpg

kronik

January 11th, 2006, 05:29 AM

Nice finds Sun.

by any chance, do we know of these?

http://www.akrutiestate.com/projects/bandrakurla.jpg
Akruti Centra, BKC

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/7018/era4eg.th.png (http://img293.imageshack.us/my.php?image=era4eg.png)
Marathon Era

Bombay Boy

January 11th, 2006, 09:40 AM

Marine Drive makeover finally begins

By Ashley D’Mello/TNN

Mumbai: The beautification of Marine Drive has started over the weekend with work beginning on the first 10 metres of the promenade near the Princess Street flyover.
On the cards is a complete new look for the Marine Drive at a cost of Rs 29 crore. The strengthening of the sea wall along the route has already been initiated in order to prevent erosion and help maintain the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in India built in the 1940’s and 50’s.
The architect in charge of the project, Ratan J Batliboi, said banners will soon be put up detailing all the work to be done on the Drive so that the information is in the public domain. “The residents associations are in touch with us and we are incorporating their suggestions in the plan,’’ explained Batliboi. “We are using granite cladding for the sea wall at their suggestion,’’ he added.
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) officials said the first phase of the beautification programme would entail an expenditure of Rs 29 crore. The second phase will require funds twice this amount, but details have not yet been finalised.
MMRDA officials said the project would include revamping on various fronts like the strengthening of the sea wall parapet which was in danger of collapse, beautification of the east and west side footpaths with flower beds, dense landscaping, introduction of new street furniture with sitouts near the bus stops as well as railings. Convenient pedestrian crossovers too have been planned.
MMRDA officials said the project will include the
stretch upto Chowpatty, providing beach walkways with landscaping, ecofriendly walkways and refurbishing of park space adjoining gymkhanas on the eastern side footpath.
Buildings along Marine Drive will also be painted in keeping with the Art Deco style. Apart from painting, extensive landscaping will be undertaken in the area with trees, shrubs, flower beds and specific lighting fixtures to enhance architectural beauty.

hify_ameet

January 11th, 2006, 10:33 AM

That will really make Mumbai beautiful. Mumbai's Marine drive has potential to be one of the best in the world because of its semicircular shape. When the project is cheduled to be completed?

Suncity

January 11th, 2006, 02:59 PM

Suncity

January 11th, 2006, 07:16 PM

Update on The Imperial (SD Towers)

Now, you can live at highest level
Sunday, January 01, 2006 00:44 IST
http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1004999

MUMBAI: Till last year, widespread opposition from local residents had raised a question mark over the existence of India’s tallest twin 60-storey towers, named The Imperial, at Tardeo. Not anymore.

In the next two to three months, flats in the hottest address in town will be up for sale. The developers, Shapoorji Pallonji and Dilip Thakkar, are on the verge of completing refurbishment of four sample flats admeasuring 1,400 sq-ft on the 31st floor, even as construction of the 48th floor in tower one continues. Construction of the second tower has reached the 20th floor.

Aware of the buzz surrounding the project, the developers have tentatively fixed the price at Rs13,000 per sq-ft, which is Rs 3,000 more than the prevailing market rate.
Amit Thakkar, son of developer Dilip Thakkar, says, “With the realty market up, the price we have tentatively fixed is, in our estimate, quite conservative. The developers are targeting Corporates and multi-nationals; some flats will also be used as service apartments.

With 12 more floors of tower one still to be built, is the decision to start sale of flats not premature? There is also the issue of the case filed in 2002 by three residential co-operative housing societies challenging the construction of the twin towers pending in Bombay High Court.

The petitioners alleged that the developers had illegally excavated the hill, thereby endangering their homes. The court appointed a three-member committee from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) to study the stability of the hill. “All this is true. But the court has not stayed the construction,” points out Thakkar.

gyrations95

January 12th, 2006, 06:56 AM

Soon, corporates may rid city roads of encroachments (http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=165191)

Under MUIP, development authority offers publicity in exchange for clean streets

Mumbai, January 11: IT’S two ingenious lines drafted into fine print.

And it could see nearly 150 km of roads, the footpaths alongside, the medians and traffic islands kept scrupulously free of encroachments.

Calling upon corporates, public-sector units and non-governmental organisations to landscape and green the medians and traffic islands in return for displaying a company logo along all 17 road corridors being improved under the Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project (MUIP), the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA’s) document says the sponsor will be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the newly-greened road dividers as well as keeping the allotted road free of unsightly hoardings, advertisements and unauthorised parking.

‘‘By June, the landscaping will be well underway,’’ said S C Deshpande, joint project director on MUIP. The landscaping sponsor also gets a small logo-space at intervals along the footpath’s railing and the MMRDA is hoping it will prompt the sponsors to keep these free of graffiti, posters and paan stains.

If the MMRDA was to spend on the greening of MUIP roads, the bill would touch Rs 15 crore.

Among those who’ve applied to adopt stretches of MUIP road are several corporates as well as a couple of Rotary Clubs. ‘‘The sponsors will invest the capital as well as spend on maintenance,’’ said Deshpande.

The gardens and traffic islands—including a 5-hectare garden in Bandra-Kurla Complex—total 80,000 sq km of greenery.

Landscaping for roads like the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, being widened under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project, is to be undertaken by the road contractors themselves.

THE TAKERS
Corporates who have expressed interest in adopting stretches of road for landscaping medians, dividers, traffic islands and gardens:

* Akruti Nirman Ltd
* Raheja Resorts and Hospitality Services
* Runwal Developers
* RNA Builders
* Larsen & Toubro
* Mahanagar Gas Ltd
* ICICI Bank
* Small Industries Development Bank of India
* IL&FS

gyrations95

January 16th, 2006, 06:23 AM

BEST plans high-end buses on highways (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1371821.cms)

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has already promised BEST dedicated lanes with segregators and physical dividers to separate the rest of the road.

The fact that MMRDA has already floated tenders inviting firms to build-operate-transfer (BoT) 85 modern bus shelters along the two highways has prompted the BEST to plan swank buses to attract affluent customers.

Sources said BEST is likely to propose the introduction of high-capacity buses and geographical positioning system (GPS) technology for information display at bus stops to the state government.

kviv314

January 16th, 2006, 06:32 PM

volvo seems to be one of the contenders for the buses - they recently rolled out 25 city buses for bangalore and BEST is gonna look at the viability of these buses for bombay.
these buses are excellent ( much better than the tata low floor buses-they have NO STEPS and better layout + airconditioned)

Bombay Boy

January 18th, 2006, 06:55 AM

Mukesh beats Anil in bid for BKC land

Pays Rs 1,104 Cr For Biggest-Ever Real Estate Deal In Mumbai

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: For an indication of how Mumbai’s property prices have reached stratospheric heights in the last one year, consider this: In 2004, when bids were invited
for an 18.5 acre plot reserved for a convention-cum-exhibition centre in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), the highest offer was Rs 75 crore, made by a pandal decorator. The bid was promptly rejected because not only was it too low, the company wanted to defer payment.
On Tuesday evening, the same piece of land fetched a staggering Rs 1,104.11 crore from Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries (RIL) when bids were opened at 4 pm on the sixth floor of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) headquarters at BKC.
This is by far the biggest land deal in Mumbai, beating last year’s record of Rs 702 crore paid by DLF-Akruti for the 17-acre Mumbai Textile Mill property in Lower Parel. TOI was the first to report on the possibility of this BKC plot shattering all
records in its January 8 edition.
It was a battle of the giants. Younger brother Anil’s Reliance Communications Infrastructure Limited too made an aggressive bid for this plot, but lost out as its offer of Rs 1,011.12 crore was Rs 93 crore less than Mukesh’s. At the time of the split between the two brothers last year, there were unconfirmed reports that they had agreed not to compete for a specified number of years— it would appear that there were areas of exception to the agreement, if indeed such an agreement was signed.
The remaining three bidders for the BKC land were Delhi’s DLF-Akruti (Rs 1,050 crore), Gammon India Ltd (Rs 1,011 crore) and Dubai-based Emar Properties (Rs 911.07 crore). None of the big names of Mumbai’s real estate industry were in the race.

PLOT OF GOLD

Commercial use clause fetched premium price for BKC land

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Ind u s t r i e s (RIL) has bought an 18.5 acre plot of land in the Band r a - Ku rl a complex for Rs 1,104.11 crore.
“Expect a world-class convention and exhibition centre between Dubai and Singapore,’’ said an RIL representative, before hurriedly rushing off. A Reliance official said the centre would compare with the best in Asia. “Both the Ambani brothers were extremely keen to get this plot. It was a prestige issue for them,’’ a senior MMRDA official told TOI.
Mukesh’s bid of Rs 1,104 crore was two-and-a-half times more than the reserve price of Rs 480 crore fixed by the MMRDA.
The convention and exhibition centre will be spread across seven lakh sq ft of built-up space and will consist of five exhibition halls, a convention auditorium to accommodate 2,000 people, conference halls, boardrooms, shops and offices, public areas and car parking. The commercial complex will be spread over 5.38 lakh sq ft of built-up area and will house a multiplex, shopping malls, an entertainment centre, offices/shops, hotel and restaurants.
According to property experts, the plot has fetched a premium price only because the MMRDA included a commercial development component in the project. “A convention/exhibition centre alone is not a big revenue earner. This is why in the past, bidders had backed out. We had to amend the project to make it viable for the bidders,’’ said MMRDA’s additional commissioner T Chandra Shekhar.
The MMRDA’s attempts to allot the plot, meant for a convention centre and commercial complex, hade failed several times in the last decade. At the height of the property boom in 1995, Hotel LeelaVenture was awarded the hotel-cum-convention centre for Rs 1,333 crore. Hotel Leela backed out and the Taj Group was awarded the plot in a second round of bidding in 1997 for Rs 730 crore. Taj too later backed out, claiming the project was unviable. Oberoi Hotels then stepped in and offered over Rs 350 crore. It too backed out subsequently.
Mukesh Ambani’s successful bid on Tuesday is his third major foray into BKC. His wife Nita runs the upmarket Dhirubhai Ambani International School in this business district. The Reliance Industries group is also believed to have an over-50% stake in the development of the 20-acre drive-in theatre plot controlled by the Maker Group in the BKC.
Said Chandra Shekhar, “BKC is the new Nariman Point. The money accrued from the allotment of plots here will all be put back in the various infrastructure projects being implemented in the city.’’
MMRDA has garnered Rs 2,294 crore in the last two weeks alone—it got Rs 1,190 crore for nine plots on January 6 and the rest from Tuesday’s Reliance bid.
Real estate consultant Ashok Narang said, “This may be the largest deal, but the price of the plot per square foot works out to Rs 9,600. Add another Rs 4,000 as construction cost. This is a one-off deal and will have no impact on the property market. Landowners and builders should not get carried away by this price.’’

Bombay Boy

January 18th, 2006, 06:56 AM

news is that anil's reliance has almost clinched the deal for phase I of the bombay metro project

gyrations95

January 18th, 2006, 03:56 PM

collateral

January 18th, 2006, 07:03 PM

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=85911

NTC mill buyers can build pending final order: SC

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Posted online: Saturday, January 14, 2006 at 0117 hours IST

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 13: The Supreme Court in an interim order today allowed private property developers, who had bought National Textile Corporation (NTC) mills in Mumbai, to go ahead with construction activity.

A bench, comprising Justice S B Sinha and Justice P P Naolekar, said the order was subject to the outcome of the appeals filed by the developers and NTC. The interim relief came on five mills of NTC—Bombay Textiles Mills, Elphinstone Mills, Jupiter Mills, Kohinoor Mills and Apollo Mills—which were sold to private property developers through auctions. After this order, the bench reserved its verdict against the Bombay High Court judgment holding that the sale of surplus lands by NTC were contrary to the BIFR scheme and apex court orders.

During the pendency of the appeals, the apex court had allowed the NTC mills and developers of the plots to approach the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other authorities for clearance of their developmental plans. The High Court had also held that all construction carried out by various developers was clearly in violation of government notification of July 7, 2004, as admittedly none of them have obtained clearance from Ministry of Environment and Forests. Bombay Environmental Action Group, an NGO, had filed a PIL alleging that surplus lands were sold in violation of rules.

Besides NTC, the Apollo Textile Mills, Mumbai Textile Mills, Elphinstone Mills, Kohinoor Mill No 3 and Jupiter Mills, Bombay Dyeing and several others have challenged the High Court judgment.

The NGO had said that NTC had 25 textile mills spread over 285 acres in prime locations of the city, estimated to be worth over Rs 5,000 crore. Of these, surplus land of five mills were sold in violation of Development Control (DC) rules.

collateral

January 18th, 2006, 07:08 PM

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1371820,curpg-1.cms

IT park set to come up on mill land
Nauzer Bharucha
[ Saturday, January 14, 2006 01:49:59 amTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

MUMBAI: Shopping malls, residential towers, offices and an IT park are some of the constructions slated to come up on the five National Textiles Corporation (NTC) mill premises, spread over nearly 50 acres in central Mumbai.

The new owners of two NTC mills—Kohinoor Mill No 3 and Mumbai Textiles Mill—have already approached the municipal building proposal department to get their initial plans approved for redevelopment.

BMC sources told TOI that both these mills last month submitted proposals to get an intimation of disapproval (IOD) certificate, the primary sanction that the BMC gives a builder, provided he meets certain requirements.

This sanction does not allow him to commence construction. It is only when the developer gets a commencement certificate that he is allowed to start construction.

None of the five NTC mills owners have got commencement certificates so far from the BMC. Civic sources said the 4.8 acre Kohinoor Mill owned by M/S KPPL and CTNL, a joint venture between Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi and rebel leader Raj Thackeray, has put up a proposal to set up a shopping centre.
The intial permission is for a building with ground plus two floors for a shopping area and the top three floors exclusively for parking purposes.

Interestingly, Sena chief Bal Thackeray had advised Joshi and Raj at an election rally to ensure that they construct residential houses and sell it only to the Marathi 'manoos' on this defunct mill property.

The Joshi-Raj combine had bid Rs 421 crore for the Kohinoor Mill last year. Sources said the developers intend to sell half the finished product at the rate of Rs 30,000 per sq ft and lease out the other half.

The land itself was purchased for a whopping Rs 15,000 per sq ft. The owners of the 17-acre Mumbai Textile Mill—a joint venture between the Gurgaon-based DLF and Akruti Nirman—have sought IOD permission from the municipal corporation with building plans for two commercial towers of four floors each.

The towers will be exclusively used as offices. The DLF-Akruti bid for this property had rocked the real estate market when the combine shelled out a record Rs 702 crore for this plot.

The owners of the 7.5 acre Apollo Mill next to Arthur Road jail is one of the two NTC mills which has already got the IOD sanction from the corporation sometime in August 2005.

The BMC approved its initial plan to construct three residential towers, each 17 storeys high. The Apollo mill land was sold for Rs 180 crore to Abhinandan Lodha (Lodha builders) and diamond merchant Pravin Kini.

The 11-acre Jupiter Mill land on Elphinstone Road, which was purchased by financial services firm Indiabulls for Rs 276 crore last March, is another property which has got IOD certificate from the corporation.

The initial permissions are for constructing two towers—each 17 storeys high—which will house an IT park, the first of its kind in central Mumbai.

The 8-acre Elphinstone Mill—purchased by Indiabulls for Rs 441 crore—is the only one which has so far not approached the BMC for permission. It is likely to be development as a commercial complex.

Civic sources further told TOI that the plans submitted by the developers of these NTC mills are all preliminary in nature and that they will amend them at a later stage to carry out further construction to add more floors.

Last month, the supreme court, in its interim order, while allowing the owners to approach the BMC to get their plans sanctioned, had however, disallowed any construction on these mill properties (except for construction of a boundary wall) till the final order, which is expected in the next few weeks. Friday's order has now allowed them to start construction.

Bombay Boy

January 18th, 2006, 09:13 PM

so no tall buildings at all, maximum utilisation of open areas. a bit sad, but i guess it makes more economic sense

Naga_Solidus

January 19th, 2006, 10:32 AM

Why the hell did they pull the plug on the IITT?!?!?!? What a bunch of retards!

collateral

January 19th, 2006, 11:15 AM

so no tall buildings at all, maximum utilisation of open areas. a bit sad, but i guess it makes more economic sense

Yeah a bit disappointing, but two towers of 17 stories each ain't too bad considering commercial buildings usually have a floor to floor height of 4m.

And remember these are preliminary proposals, MORE FLOORS will surely be added

Lets hope the commercial complex to come up in the 8-acre plot is something high, but then again thats just wishful thinking.

--btw Naga, i think the IITT is supposed to come up on Indus Mills, not any of these. Though i seriously doubt the IITT will happen considering there has only been one article on it to date, which is quite weird considering its supposed size.

Suncity

January 19th, 2006, 05:17 PM

IT park set to come up on mill land
Nauzer Bharucha

The land itself was purchased for a whopping Rs 15,000 per sq ft. The owners of the 17-acre Mumbai Textile Mill—a joint venture between the Gurgaon-based DLF and Akruti Nirman—have sought IOD permission from the municipal corporation with building plans for two commercial towers of four floors each.

It is interesting to note how reporters, who seem to have personal agendas, cloud their reporting by making it sound that 4 storey buildings are towers!

Not long ago another reporter was speaking of 100 floors being built by another builder. As it turned out the reporter added up floors of several buildings in the complex. Not exactly untrue, but quite sensational.

Bombay Boy

January 19th, 2006, 06:58 PM

wasnt indiabulls planning a 65 story office tower on its plot? i wonder why that plan was shelfed. with bkc not having any scope for tall towers due to its location the mill lands were the only hope for high office towers in bombay

kshatriya

January 19th, 2006, 07:16 PM

because nauzer bharucha and co won.

surely it wasnt shelved for being unviable or something...but the report does say
'initial permissions' for constructing 2 17 storey towers, i guess they'll go higher than that

collateral

January 19th, 2006, 07:34 PM

It is interesting to note how reporters, who seem to have personal agendas, cloud their reporting by making it sound that 4 storey buildings are towers!

Not long ago another reporter was speaking of 100 floors being built by another builder. As it turned out the reporter added up floors of several buildings in the complex. Not exactly untrue, but quite sensational.

Its cause us Indians are deprived of real highrises, than any building with a lift suddenly becomes a tower. Ha.

kviv314

January 19th, 2006, 08:36 PM

we need some visionary leaders like the sheikh of dubai.

kviv314

January 19th, 2006, 09:43 PM

More bad news regarding skyscrapers + fast development and aid from the central govt.

NEW DELHI: All States, except for the Congress-ruled Maharashtra and the Left-ruled West Bengal, have agreed to repeal land ceiling laws, Union urban development minister S Jaipal Reddy said.

here's the link -

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1378757.cms

2020vision

January 19th, 2006, 09:44 PM

we need some visionary leaders like the sheikh of dubai.

Mumbai needs a face and a leader. It needs to have a skyscraper brand. This is only possible through government leaders and skilled architects, engineers etc.

Naga_Solidus

January 20th, 2006, 02:54 AM

Mumbai needs a face and a leader. It needs to have a skyscraper brand. This is only possible through government leaders and skilled architects, engineers etc.

The gov't is simply not to be expected to do anything in this country. Vest your hopes in the nation's dynamic privately-owned megacorps instead. Like Tata. Or Videocon. Or Mahindra & Mahindra.

Or better still, maybe you should go into buisiness, build it up, and create your own Indian MNC like the above. Then you'll be able to build anything you please.

Suncity

January 20th, 2006, 03:05 AM

Ahmed

January 21st, 2006, 11:52 AM

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=2&articleid=12020062344392031202006234437781

Bombay Boy

January 21st, 2006, 03:39 PM

that has been a pet project of the mmrda for a while, they are really pushing it. problem like the article says is the various landlords involved, like port, union government, etc. would certainly be a big boon

Ubermensch

January 21st, 2006, 05:31 PM

Just as having the north end connect to the Nhava Sewri bridge.. the south end should connect with the proposed wester freeway (Worli - Colaba bridge)

Thats really what we need.

Suncity

January 21st, 2006, 08:38 PM

Some views:

It’s a big racket, says Parekh
http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1008546
Attacking the state politicians for their refusal to repeal the 30 year-old Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act in spite of constant demands from the housing industry in the last three years, Deepak Parekh, chairman, HDFC, said that the Maharashtra government’s tight control on the land prices is costing the city dearly.

“It is a big racket. They (politicians) want a tight control over land, thanks to which the land prices have sky-rocketed, not to mention the different approvals we need to seek to build,” he said.

Parekh lambasted Deshmukh government for not constructing low cost housing for poor despite holding large chunks of land. “Forget low costing housing, there is no rental housing in Mumbai. Only the MUIP and MUTP projects funded by the World Bank have made houses for the poor in their rehabilitation schemes,” he pointed out.

Parekh, who also heads the housing sub-committee of the state government’s Task Force for Mumbai has been advocating repeal of ULCA and thus unlocking large amount of land for residential construction, part of which can be used for low-cost housing. The housing wizard alleged the state officials were busy in getting more and higher bidders for land. “But I wonder how much of these funds will be ploughed back to the city? Look at the way we are building roads. Even in desert, people built roads in 24 hours. Nobody cares for Mumbai,” he explained.

On the other hand, leading developer Niranjan Hiranandani feels that it is belief of the politicians that the liberalisation in the housing sector is not in the interest of the polity. “The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is in sync with us. But lack of vision and political leadership means the benefits of reforms are not passed to poor in terms of low-cost housing,” he said.

Hiranandani called the total defiance of the state government to bring in housing reforms, a story of not letting go of its powers. “We need perestroika (change) in all aspects - low stamp duty, single window clearances, rental housing and repeal of ULCA,” he added.

And they told you Land Act helps poor
http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1008734

Architect Hafeez Contractor said an average Mumbaiite has to shell out an average of Rs33 lakh for a two-bedroom house in the suburbs. “For this, he has to pay a bank loan for at least 20 years. What quality of life can he afford in his best years?” Calling for a radical change in urban laws, he said delays in getting multiple approvals mean financial losses for developers, which are passed on to taxpayers. “Low FSI means no incentive for redevelopment and, finally, zero urban renewal.”

Calling the ULC act a thorn in the city’s side, he said environmental clearance from Delhi is another painful hurdle. “Clearances for greenfield projects are understandable. But why should the whole country come to Delhi to get residential projects in local zoning earmarked for the same cleared by three men who have never seen the site?” he said.

But an adamant state government means high prices are here to stay. Litigation in Mumbai has ensured that over 10,000 acres of Transfer of Development Rights has remained unused. “We have tried our best to convince officials without success that Mumbai’s growth is choked by litigation and draconian urban laws,” said Sunil Mantri, vice-president, Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry.

So, what makes the ULC act so attractive to politicians? The buck stops at sections 20 and 21 of the act, which is used to give exemptions. “It’s where the money lies,” said former IPS officer YP Singh. “Selective exemptions have been given to developers to build luxury complexes at a cost. No wonder the politicians want to hold land.”

Bombay Boy

January 21st, 2006, 11:30 PM

‘We will repeal ULCA’ (http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=2&articleid=1212006024731212120060146953)

Why the delay for scrapping ULCA?
The government wants to add as much land to its kitty as it can before the act is scrapped, it appears. The state government has launched a massive drive to acquire vast tracts of land locked under ULCA. “Until last year, hardly any efforts were done to acquire the land locked under ULCA. But there has been a massive drive since February 2005 and the government has decided to acquire almost 400 hector land,” government sources said. Even though most of this land has been encroached upon, the government can find a way to hand it over to MHADA, BMC, MMRDA and co-operative housing societies, sources added.

Suncity

January 24th, 2006, 02:37 AM

Under Construction - Four Seasons

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8313/mumbaiuc9ag.jpg

Renders

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/9017/fourseasons25tg.jpg

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/2535/fourseasons6bd.jpg

___________________________________

The Lokhandwala Apartment Hotel from architect Hafeez Contractor's website
See how this building seems to be right where the four seasons seems to be. And note the circle on top.

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/2631/lokhandwalapartmenthotel3pz.jpg

So is this one being built too?

collateral

January 24th, 2006, 01:42 PM

Under Construction - Four Seasons

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8313/mumbaiuc9ag.jpg

The Lokhandwala Apartment Hotel from architect Hafeez Contractor's website
See how this building seems to be right where the four seasons seems to be. And note the circle on top.

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/2631/lokhandwalapartmenthotel3pz.jpg

So is this one being built too?

Great image of 4seasons, it actually looks like the render!!

Dont think that lokhwanda apartment is coming up but they have got Zahra, Harmony and Queens Court coming up in Worli, I wonder if that building on the right is any of them??

Check this baby coming up by their sister company lokhwanda constructions in the mumbai suburbs:
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/1070/home6ox.th.jpg (http://img5.imageshack.us/my.php?image=home6ox.jpg)

The development of a skyline in Worli, with 4seasons and Zahra in the background:
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8137/cityaerial4we.th.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cityaerial4we.jpg)

Bombay Boy

January 24th, 2006, 09:18 PM

the smaller white building in front is queen's court. zahra is also almost ready, painting is finished

Bombay Boy

January 24th, 2006, 09:24 PM

Mega makeover for Dharavi

Global Bids To Be Invited For Rs 6,000 Cr Redevelopment Of 535 Acres

By Nauzer Bharucha/TNN

Mumbai: It has been touted as the world’s largest slum rehabilitation scheme. And it aims to cover an area almost as large as the 600 acres of mill land in central Mumbai and 13 times larger than Nariman Point.
As builders—both local and global—wait in anticipation to grab one of the most lucrative opportunities coming their way, the state government is all set to throw open Dharavi, the 535-acre slum sprawl, for redevelopment by mid-2006.
TOI has learnt that the slum rehabilitation authority (SRA) will invite a global expression of interest (EOI) for the Rs 6,000 crore project in little over a month. “Work will commence 90 days after the EOI is announced,’’ said I S Chahal, officer on special duty in charge of the project. To speed up work, the last remaining 25 acres of Dharavi, which had not yet been notified as a slum area, were brought under the redevelopment scheme.
With building activity already on in large portions of the mill lands and the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) expanding rapidly, implementation of the Dharavi plan will turn Mumbai into one big construction site. The latest initiative envisages a whopping 3.5 crore square feet of construction—1.5 crore square feet to rehouse the slumdwellers and two crore square feet for builders to sell in the open market.
Government sources said this was the second time in the last two decades that Dharavi had evoked so much interest. In 1984, the then PM Rajiv Gandhi had announced a Rs 100 crore grant, of which Rs 37 crore was utilised to build Dharavi’s roads, sewage and water pipelines. Successive regimes have since made several promises to fund redevelopment projects in Asia’s largest slum (see graphic on page 4), but barring a few projects under the Sena-BJP government’s slum rehab scheme, the ghetto has seen little development. Now, with central funds available to back the project under the National Urban Renewal Mission, the plan has acquired momentum.
As many as 51,000 slums holding a population of three lakh people have been identified for rehabilitation. Dharavi will be divided into five zones of about 105 acres each which will be developed into self-sustaining individual townships.

THE PLAN

Dharavi to be divided into five sectors, each about 105 acres in size

Global bidder to develop each sector in return for extra FSI to construct residential towers or commercial space

To rehouse three lakh people in 600 eight-storey buildings. Each tenement will be of 225 sq ft

Cost of the project: Rs 6,000 cr

69% of Dharavi’s land is owned by BMC, 10% by state and central governments, 21% is private land

Builders eye huge profits in Dharavi’s redevelopment

Mumbai: The Dharavi settlement, as it exists, comprises communities ranging from the original Koli settlers and potters from Surat to Tamilian Muslim tanners and embroidery workers from UP. Under the ambitious new plan drawn up by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority, all of them will be rehoused free of cost by developers in new eight-storey buildings.
The plan will take into account the need to sustain various commercial activities. Goods ranging from garments and leather bags to biscuits and papads are produced here.
“For the development of each of these five sectors, global bids will be invited in 16 cities around the world. The winning developers will set up self-sufficient townships with 40 different public amenities like post offices, parks and schools,’’ said Chahal. About 70 of the 535 acres have been exclusively reserved for gardens and parks.
The cost of developing each sector will be about Rs 1,000 crore and the net worth of a competing developer would have to be 25% of the project cost.
Mukesh Mehta, a US-based urban designer who is the consultant for the scheme, said developers will have to maintain the slum rehab buildings as well as the townships for the first 15 years. “This clause is the first of its kind,’’ he claims.
But government officials said the profits for builders will be humungous, considering that they have been offered a much higher floor space index (FSI) of 4 to execute this project. Residential and commercial towers are expected to spring up all over the area for sale in the open market. Admits Chahal, “Profit margins will be huge. There is bound to be a fierce battle among builders to get this project.’’
Said builder Niranjan Hiranandani, “Any plan to redevelop Dharavi is a welcome one. After all, it’s the worst slum. I had studied it some time ago, but need to re-examine it again. Such projects need the right thrust to get them going.’’

Bombay Boy

January 24th, 2006, 09:41 PM

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/9442/image28al.jpg

spyguy

January 24th, 2006, 10:26 PM

600!!! What madness, and what a sight that would be. But couldn't they have varied it a lttle more? Have a mixed buildings in varying sizes rather than all of them being relatively flat.

Bombay Boy

January 24th, 2006, 10:38 PM

it being near the airport might have something to do with the height restrictions, just like bkc

Suncity

January 24th, 2006, 11:08 PM

I can already see the rona dhona activists sharpening their cudgels for a new found cause.

The right ingredients are already there - "But government officials said the profits for builders will be humungous, considering that they have been offered a much higher floor space index (FSI) of 4 to execute this project. Residential and commercial towers are expected to spring up all over the area for sale in the open market."

Towers, profits , builders - three words that will bring out the stop development brigade in full force. The language will be soft wrapped in nice words like social justice, upkeeping the environment, maintaining heritage etc.

First they will agitate that poor people will be displaced. They will rake out lots of material as to why 8 storey buildings for poor will be a disaster because such housing failed in London and Paris. Then they will raise questions of fraud. Questions will be raised as to whether the right people are getting the apartments and how many are being wrongly left out. Then they will blame the builders for raising towers and catering only to the rich and making excessive profits. The question of no infrastructure to support so many buildings will pop up. People will say that the environment will be badly affected by so much construction. Then people will go to courts. The administration will happily sleep through and even more slums will get built. The cycle of non development will continue.
__________________________________

I have my doubts that anything will happen in Dharavi anytime soon.
Hopefully I am proven wrong. In fact I am desperately wanting to be proven wrong.

:)

BTW is the population of Dharavi three lakhs? And what's going to happen to the humungous slums formed in the eastern suburbs behind the Hiranandani hills and all other places?

Suncity

January 24th, 2006, 11:16 PM

Found an old article from 2004

Dharavi residents wary of new project
http://www.hindu.com/2004/08/08/stories/2004080800101100.htm

Residents of Dharavi, spread over 213 hectares in the heart of Mumbai, are slowly waking up to the fact that a Rs.7,500-crore plan (revised from the initial Rs.5,300 crores) to revamp their existence will begin shortly even though they have not been consulted.

The Dharavi project, titled "Support Our Slums", was approved in February this year by a Government resolution. It has been proposed by NRI architect Mukesh Mehta, appointed adviser to the Government of Maharashtra. It envisages dividing up this huge slum into 10 sectors of which two will be reserved for commercial development. "I have taken an integrated view, instead of a marginalised approach and for the first time, instead of a haphazard plan, we are looking at Dharavi in a holistic manner", says Mr. Mehta.

The Central Government has already announced a grant of Rs.500 crores for the project, which will go towards the infrastructure. "I would like to integrate Dharavi with mainstream Mumbai and convert it into a cultural, knowledge and business centre. The main idea is to convert the whole population into a middle income community by 2010," adds Mr. Mehta.

Mr. Mehta and officials maintain that consistent attempts have been made to reach out to people. Meetings have been held with heads of over 50 cooperative societies, NGOs and local corporators.

The residents of Dharavi, however, have a different view. Raju Korade of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) says, "So many surveys are going on for the new project but people don't have a clue as to what exactly the plan holds for them." On July 4, hundreds of Dharavi residents, including representatives from all political parties who are opposing the project, held a meeting and formed the Dharavi Bachao Samiti. Since then several large meetings have been held in the area.

Magsaysay award winner Arputham Jockin, who is president of the National Slum Dwellers Federation (NSDF), says, "The most important thing about Dharavi is that it's built by the people, and the community has always been involved. Mukesh Mehta is not rebuilding Dharavi, he is inventing Shanghai in Dharavi. This is bottom-up planning, contrary to all international norms." He adds, "Mr. Mehta is only an architect — he has to make a design based on people's needs and not the other way round. The design has to be for the real world."

The real world is where people like 95-year-old Natalbai Killekar live. Sitting in her 5,000 sq ft single-storey house in Dharavi's Koliwada, she recalls, "Earlier the sea used to come up close and our boats used to dock here." The new Dharavi project proposes to re-develop the area and allot people flats measuring 225 sq ft each. "How can we leave our old houses and resettle in these small flats," asks Ramkrishna Keni, former Shiv Sena corporator and a local leader. "The Government should have at least informed us about the project. I don't want to oppose the project but we cannot be evicted from our ancestral lands," he said.

The Government has not yet decided how to deal with private land in Dharavi. About 20 per cent of the land or 43 hectares, is privately-owned, much of it by the Kolis or the fishing community, the original settlers of the islands of Mumbai. Teresa Killekar, vice-president, of the Koli Mahila Sangharsh Samiti, affiliated to the Shiv Sena, asks, "Why should we allow our land to be developed by someone else, we can sell it to the builder ourselves. Four generations have lived here — so why we should leave?"

Apart from the thorny issue of private land, residents are worried about livelihood. Sitting opposite a wide gutter in the long row of plastic recycling shops, Purshottam Bhanushali, a plastic and scrap dealer, says, "Yes, I know people are surveying the area but they did not tell us anything about the project. There are about 1,200 plastic and scrap shops and they are very old. My shop is about 4,000 sq feet, and I doubt if I will get the same space."

For Waljibhai Jethwa, one of the 10,000 potters who inhabit the 2.5-acre Kumbharwada, space is a big issue. "We need space to keep the mud, make the pots and then bake and dry them." Govindbhai Chitroda, of the Potters Cooperative, says, "We fear if the area gets developed, we may not get work."

Space problem

In Indira Gandhi Nagar and Shiv Shakti Nagar, rows of papads, briskly rolled out by women, dry on large circular inverted cane baskets, over rooftops and inside houses. There are over 15,000 families in Dharavi who earn their livelihoods from papads, according to Shashikant Kawle, a local political party worker. "We don't want to stay in a building. Where will we dry our papads? They are saying take them to the terrace. How do you expect us to cart piles of papads up and down," asks Bhagobai Sherkare, who has been rolling papads for 22 years.

The annual turnover from Dharavi's myriad enterprises is anywhere between Rs.1,500 crores and Rs.3,000 crores. According to official sources, there are 4,902 industrial units in Dharavi of which textiles form 1,036, pottery 932, leather 567, plastic processing 478 and Jari stitching 498.

Bombay Boy

January 25th, 2006, 07:08 AM

Suncity

January 25th, 2006, 07:41 AM

well sun, some of the concerns are quite genuine and worth taking into consideration. finally the new development has to be sustainable, economically, environmentally and socially

‘Highrises not suitable for Dharavi slum dwellers’

By Nauzer Bharucha/TNN

Mumbai: Will the Dharavi rehabilitation project be a boon for slum dwellers or just another multi-crore business opportunity for builders? The state’s policy of gifting free houses to slum dwellers has been mired in controversy ever since it was introduced by the Shiv Sena-BJP government a decade ago.
Slum Rehabilitation Authority officials said 25% of the families, who have been given accommodation in about 60,000 free tenements through various schemes, have illegally sold their houses and moved out. For instance, in the largest SRA project in Tardeo’s MP Mill compound, about 2,500 families were shifted to newlyconstructed buildings free of cost. However, several of them sold their tenements for as much as Rs 10 lakh each. Architect Arvind Adarkar said: “Putting them in highrises is not the solution because you deprive them of their economic activity, which is located just outside their houses.’’
The solution, according to him, is to rehabilitate them in low rise, high-density dwellings, an idea which housing activist P K Das agrees with. “Past experience in Mumbai shows that these people cannot survive in highrises. Housing projects are not just about FSI. They are about building a human environment and providing sustainability,’’ said Das. Rehabilitated slum dwellers have often not been able to maintain their buildings, especially the lifts and water pumps. Activists say old people are forced to climb higher floors when lifts don’t work or carry water when pumps fail. However, SRA officials claim that in the Dharavi project, the government plans to make it mandatory for builders to pay for the cost of maintenance of the buildings for the first 15 years. The S S Tinaikar Committee, appointed some years ago, had mentioned that the “problem of slum dwellers is not as much a problem of finding a regular apartment for them, but a problem of environment, shelter, unequal economic growth and income levels. It will be wrong, therefore, to glorify the construction of modern apartments for slum dwellers at any cost as the present policy tries to do’’.
Experts cite the example of the Pruitt-Igoe housing project in St Louis, US, which has been described as arguably the most infamous housing project for the poor in that country. About 3,000 poor families living in St Louis in ground floor structures were rehabilitated on the banks of the river Mississippi in 33 buildings, each of them 11-storey high. A recent study observed that “only a few years after its construction, the project was subjected to disrepair, vandalism and crime’’.

But what guarantee is there that a low rise, high density dwellings will not fail too? I have been to many middle class (forget low income) lowrise townships which have gone to the dogs over the years.

I have no problems if there is a discussion and people reach a conclusion (by majority vote if needed) within a suitable time frame ( 1 year, 2 years, 3 years) and then implement the decision. But I think in India we theorize and discuss too much and in the end do nothing. Dharavi has been here for a loooooooooong time. The plans to change Dharavi have been in the air for a looooooooong time too. Yet we are still arguing/discussing what should be done. And in the meantime Mumbai has seen the rise of many new Dharavis.

Why not build one of the proposed sectors as the midrise, highrise combination and another sector as the lowrise, high density option? Let both sides then see in a few years which idea works out better.

In the case of midrise-highrise option, the builders will shell out some money and will rake in profits (which our socialist activists are so upset about). In the case of the lowrise option, the tax payer will be subsidizing free housing for people. So tell me why should a middle class person in Mumbai who struggles to make ends meet, goes through horrendous daily commute, pays taxes and lives in a one room tenement legally, subsidize free houses (each worth lakhs) for people who have grabbed land illegally (in many cases)? Socialists will call it social justice.

If the housing schemes are not going to be self financing then isn't it being unfair to that middle class guy? Unless of course the middle class guy too gets a free 250 sq ft tenement.

Low cost housing is a must for sure. But it cannot be free and should not be resold by the allottee.

Suncity

January 25th, 2006, 08:12 AM

Monster mall coming up in Mumbai
Mumbai is set to become home to the biggest mall in India
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1607627,0008.htm

The 2 million sq ft project that will be christened Market City will come up at the Mukand factory complex in LBS Marg, Kurla, sources said. A consortium of developers had bought the 25-acre property for Rs 221 crore last December.

The £200 million project — including 350 retail units, a one-acre artificial lake that will serve as a recreation area and a car park that can accommodate 3,000 cars — would be completed in two years.

British architectural firm Benoy — which built the famous Bullring and Bluewater shopping centres in Birmingham and Kent (seen in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham) — has won the contract to design this mother of all malls.

Benoy’s contract, awarded by Kshitij, the retail development arm of the Pantaloon Group, came days after Commerce Minister Kamal Nath told the first Hindustan Times Luxury Conference that the government would allow foreign retailers to set up shop in the country.

Kshitij will set up 51 malls over 14.5 million sq ft over the next three years. They will include those being developed using Kshitij Venture Capital Fund as well as malls owned and leased by Pantaloon Retail.

________________________________

Not sure if the claim of biggest mall is correct. Just a few months back DLF claimed the biggest one (first they said biggest in world but later retracted)was going to come up in Gurgaon.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1148973.cms

Gurgaon is set to get the mother of all malls — a humungous 40-lakh sq ft (4 million sq ft).The mall —- christened Mall of India -— will be spread over 32 acres and will have parking space for 10,000 cars.

Suncity

January 25th, 2006, 08:16 AM

Mumbai to get Rs 700 cr convention hub
January 24, 2006 14:49 IST
http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2006/jan/24hub.htm

The Textile Ministry on Tuesday said it was awaiting clearance from the Maharashtra government for the International Convention Centre to come up at Mumbai with an approximate investment of Rs 700 crore (Rs 7 billion).
"The Centre would be set up by the Textile Ministry on its own at an approximate investment of Rs 700 crore and the government is still awaiting the clearance from the state," Union Minister of Textile, Shankersinh Vaghela said.

Bombay Boy

January 25th, 2006, 01:24 PM

yes un, speed and clarity of decisions is the key. but i would listen to all concerned parties. and yes something that is commercially sustainable on its own is a must, but that need not mean tall towers. just as an example ballard estate and nariman point have the same fsi, but very different layouts

the higher you go the more the maintenance, as in lifts, but most of these people would probably not be able to maintain all facilities. keeping those going would mean subsidising for years to come

and yes a price should be paid for the new tenenments, even if its discounted. the builders are making money anyways by selling extra flats, but a culture of freebies needs to be discouraged

collateral

January 25th, 2006, 03:07 PM

Farallon Capital to infuse Rs2bn in Indiabulls 1/16/2006 11:46:54 AM IST

Indiabulls Financial Services Ltd said on Monday that, that Farallon Capital and its affiliates will invest over Rs2bn in equity capital in two Indiabulls subsidiary companies, Indiabulls Credit Services Ltd and Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd valuing the two subsidiaries at over Rs12.5bn for making its equity investments.

This investment follows the Rs880mn investment that Farallon Capital had made in Indiabulls Credit Services in January 2005, bringing the total investments by Farallon Capital in these companies to around Rs2.9bn within a matter of a year. The Company will invest Rs2.68bn in the two subsidiary companies.

cont..

http://www.indiainfoline.com/news/news.asp?dat=74074

------
Lets hope a few Manhattan type commercial structures rub off on IB

Suncity

January 27th, 2006, 04:06 AM

Every now and then we hear of grand plans for our cities. It's good to read but hard to believe based on the track record. These 'plans' will surely put mental stress on the stop development brigade and return to the caves movement. :)

Grandiose plans for Mumbai

Attracted to the booming real estate sector, RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani is set to bring some of his grandiose plans for Mumbai to the drawing board. The Mumbai plans are modelled on the development of the famous Pudong economic area near Shanghai.

RIL, had recently reported, has taken over the Nikhil Gandhi-promoted 4,377-ha (10,815 acres) Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone. It is also likely to take over the larger (12,000-ha or 27,650-acre) MahaMumbai Special Economic Zone, which was promoted by Cidco (the municipal authority for Navi Mumbai). This combined SEZ, which will boast of a land mass of 16,377 ha (or 38,465 acres), is slated to eventually become Mumbai’s version of Pudong.

Mumbai’s proposed second airport is near this SEZ. The development of Sewri-Nava Sheva sea link will be crucial to the success of this endeavour.

RIL officials were not available for comment. However, persons familiar with the situation said that while the RIL top brass, led by Mukesh Ambani, were working on blueprints for its forays into SEZ and retail, nothing had been placed before the RIL board as yet.

More details at http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1381741.cms

kviv314

January 27th, 2006, 05:54 AM

well said

kshatriya

January 27th, 2006, 11:46 AM

yeah talk of maha mumbai has been on for a long time...yawn

spyguy

January 28th, 2006, 08:06 PM

kshatriya

January 28th, 2006, 09:34 PM

that looks great.....a project of sumer builders hmm....but where is atlas mills?

collateral

January 29th, 2006, 12:04 PM

I haven't been paying too much attention lately to Mumbai projects, but this one really caught my eye. What is its status currently?

Atlas Mills
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9867/atlasmills3tv.jpghttp://img508.imageshack.us/img508/3995/atlas8ax.jpg

looks cool, don't think many people have heard of Sumer Builders, nor Atlas Mills, what website did you find this on??

monyaam

January 29th, 2006, 03:19 PM

Mumbai's second business district

http://ia.rediff.com/money/2006/jan/28spec5.htm

In the years to come, the Bandra-Kurla Complex will be world class," says T Chandrashekhar, additional commissioner, Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority, the bureaucrat who has been entrusted with turning the area into the city's financial nerve centre. The wide windows of Chandrashekhar's office offer a panoramic view of the entire 130-hectare complex.

Suncity

January 29th, 2006, 08:18 PM

Hard Rock Cafe opens its doors in Mumbai

India's financial capital is rockin' with the opening of Hard Rock Café, Mumbai in Bombay Dyeing Mills, Opp. Kamala Mills City Studio, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli, Mumbai, the newest and most up-and-coming district of the city. As the first Hard Rock Cafe in India, the Mumbai cafe will make a grand entrance, offering its guests great American fare in a rock 'n' roll atmosphere.

"India has meant so much to rock music over the years that I couldn't be more excited to finally open Hard Rock Cafe in Mumbai," said Hamish Dodds, president and CEO of Hard Rock International. "Hard Rock was actually founded on principles from Indian culture. 'Love All, Serve All,' the motto on the wall of each and every Hard Rock, is derived directly from our founder's long love affair with India. So, in a sense, the opening of this new Hard Rock Cafe feels very much like coming home."

http://www.financialexpress.com/latest_full_story.php?content_id=115932

spyguy

January 29th, 2006, 08:35 PM

^^Next up: Starbucks, Wal-Mart, and Ford Explorers. Oh wait...:)

Suncity

January 29th, 2006, 08:39 PM

^^Next up: Starbucks, Wal-Mart, and Ford Explorers. Oh wait...:)

:)

BTW where did you get the Atlas Mills rendering? Looks interesting.

spyguy

January 29th, 2006, 08:52 PM

http://www.aedas.com

Bombay Boy

January 30th, 2006, 03:14 PM

collateral

January 30th, 2006, 04:58 PM

Sorry if this image has been posted b4.

Andheri East Central Business Park:

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6329/centbusipkfullviewth8ik.th.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=centbusipkfullviewth8ik.jpg)

other up coming mumbai stuff...

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/4589/mec0128xg.th.jpg (http://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mec0128xg.jpg)

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9257/mec0099ut.th.jpg (http://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mec0099ut.jpg)

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/5871/mec0220qg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Bombay Boy

January 31st, 2006, 08:18 AM

PROJECT SEALINK

MSRDC explores underground options from Worli to N Point

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: The MSRDC has environmental clearance for the Rs 3,551 crore link between Worli and Nariman Point from the Centre, but it is now looking at cheaper options to connect the two.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation is exploring the option of tunnelling under Malabar Hill from Priyadarshini Park to Tambe Chowk at Marine Drive as an alternative to an offshore bridge connecting the areas to Nariman Point.
Work on the Bandra-Worli stretch (almost 5 km) of the Bandra-Nariman Point sealink is currently on and is expected to be completed by the end of 2007. The entire sealink will be around 19 km long and issues like terrorist attacks, cyclones, floods and even sea vessels hitting the pier will be taken into account, MSRDC managing director Ramanath Jha said on Monday. The sealink will be ready by 2011, said state PWD minister Anil Deshmukh adding that the alternative route is only being explored.
However, MSRDC engineers said the underground tunnel route might ultimately prove more costeffective. And if MSRDC decides on the new route, it will have to get fresh environmental clearance from the Centre.
The total length of the link between Worli and Nariman Point will be 13.75 km with an eight-lane bridge from Worli to Haji Ali and six-lane from Haji Ali to B D Park. After this it will have four lanes up to Nariman Point.
Deshmukh also announced that the MSRDC, which is the implementing agency, is appointing a panel of consultants of international repute for providing techno-economic, environmental and legal consultancy services in implementing the Worli Nariman point sealink.
The consultants are Ms Ove Arup & Partners International Ltd, in association with Consulting Engineering Services (India), and Ernst and Young and Indian Law Services.
Speaking about the delay in finalising a contractor for the other large project being implemented by MSRDC—the Sewri-Nhava transharbour link—Jha said the delay was not unusual for a project that was expected to cost around Rs 4,000 crore. “We have to sort out all issues otherwise we might have problems like the ones plaguing the other projects,’’ he said.

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2331/image16io.jpg

Suncity

February 1st, 2006, 04:46 AM

Ashok Towers website

http://www.ashoktowers.com/

Suncity

February 1st, 2006, 05:04 AM

I haven't been paying too much attention lately to Mumbai projects, but this one really caught my eye. What is its status currently?

Atlas Mills
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9867/atlasmills3tv.jpghttp://img508.imageshack.us/img508/3995/atlas8ax.jpg

Here's some material from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board hearings

http://mpcb.mah.nic.in/notices/publichearings.php

http://mpcb.mah.nic.in/notices/eia/exesum_burhani.pdf

http://mpcb.mah.nic.in/notices/eia/eia_burhani.pdf

Bombay Boy

February 2nd, 2006, 12:03 PM

Mumbai to Shanghai for $200bn

City Could Have Been World Class But For Under-Investment, Says World Bank

Girish Kuber MUMBAI 1 FEBRUARY

MUMBAI has developmental assets and has the potential to become a world-class city, but it is suffering because of ‘under-investment’, says the World Bank.
The bank has cited several reasons that are holding the city back and has suggested specific measures to spruce up the financial capital of the country. Along with administrative reforms, Mumbai will need an investment of $130-200bn over the next 15 years to compete with the New Yorks and the Shanghais of the world.
Mumbai has the credentials to become a true global city. Besides being a hub for finance, media and international trading activities, it has a large and efficient labour pool. “These types of assets tend to be highly immobile and are likely to grow in size and value with rapid growth and globalisation of the economy,” the bank has noted.
The bank has studied Mumbai’s economic stagnation in detail. The city’s annual average economic growth between 1993 and ‘03 has been about 5.8%, lower than the all-India average for industrial and service sectors, the bank notes.
“The most important cause of the relatively slow growth and low quality of living appears to be under-investment,” it says. Simply put, the current level of capital flow into the city is far from being substantial. Various market constraints, lack of public investment support, a weak public finance mechanism and the absence of public consensus are affecting the investment climate.
“In a service-based city like Mumbai, the major part of investment tends, and needs, to be in real estate and infrastructure rather than in plants and businesses,” it observes. The bank describes the ‘booming’ real estate market in the city as a “low level activity”. The development of special business areas like the Bandra-Kurla complex is, thus, not enough.
If it wants to catch up with the world, Mumbai will have to perform better. With the service sector growing at 8-10%, the city needs an investment of about 25-30% of the GDP.
In absolute terms, the city will need an investment ranging between $130-200bn in the next 15 years. The bank feels this amount is modest “compared with the investment rate in India and Shanghai over the last decade”. The Chinese city had received about $300bn in the last decade.
“An action plan will, therefore, have to address these issues in an integrated fashion,” the bank suggests. The World Bank has asked the state government to structure this plan in two stages — a detailed action plan for the first five years followed by more indicative planning for the next ten.

Bombay Boy

February 2nd, 2006, 12:05 PM

In blueprint for Mumbai’s global push: Bollywood

Kavitha Iyer

Mumbai, February 1: WHEN fuddy-duddy Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) meets Bollywood, you know at once that diverse strands of Mumbai are coming together like never before.

In its fineprint on how to transform Mumbai into a world-class city, the BMC has done just that: It has picked sectors to be nurtured into economy-drivers for the next 25 years, an exercise necessitated by the City Development Plan that urban local bodies must present to New Delhi along with project proposals under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). And, along with usual suspects finance and information technology, the BMC now says two other areas that can expect their future to be buttressed by policy initiatives and projects are health services (including medical tourism) and entertainment, media and tourism (with special focus on Bollywood tourism).

‘‘Lots of tourists would love to visit a set, see how a Bollywood film is made or movie artefacts, but it’s all informal now,’’ said Additional Municipal Commissioner Manu Kumar Srivastava. ‘‘And the health city concept originates in Mumbai’s large, trained manpower in the medical sector, as well as economies for foreign patients having procedures here as well as excellent accessibility.’’

The BMC is clear on what it believes are Mumbai’s big opportunities. And since the City Development Plan foresees modifying policies, land use patterns, transport and services to nourish the chosen sectors, industry leaders will be watching the alterations closely.

‘‘Bollywood’s impact globally is massive,’’ said Shailendra Singh, managing director of Percept Hudahuko, which recently produced India’s first animation feature film Hanuman and also dud Home Delivery. ‘‘But to get tourists to Bollywood, we need a good Bollywood museum, archiving, theme parks... And how about a good, well-connected studio?’’

Just incentivising core film-making business with land at good rates and improved infrastructure will make tourists confident enough to add Bollywood to their itenerary, Singh believes.

‘‘Give hospitals an acreditation system,’’ said Prabodh Lele, Chief Executive Officer of Hinduja Hospital, which sees about 300 foreign patients a year. ‘‘Foreigners tend to know just the top few hospitals. And with hospitals trying to undercut one another, it’s good for patients to know that the hospital he’s dealing with is, say, graded A or B.’’

The other things on the wishlist for medical entrepreneurs: Simplified immigration for patients and a concerted effort to button up the tourism end of medical tourism, with hospital associations, tourism bodies, Airports Authority of India and governments coining packages like a bypass surgery plus a two-week stay in Goa. ‘‘That will promote medical tourism by design rather than by default,’’ said Lele.

The details of how to further these sectors’ aspirations have to be fleshed out—the City Development Plan the BMC is offering New Delhi is little more than a framework. A request for proposals from consultants is ready and a year-long comprehensive study of land use and appropriate infrastructure for these sectors will begin shortly.

Amidst it all is also the death knell for whatever’s left of manufacturing. ‘‘That industry is passive now,’’ said Srivastava.

For Mumbai, the service industry is the road ahead.

kavitaiyer@expressindia.com

collateral

February 10th, 2006, 09:21 PM

Guys this Mumbai thread has been deprieved of good looking high-rises in recent months, prob due to land prices in central locations getting stupidly out of control.

Came across this website to find some gems coming up, not to sure of their status (maybe sun will know).

ones that stand out:

-Splendour 36 stories in Mulund
-Polaris (approx 40 stories) in Goergaon (GLASS FACADES)!!!
-Granduer 34 stories + 2 level podium in Borivali (GLASS FACADES)!!!
-La Citadel in 30 stories Andheri West

ENJOY>>

btw can Sun please update 'highrise list u/c' thread accordingly
:cheers:
http://www.shethdevelopers.com

pding

February 10th, 2006, 09:31 PM

collateral

February 11th, 2006, 10:40 AM

Suncity

February 11th, 2006, 02:49 PM

that mumbai suffers from under-investment is a fact. but why is the Centre not taking any serious action to clean up the city and make it attractive???
Also, when other state governments are very actively wooing investors and improving infrastructure and other facilities, what is Maharashtra gov't doing???
also, the local mumbai development authority should be more serious and on it's toes. Mumbai is a city that has long been neglected. when will the state as well as the centre wake up???

also, Centre has made it clear that funding within programs like the JNURM and others will only be awarded to cities where progress is made. so the local authorities and the state gov't should be blamed. if these ppl at state level wake up, Mumbai will develop.

pls do correct me if i'm wrong in anything.

There is another point. Mumbai is also paying the price for under development of certain major states, as impoverished people from these states have poured into Mumbai and created huge slums. And of course there are people coming in from poorer districts of Maharshtra itself.

Mumbai's failure is symptotic of India's failure to generate growth uniformly.
Mumbai's economic success has in a way become one of its reasons for failure by attracting too many people. However the housing shortage and poor living conditions have resulted in a lopsided migration. The better educated middle class and upper middle class people from other states no longer wish to go to Mumbai or only use it as a stepping stone for career development. The poorer sections however manage to adjust to horrible slum living conditions and remain stuck in the rut. And the poorer sections also have more children because of various reasons leading to increasing numbers of poor in the city. It's a vicious cycle.

Hopefully the local, state and central government will pay more attention to this thriving megapolis.

Suncity

February 11th, 2006, 02:50 PM

Suncity

February 11th, 2006, 03:06 PM

Here's a the render of the first three projects:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9930/vasantcollage8hy.jpg

Naga_Solidus

February 11th, 2006, 03:59 PM

Those are pretty ugly IMO, someone really has to tome down the meat cleaver shapes on the roofs.

collateral

February 11th, 2006, 06:28 PM

Thanks for posting those images sun.

spyguy

February 11th, 2006, 06:30 PM

Wow, they're getting glassy (and classy?) again.

magestom

February 11th, 2006, 10:26 PM

Wonderful

Suncity

February 11th, 2006, 10:32 PM

Here is one from architect Deepak Mehta's website. Project is for Neelkanth group although their website has nothing.

http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/4272/neelkanthdeepak4lo.jpg

gyrations95

February 11th, 2006, 10:45 PM

Three-tier deck in 3 years for Thane station (http://web.mid-day.com/metro/thane/2006/february/130468.htm)

TMC wants to make your daily commute easier, right from the moment you step into Thane limits. In an ambitious plan that will cost Rs 20 crore and could take about three to four years to implement, the corporation wants to connect Thane station to the city through three layers of bridges.

“We have signed a memorandum of understanding with Central Railway on Feb 8. We will now invite tenders. This will take another two months. But once the tenders are invited and applications screened, we will begin work on our dream plan,” says TMC’s city engineer KD Lala.

He says the project will accomplish TMC’s long pending goal to decongest the area outside Thane railway station and other arterial roads leading to the station.

According to the plan, TMC will construct a three-tier deck spread across 5,000 square metres of space. The decks will begin at the entrance of the station and will branch out in various directions. “The ready structure will be shaped like a rhombus. It will be covered with a shed,” says Lala.

According to the blueprint prepared by TMC the topmost tier of the deck will be reserved for pedestrians and commuters. “It will be a foot-over-bridge built at a height of six metres from ground level. It will originate at Thane station and will connect to Gokhale Road, Ambedkar Nagar, Ashok Talkies and other major roads in Thane,” says Lala.

The middle tier, on the other hand, will be reserved for TMT buses and the lowest deck will be built for autos and taxis. “The lowest deck will be around 3.5 to 3.75 metres above ground level,” Lala adds.

He admits that the project is ambitious, but adds that the TMC has the budget to complete it. “We will surely achieve the target set by us,” he says.

Confirming that the pact has been signed, RS Wirdi, PRM, Central Railway, says, “Once the three-tier project is ready, the traffic that gets stuck in the west outside the station will disperse in various directions. The project will truly decongest Thane station.”

Suncity

February 11th, 2006, 10:47 PM

gyrations95, How was your India trip?

:)

gyrations95

February 11th, 2006, 11:23 PM

Trip was good, very hectic. Flying Air India makes one really uncomfortable at times. On the way back they had to change the plane due to some technical snag causing a 3 hr delay. For the first 2 hours they kept saying that they are loading refreshments in the plane :). Mumbai roads seem to be dug up all over the place. The road outside Ghatkopar station and the Ghatkopar-Andheri link is being concretised. Was supposed to be done by Dec 2005 according to TC. I think it will take more than a year from here. Large chunks like the one around international airport have being concretised but illegal parking of ricksaws and cabs on roadside defeats the very purpose of widening. Medians have been dug up for some reason. I don't know if they were old concrete medians and are being replaced or what. Lot of dust pollution. On the positive note slums are being rapidly replaced by highrises .. atleast in Ghatkopar area. There are a few constructions going on in the mill lands. Simplex Mills has a huge tower going up. They are demolishing what is left of the textile mill. The view looking east from Mahalaxmi is impressive. Lot of high rises mushrooming. Roads are nice and pothole-free. Sidewalks are in pretty good shape.

Navi Mumbai looks like the biggest housing bubble of the decade. In the Airoli area close to Thane, I counted 100+ under construction buildings varying from 4 to 7 stories. Then I lost count. I have put a flag on one of those :). Patni is building an impressive center not far off from Airoli railway station. The area is coming up quite well. Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge city off Nerul looks very nice. I think Mukesh is planning to build a bigger DA Corporate city somewhere near Nocil.

The striking airport employees at BOM aborted my plans for a maiden domestic flight to Bhuj and back. Had to chug along with the great Indian Railways. All in all it was an eventful trip. Thanks for asking.

Suncity

February 11th, 2006, 11:28 PM

JPGINDIANCITY

February 12th, 2006, 12:56 AM

Suncity

February 12th, 2006, 01:33 AM

Guys .....i don't mind development for the city..... but why bring bollywood into the picture..... BOLLYWOOD is that the name thats going to be the next big thing..... please....we are not going to get any respect presenting bollywood to the world... i love indian movies, they are great but copying everything american only shows that nothing original comes from india...in the US people laugh at bollywood they say why not some other original name....lets not copy american, if its original let it be from our own INDIA.

Why should we bother as to what Americans think about Bollywood or whether they laugh at Bollywood? If there are people who want to watch a Bollywood movie shoot or a studio, then why not? And there sure are plenty.
I think Hindi movies are slowly experimenting more and more with new ideas. Let's see if more movies like Rang De Basanti, My Brother Nikhil, Page 3, Paheli can come out of Mumbai.

BTW there are many interesting theories as to how the term Bollywood evolved.

Here's one which sounded very "intellectual". :)
http://www.india-seminar.com/2003/525/525%20madhava%20prasad.htm

The origin of the term (Bollywood) being obscure, there have been many claimants to the credit for coining it, and many theories as to its first usage. But now we may actually be in a position to settle this issue, at the risk of offending some claimants. In 1932, Wilford E. Deming, an American engineer who claims that ‘under my supervision was produced India’s first sound and talking picture’, writing in American Cinematographer (12.11, March 1932), mentions a telegram he received as he was leaving India after his assignment: Tollywood sends best wishes happy new year to Lubill film doing wonderfully records broken.3 In explanation, he adds, ‘In passing it might be explained that our Calcutta studio was located in the suburb of Tollygunge… Tolly being a proper name and Gunge meaning locality. After studying the advantages of Hollygunge we decided on Tollywood. There being two studios at present in that locality, and several more projected, the name seems appropriate.’ Thus it was Hollywood itself, in a manner of speaking, that, with the confidence that comes from global supremacy, renamed a concentration of production facilities to make it look like its own baby.

Deming is renaming the locality, but there is no suggestion here that the name will also serve as an adjective to describe Indian cinema in general (although Calcutta in those days was still a strong centre of production). This gells very well with what I seem to remember from occasionally glancing at a Kolkata based youth magazine called JS (or Junior Statesman, a publication of the Statesman group which, long before satellite television and MTV, was addressed to what must have been a very small elite Indian youth segment) which referred to the Bengali film industry as Tollywood. ‘Bollywood’ is most likely to have come into existence by this route, because there is no obvious way to get from Bombay to Bollywood directly.

WillyWick

February 12th, 2006, 03:08 AM

More than what americans or any body else think about calling the hindi film industry as "bollywood", i dont see how we indians have kind of accepted it. That a film industry (world's largest) which involves innovation and art, cannot coin a real name for itself is pathetic. This goes to all the "ollywoods"- Kollywood(tamil), Tollywood(telugu), bollywood. Its simply fake!!!!

Suncity

February 12th, 2006, 03:51 AM

Found at

http://www.lera.com/projects/

Oberoi Commercial Tower (http://www.lera.com/projects/hir/oberoicommercial1.htm)

Client: Oberoi Constructions Pvt. Ltd.
Architect: HOK Los Angeles
Location: Mumbai, India
Gross Floor Area: 660,000sf / 61,000sm
Height: 27 stories
Status:?

http://img417.imageshack.us/img417/2456/oberoicommercialtower10zt.jpg

Hindustani

February 12th, 2006, 03:54 AM

Sun..............Oberoi Commercial Tower has Helipad on Top. I'm impressed. :)

Suncity

February 12th, 2006, 04:15 AM

The website also has info about Oberoi Springs (which I believe is the same as Oberoi Spas).

http://www.lera.com/projects/hir/oberoispring.htm

Client: Oberoi Constructions Pvt. Ltd.
Architect: Hafeez Contractor
Location: Mumbai, India
Gross Floor Area: 300,000 sf / 28,000 sm (each tower)
Height: 410 ft / 125 m

Oberoi Spas rendering from HC website

http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/5941/oberoispas9gr.jpg

Oberoi Launches OBEROI SPAS
http://www.estatenews.com/news2.asp?IDP=10

Oberoi Launches OBEROI SPRING at Andheri (W) Mumbai india it cosists of 3 TOWERS OF 36 floor,Project has Swimming Pool, Health Club, Tennis Court, Jogging Track,Lush Garden etc.

________________________________________________________

Mumbai: 2005 the boom year for real estate?
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1353597.cms

There are close to 1,050 projects that are still under construction in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai belt and most of these have shown sales varying from 40 to 100%. A few of the top builders who had launched projects late last year or early this year have nearly no stock to sell in whatever buildings they opened up. Prime examples are Oberoi Springs, Andheri West, Ozone-Goregaon East, Oberoi Woods, Goregaon East. The hot sellers in the market till date are Ekta Lake Homes - Powai, Hiranandani Gardens - Powai, Ekta Meadows - Kandivali East, Beaumonde - Prabhadevi . The marketing team in builders' offices are at ease as they really need not push the sales up since the current phenomenon is bringing enough people to take on the stocks they have.

spyguy

February 12th, 2006, 04:19 AM

I wonder what the true number of Mumbai projects UC and proposed really is.

Suncity

February 12th, 2006, 04:58 AM

Neptune Living Point

Location
http://img306.imageshack.us/img306/1706/neptunelivingpointlocation9nu.jpg

Render

http://img306.imageshack.us/img306/9640/neptuneliingpoint16oe.jpg

website
http://www.neptunegroup.net/livingpoint/

Suncity

February 12th, 2006, 05:10 AM

Soundbytes of Raja Aederi - one of India's leading architects

From Construction World

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/6963/rajaaederi17pt.jpg

Naga_Solidus

February 12th, 2006, 05:28 AM

That guy is a total pessimist with his Sangli comments. It's the same damn pessimism that has held India down all these years.

Suncity

February 12th, 2006, 05:38 AM

That guy is a total pessimist with his Sangli comments. It's the same damn pessimism that has held India down all these years.

He is only expressing his frustration with some of the rules, regulations and certain NGOs which hamper development in the name (and sometimes pretence) of social justice.

Naga_Solidus

February 12th, 2006, 06:41 AM

Its ok for people to express their frustration but they should also temper it with extremely well-thought out solutions. For example, saying "oh, we won't catch up to x,y,z in a million years" is purely negative. And the man was conveniently forgetting the fact that massive turnarounds are possible in India (witness the Delhi Metro, for example).

Bombay Boy

February 12th, 2006, 03:10 PM

Bryan Adams, U2: it’s time to go gigging
- Musicburst in Mumbai
SAMYABRATA RAY GOSWAMI

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060129/images/29hard.jpg
Hard Rock Cafe, Mumbai. Picture by Hemant Mishra/Businessworld

Jan. 28: It’s raining gigs in Mumbai. And rock is making the biggest splash. Heavy metal, funk, blues and hip-hop are not too far behind.

Bryan Adams, Uriah Heep, Kool and The Gang and U2 are leading the star line-up this year. Mumbai’s local bands are on a high, too, thanks to Indus Creed’s first-ever coming together for a performance in years for the One Tree Festival next month.

Welcome to the coming of age of live entertainment. “This burst is long overdue,” says V.G. Jairam, partner, Oranjuice Entertainment, which is organising the three-day One Tree Festival starting February 10.

“Basically, I think with the boom in economy there is an overall boom, and entertainment is — and will always — enjoy prime place in people’s minds.”

If Shaggy brought in the first shower with hip-hop earlier this month, it’s going to be a cloudburst of rock, heavy metal, classic funk and blues next month.

The act opens with rock band Jethro Tull’s performances on January 31 and February 1 as master flautist Ian Anderson jams with Indian rock band Alms for Shanti.

On February 4, it will be Canadian rocker Adams, on his third tour of India. Next in line, on February 10, is Uriah Heep, “the beach boys of heavy metal”.

The day after, it will be time for funk with Kool and the Gang. On February 12, the city would see Walter Trout, voted the sixth best guitarist of all time, and the Blues Brothers.

The live beat continues in March with hip-hop from The Black Eyed Peas, while U2 will round off the year.

So what do the listeners have to shell out for the live action?

Anything between Rs 3,000 and Rs 10,000. It’s a bit steep, yes, enough to burn a hole in the pocket of the average young person, like the student or the fresher at work.

Xerxes Antia doesn’t agree. “The target audience is the 30-plus yuppie audience that grew up with these artistes and is riding India’s economic boom. They don’t mind paying that much more for an event that they may have craved to be at since they were in school,” says the general manager of Seventy, a leading event management company.

And mind you, nostalgia comes in more forms than music. “Rock and other music-related merchandise will be on sale at our events. We are test-marketing this to see the response,” says Jairam.

The Oranjuice partner also has a good word for the government. It has “adopted friendly entertainment-tax rules and this helps”, he says, but adds that a “lot more needs to be done” if live entertainment has to be made an “industry”.

Compared to Bangalore’s 10 per cent entertainment tax, Mumbai’s is still steep. But it’s certainly lower than the earlier high of 49 per cent. The city, however, wins hands down over Delhi and Calcutta.

“They have too much of red tape. Mumbai and Bangalore have a good ticket-buying audience, but again not good enough as we have to still depend on sponsors for covering expenses. But I think with sustained live events, the ticket-buying culture will increase,” says Jairam.

What if all that music doesn’t satisfy your appetite? Don’t worry, just head towards India’s first Hard Rock Cafe (HRC) that gives Mumbai the me-too status in the international rock arena.

Bombay Boy

February 12th, 2006, 03:17 PM

Bombay Boy

February 12th, 2006, 08:18 PM

Mumbai could have been world class but for under-investment, says World Bank

Girish Kuber & Nandini Raghavendra

IT has always been very easy to downsize Mumbai, even when it was Bombay. Why isn’t the country’s cinema and commercial capital world class? If it thinks, feels and vibrates like the Big Apple and is more cosmopolitan than London why the never-ending problems? Why did a 26/7 happen in Mumbai? Let’s get this straight and upfront. It is definitely not the lack of a will from its citizens. Political maybe.
Yet, like Conservation Architect Abha Narain Lambah says, “Mumbai is not a city state like Delhi, where the main focus of the bureaucracy and politicians is the city. Mumbai, by being part of Maharashtra, has its resources whether financial or others get spread over the state. The focus is not on Mumbai. The people in power are politicians responsible for the entire state, as a result, the focus shifts from urban improvement and strengthening the infrastructure for Mumbai to the larger interests of the state. Unlike, New York we do not have a single point person with powers. No one person is answerable for the city.”
The potential? Well, according to the World Bank, Mumbai has developmental assets and the potential to become a world class city, but it is suffering because of ‘under-investment’. The bank has cited several reasons that are holding the
city back and has suggested specific measures to spruce up the financial capital of the country. Along with administrative reforms, Mumbai will need an investment of $130-200bn over the next 15 years to compete with the New Yorks and the Shanghais of the world. The bank feels this amount is modest “compared with the investment rate in India and Shanghai over the last decade”.
The Chinese city had received about $300bn in the last decade. The World Bank has asked the state government to structure this plan in two stages — a detailed action plan for the first five years followed by more indicative planning for the next ten. This is the first major initiative by the World Bank for the city after the launch of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project over 10 years ago during the Sena-BJP rule.
The state government has agreed to set up a ‘Metropolitan Planning Committee’ as a coordinating agency to carry out the development plan. Appreciating the steps being taken by the Vilasrao Deshmukh government for Mumbai, the bank has drawn up a list of short and long-term measures for the city. It notes that the “call to transform Mumbai into a world-class city has elevated the level of energy and discussion towards Mumbai’s future”.
The World Bank, however, wants the government to stick to its resolve and has reiterated on a time-frame agreed upon by the state’s action committee. The deadline for the process is May 15. The Mumbai Action Plan is expected to be formally launched by December 15, ‘06.

Suncity

February 12th, 2006, 08:51 PM

reasons like the above and annual fests like kala ghoda festival, mumbai festival, bandra festival, the nightlife, the safety factor, et al are what goes into making bombay great, not just its housing

infrastructure can easily be upgraded and pavements and lands cleared. we just need political will and better laws. but you cant replicate a spirit or culture that easily. went to a rabbi concert yesterday and he was saying he was blown away by the amount of single women who were there that night in the crowd, something he was not used to in the north. thats what gives me hope in the end, the infra will come, and the spirit will remain

But will the morality police allow this spirit to survive?

Moral policing 'affects' Mumbai's nightlife
http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?category=National&template=dancebars&slug=Moral+policing+affects+Mumbai's+nightlife+&id=84742&callid=1

Following the crackdown on dance bars and pubs across Mumbai, the moral brigade has gone after virtually every entertainment option that the city was famous for. There are now concerns over whether the city that never sleeps is turning into a Sangli instead of a Shanghai.

"In the 70s, we had Gerson D'cunha and Charles Correa, all young lads then learning to Tango and jazz playing all night long," said Anil Dharker, journalist and writer. "Now in 2006, we feel Bombay is a great city and then every second day there is a pronouncement from the home minister that this shall not be done, that shall not be done," added Dharker.

"You can't say they are all good joints. Some are run by shady people. Some are frequented by shady people like the ones at Bawa International. We have to protect women. Ladies and girls are victims and normally people are eyeing them," Arup Patnaik, Joint CP, Law and Order explained.

Mahrashtra's Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil sees his crusade against the city's elite. In his scheme of things, Mumbai's bars and clubs are owned by and frequented by the rich and the well connected. "The police had warned them 15 days before they took action. But these people have dared to rise above the system, they have violated the law and so we have had to take this action," said Patil. But Mumbai's nightlife has never been an elite playground. "They keep comparing Bombay to Shanghai. They say they want to make it Shanghai. Even the nightlife here can't be compared to any international city. It is no where near it," said Shyamli.

Some see Patil's crusade as a disconnect between the provincial morality of Maharashtra's politicians and Mumbai's cosmopolitanism as nothing but hypocrisy.

"Who are the government to tell the people what's right and what's wrong for us? On one hand you glorify Lavni and Tamasha as Maharashtra's culture," Sharada Dwivedi, author, said.

It is these double standards of the establishment that have Mumbai seething.

Instead of moving towards being a world city, many fear that the city of free enterprise and spirit is being pushed backwards by its politicians fettered by moral policing it does not need.

Bombay Boy

February 12th, 2006, 09:06 PM

the above is not really moral policing. its enforcing the law, which stipulates most places have to shut by 1.30 am or have to have certain licenses. what is needed is change of laws, and administration of licenses. currently there is a proposal to allow 24 hour licenses for shops, pubs and restaurants that is doing the rounds of mantralaya. inside info is that patil is in favour of it, lets hope that piece of news is true and that we get all-night joints. after all most people get into a club by 12-12.30. if its going to shut by 1.30 it severely affects business

Bombay Boy

February 12th, 2006, 09:09 PM

Patil has open mind on longer pub hours

Unaware Of Who Set 1.30 AM Deadline

By Prafulla Marpakwar/TNN

Mumbai: Deputy chief minister R R Patil is ready to take a fresh look at the row surrounding the shutdown deadline of 1.30 am for pubs.
“I don’t know who has set the deadline of 1.30 am. I will have to examine if it was the decision of the cabinet, the home department or the BMC. But if there is a proposal to extend the deadline, I am prepared to study it with an open mind,’’ Patil told TOI on Thursday.
The deputy CM also brought in the London angle, admittedly without knowing the “present status’’. He appeared to believe there were protests against pubs being kept open beyond 3 am in countries like the UK and that lawmakers were forced to bring the deadline forward. “I have gathered this information but I don’t know of the present status in London,’’ he said.
Well, TOI can enlighten the minister, both on the situation here and in the UK.
The UK has decided to keep pubs and bars open 24x7. And Mumbaikars, even those who would not set foot in a pub (see page 2), are actually telling the government to stay off the city’s night life.
It’s Mumbai’s USP and it makes people come back to the city and fall in love with it. This is the view expressed by a broad sprectrum of Mumbaikars—from grey-haired 65-year-olds to regular pub-hoppers.
Patil admitted people had divergent views on night curfews. One section might want pubs to stay open beyond 1.30 am just as another might like to see them shut down by midnight.
He also said the police were not acting out of vengeance against pubs. There were specific complaints that 23 pubs did not have proper licences, he explained, adding, “We will not tolerate lawlessness.’’

Bombay Boy

February 12th, 2006, 09:15 PM

clubs in hotels though are allowed to legally run till 3 am. still its not enough, there is no reason to enforce deadlines, as if the entire city comprises 15 year olds who need to be sleeping by a certain time. if you want to party all night long you have to get lucky and hope the place you are in has bribed the cops to let it run till the morning. it might be the most liberal timing law in india (though i heard calcutta might be better) but it can still be vastly improved, at least till 4 am if not all-night

Suncity

February 12th, 2006, 09:38 PM

Well hopefully Mumbai will not go the Kolkata way of seventies and eighties.

The leftist "liberals" did the same thing when they came to power forcing people to pack their bags and leave for Bombay and other places. Enjoyment (not in tune with Desi Communist morality standards) was termed capitalist sin and bad influence of imperialist powers and immoral (when so many people were poor and hungry). Even as late as early nineties they opposed construction of multiplexes as these would become play grounds of immoral capitalists under the influence of western imperialist studios. Now of course the same people are trying hard to reverse years of bankrupt social engineering - from reintroducing English in primary levels, to opening privately run colleges, to inaugurating malls and multiplexes and even welcoming IT and computers! Yesterday the CM said infratsructre like flyovers were essential for economic development. Though their big brothers in New Delhi still live in Jurassic Park.

Both Bryan Adams and Jethro Tull openly complained in recent interviews about not being given permission to play in the city despite several requests. Now whether it was the Delhi Babucracy or the politburo trying to protect the morals of Kolkata is unknown.

Our Kolkata plans were thwarted by Bureaucracy
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=168116

Our plans to play in Delhi and Kolkata were thwarted for the same reasons as before — the world of bureaucracy that involves international artistes. It’s relatively easier for Indian artistes to play in America and Europe.

I don't understand the politics in this country: Bryan Adams
http://www.bryanadams.nu/reviews/r150.htm

"But on the whole, India is an experience at every turn. It's quite special, considering I have been here three times. Though I don't understand the politics in the country, because we wanted to perform in Calcutta and Delhi, and I was told that we couldn't, which is quite sad. But maybe another time!"

collateral

February 12th, 2006, 11:32 PM

bombay boy:Bordering on that old argument about whether mumbai should become a union state...i think there are alternative routes to bringing about more investment.

Btw i managed to find a terrible image of that 40 floor glassy high-rise coming up next to 'The Imperial'

http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/6196/1243mainthumb0fs.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

---------------------
naseeb ma che

Suncity

February 13th, 2006, 12:52 AM

gyrations95

February 13th, 2006, 06:33 AM

Somebody tell these morons to concentrate on real issues rather than create issues out of nothing.

SC, I have a few pics buried somewhere among the family mela pics. Will sort thru and email you soon.

Anybody heard anything about the metro yet?? Jan 17 was supposed to be da day :bash: 2006 that is.

Bombay Boy

February 13th, 2006, 10:13 AM

reliance is pretty much finalised for it, its stuck on funding

Mumbai Metro: What’s on the negotiating table

Officials to bargain with Reliance Energy to slash capital contribution they want from MMRDA

Kavitha Iyer

Mumbai, February 12: FORTY per cent, at the very least. That’s how much tough-talking technocrats want Anil Ambani’s Reliance Energy Ltd (REL) to shave off from their demand for capital contribution from the government on the multi-crore Metro Rail project.

In their financial bid to build the mass rapid transport system, the REL-Connex consortium has sought Rs 1,251 crore from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). It’s clear now that the agency had planned to pay less than half this sum at the outset.

As the lowest bidder, the tender documents allow the MMRDA to negotiate with the REL-Connex team. Here’s what is on the negotiating table:

* Rs 2,356 crore: That’s the cost of the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor, the first of three routes in Phase I, as quoted in the REL-Connex bid. In 2003, estimates of capital costs were pegged at less than Rs 1,000 crore.

* Rs 1,251 crore: That’s the capital contribution the bidders are expecting from the MMRDA. Metropolitan Commissioner T Chandrashekhar had last week termed this as the ‘‘one contentious issue’’ for the agency, before the Authority decided to invite the consortium to bargain.

Sources say the MMRDA had expected a demand of less than half this sum.

The only other financial bid, from a consortium led by IL&FS and Unity Construction, demanded Rs 1,296 crore as the capital contribution or viability gap funding—a grant made by the state party to make the project viable for a private player.

* Rs 1,105 crore: That’s the rest of the project cost, which REL-Connex proposes to take care of by raising a 70-per cent debt (that’s about Rs 773 crore) and bringing in the rest (about Rs 331 crore) as equity.

Since the MMRDA will have a 26 per cent share in the equity of the Special Purpose Vehicle to be formed, that means the bidder will provide an equity of 74 per cent of Rs 331 crore, just about Rs 245 crore.

In effect, the bid is to build a Rs 2,356-crore project while pumping in just about 10 per cent initially, something that’s rankling officials.

* There may be several meetings in the coming weeks, as REL-Connex gauge their options. But with Anil Ambani having lost two major projects in the past month—the Delhi airport revamp project and the bid to build a convention centre in Bandra-Kurla Complex which was won by brother Mukesh’s Reliance Industries Ltd—sources say the Mumbai Metro is one prestigious project REL will not want to miss.

kavithaiyer@expressindia.com

collateral

February 13th, 2006, 01:20 PM

Any more info on this? Where did you get this image from?

No more info on this i was hoping someone else might know. there is a squished image of this on mumbai property exchange (like all the images on that site). but the one on this forum is its original scale i can assure you of that.

Suncity

February 13th, 2006, 03:10 PM

No more info on this i was hoping someone else might know. there is a squished image of this on mumbai property exchange (like all the images on that site). but the one on this forum is its original scale i can assure you of that.

I checked the site. It is Orbit Heights. That would mean that they have changed the design from what Kshatriya photographed at the exhibition last year (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=306979).

gyrations95

February 14th, 2006, 05:28 AM

:shocked: Cost escalation of 2.3 times in under 3 years. In India the quickest decision will often be the best decision. They spend better part of 2005 haggling about the gauge. Both have their pros and cons and you can't lose much with either of them. But an early 2005 decision would have saved MMRDA ~1000 crores. Who pays for whose lethargy?

Suncity

February 15th, 2006, 04:10 AM

Abrol Vastu Park (may have been posted by Jai before)
Evershine Nagar, Malad (W)
21 storeys

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/7595/abrolvastupark2pg.jpg

Suncity

February 15th, 2006, 04:24 AM

From the location map it seems to be across the waterfront. But the rendering is probably overboard.

Oceanic
Kandivali (W)

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/5585/oceanic14eo.jpg

Suncity

February 15th, 2006, 04:52 AM

Acme Court
Kandivali

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/4818/acmecourtkandivali6zu.jpg

Suncity

February 15th, 2006, 03:06 PM

CapitaLand expands into India's home market
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/193359/1/.html

SINGAPORE : After making inroads into the world's most populated country in China, CapitaLand is now eyeing the residential property market in the second largest, India. It is planning to build more than 500 apartments in the Indian commercial capital of Mumbai. Its first housing project in India is targeted for launch by year-end. The project is part of a mixed-use development to be built on an 81,000 square metre site. CapitaLand will team up with a leading Mumbai-based developer, the Runwal Group. The SGX-listed developer invested S$30.2 million for a 49 percent stake in the joint venture.

Suncity

February 15th, 2006, 03:12 PM

Runwal Infinity (don't think this is the same as the above project)
LBS Marg, Mulund

http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/7465/runwalinfinity7bq.jpg

Building Numbers 1 and 4: stilt + 24 floors; 86.4 m
Building Numbers 2 and 3: stilt + 28 floors; 99.2 m
Building number 5: stilt + 22 floors; 80 m

collateral

February 16th, 2006, 04:52 PM

Great updates^^

Really shows that the Indian middle class is widening and that they are demanding top-notch cosmopolitan accomodation.

Does anyone have anymore info about this 47 story tower(s) coming up in Gorgeon East, Mumbai. I thought it was Oberoi Woods first but these are much taller:
http://img437.imageshack.us/img437/4554/1894mainthumb3sv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

collateral

February 16th, 2006, 05:01 PM

Atlas Mills
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9867/atlasmills3tv.jpghttp://img508.imageshack.us/img508/3995/atlas8ax.jpg[/QUOTE]

This image Spy Guy posted earlier I think is one of the most exiciting projects to be talked about in central mumbai. Guess what its UNDER CONSTRUCTION and it should be ready by Oct 2008. mumbai's fortunes are slowly changing.

Suncity

February 16th, 2006, 06:17 PM

collateral

February 16th, 2006, 07:08 PM

Well its called Orchid Woods and is by Dynamix group as per site.

Cheers thanks for that. good to see mumbai progressing.

Suncity

February 16th, 2006, 07:28 PM

"Social" and "environmental" activist Medha strikes back...

Medha files a PIL against Atria Mall

The upcoming swanky Atria mall at Worli, which boasts of housing the country’s first Rolls Royce showroom and other international brands like Mont Blanc, Sony World and Guess, has come under the Bombay High Court scanner. The HC on Wednesday admitted a petition filed by social activist Medha Patkar challenging the legality of the mall, which has allegedly been constructed on land reserved for housing dishoused persons and a municipal school.

“Prima facie there seems to be some irregularity in the development of the mall,” Justice RM Lodha and Justice AV Mohta said. The construction of the 1.80 lakh square feet mall on Annie Beasant Road is almost complete. The court, however, refused to grant a stay on the inauguration of the mall.

The petitioner’s advocate YP Singh stated that the mall has come up in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and has been allowed a floor space index (FSI) of 2 against the norm of 1.33.

He alleged that area of the school, which has been redeveloped, has been reduced and that the structure has been pushed near a drain. He added that the mall has not provided adequate parking facility.

Senior Counsel Aspi Chinoy representing the developer denied the petitioner’s allegations stating that all requisite permissions were in place for the mall. The matter will now be heard in April.

_________________

Medha slams Mumbai Urban Transport Project
http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/16/stories/2006021604421300.htm

Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar said on Wednesday that the World Bank's Inspection Panel Investigation Report has indicted the Bank for violating its own rehabilitation and resettlement policies, which had resulted in injustice to those displaced by the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP).

Ms. Patkar told presspersons that the Maharashtra Government had arrested Raj Awasthi, secretary of the United Shop Owners Association, for daring to expose the true nature of the rehabilitation and had put him in jail since January 3. She said the records of the affected people were not accurate and even the NGOs appointed to facilitate the rehabilitation were criticised by the Inspection Panel. The main grievances came from the shopkeepers who were being given lesser space than they owned. She said the grievance redressal mechanism was only on paper.

The MUTP was going to displace the largest number of people in the world and it had a separate component for resettlement, Ms. Patkar pointed out.

_______________________________

Committee report on Mumbai floods supports lobby: Medha Patkar
http://www.newkerala.com/news2.php?action=fullnews&id=10888

The interim report of the Madhav Chitale committee on last year's Mumbai floods has supported the `lobby of builders, bureaucrats and politicians which wants to evict thousands of slumdwellers from the city', social activist Medha Patkar said here today.

The report does not give any guildelines on ways to avoid such floods but only supports the lobby which wants to evict slumdwellers, Patkar told reporters.

"Why this hurry in evicting the slumdwellers when there is no alternative arrangement in place for their rehabilitation", Patkar said.

______________________________________

`Urban Renewal Mission hijacked by World Bank'
http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/07/stories/2006020720250300.htm

Medha Patkar on Monday termed the National Urban Renewal Mission as the "National Urban Poor Removal Mission" saying that it has been hijacked by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the Indian corporates who would be benefiting from it at the cost of the urban poor.

Addressing media persons after a long meeting with Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy and his newly-inducted junior Ajay Maken, Ms. Patkar, convenor of the National Urban Development Struggle Committee, voiced the concerns of the poor urban population and threatened a prolonged struggle if these were not effectively addressed both at the stage of planning and implementation.

kviv314

February 17th, 2006, 01:53 AM

nothing against Medha Patkar, but she should have interfered when construction of the mall was proposed or approved and not when it is about to be finished...!!!

kshatriya

February 18th, 2006, 11:57 AM

Sunbeam Tower, Lokhandwala, Andheri(W)

35F, u/c. no more info

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/8760/sunbeam3kp.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Suncity

February 18th, 2006, 04:31 PM

^^^

Looks good!

Bombay Boy

February 18th, 2006, 04:48 PM

well medha protesting the mall before or after its constructed is irrelevant. what matters is if its illegal or not. if its illegal it must face the law, as should all other illegal structures including slums. if the papers are in order it can stay

the rest are her usual rantings. on the one hand she supports illegal structures like slums, on the other she protests well-developed structures that give jobs

Suncity

February 18th, 2006, 04:53 PM

well medha protesting the mall before or after its constructed is irrelevant. what matters is if its illegal or not. if its illegal it must face the law, as should all other illegal structures including slums. if the papers are in order it can stay

That's very true. Even the judge pointed that out.

the rest are her usual rantings. on the one hand she supports illegal structures like slums, on the other she protests well-developed structures that give jobs

Very true.

centralized pandemonium

February 18th, 2006, 05:01 PM

Sunbeam Tower, Lokhandwala, Andheri(W)

35F, u/c. no more info

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/8760/sunbeam3kp.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hey it looks like that 40 story building(forgot the name) from I think Andheri, without the spire on the top.

Suncity

February 18th, 2006, 08:05 PM

Hey it looks like that 40 story building(forgot the name) from I think Andheri, without the spire on the top.

You mean the RNA Mirage (Worli)?

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/7580/rnamirage28mo.jpg

Bombay Boy

February 21st, 2006, 06:24 PM

5-star hotel on mill land menu

Business Project To Include Rooftop Restaurant, Mall And Multiplex

By Nauzer Bharucha/TNN

Mumbai: Lower Parel in central Mumbai will soon have a 25-storey business hotel with a rooftop restaurant, a mall and a multiplex. The project, a brainchild of Jawala Real Estate, will come up on the 17-acre Mumbai Textiles Mill land on Senapati Bapat Marg that belonged to the National Textiles Corporation (NTC).
Jawala—a joint venture between Delhi-based DLF and Akruti—shook the real estate market last June when it bid a phenomenal Rs 702 crore for this property. The project near Phoenix Mills envisages a three-storey building with retail and commercial developments and another section with a 25-storey hotel. The basement will have parking facilities for 2,700 vehicles. The fourth to 25th floors will house the guest rooms, with a restaurant on the top-most floor. Upto 1,000 workers will be deployed for construction. Laing O’Rourke, a global construction solution company, is advising Jawala on how to go about with the project.
On Monday, the Rs 1,140-crore project came up for environmental scrutiny at a public meeting organised by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Any building project that costs Rs 50 crore and above or has a daily sewage discharge of 50,000 litres immediately comes under the scrutiny of the people and the Union environment ministry. The public hearing on Monday wound up within 30 minutes, but not before some local Shiv Sainiks and former mill workers raised objections about the chaos the project will create in the neighbourhood.
“How will our children benefit if NTC surrenders land for a playground in another locality. This is just a charade,’’ one of the local residents told the panel. NTC has earmarked two of its sick mills exclusively for public use in the Kalachowkie-Lalbaug areas in return for being allowed to sell five of its mill lands (including Mumbai Textiles) located in the Parel-Dadar belt.
“Even the British, while setting up the BDD chawls had made adequate provisions for playgrounds,’’ the resident observed. A local Sena vibhag pramukh said the area was already facing a severe water problem and the project would make it worse. Other participants said such a mammoth project in the aftermath of 26/7 floods would be “devastating’’ for the area.
According to the rapid environmental impact assessment report prepared byUltra-Tech, Jawala plans to set up a “shopping complex and a business hotel of international standards’’. “The company envisages these facilities in such a manner that they should emerge as a place of pride in the city. This project will create employment and a social infrastructure for the residents of central Mumbai. It will also enable them to meet their consumption needs in an efficient manner and create a beautiful spot in a region replete with decrepit buildings,’’ the report said.
A rain water harvesting system would reduce the water demand on the BMC by upto 40% and new storm water drains will be constructed, the report claimed. About 20 existing trees will be replanted and 600 new trees will be planted.
A few weeks ago, TOI had reported how an ancient fresh water pond on the Mumbai Textiles Mill premises was turned into a muddy, slush-filled puddle due to massive dumping work by the contractor. However, a company official claimed it was not a natural lake, but just a place where water from the boiler was drained out.

Bombay Boy

February 21st, 2006, 06:27 PM

Eight firms pitch for Mithi river clean-up

By Ashley D’Mello TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: Eight firms are in the running for the Rs 30 crore phase one Mithi river clearance contract. The work is expected to begin in early March.
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) officials said that Monday was the last date for submission of tenders for the project. The last date for submission for tenders for the second phase, valued at Rs 100 crore, is Tuesday.
MMRDA officials added that the first phase would entail the widening and desilting of the river from Mahim causeway to Dharavi bridge and Vakola Nala to CSE bridge. The second phase will involve further widening and deepening of the river.
MMRDA officials said that the first phase of the widening would increase the capacity of the river by at least double. Around 6,000 structures that had blocked the path of the widening programme will be removed.
MMRDA has also planned beautification of the river after the widening and desilting are completed. A marina with a floating jetty and restaurant are planned at a cost of Rs 15 crore.
MMRDA planners are using a futuristic model to study the Mithi’s health over the next 25 years but as of now the emphasis is on
getting things going before the next monsoon so as to prevent any flooding.
Earlier planners had done immense damage by not taking into account the river’s natural course and instead put up obstructions in its path.

Bombay Boy

February 21st, 2006, 06:31 PM

Metro cost: Round 2 talks between REL, state soon

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: The state is ready for a second round of negotiations with Anil Ambani’s Reliance Energy Limited (REL) on bringing the price down for the 12-km-long Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro link even as it has dropped the company from the shortlist for the Rs 4,000-crore Shewri-Nhava transharbour link.
The preliminary round of negotiations for the metro link took place last week and another round is scheduled soon, top officials said. “There was no decision at this meeting, we hope something tangible is decided at the next meeting,’’ they added.
For the Shewri-Nhava link, which will entail a 23-km-long bridge, the consortia that have been shortlisted are Gammon India-L& T, IL&FS-SKIL Infrastructure and IFCO-Italia-Thai consortium. The Reliance Group was reported to have an interest in the transharbour link for over two decades and reports of it have appeared sporadically in the press.
The pre-qualification bidders will now have to submit their plans in the next few months. The mammoth project has been talked about for the last three decades.

Bombay Boy

February 21st, 2006, 06:32 PM

TISS STUDY

Citizens upbeat about Mumbai going places

By Hemali Chhapia/TNN

Mumbai: The planning commission may have recently rapped the state for economic decline and poor progress in the social sector but a recent survey by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) shows that more than 60% Mumbaikars see a bright future for the city.
The study, ‘Support systems in select Mumbai neighbourhoods: A study of well-being’, has been conducted by the unit of family studies at TISS. “Almost 61% of the respondents said that Mumbai will become the number one city in the world in the next five years. While 10% said it will get worse, the remaining 30% were of the view that everything will remain the same,’’ said Sujata Sriram, one of the authors of the study.
Yet to be published, the study by Sriram and Rosamma Veedon looks at what citizens living in chawls, m u l t i - s t o re y buildings and colonies believed would be the future of the city. “A large proportion said that their locality would become better five years hence. More than 50% said that Mumbai would become an international city and regain its lost glory within 10 years,’’ Sriram added.
In fact, mobility of people up and down the economic ladder too seemed more possible in the city and citizens seemed upbeat about their prospects of getting ahead.
“Young people living in chawls wanted to move out and get something better for themselves. They wanted more money, more space; they wanted to give their children better education and healthcare. Most of them wanted to live in apartments. Similarly those living in apartments wanted to move to south Mumbai or Bandra; they thought that quality of life was better there. And they thought that Mumbai would fulfil these dreams,’’ the study says.
Those in the lower economic rung also do not mind paying higher taxes because they feel it will better their quality of life. “Most said that Mumbai is an affordable city. The chawl dwellers were ready to pay more taxes because they knew it would finally come back to them. However, that was not the case with those living in apartments,’’ Sriram added.
When asked to point out some of the issues that mar the city’s image, almost everyone had half a dozen of them: stray dogs and cattle, garbage strewn all over, traffic’s a mess, lack of safe drinking water, not enough green cover, air and noise pollution.
But aamchi Mumbai still remains aamchi.

Bombay Boy

February 21st, 2006, 06:35 PM

BMC budget to be made public today

Mumbai: The civic budget will be made public on Tuesday. Though the budget was submitted to the standing committee in February first week, its contents were not revealed owing to the electoral code of conduct that was in force in the Naiguam assembly constituency.
This will be the last budget before the next civic elections, scheduled in February 2007 and so, any increase in taxes is unlikely. This budget will also see the introduction of the double accounting accrual system, that is, the BMC will list its assets and liabilities under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
The budget outlay for stormwater drains is all set to increase in the wake of the 26/7 floods. The civic administration is planning to reappoint consultants Watson and Hawksley (now renamed Montgomery Watson Hazra) to update the Brimstowad report. The report had been prepared and submitted by the consultants in 1992 but it was not implemented. The consultants will update the report on the basis of the new rainfall data and a recheck on the designs. The BMC is expected to provide a minimum of Rs 100 crore for the repair of stormwater drains. TNN

Bombay Boy

February 21st, 2006, 06:37 PM

Civic body gets set to become more efficient

Rs 10.08 Cr McKinsey Report Submitted To Chief

By Shalini Nair/TNN

Mumbai: The long-awaited McKinsey report recommending ways to improve the BMC’s efficiency has been submitted to civic chief Johny Joseph. And if the report is worth the moolah spent on it (the civic body paid the firm Rs 10.08 crore for the one-year study), the BMC may become ‘best poised to spearhead the development of Mumbai into a world-class city’.
The report, commissioned in November 2003, was meant to link productivity to payscales and the global consultancy firm was appointed to submit a comprehensive report on four areas—procedures, manpower requirement, productivity and work norms. The three-member Pay Revision Committee (PRC) had submitted its report on civic employees’ payscale revision to the BMC two years ago and part two of the report (on work norms and manpower requirement) was to be decided based on the McKinsey report.
“Initially it was decided that the PRC would submit a holistic report on payscale linked to productivity. But following demands from workers’ unions the payscale has already been fixed. Now the report won’t be sent to the PRC and the BMC will simply fix the norms for increasing productivity as per the report,’’ said Joseph.
The firm was to work with two crucial civic departments of solid waste management and health department. However, instead of health the report decided to focus on the road department and the assessment and collections department that deals with the collection of property tax and octroi. Also included in the study are three wards namely G North (Dadar), K-east (Andheri) and M-west (Chembur). Currently these departments along with the 24 ward offices account for 75,000 employees. The report says if the measures suggested by it are implemented, the manpower required will be 40,000 less than what it is at present in these departments.
But workers’ unions have decided to oppose the report as they say they were not consulted while drafting it. “The BMC is trying to set norms for workers but we have not been consulted,’’ said Sharad Rao from the Municipal Mazdoor Union.

Quality Control

The findings of these pilot studies will be soon generalised to all other wards and departments:

- Solid waste management:

Extend the gate-to-gate collection of garbage facility to the entire city. A third party should be appointed to measure the cleanliness index in different parts of the city. More public toilets need to be built to meet the shortfall of a whopping 30,000 seats.

- Assessment and collections department:

The department nets in 60% of BMC’s revenue. In a suggestion that might upset civic unions, the report recommends abolition of octroi in the long term ‘to attract economic activity to Mumbai’. As short term measures, it details ways of reducing time and means of checking Rs 400 crore worth evasion at octroi nakas. The report claims that these and other reforms for property tax collection will help net in an additional Rs 650 cr.

- Wards:

The citizens facilitation centre at each of the 24 ward offices would be upgraded by April 2007. This is aimed at reducing the transaction time—for say getting a water connection or redressing a complaint—by half.

Bombay Boy

February 21st, 2006, 06:39 PM

Novartis plans R&D centre in Thane for OTC segment

By Amrita Nair-Ghaswalla/TNN

Mumbai: Novartis, is to set up a R&D centre in Thane to cater to the over the counter segment. The global OTC research centre, will help the Switzerland-based firm corner a critical mass in the US OTC market.
Novartis had strengthened its presence in the US market by acquiring the rights to a portfolio of OTC products—led by the pain medicine Excedrin—from Bristol-Myers Squibb for approximately $660 million in cash, last year. The acquisition of Excedrin, which had sales of $160 million in the US in 2004, provided Novartis an entry into the US adult analgesic tablet market, the largest OTC category that had an estimated sales of $2 billion in 2004.
The Indian arm, which has the well-known mineral supplement Calcium Sandoz and nasal decongestant Otrivin among other OTC products, will soon have an array of OTC products from the parent, sources said. The new research centre is meant to develop, produce and market selfmedication products.
The OTC division of Novartis India, that focuses on consumer health, was identified as a major focus area and had been established as a separate division. Sources said that though OTC drugs initially require high expenses on advertising and marketing, the company maintained it as worthwhile to invest in this business as it has good growth prospects.
Sources said that Novartis plans to have one umbrella brand and six to seven auxiliary brands. The firm is also planning to convert more drugs into OTC.

READY REMEDY

The main product categories are analgesics, cough, cold, smoking cessation treatments, allergy, dermatological, gastrointestinal and mineral supplements

The OTC business unit of Novartis Consumer Health has global headquarters in New Jersey

Bombay Boy

February 21st, 2006, 06:43 PM

Dharavi set to get a Rs 6-k cr makeover

Girish Kuber MUMBAI

SOON around 33,20,000 sq ft of developed space will be up for grabs right in the heart of Mumbai. As the stage is set for transforming Mumbai’s eyesore, Dharavi, into a modern township, the Rs 6,000 crore project, spread over five years, is expected to push the real estate sector into top gear. The ambitious project aims at cleaning up a vast area, often called the underbelly of Mumbai, which houses 6,00,000 people.
“The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has cleared the draft to invite Expressions of Interest (EoI) for the project,” DS Malwankar, finance controller, SRA and co-ordinator for the Dharavi project, told ET. The
state government has appointed a high-level committee under the chairmanship of the chief secretary to oversee the process.
Sources in the state’s urban development ministry said the initial procedure would be completed in a couple of weeks, probably by mid-March. “After this, advertisements calling for EoI will be released at local as well as international levels,” an official said.
The SRA plans to set a time frame of 45 days for players willing to be a part of Mumbai’s biggest real estate development action. “Shortlisted entities will, then, be given offer documents. We want to build around 10,000 dwellings in five zones,” Mr Malwankar said. The selected group will be entrusted the responsibility of developing, building and marketing of over 33 lakh sq. ft. of area. “The developer will be evaluated technically and financially by a committee headed by the chief secretary. Each developer is required to explain his development strategy as per the SRA norms in his sector,” he added.
The SRA norms stipulate that the slum dweller whose name appears in the voter’s list as on January 1995 and who is the actual occupant of the hutment located in Dharavi, is eligible for rehabilitation. Each such eligible occupant will be allotted a self contained house, of 225 sq ft carpet area, free of cost. The builders, in return, will get an additional FSI that will be used to make up for their investments.
The SRA has, however, deviated from the earlier norms, which stated that the development rights could be transferred anywhere in the city. This time it wants the builders to use the extra floor space index in the same area.

kshatriya

February 21st, 2006, 08:40 PM

kshatriya

February 21st, 2006, 08:43 PM

Suncity

February 21st, 2006, 10:17 PM

hmm trouble already.

I have noticed that any "highrise" project that Nauzer Bharucha reports on seems to run into trouble. Call it coincidence.

;-)

Coming back to the news article...I wonder if the sainiks have similar "reservations" about projects by the near and dear ones of the Sena leadership.

Suncity

February 21st, 2006, 10:22 PM

Dharavi set to get a Rs 6-k cr makeover

We have to keep our fingers crossed. There is no guarantee that this will not end up in another tamasha between the usual crowd - environmentalists, architects, builders, babus, netas, ngos, socialists, sainiks, lawyers and "experts".

February 22nd, 2006, 01:28 AM

A minor request - it would be very useful if the URLs of news articles could be posted here in addition to the article text. The information on this and other threads on this forum is great; it would make it even more useful (for purposes of passing around to other people) if links were provided.

Thanks again from a forum newbie. :)

Suncity

February 22nd, 2006, 03:01 AM

Welcome on board!

And yes, links should be provided under fair use rules.

Bombay Boy

February 22nd, 2006, 05:52 AM

well they are from the epaper of times of india, so sorry no links

Suncity

February 22nd, 2006, 06:02 AM

^^^
In that case TNN is fine I think.

________________

BTW these are pics by Bombay Boy.

What are these projects?

1

http://i1.tinypic.com/o9r785.jpg

2
http://i1.tinypic.com/o9r7f4.jpg

3
http://i1.tinypic.com/o9r7l4.jpg

_______________

gyrations95

February 22nd, 2006, 06:14 AM

Good posts Bombay Boy.

Suncity

February 22nd, 2006, 06:23 AM

Good posts Bombay Boy.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=317881

Bombay Boy

February 22nd, 2006, 08:45 PM

Budget wise: BMC plans world-class city

Sets Aside 65% Of Funds For Infrastructure

Mumbai: Expect superior quality roads, an augmented stormwater drain network and sewerage system. Expect a world-class city with no rise in taxes this year, thanks to the civic elections in February 2007.
With a modest surplus of Rs 45 lakh, municipal commissioner Johny Joseph on Tuesday presented a Rs 6,715 crore budget—Rs 2,338 crore or 65% of which will be spent on civic infrastructure.
Post-26/7, a special provision of Rs 60 crore has been set aside for the cleaning up of 11 km of the Mithi river while the disaster management cell will be upgraded at a cost of Rs 30.52 crore. For the first time, the BMC has also kept Rs 111 crore for the city’s fire services. The money will be used for purchase of equipment for three new search and rescue teams to be set up as also the purchase of fire fighting and rescue equipment, and the construction of six regional command centres.
Another disaster, the recent death of 16 deer has been kept in mind and the city’s zoo may get a new life as
the BMC proposes to spend Rs 150 crore on its upgradation over three years. In the next financial year it will spend Rs 25 crore.
No new taxes will be imposed but the corporation is confident of increasing its revenue by disposing of disputes in property assessment to the tune of Rs 900 crore. The corporation also has reason to smile as its revenue from octroi is up 15% at Rs 2,690 crore and from property tax by 13% at Rs 818.58 crore.
Its revenue from new water and sewerage connections is also expected to increase by another Rs 82.59 crore. However, the corporation’s wage bill is estimated to increase from Rs 2,402 crore (53% of the budget) to Rs 3,025 crore (59% of the budget). TNN

Here’s how the BMC plans to transform Mumbai

By strengthening the civic infrastructure By Environmental upgradation
A budget provision of Rs 60 crore has been made for widening the Mithi river and clearing encroachments from its banks. The 26/7 floods caused by the overflowing of the river resulted in heavy losses.
Modernisation and upgradation of Byculla zoo
The 144-year-old zoo and garden will undergo modernisation at a cost of Rs 150 crore over three years under the guidance of international consultants and conservation experts. Its layout will be redesigned with natural habitats and modern animal care.
Institutional reforms
There will be a computerisation initiative to provide better services to citizens. This will include online payment of water bill, property tax, sundry payments, online information request etc.

1 ROADS AND FOOTPATHS
In 2006-07, the BMC has made a provision of Rs 602 crore for cement concreting, asphalting and repair and maintenance of roads and footpaths. A road length of 67 km will be taken up for concreting and another 178 km for asphalt work.

2 STORMWATER DRAINS
Priority works on improving the drains at a cost of Rs 390 crore will be undertaken during the year. This includes provision of Rs 50 crore for improving flood gates and providing stormwater pumping stations at four locations at a cost of Rs 200 crore.

3 WATER MAINS REHABILITATION WORKS
To reduce contamination of water supplied to the city, 215 km length of water mains will be replaced and another 171 km will be repaired at a cost of Rs 356 crore over a period of two years.

4 HEALTH
The city will get t Molecular diagnostic reference laboratory at Kasturba Hospital t Digital Radiology services at KEM Hospital and image guided system for the orthopaedic dept at KEM t CCTVs in civic hospitals

This is how the BMC proposes to spend your money this year

Rs 3,025 cr
Wages and pension of its one lakh plus employees

Rs 895 cr
Traffic operations, roads and bridges

Rs 390 cr
Stormwater drains

Rs 275 cr
General supervision and computerisation

Rs 218 cr
Buildings etc

Rs 177 cr
Health

Rs 163 cr
Solid waste management and transport

Rs 111 cr
Fire brigade services

Rs 96 cr
Gardens etc

Rs 161 cr
Repairs to civic properties & slum improvements

Bombay Boy

February 22nd, 2006, 08:46 PM

McKinsey finds special mention

Move Designed To Ensure Reappointment Of Firm For Another Year

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: Global consultants McKinsey & Co have found special mention in the 2006-07 civic budget. Civic sources said this was to ensure that the proposal to reappoint McKinsey for another year would get passed if the budget was cleared in toto and to provide a smooth passage through the civic standing committee later.
McKinsey was appointed in November 2003 to help prepare work norms for BMC employees and introduce more efficient systems at the ward level, in octroi and assessment, recommend improvements in road infrastructure and solid waste management. The firm has been paid Rs 10.4 crore and the extension will cost Rs 20 crore. Municipal commissioner Johny Joseph, however, said the fees were unlikely to escalate.
However, not many in the BMC, including senior officials, are impressed with McKinsey’s contribution. Civic sources pointed out that areas being studied by the consultancy firm were the same for which Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) was hired earlier. Incidentally, TCS has been appointed as a consultant for the BMC’s ambitious IT programme for only Rs 2 crore.
To improve BMC’s efficiency at the ward level, the corporation plans to introduce enterprise resources planning (ERP). “The tenders for ERP were received in October much before McKinsey submitted its report. One of the conditions which BMC put was that each ERP vendor study the existing processes and recommend global best practices as part of the bid document. All the bids contain global best practices which can be automated straightaway,’’ said sources.
In case of octroi, McKinsey was trying to re-design the layout of the nakas and bring about reduction in truck waiting time but TCS had already done that. “TCS’ recommendation of internet based pre-processing of octroi forms completely eliminates waiting time for trucks. The IT-based solution is technologically superior and currently a pilot project is on with some leading corporate companies in the country,’’ said sources.
In fact at the final presentation made by McKinsey to the commissioner in November last year, IAS officers pointed out that the recommendations being made were demands of the department for a long time and the firm was merely making a representation of it.
“All IT-based solutions have already been made by TCS so what is your contribution in this recommendation?’’ McKinsey was asked. McKinsey reportedly replied that it had dove-tailed all of it together to give BMC a strategy.

Bombay Boy

February 22nd, 2006, 08:51 PM

Fauntastic
By: Janaki Fernandes
February 22, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The BMC budget has given the Byculla Zoo Rs 25 crore to make it as swanky and animal-friendly as the Singapore zoo. The state plans to spend Rs 150 crore on it in the next three years. Janaki Fernandes reports

The modernisation of the zoo will be staggered over the next three years. Sources said work like clearing cages, creating moats and redesigning the garden will be taken up in the first year. It will be converted to an open zoo and will house animals in spacious open environments, landscaped enclosures, which will be separated from the visitors by dry or wet moats.

“In the case of dangerous animals such as leopards and jaguars, which can easily jump great distances, moat barriers will not be used. Instead, these animals will be housed in beautifully landscaped glass-fronted enclosures,” explained Raj Shroff, who has been spearheading a year-long-campaign to give the zoo a makeover.

Budget allocations

For the first time, the BMC budget has allocated Rs 25 crore to provide
a facelift to the zoo. The budget, which was presented to the standing
committee yesterday, will be tabled before the House by the end of this
month. This allocation is part of the Rs 150 crore that will be utilised for a
complete makeover of the zoo.

Firms behind the project

McKinsey, the international consultancy firm, will chalk out details of the
changes to be implemented. “McKinsey has studied international zoos like
Singapore which have similar space constraints like the Mumbai zoo and
have suggested changes to the corporation,” said Shroff.

Will it happen?

But going by BMC’s past record, it has a habit of earmarking funds for
special projects and then not utilising them. The question remains unanswered as to whether the makeover of Byculla zoo will only remain on paper.

Commissioner speak

Municipal Commissioner Johny Joseph said McKinsey have suggested to
the BMC that they create a special body to maintain the zoo. This is the
system followed worldwide. He also said that they will consider suggestions made by renowned conservationists.

MLA speak
The BMC had allocated Rs 1 crore to give a facelift to Shivaji Park, which has still not been utilised. I doubt if the money allotted to the zoo will get spent on it
— MLA Sada Sarwankar

Besides viewing animals in their natural habitat, activities such as fine dining amidst the animals, safaris and leasing premises for weddings and parties will be provided
— Raj Shroff, who had contested the recent Assembly elections from Malabar Hill

http://web.mid-day.com/1news/city/2006/february/131465.htm

gyrations95

February 22nd, 2006, 08:59 PM

With a modest surplus of Rs 45 lakh, municipal commissioner Johny Joseph on Tuesday presented a Rs 6,715 crore budget—Rs 2,338 crore or 65% of which will be spent on civic infrastructure.
Brilliant. Rs 2,338Cr of Rs 6,715Cr comes to 35% not 65%. Now considering that BMC spends ~90% of its revenue on salaries and wages, gathering such a staggering amt would be another brilliant piece of mathematics.

Bombay Boy

February 22nd, 2006, 09:17 PM

maybe its 65% of whats left after wages

6715 - 3025= 3690
2338/3690 = 63.36%

Bombay Boy

February 22nd, 2006, 09:18 PM

wages constitute around 50%, not 90%

gyrations95

February 23rd, 2006, 04:37 AM

Not sure where you got your figure from. I am quoting Arun Shourie's article in IE sometime back.

gyrations95

February 23rd, 2006, 04:38 AM

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=317881

His pics are really good. It's a treat being among all you guys.

Suncity

February 23rd, 2006, 05:31 PM

DSK Durgamata under constrution - view from a hotel window (no it's not pollution but the sunlight) - photo by conrad steenberg

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2108/dskdurgamataconradsteenberg17n.jpg

magestom

February 26th, 2006, 11:37 PM

Here is a list of the Malls in Mumbai and some of the malls coming. See if you can find pics of them.

R. Mall Mulund

Nirmal Lifestyle
Mulund

Centre One Vashi

Cross Roads
Nariman Point

Dheeraj Heritage
Santacruz (W)

Fun Republic
Andheri (W)

Hatane Shopping Centre
Andheri (W)

Thakur Mall
Kandivali (E)

Marathon Max
Mulund

Grand Hyatt
Kalina

Cine World
Thane

Raheja Classic
Andheri Link Road

Atria
Worli

Tulip Arcade
Juhu

Nirmal Arcade II
Mulund

In Orbit
Malad (W)

Hi street finix
Lower Parel

Cable Corp
Borivali

Hi way Mall
Goregaon (E)

Oberoi Mall
Goregaon (E)

RNA Millennium
Kandivali (W)

Raj Arcade
Kandivali (W)

Growell
Kandivali (E)

Dynamix Group
Goregaon (E) 270 shops various size

Juhu
Santacruz (W)

Neelkanth Group
Santacruz (W)

Gundecha
Chandivali

Kanakia

Sahara
Linking Rd, Bandra

Sagar
Chandivali, IT Park

Emgeen
CST Road, Kalia Windser

Morya Properties
Link Road, Andheri

Tata Housing
Technopol, MIDC, Andheri

K. Raheja Construction
Nest, Link Road, Malad

gyrations95

February 27th, 2006, 12:10 AM

I don't think this has been posted before.

http://www.inorbitmalls.com/inorbitmain_corporate/images/popup_news/jan26_2006_1.jpg

gyrations95

February 27th, 2006, 12:22 AM

gyrations95

February 27th, 2006, 01:14 AM

MUMBAI DEVELOPMENT PLAN State's and corporates' agenda (http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=10612)

"For reversing the slow decline in the fortunes of Mumbai in recent years, the Maharashtra government is reconsidering its industrial licensing policy for licensing new manufacturing activity and rationalisation of FSI in the Mumbai metro region," declared Sanjay Ubale, Secretary (Special Projects), the Government of Maharashtra.
In active consultation with the World Bank experts, the state government is considering rationalisation of FSI in selected nodes in the city for relieving congestion and facilitating creation of civic infrastructure. Hafeez Contractor, a city architect, advocated upward revision of FSI, not only as a sure solution to the scarcity of residential and commercial premises, but also to generate funds for infrastructure development in the city.
Other measures the state government is considering are rationalisation of fiscal and financial laws with a view to encourage investment in critical sectors of urban infrastructure,creating a strong brand for the city by involving both civil and corporate citizens, through public-private partnership.
The government has also set up a committee for evolving strategies for productive use of huge chunks of surplus coastal land owned by the BPT. "The BPT owns 1,600 acres, but actually uses only about one-third. The BPT can use the surplus land for residential and commercial purposes," said Ubale.
Remy Prud'homme, a senior World Bank expert, stressed that the boundary of Mumbai metropolis should not restricted to only the present confines of Greater Mumbai (up to Dahisar), but should be extended to include Thane, Kalyan, Navi Mumbai, and even Nashik and Nagpur. (Hehhe I think it would be just easier to rename Maharashtra as Mumbai)
Dr Rajiv Lall, Managing Director & CEO, IDFC said that the city's development plan would require about Rs 20, 000 core, and around 60 per cent of this should come from the private sector.
The above views were exressed by the speakers at a seminar on 'Strategies for Rejuvenating Mumbai' organised jointly by the Indian Merchants Chamber and Bharat Vikas Parishad in Mumbai on February 14.

kshatriya

February 27th, 2006, 07:48 AM

nagpur?! hell no.....its like 500+ km away...right?

Naga_Solidus

February 27th, 2006, 11:42 AM

nagpur?! hell no.....its like 500+ km away...right?

It's nto gonna be all that far away in 2020, when we will have Maglevs in vaccum tubes running at 500-1000km/h, with flying cars and all that.

Bombay Boy

February 27th, 2006, 11:44 AM

haha, thats hilarious. nagpur as part of the metro

i am surprised they have not mentioned pune. that will very soon be part of the bombay metro area i believe, esp if they introduce a few high speed trains and the expressway is extended more into bombay as proposed. the sewri-nhava link will also cut down time considerably from downtown

Suncity

February 27th, 2006, 02:51 PM

Sun, is Prakash Advani a forumer? He has a bunch of cool InOrbit mall pics here (http://www.cityblogger.com/gallerypics/inorbit/). There are lot of other pics from cities around India. Maybe we could invite him over.

I believe Kshatriya invited him over and he became a member (padvani). There is a thread in the showcase gallery.
http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=199566

Prakash Advani does have some great photos. Maybe we should post some of the best photos in that thread for visual effect.

Bombay Boy

February 27th, 2006, 06:53 PM

Wanted: Funds from Japan, Canada

State Resents World Bank’s Rehab Norms For City Projects

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: Faced with the World Bank’s stringent terms for rehabilitating project-affected people, the Maharashtra government is making a determined effort to woo Japanese and Canadian funds for city infrastructure projects, particularly the Mumbai Metro.
Government officials have met Canadian and Japanese delegations in the city this week and have made known their eagerness for funding. The pitch seems to be urgent, say sources, as there are differences between the government and the World Bank over some key issues. “It was only natural that other options of funding infrastructure projects which are essential for the makeover of the city be explored,’’ they said.
The World Bank is currently financing a large part of the Rs 4,526-crore Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) for widening of roads, the construction of the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli and Santacruz-Chembur link roads and extra corridors on the suburban railway.
The government will need almost Rs 10,000 crore in the next five years for the first three Metro Rail projects—part of the first phase of the railway in the city.
Bureaucrats and World Bank officials have differed on the manner in which commercial structures, which are being removed for road-widening projects, are being rehabilitated. The World Bank insists that small businesses by the roadside such as shops and garages be compensated for any drop in incomes that may be expected if they are moved out of their current addresses through rehab schemes.

‘World Bank rehab norms not realistic’

Mumbai: The World Bank’s stringent policies for fund lending has put the state in a fix. The government is now approaching Japan for money to sponsor infrastructure projects in the city.
Sources said bureaucrats and WB officials are at loggerheads over the rehabilitation of small business displaced by road-widening projects. But World Bank officials said, “This is in keeping with international procedures. If you shift a small business that depends on its immediate surroundings for income, then you have to compensate them for loss of income or livelihood.’’
However, some government officials feel such stringent guidelines on rehabilitation or compensation are not realistic or justified given the potential opportunities that exist in India’s largest commercial centre. Besides, the state is keen to broadbase the funding and tap sources other than the World Bank for kickstarting infrastructure projects. This is intended to avoid the level of financial dependence that exists.
Senior planners of MMRDA had a discussion with a delegation from Quebec. Another presentation for Japanese funding was made by officials including secretary, special projects, Sanjay Ubale, at a meeting with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Over 60% of the Delhi Metro is being financed by Japanese firms and JICA is funding infrastructure projects in the country. TNN

Bombay Boy

February 27th, 2006, 06:57 PM

Traders intensify no-octroi demand
Plan to hold rallies, send protest letters
Lalatendu Mishra
Mumbai

TRADERS ARE on the warpath, demanding withdrawal of octroi by the state government like most other states. The continuation of octroi side by side with the VAT regime amounts to double taxation is the argument.
Having started their month-long statewide agitation on February 20, traders and consumer associations representing 128 statelevel bodies have under the umbrella organisation Maharashtra State Abolish Octroi Committee intensified their agitation. They want the government to abolish octroi during the presentation of the coming state budget.

The committee has organised regional meetings in Pune, Thane, Akola, Aurangabad, Nashik and Mumbai to put pressure on the government. A common agitation will start from March 13 and will end in a massive rally at Azad Maidan on March 20 where more than 10 lakh people are expected to gather. According to the agitators, in a Value Added Tax (VAT) regime the collection of octroi amounts to double taxation and unnecessary additional cost on the end-consumer. They also argue that all states except Punjab, Gujarat and Maharashtra have abolished octroi; even Punjab and Gujarat have taken an in-principle decision to withdraw octroi from April 1.

“In none of the 128 countries where VAT is in place octroi is levied. Apart from the additional burden on traders and consumers, octroi has given rise to large-scale corruption at collection points,” convenor of the Maharashtra State Abolish Octroi Committee He mant Rathi said.

Traders said collectively the state’s 22 municipal corporations rake in octroi duty to the tune of Rs 5000 crore. Considering 22 per cent administrative expenses, the net octroi revenue amounts to Rs 4000 crore. “To collect this much of revenue, the traders and consumers are indirectly paying Rs 11,000 crore per year. This is by way of 6 lakh man-hours lost every day at octroi collection points and stranding of trucks for nearly 6 hours at every check post and corruption by officials,” Rathi said. Traders also claim that a large number of industries have shifted out because of octroi.

“On March 13 we will send lakhs of telegrams and letters to the CM. On March 16, thousands of traders and consumers will gather at different octroi posts to pay octroi on low-MRP-valued products with the objective of paralysing the system. On the 17th, we will organise several motorcycle and cycle rallies and on the 18th we will hold dharnas at corporations. In our Chalo Mumbai campaign, lakhs will participate in the maha-rally at Azad Maidan on March 19,” Rathi said.

Taxation, twice over Continuation of octroi when VAT is in place amounts to double taxation, according to agitating traders and consumer bodies Additional burden on end consumer as all costs are ultimately passed on to the last member in the chain All states have withdrawn octroi except for Punjab, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Bombay Boy

February 27th, 2006, 06:59 PM

Abolish octroi and we will go on strike: Rao
Dhaval Kulkarni
Mumbai

BMC UNION leader Sharad Rao has threatened an agitation against demands made by merchant unions and chambers of commerce asking for the abolition of octroi duty.
“If the state government abolishes octroi, we will launch an indefinite strike and paralyse all civic services. Octroi is one of the major sources of revenue for local bodies and abolishing it will lead to a situation where mu nicipalities will have little source of revenue for developmental works,” said the Municipal Mazdoor Union (MMU) chief.

He added that during Narayan Rane’s tenure as CM, the state government had abolished octroi for the municipal councils, leading to severe financial losses, as the state had failed to pay the promised amount Rs 600 crore by way of subsidy. Rao pointed out that though the Kasbekar Committee set up in 1987 had proposed an entry tax in place of octroi, the Chief Ministers’ Committee formed under the chairmanship of West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu in 1993 had recommended against such a decision.

The MMU, he said, will hold a dharna on March 14 at Azad Maidan with mayor Datta Dalvi, Thane mayor Rajan Vichare and others.

both from HT epaper

magestom

February 27th, 2006, 11:36 PM

I think Mumbai metro will eventually be like Tokyo. They say that eventually Mumbai and surrounding areas will be a mesh and even bigger mega city than Tokyo which is the biggest today.

gyrations95

March 3rd, 2006, 05:54 AM

Colaba-Charkop metro corridor gets state nod (http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1015937)

Even as negotiations are on to start construction for the first metro rail between Versova and Ghatkopar, the state on Thursday gave its assent for building the second metro corridor between Colaba-Bandra-Charkop.

* Estimated to cost Rs5,085 crore, the metro will run underground for 10km out of 38km between Colaba and Mahalaxmi
* Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), a special project vehicle (SPV) on the lines of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), will be set up. Till then MMRDA will remain the nodal agency
* Like DMRC, the state and centre will have an equity share of 40:40 with the balance amount raised through loans and debts
* 11 of the 36 air-conditioned stations will be underground. Initially, four-car, air-conditioned trains that can accommodate 1,500 passengers will run on the line
* Stations planned at intervals of 1.04km are: Colaba, Nariman Point, Hutatma Chowk, CST-Metro, Chandanwadi, Charni Road, Mumbai Central, Gadge Chowk, Mahalaxmi, Worli Hill, Acharya Atre Chowk, Udyog Bhawan, Siddhivinayak Temple, Dadar, Shivaji Park, Shitla Devi, Bandra, Khar, Vile Parle, JVPD, DN Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Oshiwara, Bangur Nagar, Charkop
* The suburban collector has been asked to start acquisition of 50 hectares of land required for the metro between Malad and Oshiwara
* Of the 146 km metro corridor identified by DMRC in 2003, the Colaba-Charkop and Bandra to Mankhurd were the two other stretches identified

gyrations95

March 3rd, 2006, 06:01 AM

World Bank stops aid, state not perturbed (http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1015967&CatID=1)

MUMBAI: The World Bank has suspended financial aid for the roads and resettlement-and-rehabilitation components of the Rs4,526 crore Mumbai Urban Transport Project.

The bank, which had approved a loan of Rs2,602 crore for the project, has paid 80% of the Rs383 crore meant for R&R and 30% of the Rs699 crore for roads to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.

But, dissatisfied with rehabilitation measures for project-affected persons, it has pulled out. The rail component loan remains undisturbed.

Metropolitan Commissioner T Chandrasekhar called the decision a blessing in disguise and said the authority will look to Japanese banks for funds for the Metro rail project. “The World Bank has a lot of harsh, impractical conditions,” he said. “They want us to use global laws for local conditions.”

The bank’s norms specify that encroachers be given identical area along with compensation of economic loss caused by shifting. “At this rate, we will have to shell out Rs5,000 crore on R&R as we have to shift over 1,00,000 people and 10,000 commercial establishments,” Chandrasekhar said.

So, the state is shifting to Japanese banks offering loans at 1.3% interest directly to the state government. The World Bank offers loans at 2% to the Centre, which passes them on to the state at 7 per cent.

WB suspends Mumbai loans (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?hpFlag=Y&chklogin=N&autono=217228&leftnm=lmnu2&lselect=0&leftindx=2)

The World Bank today temporarily suspended financial support to the roads and resettlement components of the $940-million Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) dealing a blow to the facelift programme of the country's commercial capital.

It had suspended assistance until concerns over the equitable treatment of people affected by the works were resolved, a World Bank release said.

The MUTP is supported by an IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) loan of $463 million for the road and rail components of the project and an IDA (International Development Association) credit of $79 million for resettlement.

Disbursements to the IDA credit and the road component of the loan ($150 million) have been suspended pending a resolution of these issues. IDA is the concessional lending arm of the World Bank Group.

MUTP is an ambitious road and rail renewal plan which involves the involuntary resettlement of more than 17,000 households and 2,500 shops and small industrial units. About 14,000 households have already been moved to secure dwellings.
.......
MMRDA sources said the project would be carried out with its own funds and the World Bank's suspension of assistance would not affect its progress. (Hahaha .. big joke)

gyrations95

March 3rd, 2006, 06:04 AM

For those following the Mithi river development program, don't hold your breath. The muck is killing the project even though honorable CM ji has cut the ribbon. Not worth posting, read here (http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1015942&CatID=1)

gyrations95

March 3rd, 2006, 06:30 AM

Juhu beach revamp gets final okay (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1434819.cms)

After many false starts, the Juhu beach beautification plan-which envisages landscaped gardens-may finally be implemented. The Bombay high court on Wednesday gave its final approval to a stripped-down no-frills version of the proposal.

A division bench of justice R M Lodha and justice Anoop Mohta has now directed Mhada to implement the plan within three months.

The new plan will see landscaped gardens and lawns but without paved stone pathways or precast curb stone or wooden furniture. The gardens will come up near Gandhigram Lane, the IAS officers housing society, behind Nippon society, Udit Taran apartments, near the Theosophical Society and behind Tulip star hotel.

"The landscaping shall not involve any construction with heavy machinery, concrete, tar or cement," said the judges. The only leeway allowed is the placing of wooden sleeper steps on the elevated portions of the beach as well as creepers on the edges.

The Rs 1-crore beautification plan is to be funded from the MPLAD funds of Hema Malini. The court has also directed owners of private plots and the collector to build a wall on the landward side of the beach to prevent encroachments within two months.

The issue of the shifting of hawkers on the beach to a food court will be taken up by the court at a later date.

The plan was first approved by the HC in 2004 and included the food court, gardens, picnic zones and art plazas. In early 2005, the plan underwent a change after locals opposed construction activity on the grounds that the beach area fell under the CRZ.

spyguy

March 3rd, 2006, 11:09 PM

This is sort of random, but I've tried to update the main Mumbai compilation list on SSP after a few months without any updates. If suncity or any other SSP user could check and see if there are any other substanial projects missing, please feel free to add them.

Suncity

March 4th, 2006, 08:03 AM

^^^

Will take a look!

_______________________

Mumbai metro proposed routes

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/5034/mumbaimetro19sm.jpg

Bombay Boy

March 7th, 2006, 08:08 AM

BREAKING NEWS!!

SC nods Mumbai mill land sale

March 07, 2006 11:45 IST
Last Updated: March 07, 2006 11:50 IST

The Supreme Court on Tuesday held that the sale of surplus lands by National Textile Corporation was legal.

A bench comprising justice S B Sinha and Justice P P Naolekar set aside a Bombay high court judgenent, which had held that the sale of surplus lands of NTC mills was contrary to the BIFR (Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction) scheme and apex court order.

The court said that the changes made in the rules for the development of the mill lands were constitutionally valid.

NTC, Appolo Textile Mills, Mumbai Textile Mills, Elphinstone Mills, Kohinoor Mills Numbar 3, Jupitor Mills, Bombay Dyeing and several others had challenged the high court judgement.

The high court judgement was on a writ petition filed by Bombay Environmental Action Group, a non-government organisation, alleging that surplus lands were sold in violation of rules.

However, the apex court bench said the developmental plan estimated at around Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 billion) were in conformity with the BIFR scheme.

While allowing the appeal of private property developer the bench said that the environmental aspect and sustainable development has to go together.

http://www.rediff.com/money/2006/mar/07ntc.htm

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

like the sc said they can only say if the sale was legally correct or not, it cant decide the course the sale should take. good for bombay in the short term and bad for bombay in the long term. it means supply will get a boost, but at the same time infra will be stretched beyond capacity and may at some time collapse without an integrated approach. though i think its almost impossible in india to push through an integrated plan

Naga_Solidus

March 7th, 2006, 10:27 AM

^^

YAY! Now we will see some new skyscraper projects bet announced, and they'll resume construction on the ones that were halted!

Bombay Boy

March 7th, 2006, 12:00 PM

Plan Mill gaya (http://ww1.mid-day.com/news/city/2006/march/132374.htm)

collateral

March 8th, 2006, 01:43 PM

^^^
great news!!! hope all this positive talk transcends into reality...

Found this on the indiabulls website...

---------------------------------------------------
Mill ruling – Real estate developers rejoice
Expressindia.com - Mumbai, India 8 March, 2006.

IT SEEMS like Central Mumbai is all set for a Singapore-like transformation.

With Tuesday's Supreme Court judgment freeing almost 600 acres of city land for development, Central Mumbai is likely to become the next hot destination for foreign real-estate investors, giving other business districts like Nariman Point and Bandra-Kurla Complex a run for their money.

The judgment has sent the right signals to foreign investors, said Indiabulls, a financial and investment services company that's building commercial towers at Jupiter and Elphinstone Mills.

''Our foreign partners (Farallon) are quite happy with the judgement,'' said Gagan Banga, executive director of Indiabulls Financials.

Farallon has invested close to Rs 290 crore in Indiabulls, which is keen for a foreign partnership-as per government rules, foreigners are allowed to invest in any property that's 10 acres or more-because it needs finance and expertise to expand its regional base and become a national player.

The court's decision has brought nearly 10-15 million sq ft of additional space in areas like Dadar, Parel, Chinchpokli, Currey Road and Cotton Green into the commercial and residential realty market. And real-estate consultants say they have started receiving queries from prospective foreign investors.

Naga_Solidus

March 8th, 2006, 03:18 PM

How tall will these upcoming commercial towers be? Hopefully they'll be more than 340m.

IMO Mumbai could use a set of 648m twins witha gateway arch in between.

collateral

March 8th, 2006, 04:15 PM

How tall will these upcoming commercial towers be? Hopefully they'll be more than 340m.

IMO Mumbai could use a set of 648m twins witha gateway arch in between.

I hope something interesting like what you just proposed comes up. We badly need some supertalls.

gyrations95

March 9th, 2006, 05:37 AM

Interesting news is Japan has agreed to fund Colaba to Charkop at with a pre-condition that the project should be exclusively implemented by the state government and not by the private sector.

Mithi, Metro and Mumbai (http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=10701&secid=18)

Two mega projects—revival of Mithi river and Mumbai metro rail—are finally making progress, several months after the projects were initiated. While the Mithi clean-up project is expected to prevent flooding in the city, the Mumbai metro project is considered imperative for solving the city's transport woes.
Talks between MMRDA and Reliance Energy for the phase-I/line-1 Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar are on for reducing the project cost of Rs 1,221 crore. Reliance Energy is frontrunner for taking up this leg of the project. "Reliance Energy has assured us of a further reduction in project cost but if they refuse then the project will be undertaken solely by MMRDA", an MMRDA official said. Already, four formal meetings between the two parties have taken place. Work on the project is slated to commence this year. {It was supposed to be April back in Jan, now its this year. What retards}
"We are waiting for the Centre to announce disbursement of funds," MMRDA Chairman T. Chandrasekhar revealed. A sum of Rs 4,595 crore has been budgeted for metro projects in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.
Meanwhile, the state Cabinet has cleared phase-I/line-2 of the Colaba-Bandra-Charkop metro rail. Line-2 has found an investor in Japan Bank for International Cooperation which is ready to fund the Rs 9,023 crore project, albeit with a pre-condition that the project should be exclusively implemented by the state government and not by the private sector. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is optimistic of starting work on the project this year. Both metro lines will be operational by 2010-11.

On the other hand, Work on the Rs 130 crore Mithi project has commenced. The unprecedented flooding in Mumbai on July 27 last year was largely due to industrial effluents and encroachments in and around the river.
Under stage-I of this project, MMRDA will carry out deepening and desilting of the river and widen the river's course by up to 200 metre, as recommended by the Central Water and Power Research Station. Deshmukh promised to execute these works before monsoon this year. The work involves clearing encroachments between Mahim creek and CST Road, Kurla. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation too has prepared a similar clean-up plan for a 10-km stretch. "The Mithi river project will be funded through MMRDA while the other projects will have investments from the World Bank and the Japanese government," Urban Development Minister Rajesh Tope said.
Stage-II of the Mithi project will start post-monsoon.
For the moment the challenge before the Maharashtra government is to adhere to a High Court order seeking the removal of all encroachers by June 2006. "We will act as per the court order," Deshmukh promised.

VaastuShastra

March 9th, 2006, 06:19 AM

Does the planning authority have a plan yet? Now this stuff has been sold, is the time to really think about where Mumbai is heading, or an Indian-style mess will be created. We should bring in experts from Hong Kong, etc.

jai_gandhi

March 9th, 2006, 12:46 PM

Govt committed to PM's vision of making Mumbai a Shanghai

Asserting the Government was committed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's vision of converting Mumbai into a Shanghai, Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy today said the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission has been launched to achieve this goal.

""We are committed to our Prime Minister's vision of converting Mumbai into a Shanghai," Reddy said replying to supplementaries during Question Hour.

He said development plans for improving the infrastructure of Mumbai have been received and these are under discussion.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200603091502.htm

jai_gandhi

March 9th, 2006, 12:49 PM

Mill land not only for shopping malls, mutiplexes: Reddy

In the wake of the 600 acres of land being available in the Central Mumbai for real estate activity after the SC ruling, Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy today said development of this mill land will not be restricted to construction of shopping malls and cineplexes alone.

Calling for ‘‘equitable and planned’’ development of land in keeping with the City’s Master Plan, Reddy said, ‘‘This (the court ruling) has made available large acres of land for the much needed re-development activity in land-choked Mumbai, but it will certainly be in conformity with the city’s Master Plan.’’

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=89225

Effer

March 9th, 2006, 10:58 PM

Bombay Boy

March 10th, 2006, 09:49 AM

the national urban renewal fund was launched over a year ago. total disbursals to date - Rs. 0

as of now its only talk, lets see some action instead

jai_gandhi

March 10th, 2006, 01:15 PM

Mills and boom

The legal tussle between mill owners and environmentalists ended on 7 March when the Supreme Court set aside an order of the Bombay High Court and allowed the sale of mill land in Mumbai. The Supreme Court’s verdict comes as a big relief to the owners, investors and would-be residents of the property that was being redeveloped. “It’s a great order, a positive signal that will clear the negativism prevailing in the market. It has brought back the opportunity to have some high class development in the city,” says Niranjan Hiranandani, managing director, Hiranandani Group.

The ruling comes not a day too soon for Mumbai. The city is choking under increased population pressure and archaic developmental restrictions. “Any other view taken by the Supreme Court would have killed the city,” says renowned architect Hafeez Contractor. The ruling will instil confidence in investors and help make Mumbai a world class city, he says.

Realtors happy

The real estate industry has welcomed the verdict. “It is a victory for Mumbai. The city hasn’t seen real development in the past two decades,” says Ness Wadia, deputy managing director of Bombay Dyeing. His company will now begin the development of about 18,500 sq m in Spring Mills at Naigaum in Dadar. Says Gagan Bagga, executive director, IndiaBulls: “This will bring back the confidence of the foreign investors in a big way.” The company is building commercial towers at two of the NTC mills it purchased for Rs 717 crore.

The Supreme Court verdict clears the way for the sale of other NTC mills. According to Ramakant Pillai, managing director, NTC, this paves the way for selling its sick mills. Sunil Mantri of Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry and director, Mantri Developers says this will help check the runaway hike in property prices.

Troubled past

Like the disinvestments of PSUs, the redevelopment of mill land has seen its share of ups and downs (see chronology). For almost two decades, most of these mills didn’t churn out even a yard of cloth. If there was anything attractive about these white elephants, it was the huge expanses of prime land they occupied in the heart of the city. The 58 textile mills in Mumbai (of which 25 are owned by NTC), together have about 600 acres of land. If the owners were allowed to redevelop this land as commercial or residential property, these mills were gold mines.

http://www.expressestates.in/full_story.php?content_id=64167

jai_gandhi

March 10th, 2006, 01:22 PM

City skyline set to change

he Supreme Court carte blanche on the redevelopment of 600 acres of land occupied by the city’s composite textile mills is all set to transform the ‘golden triangle’ stretching between the nodes of Worli, Dadar and Parel.

Malls and office complexes are not the only development in the pipeline. The new skyline could include a World Trade tower on NTC’s Cadell Road mill — India United No. 6 that has 200 metres of some of the best sea frontage in Mumbai. Also on the drawing board is a possible gargantuan 16-lakh square feet software park in NTC’s Kohinoor No 1 & 2 mills.

Emboldened by the court verdict, NTC officials are gung ho about a quick sell-off process. Of the 25 National Textile Corporation’s 25 mill units in Mumbai, only eight are to be retained for a refloat. All the others are on the auction block.

This means a total of 145 acres in the market equivalent to 185 acres of actual built up area (at 1.33 FSI). Of this 75 acres has already been sold off. Together with 24 acres of TDR (transferable development rights) in lieu of surrendered mill lands, NTC still holds five million sq ft of FSI, conservatively valued at Rs 4,000 crore.

Among the projects proposed on the new land assembly is a World Trade Center proposed by NTC’s planners ‘Team One’ in the 12-acre plot of India United No 6 Mills, off Cadell Road at Dadar. Using twice the normal FSI (a floor space index of 2.7) allowed to convention centres, the World Trade tower could go up to 75 stories, claims Bharat Yamsanwar of Team One. “And if TDR is loaded from other NTC properties to the Cadell Road mill, we can go as high as 120 floors,” said the NTC planner.

The NTC is simultaneously considering development of a software park as an international magnet in central Mumbai in the 22-acre property of what is today Kohinoor Mills No 1 & 2 at Dadar TT Circle. This can be developed as an alternative to the over-crowded and inaccessible SEEPZ and create job opportunities for as many as one lakh people, an NTC planner said.

Little known to most, the new development process also includes rehabilitation of as many as 20,000 chawl units in mill compounds that are occupied by mill workers. In the NTC lands, as much as 6 acres is occupied by workers’ housing and a similar area will have to be committed for workers’ housing units. Among the private mills, Bombay Dyeing, for instance, has undertaken the reconstruction of 643 units for workers.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1645823,0035.htm

Naga_Solidus

March 10th, 2006, 03:04 PM

Is this the same IITT that was discussed earlier?

jai_gandhi

March 10th, 2006, 03:27 PM

^^ Yep, I think so

collateral

March 10th, 2006, 03:37 PM

I dont understand, the WTC proposal is dead due to it being on the site of a memorial. This article by the HT is just rechurned from a story about 2 years ago, if im not mistaken they've used the same quotes as well. Its fair to say the WTC aint happening, as for those two commericial towers, India bulls say its prob gonna be about 17stories each. I personally believe they'll reach closer to 30floors, but no taller than that.

collateral

March 10th, 2006, 04:14 PM

Mate there are plenty of sources out their saying its gonna be 17 stories both post and pre final verdict. Here is one, im sure you'll find more on google:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1371820,curpg-1.cms

BTW Im glad your a realist, we wont get commercial 'scrapers until we change the FSI laws

gyrations95

March 12th, 2006, 05:12 AM

AMBANI BROTHERS ARE ON FIRE. MUKESH IS BUILDING A CITY BIGGER THAN MUMBAI JUST OUTSIDE MUMBAI .. READ ON GUYS ..

How the Ambani plans stack up (http://ia.rediff.com/money/2006/mar/11spec.htm)

Shyamal Majumdar & Kausik Datta | March 11, 2006

The city of Mumbai covers 75 sq km. That's less than 20,000 acres. In comparison, the size of the special economic zone that Mukesh Ambani plans to build across the harbour from India's commercial capital will be all of 25,000 acres.

Mukesh's friends tell you privately that he is not planning just any old SEZ; what he has in mind is a whole city and industrial zone to rival Mumbai. Talk of thinking big.

That's only for starters. For Mukesh Ambani, the older of the two brothers who parted ways after a bitter fight, is also planning to set up more SEZs all over the country - in Haryana, West Bengal, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

And as if that weren't a lifetime's work, he intends to do a Wal-Mart in India by setting up the largest retail chain store that the country has seen. And there's more, because he is doubling the size of his oil refinery to a gargantuan 60 million tones - to make it the largest stand-alone refinery in the world, equal in capacity to all the other refineries in the country put together.

And then there are yet more projects. For Reliance is set to become the country's largest private producer of natural gas, and is laying a network of pipelines across the country to feed industrial and domestic consumers. And even that is not all.

If you thought the splitting of Reliance, the parting of ways with Anil, and the loss of his dream project Reliance Infocomm, would crimp Mukesh's style or scale down his ambitions, think again.

These outsize projects, with a combined investment of Rs 1,00,000 crore (Rs 1000 billion), will be run from what used to be the site of the sprawling NOCIL plant in Navi Mumbai. This has been turned into a gigantic excavation site.

Soon, over 4,000 labourers will start working day and night to build the new headquarters of Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Group� -the Dhirubhai Ambani Corporate City - complete with lake and reserve forest.

The complex, importantly, will be 40 acres larger than the neighbouring Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City, which Mukesh had built as his corporate fortress before he had to part with it to younger brother Anil Ambani.

Anil is not planning small either. He refers to his Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (Reliance-ADAG) as the "new Reliance".

He might have lost out on the bids for the renovation plans for Mumbai and Delhi airports to competing bidders, but a day after a whirlwind tour of the US to woo foreign investors (the plan is to raise the FII investment in Reliance Communication Ventures Ltd to 74 per cent from 26 per cent now), Anil said triumphantly that the "sky is the limit" for his group.

Besides pumping in Rs 15,000 crore (Rs 150 billion) capital expenditure into telecom holding company RCoVL over the next three years, Anil is tipped to become the country's largest player in the media and entertainment space (where he's putting in Rs 2,000 crore {Rs 20 billion (over the next 12 months)}, wants to convert Reliance Capital into a financial superhouse, and will power the nation with 20,000 MW of power involving capital expenditure of over Rs 70,000 crore (Rs 700 billion).

The Reliance-ADAG group's assets, Anil says, are over Rs 31,000 crore (Rs 310 billion) with a net worth over Rs 25,000 crore (Rs 250 billion). This places the group in the third position in terms of net worth behind RIL's Rs 49,000 crore (Rs 490 billion) and Tata's Rs 31,500 crore (Rs 315 billion).

Mukesh and Anil have learned to dream big from their father, but analysts feel Mukesh's advantage is his huge cash flow and track record of implementing mega projects in record time at globally competitive capital costs.

Anil's companies, by comparision, will be cash guzzlers for many years to come, going by the large capex plans. Another school of opinion has it that Anil Ambani may have got the smaller share of the business, but with greater growth prospects.

Rashesh Shah, CEO and managing director, Edleweiss Capital, says both are announcing huge investments in their respective areas of strengths: "Anil Ambani has big plans for entertainment, which gel well with his telecom business. Mukesh's plan to make a big splash in retail is a logical extension of his expertise in selling and distributing petroleum products."

Mahesh Singhvi, managing director, Singhvi & Associates, says the retail business suits Mukesh Ambani most. "He was looking for a business in which he could utilise the huge cash flow productively. Alternatively, he could have put in the money in the stock market. But it seems he is not very keen in investing in the markets." Anil, however, has been putting in a lot of money in the markets, he says.

This is Mukesh's grand plan

Special Economic Zones: One of the most ambitious in its scope and looked after by Mukesh's close confidant, Anand Jain, RIL is setting up special economic zones as large integrated world-class townships spread over 1,00,000 acres at an initial investment of Rs 25,000 crore (Rs 250 billion).

The company has already taken over the Nikhil Gandhi-promoted 10,815 acres Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone and has signed a deal with the Haryana government for setting up a "second Gurgaon" - an SEZ over 25,000 acres.

While the Hyderabad SEZ will be devoted to petrochemicals that will use the Krishna-Godavari basin gas as feedstock, the one in West Bengal envisages a mega biotech venture, which involves creation of a large botanical garden along with multiple marine laboratories and R&D facilities.

Petroleum refining: Ambitiously involves doubling the Jamnagar refinery capacity to 60 million tonne (1.2 million barrels per day), to be partly financed by the largest IPO in the world for any greenfield project.

When completed in 2008, it will be the largest petroleum refinery at any single location, anywhere in the world. Apart from the refinery expansion {cost around Rs 25,000 crore(Rs 250 billion)}, the company will spend Rs 17,600 crore (Rs 176 billion) in upstream oil and gas over the next few years. Besides, RIL will invest Rs 2,500 crore (Rs 25 billion) to build a new 2,80,000-tonne-per-year polypropylene plant.

Another Rs 3,000 crore (Rs 30 billion) will be invested to scale up the company's polyester production capacity. The acquisition of German firm Trevira last year has already made Reliance the largest polyester fibre and yarn producer in the world.

The company will increase its polyester manufacturing capacity by 550,000 tonnes this financial year, taking its total polyester capacity to 2 million tonnes. Another Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion) will be spent on Nocil and Dyechem. With this, RIL will be the 11th largest petrochemical company in the world.

On the petroleum-retailing front, the company hopes to operate 4,000 outlets. The objective has been to straddle the petroleum value chain and RIL's decision to put in close to Rs 18,000 crore (Rs 180 billion) on upstream oil and gas exploration and production is in that context.

Retail: Looked after by his core team comprising Manoj Modi and Hital Meswani, the retail plans are humungous. "The plan is to do a Wal-mart in India. The idea is to develop a low cost supply-chain model which will involve massive economies of scale," Reliance insiders say.

The strategy is to set up a chain of hypermarkets, supermarkets, speciality stores and convenience stores in 800 cities and towns across the country through Reliance Retail at an investment of Rs 30,000 crore (Rs 300 billion). In the first phase, the company plans to set up 1,575 stores between December 2006 and March 2007.

In towns and villages it will have hypermarkets, which will be warehouse-style stores spread over 1,50,000 sq ft, selling products ranging from consumer electronics and groceries to fresh food and clothes. The company will also open smaller 75,000 sq ft supermarkets.

Food and beverages will account for 40 per cent of the retail products and the company plans to give direct employment to 500,000 people (under 23 CEOs). While all other stores will be directly owned by the company, convenience stores could be the only exception and operated through a franchisee route in collaboration with kirana shopowners.

"Farmers are the key in this venture and Reliance wants to give a fair deal to them through setting up an automated supply management chain. Did you know pineapples are sold in the North-east at 25 paise a piece in the absence of proper storage chains? We are going to ensure a fair price to farmers who are shortchanged now," Reliance insiders say.

Now see how Anil stacks up

Telecom: RCoVL has a substantial shareholding in three major telecom companies - the first is Reliance Infocomm, the second is Reliance Communication Infrastructure, and the third is Reliance Telecom.

Reliance Infocomm has been adding 10 lakh (1 million)�subscribers every month since December last year, and thanks to the ambitious plans drawn up by Anil Ambani for smaller towns, RCoVL now has a pan-India presence, spread across nearly 4,500 towns, and a total subscriber base of 15.55 million subscribers, making it the second largest player in the Indian mobile telephony space.

"Our growth focus will be smaller towns and villages where there is tremendous growth potential," Anil said, a day after RCoVL's listing with a market cap of over Rs 35,000 crore (Rs 350 billion).

According to the company's own estimates, RCoVL's wireless traffic is 290 million minutes a day, wireless data carrier is 32 million minutes per day, the PCO lines have 48 per cent market share and the company has 48 per cent market share in the ILD traffic. Despite these impressive figures, analysts say the challenge before RCoVL is daunting as its average revenue per subscriber is still much lower than Bharti's.

Media and entertainment: Ranging from television to radio to films to exhibition to home video, the junior Ambani seems to have a blueprint for every division in place. The kick-off was his Rs 370 crore (Rs 3.7 billion) acquisition of the 51 per cent stake in Adlabs, a film processing, retail and production company.

Adlabs raised Rs 768 crore (Rs 7.68 billion) in capital in 2005 and more than half of this will be spent on building multiplexes (100 new screens) and digital theatres. Once Adlabs has a large network of theatres, it will be possible for the group to digitally transmit a movie from one centralised location to all the theatres through Reliance Infocomm's existing fibre optic network.

That apart, Reliance ADG has won bids for 45 FM radio licences, making it the largest player in terms of the number of licences owned. The group is also optimistic about beginning its DTH service shortly involving an investment of Rs 400 crore (RS 4 billion).

Financial services: Reliance Capital may have been a small finance company with only Reliance Mutual Fund to speak of, but Anil wants to transform it into a financial superhouse. For this, he has already acquired insurance company AMP Sanmar, which has now been renamed Reliance Life.

So bullish is he over his newfound businesses that he is investing Rs 3,000 crore (Rs 30 billion) of his personal money in them. All these are besides the group's acquisition of minority stakes in a host of companies like Saregama India, Gini & Johny, Kinetic Motor and DTDC.

Anil also has big plans in the retail brokering space. R Trade Securities, the group's vehicle for retail brokering, is setting up a pan-India network for itself, as well as its two subsidiaries - R Trade Commodities and R Trade Financial Services. Commercial operations for these three firms are expected to begin in April.

Energy: Reliance Energy has drawn up over Rs 70,000 crore (Rs 700 billion) investment in the power sector, including the 5,600 MW Dadri project in Uttar Pradesh at a cost of Rs 11,000 crore (Rs 110 billion), and an ultra-mega 12,000 MW coal-based power generation project in Orissa at an investment of Rs 48,000 crore (Rs 480 billion). I wish he would have taken some renewable energy projects

REL has also signed an MoU with the Maharashtra government for setting up a gas-based combined cycle power plant up to 4,000 MW, which would mainly serve consumers in Mumbai.

Besides this, the company has planned investments of Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 billion) for undertaking transmission projects in the western region and has applied to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission for obtaining licences for seven schemes.

It was exploring a comprehensive transmission network covering northern India for evacuation of power from the Dadri project and the company has also bagged the 280 MW run-of-the-river Urthing Sobla Hydro Power Project in Uttaranchal at an investment of Rs 1,500 crore (Rs 15 billion).

How the shares fared

The four demerged entities of Reliance Industries have unlocked Rs 48,906 crore (Rs 489.06 billion) worth market valuation for Reliance-ADAG on listing. Reliance Telecommunication Ventures, which holds 66 per cent stake in Reliance Infocomm, unlocked Rs 36,724 crore (Rs 367.24 billion), Reliance Energy Venture Rs 5,400 crore (Rs 54 billion), Reliance Capital Ventures Rs 2,966 crore (Rs 29.66 billion), and Reliance Natural Resources Rs 3,816 crore (Rs 38.16 billion).

The parent company, Reliance Industries, was valued at Rs 1,29,339 crore (Rs 1293.39 billion) on January 17, 2006, a day before the de-merger. The stock market, as indicated by the BSE Sensex, has gained 15.2 per cent since January 17, and hence the market valuation of Reliance Industries could have gone up by Rs 19,660 crore (Rs 196.6 billion) even otherwise. So the net valuation added on account of the demerged entities stood at Rs 29,087 crore (Rs 290.87 billion).

The shares of Bharti Tele-Ventures, the largest private sector telecom company, have gained 21.5 per cent since January 17. If one extrapolates Bharti's growth for RCoVL valuation on listing, the net added valuation of demerged entities come down by Rs 6,644 crore (Rs 66.44 billion). Which means that the demerged entities have added market valuation of Rs 22,442 crore (Rs 224.42 billion) on listing.

However, the valuation of the Reliance group has surged at a higher pace between the announcement of the split on June 17 and the de-merger of Reliance Industries on January 17. The group valuation during this period soared by 88.08 per cent or by Rs 73,749 crore (Rs 737.49 billion) to Rs 1,57,478 crore (Rs 1574.78 billion).

The split, however, has made Anil Ambani's group the fourth largest business group in terms of market value with Rs 73,868 crore (Rs 738.68 billion) market capitalisation as on March 7, 2006. The Tata group takes the honours with a market cap of Rs 1,96,663 crore (Rs 1966.63 billion) and Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries the runners up with Rs 1,08,620 crore (Rs 1086.20 billion). Bharti Tele-Ventures ranked third with Rs 76,227 crore (Rs 762.27 billion).

As per the presentation given by ADAG, Reliance Industries tops the net worth list with a net worth at Rs 49,000 crore (Rs 490 billion). Tata group ranked second with Rs 31,500 crore (Rs 314 billion) and ADAE ranked third with net worth of Rs 25,000 crore (Rs 250 billion).