Vishakhapatnam (Vizag) projects and infrastructure [Archive]

pding

January 7th, 2006, 06:55 PM

Vizag is one of india's major cities. till now no space for this city SSC. so here it starts.....

My first contribution:

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=210606

Visakhapatnam Port cargo handling up 14%

VDS Rama Raju / Visakhapatnam January 05, 2006

The Visakhapatnam Port handled about 52 lakh tonnes of additional cargo, registering a growth of 14 per cent, during the first nine months of the current fiscal, as compared to the corresponding period last fiscal.

The port handled 414 lakh tonnes of cargo from April to December 2005, as against 362 lakh tonnes during the corresponding period in 2004.

Increase in the imports of steam coal and petroleum coke and export of iron ore were the main reasons for the growth, K S D Dattu Raju, traffic manager, Vizag port, told Business Standard.

During the current fiscal, till December-end, the port exported 122 lakh tonnes of iron ore, as against the 114 lakh tonnes during the first nine months of last fiscal.

In 2004-05, the port handled 104.6 lakh tonnes of petroleum products during the first nine months, whereas it handled 115.5 lakh tonnes of petroleum products during the corresponding period in 2005-06 fiscal, posting an increase of 11 lakh tonnes.

Raju said that several parties had started importing steam coal to meet the requirements of thermal power projects. Owing to this, steam coal imports from the port increased to 15 lakh tonnes during the first nine months of this fiscal, as against 3 lakh tonnes during the corresponding period of previous year.

Petroleum coke imports also increased by about 3 lakh tonnes during this period, as compared to the corresponding period last fiscal. Apart from this, coking coal imports increased by 6.4 lakh tonnes.

Vizag port created a national record by handling 55 lakh tonnes of cargo in December, the highest-ever cargo handled by any major port in the country in a month, Raju said.

“If the trend continues, we may touch the 550 lakh tonne-mark by the end of March, as against 501 lakh tonnes in 2004-05. We have maintained the prime position in cargo handling among all the ports in the country for the sixth consecutive year,” he added.

Qatalys To Come To Visakhapatnam

The IT company has already set up a bio-tech unit near Visakhapatnam. It is planning to venture into tissue culture as well.

Saturday, December 24, 2005: The Texas-based Qatalys group is planning to open a facility in Visakhapatnam. The company is in discussion with the state government regarding the issue. The status of the city as a growing Tier-II centre for ITES units has fuelled Qatalys’ plans . The company already has centres in Chennai and Bangalore.

Telidevara Bhimasankara Rao, chairman, Qatalys, said, "A small bio-tech unit has been set up in Visakhapatnam district. We have spent roughly Rs 3-4 crore on the agro project. We are taking up tissue culture. Greenhouses have been set up. We want to expand the operations and take up export of high-value agri products. We are expanding our operations in Chennai."

WillyWick

January 7th, 2006, 08:05 PM

Major road-widening works taken up by Greater VMC

VISAKHAPATNAM: Several major road widening works are being taken up in the city under the Comprehensive Road Development Project by the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation.

As a part of it, work on widening and development of a 1,320-metre road around the old Central Prison area at a cost of Rs.11.44 crores is going on.

While the Jail Road will be 160 feet wide, the Municipal Corporation Road and LIC Road and a new road to be laid will be 120 feet wide.

The 4,746-metre circular road from Siripuram junction covering Raghavendra Swami temple and Rednam Gardens Junction is being laid at an outlay of Rs.24.75 crores.

GVMC Commissioner N. Srikant, who inspected the progress of works, said that the construction of a bridge at Rednam Gardens at a cost of Rs.45 lakhs had been completed and thrown open for traffic.

In its effort to improve roads in the city, the GVMC has also taken up laying of hot mix roads. About 60 per cent of the work on 15 roads costing Rs.15.24 crores has been completed. While the road from LG Polymers to Muthyamamba temple at Kancharapalem costs Rs.3.11 crores, the one from Hindusthan Zinc Limited gate to Scindia Junction will be laid spending Rs. 2.78 crores.

Other works

Among the other roads on which works are going on are: TB Hospital Road (Rs.33 lakhs), Aseelmetta to Hypermarket (Rs.70 lakhs), RTC Complex to National Highway No./5 covering Sitampeta (Rs.50 lakhs), Sitammadhara Main Road up to the foot of the hill (Rs.34.5 lakhs), Diamond Park to NH-5 covering Sankara Matham (Rs.50 lakhs), Nowroji Road from Taj Residency to St. Anthony School (Rs.30 lakhs), AMCOSA Road (Rs.40 lakhs), Tycoon Hotel to Asilmetta (Rs.10 lakhs), All India Radio to Ramakrishna Beach (Rs.48 lakhs), Jagadamba Junction to Old Post Office (Rs.96 lakhs), MCV Stadium Road (Rs.1.08 crores) and Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road (Rs.90 lakhs).

Beach development

The 7 km. beach front from the Kailasagiri Arch to Mahatma Gandhi statue is being developed, and completion is expected to take nine months.

The road is proposed for upgradation with two layers of bitumen of which one layer has already been laid. The wall towards the sea will be refurbished with stone-cladding and pre-cast slabs. New nine metres high octagonal poles will be provided on either side of the road for lighting.

Cross culverts will be constructed at four locations and a stormwater drain is also part of the work. Hard and soft landscaping will be provided in parks.

A visitors' gallery will be constructed at Ramakrishna Beach

http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/07/stories/2006010718090300.htm

pding

January 20th, 2006, 10:03 PM

http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=3369

Wipro to set up centre at Vizag

Wipro Ltd, has proposed to set up a development centre in Visakhapatnam, with an initial seating capacity of 1,000 people. The company is seeking for acquisition of land in the port city.

Earlier it has signed a memorandum of understanding on October 20 last year, for the acquisition of seven acres of land in Visakhapatnam.

With a proposed workforce of nearly 3000 people, the Vizag unit would be involved in both software development work and business process outsourcing operations.

http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=88280

Cabinet decides to allocate land to Satyam for IT SEZ

Hyderabad:As part of efforts to create a conducive environment for Information Technology(IT) and IT-enabled Services(ITES) in Tier-2 cities, the Andhra Pradesh cabinet today decided to allocate 50 acres of land at Visakhapatnam to IT major Satyam Computer Services Limited for development of Special Economic Zone for IT with an investment of rs 100 crore.

Encouraged by the NASSCOM-KPMG report projecting software exports of USD 49 billion in the IT/ITES by 2009 and identifying Visakhapatnam as the tier-2 city with promising growth in the IT/ITES, the cabinet agreed to allocate the land at the rate of Rs 10 lakh per acre, Information Minister Md Ali Shabeer told a press conference here.

M/s Satyam would generate jobs to 2000 people directly and to 3750 people indirectly and achieve exports worth Rs 2300 crore in five years.

pding

January 20th, 2006, 10:18 PM

Airport runway, night landing to be completed in Jan 2007

The extension work of the Visakhapatnam Airport which has been taken up at a cost of Rs 200 crore, would be partially completed when the new extended runway and night landing facility are put in place by January 2007.

The airport was submerged during this monsoon following heavy rains caused by cyclonic storms. The air traffic was suspended for three weeks putting air passengers in great discomfort.

The administration took up laying of drainage to ease the flow of water from nearby Meghadrigedda reservoir in times of floods. The expansion work, taken up earlier, was expected to solve the problem of submergence of the low lying airport.

Speaking to newspersons Commercial Tax and Excise minister Konathala Ramakrishna today said that the work on the expansion work of the airport was progressing as per schedule and the new runway and night landing facility would be completed by January 2007. The new terminal building would take two years to complete. Once that was completed, the present terminal building would be converted into cargo complex, he said.

Mr Ramakrishna said Reliance Petro, which had struck natural gas in Krishna-Godavari basin, would supply gas through pipeline to Visakhapatnam city on priority basis. In a recent meeting between Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and Reliance officials, the petroleum company officials had agreed to include the city in the pipeline project through which seven districts would be supplied gas. ''This would benefit both the people in the city and industries. The Chief Minister has insisted that gas should first be supplied inside Andhra and only after than it could be supplied outside the state, he said.

Commenting on German car manufacturer Volkswagen's reluctance to set up car plant in Vizag, the minister said, ''now it was upto VW to take a decision. We have given them by and large the best offer,'' he added.

Naga_Solidus

January 21st, 2006, 04:48 AM

Luckystreak

January 21st, 2006, 02:16 PM

India lets Saudi participate in Vizag oil refinery (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/21/content_4081874.htm)

NEW DELHI, Jan. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- India is open to Saudi Arabia's participation in the refinery project of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, in South Indian city Visakhapataman, national daily, The Hindu, quoted Indian Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar as saying on Saturday.

India was hoping that by offering Saudi Aramco's Yanbu refineryan opportunity to invest in Visakhapatnam refinery, India would get an opportunity to invest in Yanbu but India has not been shortlisted. "Nonetheless our offer of collaboration in Visakhapatnam is open," the newspaper quoted the minister as saying.

Aiyer hoped to discuss certain bilateral issues with his Saudi counterpart, who is part of a high-level delegation that will accompany Saudi Arabian King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud on his visit to India from Jan. 24.

"The issue of hydrocarbon cooperation is also a component of bilateral talks that are going to be held between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Saudi King," he said.

"So far as the oil component of our energy security is concerned, we have a strong assurance from Saudi Arabia that any incremental requirement will be met by them," he said.

The minister further added that 26 percent dependence on Saudi Arabia is the optimal level and now there was a need to diversify oil sources.

India currently depends on imports for over 76 percent of its 112 million tonne requirement of crude and some petroleum products

Luckystreak

January 21st, 2006, 02:17 PM

Oracle to open office in Vizag (http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20060123/market05.shtml)

Luckystreak

January 21st, 2006, 02:19 PM

Land for Satyam centre in Vizag (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060118/asp/business/story_5734757.asp)

The Andhra Pradesh cabinet today approved a proposal to allot 50 acres of land in Visakhapatnam to Satyam Computer Services Limited for its development centre.

State information minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir said Satyam will create a special economic zone for IT services in the port town by investing Rs 100 crore.

“According to Satyam’s estimates, it could employ 2000 engineers directly and 3750 people indirectly and generate an export revenue of Rs 2,300 crore over the next five years,” said the minister.

The land was being provided to the company at a cost of Rs 10 lakh per acre, Shabbir said.

He said Satyam wants to expand its operations in Vishakhapatnam to promote back office and software solutions operations in a special economic zone to derive tax and other infrastructure benefits.

The Andhra Pradesh government has promoted IT-specific special economic zones in Hyderabad and Vishakhapatnam to decongest IT infrastructure in the state. “We have learnt our lessons from what was happening in Bangalore and are taking better precautions. We will set up IT infrastructure in Hyderabad and other parts of the state that will be sufficient for the next 25 years,” he said.

Satyam achieved a turnover of Rs 3,456 crore in fiscal 2005 and has projected a Rs 4,500-crore turnover in fiscal 2006. It has recorded a CAGR growth of over 81 per cent and net profit at 88 per cent over the last four years.

With over Rs 1,000 crore investment in IT infrastructure, Satyam employed over 22,500 people and had presence in 53 countries in six continents.

The company achieved a billion-dollar run rate in the last quarter ended September 30 and had 149 fortune global and 500 fortune US companies as its customers.

pding

January 23rd, 2006, 04:49 AM

http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=2604

Rushikonda forsees IT park

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are likely to originate at Rushikonda exclusively for information technology units.

The state government has consigned the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA), the first urban development authority in the country to develop a layout exclusivelyfor IT-specific SEZ with world-class infrastructure.

The zones will be developed on an area of 100 acres. Some IT units havealready been allotted several acres in Rushikonda under the land allotentpolicy. The interested investors should have a good track record, with anemployee strength of 200 for at least two years.

For first generation entrepreneurs, two IT parks one in the heart of the city and another nearYendada would be set up.All benefits as proposed in the recently enacted SEZ Bill would be passed onto the entrepreneurs.

Single window clearances would be given to all theunits proposed in the SEZs with 100 per cent Income-Tax exemption for thefirst 10 years and exemption of Customs duty and Central Excise on thepurchase of machines. along with exemption from service tax.

pding

January 23rd, 2006, 09:49 PM

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=212734

Brandix plans early start on garment city in Vizag

Sri Lanka-based Brandix Lanka Limited, which has been allotted 1,000 acres of land near Visakhapatnam by the state government to develop an end-to-end garment solutions SEZ, seems to be in no mood to wait until all the infrastructure facilities at the proposed site were developed.

Planning to commence operations as early as possible from the port city, the company has acquired over 50,000-square feet of constructed space in the Vizag SEZ besides forming a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with a Rs 50-crore corpus, officials close to the development told Business Standard.

It may be recalled that Brandix Lanka chief executive Ashroff Omar signed an MoU in July 2005 with the state industries department to develop a garment city in Atchyuthapuram mandal in Visakhapatnam district. While Brandix Lanka will hold 76 per cent equity in the proposed SEZ, the remaining 26 per cent will be held by the government.

This export-oriented apparel city, which is proposed to be developed along with the support industries, is expected to create 60,000 jobs over a period of four years from the date of commencement of operations.

Brandix is said to be roping in 15 global companies with 100 per cent foreign direct investment.

The infrastructure, including water and roads committed by the state government, is expected to take some more time to be developed in the proposed SEZ as it involves an investment of nearly Rs 40 crore.

Brandix is also planning to set up its units in Hyderabad along with Gokul Das Exports and Shahi Exports.

The government has allotted 10 acres to each of them in the Nacharam industrial area a couple of months back.

pding

February 6th, 2006, 04:35 AM

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=214138

Consultant for VSP expansion project in 15 days

The selection of a consultant for the Rs 8,600-crore Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) expansion project will be completed within 15 days.

“Three firm, including one foreign company, have submitted their bids in response to an invitation. Kolkata-based M N Dastur & Company (Private) Limited, one of the three companies, is the lowest bidder,” Y Siva Sagar Rao, chairman and managing director, VSP, told mediapersons here on Friday on the sidelines of a national seminar on refractories.

M N Dastur & Company, which has prepared the detailed project report for the expansion of VSP to 6.3 million tonnes capacity, was likely to be appointed as consultant because of its lowest bid, he said.

The selected consultant would have to take the entire responsibility from tender documents' preparation till the completion of the project, Rao said.

“VSP has more than Rs 4,000 crore on hand. We will start the work with this money initially. In fact, ground clearing and road works have already started,” he said.

The expansion work is expected to be completed in 36 months. By October 28, 2008, the construction of hot mill, steel mill and two rolling mills would be completed.

Work on the other two rolling mills would take another 10 months, he said, adding “With the recent acquisition of coking coal mines by VSP in Jharkhand, the imports were likely to come down by 20 per cent in future.”

such massive expansion will add to the state economy, and also create jobs.

magestom

February 6th, 2006, 05:39 AM

There were for very fancy shanghai like skyscraper projects for vizag a while back. they were posted in the forums. Does anyone know what happened to them.

WillyWick

February 10th, 2006, 02:42 AM

Exclusive authority for Pharma City

The 2,120-acre Pharma City in Visakhapatnam, which is primarily designed to house bulk drug manufacturing operations, is getting an exclusive authority to act as a single window clearance agency for all units locating their operations there.

Pharma City will be the first infrastructure project to have a separate authority as currently this kind of facility is being provided by the government to only special economic zones (SEZs). The authority will be empowered to issue all the necessary sanctions, including building clearances.

Nomination of officials from various government departments to the park-level authority has been processed by the industry commissionerate and formal orders constituting the authority are yet to be issued, according to P Eshwar Reddy, chief executive officer of Ramky Pharma City (India) Limited, which is the developer of the first-of-its-kind Rs 300-crore park for bulk drugs and pharmaceutical sector.

Basic infrastructure, including common effluent treatment plant and marine outfall here is expected to be ready by August 2006, and the companies which have booked land can start their operations from October 2006 onwards, according to the developer of the public-private partnership (PPP) venture.

More than 70 per cent of the 1,450-acre net area has been booked by drug companies from within and outside Andhra Pradesh. French multinational SNF Chemicals, Chennai-based Orchid Chemicals, Hyderabad-based Hetero Drugs, and Shasun are among the few names that have booked land in the park while Vishnu Chemicals, Vasudha Pharmaceuticals and Glochem Industries Limited have already started construction work.

Besides a couple of national-level players, some of the multinational companies, including a couple of firms from Japan, have evinced interest in locating their operations from the Pharma City, Eshwar Reddy said. “Negotiations with some of these companies are currently on,” Eshwar Reddy said.

The Pharma City proposes to offer entire services and facilities including effluent treatment, gas, warehousing and chemical storage terminals so that the companies can focus on their core operations. Individual companies are not required to get environmental clearances as the Government of India has accorded a blanket environmental clearance to the Pharma City.

The developer is also planning to apply for SEZ status for a 400-acre area within the Pharma City, where 100 per cent export-oriented units will come up.

Though the state government is showcasing the Pharma City to attract investments in pharma and bulk drug sectors, usual bureaucratic bottlenecks are causing delays in the completion of the project. Even while the project is nearing completion, the orders pertaining to incentives offered by the state government are yet to be issued.

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu2&leftindx=2&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=214770

pding

February 10th, 2006, 07:28 PM

Holy shit:

more than 1450 acres of the total 2200 acre already occupied.

several companies interested. even major players.

MNCs from Japan.

Possible SEZ status for 400 acres.

Visakhapatnam will be a Manufacturing PowerHouse by 2012 with so many projects like the:

Skoda SEZ
Visakhapatnam SEZ
Pharma City
Gangavaram Port
Brandix Textile Park and several other ones in apparels and textiles.

Volkswagen (the officials from this company have again visited another location this time with a new interest just a month ago. If Andhra gov't continues to give it's lucrative incentives, there is a good chance that VW will come up here. THOUGH NOTHING IS CLEAR FROM THESE OFFICIALS YET.)

Expansion of VSP (from 3 million tonnes to 6.3 million tonnes)

and several other projects in tourism, IT are also rapidly evolving and some of them have started to take shape too.

If both Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam can develop into such major economic centres, then no other southern state including TN can boast of two world class cities with a major contribution to India's GDP. infact, don't think any other state in the country can boast of that either.

but for that to happen, the gov't should continue its proactive efforts and stay on It's toes.

pding

February 11th, 2006, 07:35 PM

http://us.rediff.com/money/2006/jan/13petro.htm?q=bp&file=.htm

DuPont, Dow Chem eye units in India

A group of non-resident Indians has zeroed in on areas around Haldia and Vishakhapatnam for setting up two petrochemical conclaves.

"Petrochemical players like DuPont and Dow Chemicals have shown interest in the development of these complexes," said a Planning Commission official. The conclaves, which are expected to come up over 5,000 acre of land, are part of a plan to develop five such areas in the country.

The group of NRIs, which was set up at the behest of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to New York last year, included Pepsico President Indra Nooyi, Citigroup senior vice- chairman Victor Menezes, former Managing Director McKinsey & Co Rajat Gupta and venture capitalists Vinod Khosla and Parag Saxena.

The Planning Commission is in the process of setting up a task force to suggest ways to finalise the proposal.

The group of NRIs has identified Infrastructure Development Finance Company and IL&FS for undertaking due-diligence of the two sites. The group was also in talks with developers from Singapore and West Asia to develop the petrochemical projects, government officials said.

Last month, the group was in India for preliminary discussions. It met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S R Reddy and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee besides senior officials from the two states, officials said.

The officials said no fiscal sops had been sought from the government. "The idea is to develop world-class infrastructure with the NRI group acting as a facilitator to get big players with deep pockets to invest in the country," officials added.

While big players can set up the conclave, smaller players and ancillary units can pitch in to derive backward and forward linkages. "There should be one anchor tenant and once the tenant is in place, other players will follow," officials said.

more manufacturing projects. great to see top chemicals players like DuPont and DOW are now evincing interest in plants.
also, when such major manufacturing projects come up, several jobs are created in the service sector. will add immense value to AP economy.

magestom

February 11th, 2006, 11:36 PM

What happened to these three Vizag projects???

Vizag India. ON the East Coast.
A 22 storeyed software park
http://www.ociarchitects.com/images/softwarepark_14.jpg

Another 36 storeyed one
http://www.ociarchitects.com/images/softwarepark_1.jpg

Yet another 36 floors giant
http://www.ociarchitects.com/images/softwarepark_2.jpg

pding

February 12th, 2006, 12:06 AM

currently IT parks are under construction. one in rushikonda and there have been reports of another in madhurawada or something like that.

i've never seen these projects anywhere.

Anniyan

February 12th, 2006, 12:16 AM

^^they are just proposals, designed by Chennai Architect Oscar

pding

March 1st, 2006, 11:29 PM

http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=265141&cat=India

Vizag port surpasses yearly handling figures a month in advance

Continuing with its record performance for the sixth year in succession, the Port of Visakhapatnam, the largest cargo handling port among the 11 major ports in the country, has achieved handling of 501.51 lakh tonnes of cargo a full month ahead of the current fiscal.
This was better than the annual handling of 501.47 lakh tonnes achieved last year, which worked out to an increase of 11.35 per cent on the yearly basis.

A record quantity of 12,221 metric tonnes of Granular Urea was discharged yesterday from the East Quay-1 berth from the vessel M V Kallisto, bettering the previous best discharge of 11,025 mt clocked on September 27, 2004, a Visakhapatnam Port Trust release said here today.

Krishak Bharati Cooperative Ltd of Noida imported this Urea cargo.

VPT chairman K Ratna Kishore had said recently that the port had appointed IPA as consultant to prepare a feasibility report on the proposed mechanised handling system at the General Cargo Berth at a cost of Rs 80 crore. This was to mainly mechanise the imported cocking coal cargo handling which is one of the major cargo the port handles.

On the proposed development of private ports in its vicinity at Kakinada and Gangavaram, he said, this would not affect VPT's performance as healthy competition would lead to the port improve its performance further.

kronik

March 2nd, 2006, 01:19 AM

^^ i think it should belong to the ports thread.

pding

March 7th, 2006, 10:30 PM

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=217800

Singapore firm seen in Vizag realty deal

A Singapore-based infrastructure development company is all set to sign a major plot acquisition deal with the developers of Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City coming up at Parawada in the outskirts of Visakhapatnam.

The deal, valued at over Rs 100 crore involves purchasing a 400-acre block in the 2,250-acre pharma manufacturing park at a cost of Rs 25 lakh per acre, said sources close to the development.

The company is learnt to have invested in the industrial site in India with an objective of attracting multinational pharmaceutical companies to set up their direct manufacturing operations in India.

The sources added that the company is already in talks with 14 top multinational pharmaceutical companiEs, all of which have wholly-owned subsidiaries in Singapore.

The work on the Rs 400-crore Pharma City project is moving at a brisk pace. Common infrastructure facilities to help the units begin operations would be completed shortly.

Hyderabad-based Ramky Pharma City (India) is executing the project.

The Vishakhapatnam district authority had recently initiated steps to acquire an additional 250-acre land in the vicinity of Parawada for the Pharma City, apart from the previously sanctioned 2,000-acre land.

The industry project, a first of its kind in the southern state, was initiated by the Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association (BDMA) in support of the Andhra Pradesh government.

The Pharma City will also provide infrastructure for the drug discovery, research and development functions, as also help with clinical trials.

It will also facilitate with the manufacturing and marketing functions, both to Indian as well as international pharma companies.

Located at a special economic zone (SEZ), the pharma park is aimed at enabling global pharma majors outsource around 400-odd drugs from India in the post GATT regime.

hope these plans are all accurate. singapore has headquarters of several pharma companies including J&J, Baxter, AZ, Roche, etc.
if they really are interested, then this could mean several hundreds of crores of investments. :) :) :)

pding

March 8th, 2006, 10:24 PM

http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1017036

Volkswagen, made in Andhra

Volkswagen is set to roll into Andhra Pradesh with an investment of $1.2 billion after the state government agreed to almost all the demands put forth by the German auto-maker for setting up the project in the port-city of Visakhapatnam.
The German auto giant had sent a revised draft memorandum of understanding to the state government with some changes which the government has consented to.

“We have given our consent to it and hope to sign the agreement sometime in the next week to ten days,” a senior government official told DNA Money.

“We have agreed to all the concessions that the company asked for and whatever was agreed to by the previous N Chandrababu Naidu government. The only change is with respect to the demand for an 18 year deferment in sales tax which is not possible given the new dispensation under the value-added tax regime. Instead the government has agreed to reimburse the VAT payments for ten years,” the official said.

pding

March 8th, 2006, 10:26 PM

Luckystreak

March 8th, 2006, 11:52 PM

Instead the government has agreed to reimburse the VAT payments for ten years

VW cannot claim similar tax reimbusements in any another country.
Foreign companies are cashing on the desperateness being shown by Indian states.

ramkan

March 9th, 2006, 12:10 AM

VW cannot claim similar tax reimbusements in any another country.
Foreign companies are cashing on the desperateness being shown by Indian states.

Absolutely. They are cashing on the competition(desperation) among the states. Since the elections are some what based on development and number of new companies that get started, politicians are under pressure to attract new companies. Most of the politicians buy huge acres of lands near these projects. The real estate will soar to new highs because of these projects.

It is crazy to offer free land, subsidized electricity, water and tax holidays. That too for 10 years is too much. Most automobile companies in INDIA break even in 3 to 5 years..

Though most of these projects do not benefit the state directly, they do provide a sense of confidence to the businesses around and might attract more ancillary units.

HITEC city in HYDERABAD is a succesful case. When built, the govt poured in good amount of money and had to request companies to start operations there. It gave subsidized rates to lot of companies. Once the Govt roped in Microsoft and Oracle, lot of companies started operations there. Now HITEC city is one of the success stories where more and more companies are starting operations there.

Hope that VIZAG's VOLKSWAGON plant would be a sucess and add many more jobs for the local people..

pding

March 9th, 2006, 03:56 AM

there will be huge amount of jobs. but yes, those incentives are way too much. but i think it will do good for vizag. with this, the centre too will consider fastening the process of improving the vizag airport. already the work has started and the project is scheduled to be completed by 2008.

WillyWick

March 9th, 2006, 04:59 AM

vizag is getting other investments and the gov need not be so desperate to get vw to vizag...could have been negotiated better. Some other location in AP would have been better. But it is nice to governments fighting it out to get investments and not just giving lip service. More deals they negotiate, they would get better at it.

pding

March 9th, 2006, 05:05 AM

i'm with you on that. they could have been tougher during negotiations.

pding

March 10th, 2006, 10:22 PM

NMDP to invest 3500 crores in Vizag Port

Ports on the eastern coast are going to receive more attention in days to come, as the centre of global trade shifts towards the east. To improve the service of the port of Visakhapatnam popularly known as Vizag, the government has earmarked Rs.3, 500 crores under the National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP).

"For development of Vizag Rs 3,500 crores has been earmarked under NMDP, of which 1600 crores will be spent on developing railway connectivity, 600 crores will be through means of budgetary allocation, another 600 crores through internal accruals; and 900 crores through private sector investments in port related projects," said S Hajara, Chairman and Managing Director, Shipping Corporation of India, at a National Seminar on Vizag Port, organized by the Confederation of India Industry (CII) here on Thursday.

He said that the world was looking towards the East, where China and India were acknowledged as growth-drivers.

Hajara said that maritime was 'a silent and an invisible sector', and most people were not aware of the maritime sector's role in the growth of the economy.

"The fact is that it is shipping that drives the economy of India, with 70 percent of India's energy imports being brought in over the seas," he said.

"At the time of independence India's ports were handling 20 million tonnes of cargo, which has gone up to half a billion tonnes now. The target is to attain a figure of one billion tonnes in five years," said Hajara.

"To achieve this target, we need to increase the number of ports and invest in developing infrastructure like connectivity by road and trains," he added.

Nag

March 11th, 2006, 12:02 AM

i'm with you on that. they could have been tougher during negotiations.

Yeah be tough and lose the projects ! YSR is doing the correct thing, yield a lot to the first few investors build the infrastructure and let the infrastructure pull the other investors. Since chennai is better than vizag on every parameter YSR has to offer some thing more to get it and he is doing just that. Did not coke price its products at Rs 2 to capture the market and cannabalize the competitors, once at the top they changed the pricing stratergy. YSR is tooo smart. If VW and couple of others follow it to vizag, it may as well be called the detriot of india and not chennai. So happy to see a performing politician from India, though, being a native of chennai would have liked VW to have gone there
:cheers:

pding

March 11th, 2006, 05:09 AM

that argument does seem right. but suppose he gave a bottomline of 20% more than right now, they still would've come there bc those incentives too are unmatched by any other state.

now, looking forward to GM!!! hopefully.

pding

March 24th, 2006, 10:17 PM

what the fuck is up with VW. they've taken almost 3 years to decide a location for their plant. how much are they going to delay????

Babji

April 26th, 2006, 02:25 AM

Newindpress.com
City rail station gets clean, tidy look

VISAKHAPATNAM: Tidy platforms, flower shows, abundant public telephone services, hygienic food stalls, air-conditioned restaurants, all this and much more depict the new perspective of the once stinking platforms of the Visakhapatnam Railway Station...

Since the origin of the erstwhile State-owned East Coast Railways in 1893 and later with the construction of the port in the city in 1933, the Visakhapatnam Railway Station has gained its prominence as an important terminal junction point in handling the cargo in and out of the Port on rail routes to the hinterland.

Daily, for the convenience of passengers, from the Visakhapatnam Railway Station runs about 36 pairs of Mail and Express trains in all and 14 pairs of passenger trains, including two Diesel Multiple Units (DMU), which run between Palasa and Tuni (via Visakhapatnam) and Visakhapatnam and Rayagada.

In the recent times, the Visakhapatnam Railway Station, took some of the immediate measures for the convenience of the passengers, which include establishing scores of stores to sell drinking water, hygienic food, magazines, medicines, eatables and other articles.

...a couple of decades ago, one could see people only when a train approaches and amenities provided on the railway station were quite less...

Also, CCTVs were installed on all the platforms and the safety of the passengers and their luggage was also increased since the induction of Railway Protection Force.

With the help of Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation and Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA), the ECoR, Waltair division was conducting first-of-its-kind annual flower shows on its premises, as part of its beautification drives.

Luckystreak

April 26th, 2006, 09:56 AM

JSW Aluminium plans 120-bln-rupee expansion (http://www.ndtvprofit.com/homepage/news.asp?id=246299)

JSW Aluminium Ltd. plans to set up a 1.4-million-tonne per annum alumina refinery and an aluminium plant with a total investment of 120 billion rupees, a company official said on Tuesday.

The unlisted company, part of the group which also runs JSW Steel Ltd., would start building the refinery in September and complete it by early 2009, General Manager Rajendra Kunwar said.

The projects would come up at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, he said.

The company had signed a 20-year lease agreement with Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corp. for the supply of bauxite ore, Kunwar, who heads the company's technology activities, said.

The construction of the 0.25-million-tonne per year aluminium plant would be taken up in the second phase.

Sathisht77

April 26th, 2006, 10:44 AM

what the fuck is up with VW. they've taken almost 3 years to decide a location for their plant. how much are they going to delay????

I think VW has shelved the project. I think the latest round of discussions was just an eyewash to escape the guilt of the scam.

pding

April 26th, 2006, 08:55 PM

prolly true.

Babji

April 27th, 2006, 02:25 AM

there are several rumors floating around about VW. here are a couple of them:

"Volkswagen to go to Tamil Nadu -Bernd Bochardt, director (South Asia), foreign office of Germany in Berlin." (posted by Anniyan in Chennai V thread).

"VW to make Golf in Panjab..." (I read this somewhere today, don't remeber source).

whatever it is, VW seems to be eager to come to India soon. lets wait and see, where they are going to land.
----------------------------------------------------------
ok. no need worry. just to follow their story:
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?hpFlag=Y&chklogin=N&autono=224014&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=0

VW eyes Punjab for manufacturing Golf

With its Andhra Pradesh car project mired in controversy, German car maker Volkswagen has set its sights on Punjab to manufacture the Golf, its entry level hatchback.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh told Business Standard Volkwagen had held three rounds of discussions with the state government on the issue.

“We have shown the car maker the land that will be made available for its manufacturing site. The company said it will get back in two months time,” he said. Industry sources added Volkswagen might manufacture the Golf in Punjab.

teluguone

April 28th, 2006, 01:45 AM

IT service provider plans expansion

Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM: A local IT service provider, Pinnacle, has plans to approach the State Government for a site near Kapulauppada on the Beach Road for expansion of its operations.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, its CEO Srinivas Panchakarla said that the Pinnacle Business Application Services Private Limited had entered into an alliance with SAT Infotech Private Limited, Hyderabad, for taking up enterprise resource planning (ERP) projects. This would enable it provide jobs to about 500 people during the next couple of years here and in Hyderabad, he said.

There were several mid-level companies like the seafood firms in Visakhaptnam, which sought to implement ERP packages and they would be provided suitable packages and assistance in implementing them, he said.

Mr. Panchakarla said that the company had plans to apply for a five-acre site in the vicinity of Kapulauppada for expanding the operations. On the prospects for IT sector, he said they were bright with three or four major companies arriving here.

teluguone

April 28th, 2006, 01:47 AM

'SILICON VALLEY' ON VIZAG OUTSKIRTS ON CARDS: The port city whose development gained momentum following its upgradation into 'Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation' is set to make greater strides with the Information and Communications Department of the State Government proposing the setting up of a 'Silicon Valley' type zone on the outskirts, to make it the next IT destination after Hyderabad. According to sources, IT experts are expected to arrive here to select the 300-acre site after the Visakha-I bypoll repoll results are announced. The zone has been suggested in view of protests by environmentalists and heritage lovers against location of IT Parks near Buddhist heritage sites and atop lush green hills at Rishikonda, the sources added.

Babji

April 30th, 2006, 09:59 PM

http://www.deccan.com/City/CityNews.asp
NTPC to be given 700 acre land for expansion

Hyderabad, April 30: The State government has agreed to allocate 700 acres of land to the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for the expansion of its Simhadri thermal power plant at Visakhapatnam. NTPC chairman and MD T. Sankaralingam called on Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy at the latter’s camp office on Sunday to discuss the expansion.

At present, the NTPC operates a 2 X 500 MW super thermal power project at Visakhapatnam. Dr Reddy told Mr Sankaralingam to expand its total capacity by 1,300 MW to meet the ever growing power demand of the State. He also issued on-the-spot instructions to Visakhapatnam collector A.K. Singhal to identify and allot the required land to the NTPC. Further, Mr Sankaralingam mentioned that the NTPC was not dependent on the Central government for funds and it would finance all its projects by raising resources on its own and internal resources.

Babji

May 3rd, 2006, 01:43 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/03/stories/2006050315710400.htm

Nod for Hinduja project in Vizag

Approval given after the offer to sell power to other States if rate is too high for State

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy is understood to have given the nod to the Hindujas to set up a thermal power station at Visakhapatnam following the latter's offer to sell power to other States if its rates were not feasible for Andhra Pradesh.

Dr. Reddy is said to have accepted the proposal in principle when the Hinduja brothers called on him here on Monday. His contention is that any new power project is welcome considering that Andhra Pradesh needs an additional 6,000 to 8,000 Mw of power in the next five to six years.

A decade-long plan

The Hindujas had proposed nearly a decade ago to set up a 1,000 MW power project at Vizag. It never took off for lack of subsequent interest by the company and the then TDP Government's refusal to accept the high tariff. Today, the TDP warned of an agitation if the Government accepted the cost of generation at Rs. 5.5 crore per mega watt and if it was not linked to tariff. Sources said the Chief Minister does not buy this argument since the Hindjuas' project would create thousands of jobs and generate taxes.

Babji

May 3rd, 2006, 01:50 AM

News From Webindia123.com
Volkeswagen bets on Maharashtra; setback to AP
New Delhi | May 02, 2006 6:49:42 PM IST

German automobile giant Volkeswagen, known for running robotic-driven assembly lines worldwide, has zeroed in Maharashtra reversing its earlier plan to set up its manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh.
''It is Maharashtra and not Andhra Pradesh'', a senior government official, who recentely held talks with the top Volkeswagen management team, told UNI.

The German car-maker which had toured Visakhapatnam last year and also met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajshekhar Reddy, is now keen on putting its bet on Nasik in Pune-Mumbai area. '' Two things have weighed in favour of Maharashtra. They (Volkeswagen) are impressed by the development of Pune as an automobile hub and the world class Mumbai-Pune highway influenced them further'', the senior official aid.

Even as the company has decided on Maharashtra, State representatives, continue their lobbying with the German giant. Top level bureaucrats from West Bengal called on the Volkeswagen senior management in their bid to woo the car-maker to the eastern state...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
AP, TN, Karnataka, Panjab, now MH...
VW folks know drama. Lets see, whats next... (West Bengal ?)
One significant point is, No one wants to put their name on this news (sr. govt offical etc ony).

pding

May 3rd, 2006, 04:05 AM

i think they're going for Nasik in MH.

Babji

May 3rd, 2006, 04:21 AM

West Bengal is also marketing very aggressively these days.
prolly, VW would say, they were impressed by the Howrah Bridge and they might go to Kolkata :)

Quote:
'' Two things have weighed in favour of Maharashtra. They (Volkeswagen) are impressed by the development of Pune as an automobile hub and the world class Mumbai-Pune highway influenced them further'', the senior official aid.

------- I don't see much strength in this argument. AP and TN are not very far away for auto parts manufacturers. If VW plans to export their cars, they would look for a closer sea port than a world class express highway...

vadi

May 3rd, 2006, 06:14 AM

Balas

May 3rd, 2006, 11:04 AM

you see greater-puNe and MH in general has this whole eco-system for manufacturing.
zillions of units around pimpri chinchwad and even heartland puNe that do all kinds of stuff for them. dunno much about AP, but even TN with it's award winning TVS and Hosur based Leyland and enterprising kovai and all is prolly a patch to what has puNe has got going. it's gotto help that bharat-forge is around.

Not sure about AP, but TN has a much more healthy, balanced and all-round eco-system in terms of auto manufacturing. It's just not TVS, Leyland but many others including Rane, MRF, Murugappa, India Pistons, and thousand other SMEs. MH is only next to TN in terms of the overall automobile and auto ancillary manufacturing.

vadi

May 3rd, 2006, 02:08 PM

oh..
did'nt in any way mean to obscure TN's mfg powers, was just trying highlight the major geographical extents of the TN auto scene. (the chennai, hosur, kovai, tiruchi quad is golden)

Babji

May 4th, 2006, 01:17 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/04/stories/2006050411530300.htm

Over 100 flights for Vizag in the offing

VISAKHAPATNAM: The number of flights to Visakhapatnam are expected to go up from 54 to over a 100...

As of now Visakhapatnam is connected to Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Delhi via Raipur. Only 54 flights operate in a week though the city's passenger growth has increased remarkably by almost 60 per cent last year with 2.5 lakh air travellers through it, thanks to the growing importance of the city in the industrial, educational, tourism and IT fields.

Details of flights: ``Ten flights a week in the Visakhapatnam-Kolkata-Visakhapatnam sector, 24 flights a week in Visakhapatnam-Chennai-Visakhapatnam sector, 28 a week on Visakhapatnam-Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam route, 21 flights a week in Visakhapatnam-Mumbai-Visakhapatnam sector, and 14 a week in Visakhapatnam-Delhi-Visakhapatnam sectors will be operated. In addition, direct flights to Port Blair and Bangalore from our city are expected in the new future,'' he said.

The expansion of Visakhapatnam airport to 10,000 ft was under way and wide-bodied aircraft could land here round-the-clock from January next when night-landing facilities would be ready. New terminal building with facilities like Customs, immigration, three aerobridges, large concourses for arrival and departure and four baggage belts would be ready by January-2008 to enable international flights also to land in Visakhapatnam, Mr. Janardhana Reddy said.

Silk Air to fly from Vizag: Silk Air, a subsidiary of Singapore Airline had already confirmed its willingness to operate flights from Visakhapatnam to Singapore direct. Others showing similar interest include Malaysian, Sri Lankan and Thai Airlines which would herald greater connectivity and bright future for Visakhapatnam, he noted...

Babji

May 5th, 2006, 01:27 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/05/stories/2006050513050200.htm

Railway Board urged to introduce seven new trains from Vizag

The facilities are inadequate for a population of 1.5 million: MP

VISAKHAPATNAM: Visakhapatnam MP N. Janardhana Reddy has asked the Railway Board to augment facilities for the people in the fast growing port-cum-steel city.

In a detailed letter addressed to the Railway Board Chairman J.P. Batra in New Delhi soon after discussions with local railway officials and a resource group constituted by him on Tuesday, he sought as many as seven new trains for the city.

Mr. Reddy who pointed out that the railway facilities were grossly inadequate in Visakhapatnam which had over 1.5 million population and lay at a strategic point in the rail network of India, had proposed two overnight express trains -- one from Visakhapatnam to Chennai Egmore and another between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, three superfast express trains to Secunderabad, Jaiapur, and Varanasi, an express train to Mumbai, and Shatabdi Express between Visakhapatnam and Guntur.

Besides, he wanted introduction of link express trains connecting upcountry trains such as Neelachal Express and further extension of some long-distance express trains like Konark and Yashwantpur, addition of pantry cars to Chennai-Howrah Mail, Prashanti Express, East Coast Express and Janmabhoomi Express...

Mr. Reddy also sought augmentation of train services by providing shuttle services between Visakhapatnam and Duvvada, an additional shuttle train to Rayagada, extension of all Palasa shuttles to Brahmapur, speeding up of Dhanbad-Alleppy Express and Puri/Hilaspur-Tirupathi Express by at least four hours in the East Coast Railway sector, and additional refurbished bogies in Visakhapatnam-Bhubaneshwar inter-city express by adding an air-conditioned chair car.

He urged the Railway Board to take up improvements at the Visakhapatnam railway station with facilities like escalator/lift on platforms 1 and 6, construciton of new building for passenger reservation, VIP car parking with direct access to platforms 1 and 6, development of Duvvada as satellite terminal for Visakhapatnam, and provision of waiting hall on the ground floor on platforms 1 and 6

pding

May 5th, 2006, 01:46 AM

it's not wise to have a shatabdi express from Vizag to Guntur. the distance is too short and in this region not a whole lot of ppl would be willing to shell out the extra money for a Shatabdi.

also, so many super fast trains that too for a city like Vizag with just a population of 1.5 million will not be even considered.

Babji

May 5th, 2006, 01:50 AM

With Vizag already being the largest port in the country, International Air port (flights) coming up, SEZs coming up, VSP expanding, and Kakinada port and city developing at phenomonal speed, I think, there will be enough demand.

Though there are many trains on this route already, they are always packed.

Babji

May 5th, 2006, 05:39 AM

Not sure about AP, but TN has a much more healthy, balanced and all-round eco-system in terms of auto manufacturing. It's just not TVS, Leyland but many others including Rane, MRF, Murugappa, India Pistons, and thousand other SMEs. MH is only next to TN in terms of the overall automobile and auto ancillary manufacturing.

Agreed. TN may have a better eco-system in terms of auto manufacturing. but then, with all the rail links, new express highways and economy flights - all the Indian states and cities are getting closer and closer together. distance is no barrier for business.

I don't think, the TN and MH auto manufacturers would refuse to do business with VW if VW opens factory in AP. may be they (SMEs) would also open their offices in AP. and VW knows about it. thats the way any business dynamics work. demand and supply.

VW is holding their decision for reasons best known to them.
In the mean time, reps from diff states are going after them, and coming out with a favourable stmt in their own (state's) interest.

Its hard to say where they are going, until they (VW) themselves say it!

Babji

May 11th, 2006, 04:03 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/11/stories/2006051110270300.htm

MP stresses need to complete airport expansion works in time

Says bigger aircraft should be able to land from January next
Says importance of Vizag has increased

VISAKHAPATNAM : Former Chief Minister and Visakhapatnam MP N. Janardhana Reddy on Tuesday said that in view of the increased importance of Visakhapatnam, there was need to complete expansion of the airport in time to facilitate landing of wide-bodied aircraft like Boeing B-737 here.

He was reviewing the progress of expansion project works of Visakhapatnam airport at the newly constituted Airport Advisory Committee of which he is chairman, at a meeting held at Airport Civil Enclave. With the expansion of the runway to 10,000 ft., bigger aircraft could land in Visakhapatnam round-the-clock from January next year, he said.

Terminal building
Airport officials explained to the MP and others that three-fourths of the runway expansion had already been completed and the remaining work would be over shortly. New terminal building with facilities like customs, immigration, three aerobridges, large concourses for arrival and departure etc., would be ready by January 2008, they said. The recent flooding of the airport and remedial measures were also discussed at the meeting.

Babji

May 11th, 2006, 04:27 AM

http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.asp
Vizag turns a tourist haven

Visakhapatnam, May 10: Be it Araku, Tyda jungle bells, Rishikonda beach, Borra caves or Ananthagiri plantations, the tourist response is overwhelming. This year the number of tourists coming to these places has increased. The AP Tourism Development Corporation divisional manager, Jeevan Prakash said, “There has been a phenomenal increase in the number of tourists going to Tyda Jungle bells this year. To meet the growing demand, we have constructed new cottages over there. Anybody who wants disturbance-free holiday can go to Tyda jungle bells. Araku, Borra caves and Ananthagiri are also doing well. We expect more tourists in this month, now that college exams are also over.”

RK beach itself has thousands of people coming from all over Vizag and neighbouring places like Srikakulam and Vizianagram. Some youngsters also come from Raipur in Chhattisgarh and Orissa, Hyderabad if there is a long weekend.

Keeping up with the rising number of tourists, APTDC is building 65 rooms in Araku, 24 AC cottages at Rishikonda, 19 at hilltop at Ananthagiri. The cottages at Ananthgiri are 3,313 feet above the sea level. There are five APTDC buses plying to Araku valley everyday apart from the rail-cum- road tour. APTDC has also number of packages covering the city. Vuda’s efforts to beautify the Kailasgiri hills coupled with All India youth hostel organising tours like hiking, trekking have made Vizag an attractive place for even the adventure seekers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are there any forumers from vizag who can donate some vizag pics...

Luckystreak

May 13th, 2006, 09:31 AM

Wipro Campus - First Phase

Work expected to complete by the end of 2007.

Pic Courtesy: Eenadu
http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/7338/12bu1a6mk.jpg

Luckystreak

May 13th, 2006, 11:14 AM

Oracle opens office in Vizag (http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/04/29/1623885.htm)

Luckystreak

May 13th, 2006, 11:16 AM

Manmohan to lay stone for VSP project (http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14203766)

The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, is scheduled to visit Vizag and lay the foundation stone for the Rs 8,692-crore expansion project of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant on May 20.

The expansion project envisages doubling the capacity of the plant from the present three million tonnes to six million tonnes. Additional units such as a blast furnace, coke oven, sinter plant, steel melt shop, seamless tube mill, and rolling mill will be set up under the expansion project

The steel plant emerged as a debt-free company last year and it has wiped out all the accumulated losses. The VSP also has cash reserves of over Rs 5,000 crores at present.

pding

May 14th, 2006, 12:57 AM

great news for vizag. the wipro campus looks pretty cool. wipro's total investment in vizag is much more and even Satyam has just started working on it's 30 acre campus in vizag. this should def bump the IT exports from vizag in the next 3 years. other companies too will enter.

Babji

May 14th, 2006, 01:07 AM

with all these developments coming up, road and rail infrastructure may soon become a problem.
I hope they will plan and do some thing soon.

pding

May 14th, 2006, 02:28 AM

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEA20060513051813&Page=A&Title=Southern+News+-+Andhra+Pradesh&Topic=0

Wipro today, more tomorrow

Wipro Technologies’ new campus is all set to come up in an area of seven acres in this port city. Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy formally laid the stone for the campus at L Bullayya College Grounds here on Friday.

Wipro will initially invest Rs 25 crore and in about five years the investment would go up to Rs 200 crore. It will provide jobs to 750 engineers in the first phase and 6,000 over the next six years.

According to Rajasekhara Reddy, Wipro, Satyam and other IT firms were keen on commencing software operations in Visakhapatnam. He hoped Visakhapatanam would emerge as strong as Hyderabad in IT sector in future.

The Chief Minister said IT sector created 85,000 jobs in a decade before the Congress assumed power whereas the sector generated 65,000 jobs in just two years.

Visakhapatnam is being preferred as an alternative Tier II IT location in view of its strategic location. The growing city not only offers cost advantage in terms of physical infrastructure, hiring of human resources and social costs, but also provides a safe and secure environment.

Visakhapatnam made a humble beginning in IT exports in 1999-2000 with Rs 5 crore for 16 units. Last year, the exports went up to Rs 109 crore and the number of units swelled to 40.

The state government has allotted 130 acre land to 21 companies last year to promote information technology in the city. In the next three years, these companies are expected to invest Rs 400 crore and provide employment to about 20,000 IT professionals.

Referring to the proposal for expansion of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Reddy announced that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would lay the stone for the project on May 20. The Rs 8,000 crore-plus project would provide jobs to a large number of youth.

The expansion of NTPC Simhadri Thermal Power Project, HPCL and IOC refineries and various other projects are on the anvil, he said.

Wipro Technologies chief operating officer A Lakshmana Rao said the company trained more than 70,000 children of 550 schools in the state in IT skills in collaboration with Azim Premji Foundation. It would extend cooperation to all such projects in the future.

employment for 20000 people in the next three years in Vizag seems very much achievable and that will increase the exports from vizag significantly and the state can have 2 IT hubs instead of just 1.

grimmm

May 20th, 2006, 03:27 PM

http://in.rediff.com/money/2006/may/20pm.htm

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday announced that the port city of Visakhapatnam is a potential location for a mega special economic region, which is likely to attract investments to the tune of $10 billion.

He was speaking at a public meeting in Indira Priyadarshini Municipal Stadium in Visakhaptnam after launching the Rs 98-crore (Rs 980 million) water supply and drainage project for Visakhapatnam under the Jawaharlal Nehru National
Urban Renewal Mission.

"Vizag is one of the potential locations for a mega special economic region being promoted by the central government and which is currently under discussion with important foreign investors.

pding

May 20th, 2006, 07:31 PM

i hope vizag bags it. with kakinada and gangavaram ports, this is an ideal manufacturing hub.

Babji

May 20th, 2006, 10:21 PM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/21/stories/2006052113650100.htm

Mega special economic region mooted for Vizag: Manmohan

VISAKHAPATNAM: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here on Saturday that the Government of India was holding discussions with foreign investors to explore the possibility of setting up `mega special economic regions' in the country with Visakhapatnam being one of the potential locations.

"By developing Visakhapatnam into a mega special economic region, investments to the tune of 10 billion dollars (more than Rs. 45,000 crores) can be attracted....".

The Prime Minister, who earlier launched a massive project to expand the capacity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant from 3.6 million to 6.3 million tonnes at a cost of Rs. 8,692 crores, said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government would favourably consider revival of Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) and Bharat Heavy Plates and Vessels (BHPV), both of which had been in the red for the past several years.

we will once again have a world-class shipbuilding industry in Vizag..."

Union Minister for Steel Ram Vilas Paswan said that the Vizag Steel Plant would receive `mini ratna' status.

Mr. Paswan also announced the setting up of a steel research and development centre at Hyderabad with an investment of Rs.50 crores He said miniratna status would give autonomy to VSP in decision-making.

At the stadium, the Prime Minister launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) under which drinking water and drainage works would be taken up. He promised support to road development work in the city at a cost Rs. 100 crores.

The area up to Kakinada on one side and Srikakulam on the other could be developed into a centre of new business, and wanted the city to become the `Jewel of Coromandel coast'.

Babji

May 20th, 2006, 10:32 PM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/21/stories/2006052112910400.htm

Coastal corridor gets nod: YSR

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has agreed to the proposal for setting up of an industrial corridor between Visakhapatnam and Kakinada, said the Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

The Chief Minister disclosed this at a meeting after laying the foundation stone for a building for the Indo-German Institute of Advanced Technology (IGIAT) at the Industrial Estate at Kancharapalem, here on Saturday.

The corridor would spur industrial development of the city and the region besides opening up vast employment opportunities. The Prime Minister had launched development projects Rs. 45,000 crores in Visakhapatnam alone earlier in the day. The capacity of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant would be enhanced, and soon NTPC Simhadri and HPCL would also go on the expansion mode.

Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy said that there was also a plan to set up a mega petrochemical complex in Visakhapatnam. All these projects would change the face of the city.

Referring to IGIAT, he said that the institute would provide the much-needed technical competence to students passing out of engineering colleges and technical institutes to improve their employability. The German Government had advanced Rs. 16 crores for the provision of infrastructure at the institute. The State Government had allocated five acres of land and the Gayatri Vidya Parishad had made an initial investment of Rs. 40 lakhs for the project.

Babji

May 20th, 2006, 10:36 PM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/21/stories/2006052111160300.htm
582-cr. revival package for BHPV

VISAKHAPATNAM: The revival package for the public sector Bharat Heavy Plate and Vessels (BHPV) in the city has been finalised to provide assistance to the tune of Rs. 582 crores to the heavy engineering unit.

5,000-cr. transit system

Mr. Janardhana Reddy also said that a mass rapid transit system, would be provided for the city at a cost of Rs. 5,000 crores.

He also put the expansion projects of HPCL at Rs.22,000 crores which obviously included the proposed petro-chemical project besides expansion of the refinery.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Did any one hear about the announcement of an Inner Ring Road?

pding

May 21st, 2006, 01:05 AM

wow, it's a big list for Vizag and surrounding areas. this region is full of natural resources and has good port infrastructure which is currently undergoing upgradation. this area can be made equal to the Pudong industrial estate near shanghai, on the east cost of china.

Babji

May 21st, 2006, 01:53 AM

http://www.vizagcityonline.com/news/vizagnews.html

NEW FLIGHTS FOR VIZAG: In a press release to VizagCityOnline.com, Minister Mr. N. Janardhan Reddy announced that the current number of 54 flights operating in the city will go up to over a 100 flights from November of this year. 10 flights in the Vizag-Kolkata-Vizag sector, 24 in the Vizag-Chennai-Vizag sector, 28 on the Vizag-Hyderabad-Vizag sector, 21 in the Vizag-Mumbai-Vizag sector and 14 in the Vizag-Delhi-Vizag sector will be operating per week.
Moreover, Silk Air, a subsidiary of Singapore Airline has already confirmed its willingness to operate flights from Visakhapatnam to Singapore direct.

Rs. 212 CR. FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT OF CITY: Rs. 212 crores for the Visakhapatnam city under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission Scheme has been finalised...

Rs. 64 crores would be used for the Tatipudi pipeline scheme,
Rs. 32 cr. for teh LG Polymers-Pendurthy Road,
Rs. 29 cr. for the Pineapple Colony-Vepagunta Road,
Rs. 26 cr. for the Hanumanthawaka 200 ft. road scheme.
Rs. 25 cr. for the Jail Road to inner ring road,
Rs. 24 cr. for the TSR-Yendada-Kommadi water supply scheme,
Rs. 9 cr. for Yerrigedda regularisation scheme and
Rs. 4 cr. for canal regularisation scheme.

Also, a cancer hospital with NRI assistance is to be set up in the city.

Babji

May 21st, 2006, 02:15 AM

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1539748,curpg-1.cms

VISAKHAPATNAM (ANDHRA PRADESH): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said this port city had the potential to become a special economic region and attract an investment of $10 billion.

Rs.980 million urban development scheme under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission...

... promised to consider proposals for developing an international airport and a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS).
... proposal to lay a tunnel under the hills to connect the city to new developing area of Bhimili ...

Babji

May 23rd, 2006, 02:12 AM

News From Webindia123.com
Eleven Express trains to be upgraded to Superfast trains

Eleven Express trains running under the East Coast Railway (ECoR) division will be upgraded to Superfast trains soon.

8475/8476 Puri-New Delhi-Puri (Neelachal Express) via Tata,
8311/8312 Howrah- Sambalpur-Howrah(Ispat Express),
8413/8414 Bhubaneswar-Sambalpur-Bhhubaneswar Express,
8561/8562 Visakhapatnam-Nizamudini-Visakhapatnam link Express,
7007/7008 Visakhapatnam-Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam Godavari Express and
8007/8008 Puri-Howrah-Puri Express from July.

After upgradation to the status of super fast train the Puri-New Delhi-Puri(Neelachal Express), Howrah-Sambalpur-Howrah(Ispat Express) Bhubaneswar-Sambalpur-Bhubaneswar Express, Visakhapatnam Godavari Express and Puri-Howrah-Puri Express would be renumbered as 2875/2876, 2872/2871, 2893/2894, 2861/2862, 2727/2728 and 2837/2838 respectively.

8003/8004 Howrah-Yashwantpur-Howrah Express and
8613/8614 Hatia-Yashwantpur-Hataia Express will be upgraded and will be
renumbered as 2863/2864 and 2835/2836 from July 10.

5626/5625 Guwahati-Bangalore-Guwahati Express and
5638/5637 Guwahati-Secunderbad-Guwahati Express will also be upgraded along with the Ernakulam-Guwahati Express from July 4.

7045/7046 Howrah-Hyderbad-Howrah East Coast Express will be soon renumbered as 8645/8646 from July.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I guess, this will increase the speed of the trains so the travel time will come down.
may be, they should consider increasing the capacity (# of bogies) and increase the length of platforms.
or they should introduce double decker coaches.

pding

May 23rd, 2006, 04:06 PM

according to our system, if a train travels 60km/hr, it will be classified as super-fast. i say that's primitive thinking; they're still living in the stone age.

pding

May 25th, 2006, 02:58 AM

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c.php?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=987

Divi's Labs gets nod for pharma SEZ

Hyderabad-based Divi's Laboratories has received a letter of approval from the ministry of commerce for setting up a sector-specific special economic zone (SEZ) for pharmaceutical ingredients at Chippada, Bheemunipatnam in Visakhapatnam. The pharmaceutical company will be investing around Rs 200 crore for the purpose.

Kishore Babu, chief financial officer of Divi’s Laboratories, said: "We will be investing Rs 120 crore initially and later invest Rs 80 crore. The total investment for the 250-acre SEZ will be spread over four years."

The company will be raising funds for the investment via foreign currency loans. "This will involve a debt of around $15 million. The remaining investment will be via internal accruals," Babu said.

NICE TO SEE THIS. several MNCs too are interested in opening units in the Ramky Pharma SEZ in Vizag. hope to see more major investments in the 2100 acre SEZ.

Luckystreak

May 25th, 2006, 08:01 PM

Navy to acquire 5,000 acres for new naval base (http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEA20060525015406&Page=A&Title=Southern+News+-+Andhra+Pradesh&Topic=0)

The Indian Navy will acquire about 5,000 acres from the State government for the construction of a new naval base to the south of Visakhapatnam. For this, negotiations are going-on between the State government and the villagers who will be displaced, according to Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash.

Interacting with the media persons after the Naval Investiture Ceremony 2006 at the Naval Base here today, Arun Prakash said that it has become necessary for the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) to construct a new naval base as the existing channel of Visakhapatnam port, shared by the Naval and merchant ships, was narrow and crowded.

The Chief of Naval Staff said that he reviewed the security aspects in the region, assets of the ENC, its combat preparedness and welfare of Naval personnel and sailors, during his current visit.

The ENC has various long and short-term proposals for development and a majority of them were at the stage of being approved by the Government, he said and added that 17.5 percent of defence budget which the Indian Navy received for the current fiscal, was adequate for safeguarding the maritime interests.

New acquisitions like aircraft carrier, escort ships, support ships and submarines would enable the Indian Navy to meet the aspirations for the next eight years, he opined.

Earlier, addressing the Naval Investiture Ceremony 2006, Arun Prakash said that India’s economic stability was largely dependent on its Navy. It was the Navy which maintained cordial relations with the neighbouring countries, particularly with those situated on the seacoasts.

Apart from its modern three-dimensional maritime warfare capability, it was the professionalism of Indian Naval personnel that was highly appreciated by other naval forces in the world, he observed.

A ceremonial parade was conducted by 24 platoons, including six armed platoons and a 50-member team of Nissan Guard. The Chief of Naval Staff presented the President’s gallantry and non-gallantry awards to Naval officers and sailors.

ENC Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice Admiral Sureesh Mehta was present among others.

Luckystreak

May 25th, 2006, 08:03 PM

BARC gets land for its biggest campus near Visakhapatnam (http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEA20060525010753&Page=A&Title=Southern+News+-+Andhra+Pradesh&Topic=0)

The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (APIIC) has handed over 2,080 acre land in the Special Economic Zone coming up at Atchutapuram here, to the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for its new campus.

About 2,500 acres more, including 800 acres for residential quarters for BARC employees, will be acquired by the APIIC. This proposed branch of the country’s premier atomic energy research establishment will be bigger than the BARC headquarters at Mumbai.

As of now, compound wall construction of the proposed BARC branch began, according to APIIC zonal manager (Projects) D Haranadha Reddy.

The zonal manager told this paper that APIIC was acquiring 10,000 acre land for the SEZ in addition to the 9,200 acres which was under its control. Already, 1,000 acres had been allotted to Sri Lankan textile company Brandix.

As regards Pharma City at Parawada, out of 27 bulk drug manufacturers which were allotted land, six companies are about to begin the construction work.

APIIC is taking steps to facilitate the setting up of industries in the least possible time while providing the required infrastructure facilities with the help of Industrial Infrastructure Development Fund and Critical Industrial Infrastructure Funds.

Necessary concessions and incentives were being given in accordance with the industrial policy to attract entrepreneurs, Haranadha Reddy said.

Luckystreak

May 25th, 2006, 08:14 PM

Now add BARC and a new Naval base to the list of upcoming projects..

pding

May 25th, 2006, 08:46 PM

wow, Vizag will be a major hub. i hope the state gov'ts efforts to establish Vizag-kakinada region as an industrial hub come true. Nizampatnam SEZ by Skoda too will have around 2500 acres manufacturing SEZ. this is great news.

bommasaniv

May 26th, 2006, 11:31 AM

BARC gets land for its biggest campus near Vizag :cheers: :cheers:

VIZAG: The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (APIIC) has handed over 2,080 acre land in the Special Economic Zone coming up at Atchutapuram here, to the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for its new campus.

About 2,500 acres more, including 800 acres for residential quarters for BARC employees, will be acquired by the APIIC. This proposed branch of the country’s premier atomic energy research establishment will be bigger than the BARC headquarters at Mumbai.

As of now, compound wall construction of the proposed BARC branch began, according to APIIC zonal manager (Projects) D Haranadha Reddy.

The zonal manager told this paper that APIIC was acquiring 10,000 acre land for the SEZ in addition to the 9,200 acres which was under its control. Already, 1,000 acres had been allotted to Sri Lankan textile company Brandix.

As regards Pharma City at Parawada, out of 27 bulk drug manufacturers which were allotted land, six companies are about to begin the construction work.

APIIC is taking steps to facilitate the setting up of industries in the least possible time while providing the required infrastructure facilities with the help of Industrial Infrastructure Development Fund and Critical Industrial Infrastructure Funds.

Necessary concessions and incentives were being given in accordance with the industrial policy to attract entrepreneurs, Haranadha Reddy said.

pding

May 28th, 2006, 04:58 PM

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEA20060527023642&Page=A&Title=Southern+News+-+Andhra+Pradesh&Topic=0

Vizag’s strategic importance grows

After the Indian Navy, it is India’s premier scientific establishment Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) that is ‘looking to the East’.

With its own ‘look east policy’, BARC will be giving a fillip to the city’s growing strategic importance by opening its campus in the sprawling special economic zone (SEZ) coming up at Achutapuram near here.

The ongoing Naval base expansion project assumed national importance and the BARC project will add to the glory of the City of Destiny.

The new BARC campus will also be home for Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI). HBNI is a deemed university, which offers graduate programmes in nuclear sciences. The first HBNI campus was opened in Mumbai recently.

According to sources, BARC has drawn up plans to set up major facilities in the SEZ and some ‘minor facilities’ in Andhra University (AU).

AU will have academic exchange programmes with HBNI to which all establishments of Department of Atomic Energy except Tata Institute of Fundamental Research would be networked.

HBNI, the dream project of Homi J Bhabha, aimed at creating trained manpower in the field of atomic energy and Visakhapatnam has been chosen to realise his dreams.

A top official of BARC visited the city recently and met AU vice-chancellor L Venugopala Reddy. The BARC official reportedly promised that the campus would have facilities, which do not exist, in BARC headquarters. He even visited the proposed site of the BARC campus.

The BARC official is scheduled to make another visit next month to give final shape to the ambitious project, likely to be grounded very soon. As of now, compound wall construction of the BARC branch began.

It may be recalled that Andhra Pradesh Industrial Corporation Limited (APIIC) has already handed over 2,080 acres of land in the SEZ for the BARC campus.

About 2,500 acres more including 800 acres for residential quarters (for BARC employees) are being acquired by APIIC.

it has pretty much the same stuff as the above articles, but def Vizag getting a campus that is larger than the headquarters in Mumbai, for BARC, is a thing for everybody to be proud of. economically and military-wise Vizag's importance in growing and with the current industrial activity in this area, there is no doubt Vizag will be a mega-city, in terms of it's contribution to Indian economy, by 2015.

bommasaniv

May 31st, 2006, 01:01 PM

Hyderabad, May 30: The German auto major Volkswagen (VW) has denied that it has plans to set up its automobile plant in Nasik, Maharashtra. VW officials recently wrote to the State government denying reports that the company plans to move to Maharashtra and reiterated that it was engaged in a dialogue only with the Andhra Pradesh government. However, VW also made it clear that the project will not come up before 2009.

Official sources told this correspondent that VW officials responded to the State government’s concerns after there were media reports claiming that VW had chosen Maharashtra over Andhra Pradesh. A week after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Germany and met representatives of the automobile company on April 22, media reports from national capital had claimed that a VW delegation told the Indian officials that they have chosen Nasik to set up their car plant. Sources said that on Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s instructions, principal secretary (industries) Lakshmi Parthasarathy wrote to VW seeking clarification.

She also referred to the preparation of a draft Memorandum of understanding and working out the financial model based on economic incentives sought by the German company :)

cbeboy

June 2nd, 2006, 09:43 PM

Prajay Engg begins work on `Harbour City' (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/06/03/stories/2006060301461900.htm)

Hyderabad , June 2

Prajay Engineers Syndicate Ltd has launched its mega township project `Prajay Harbour City,' a large format integrated township opposite NTPC at Visakhapatnam.

Prajay Harbour City would be spread across an area of 149 acres and comprise 1,044 independent houses.

The built up area of these houses would range from 950 square feet to 1,450 sft.

They would be equipped with all modern amenities for the convenience of discerning residents.

The company informed the stock exchanges that Prajay Harbour City would be amongst the premium townships in India with all modern amenities resulting in internationally comparable living standards for the residents.

The capital outlay for Prajay Harbour City is expected to be Rs 55 crore and the project is expected to yield Rs 126 crore in revenues and Rs 51.5 crore in profits, the company said. Prajay Harbour City is eligible project for exemption under section 80 1B of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

The project would have a saleable area of 1.3 million sft apart from Club House and other common amenities for the residents of 40,000 sft. It would be completed over the next 24 months, the company said.

Babji

June 5th, 2006, 06:22 PM

Prajay Eng to set up Rs 55 cr harbour city project at Vizag
UNI: Created on : 06/05/2006 5:53:00 PM (NORMAL )

Mumbai, June 5 (UNI) Construction company Prajay Engineers Syndicate has launched
'Prajay Harbour City' mega township project with a capital outlay estimated at Rs 55 crore at Vishakhapatnam (Vizag).

Announcing this, the company's release said 'Prajay Harbour City', a large format integrated township at Vizag, Andhra Pradesh, is expected to be completed over the next 24 months. The project is expected to yield Rs 126 crore in revenue and Rs 51.5 crore in profits, which will be eligible for exemption under section 80 IB of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

The project will be spread across an area of 149 acres and comprise 1,044 independent houses. The built up area of these houses will range from 950 square feet to 1,450 square feet, equipped with all modern amenities for the convenience of discerning residents. The project will have a saleable area of 1.3 million square feet apart from clubhouse and other common amenities for resident.

ramkan

June 5th, 2006, 08:45 PM

Do they have a website with more details & pricing?

Babji

June 5th, 2006, 08:52 PM

Do they have a website with more details & pricing?

http://www.prajayengineers.com/
this is all I know - pl search further.

Babji

June 9th, 2006, 01:33 AM

The Economic Times Online

Govt approves RINL's expansion plan
PTI[ THURSDAY, JUNE 08, 2006 09:45:15 PM]

NEW DELHI: Visakhapatnam-based Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) will invest Rs 869 crore to more than double its liquid steel production capacity to 6.3 million tonne per annum.

The government has cleared the expansion proposal of RINL, which would be implemented in two stages, an official statement said.

In the first stage, the plant would produce 6.3 million tonne of liquid steel per annum by October, 2008, while the second stage would facilitate the commissioning of special bar mill and light structural mill by October, 2009, the release added.

pding

June 9th, 2006, 02:39 AM

more employment on the way for the ppl of this region.

cbeboy

June 10th, 2006, 10:39 PM

Mutliplex to come up in city centre soon (http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/11/stories/2006061104340200.htm)

VISAKHAPATNAM: Here is good news for those who have lost heart after the proposal to build IMAX theatres at the old Central Jail Complex was shelved following widespread protests from people's organisations.

The plan was opposed as it would deprive the citizens of lung space in the burgeoning metropolis. While everyone hailed the decision to retain the greenery on old jail site, some were disheartened that the city had lost a prestigious project due to environmental concerns.

Multiplex, mega mall

The city will soon have a multiplex and mega shopping mall at the old super bazaar site, opposite Turner's Choultry. The work on the Rs.15-crore project, which commenced last October is going on at a brisk pace.

No one can dispute the construction of multiplex as it is being built after demolition of an old concrete structure with hardly any trees around it. The site, which is located at a stone's throw from the city's commercial hub Jagadamba junction, will have a new landmark on completion of the multiplex.

Babji

June 15th, 2006, 04:25 AM

ECR to continue augment coaches
Newindpress.com UNI

VISAKHAPATNAM: The East coast Railway (ECR) will continue to augment coaches in important trains to clear the extra rush of passengers.

During April and may, it augmented trains with 931 additional coaches and carried about 77,000 more passengers during the two months.

...the ECR earned Rs 1.89 crore more due to augmentation.

... the ECR has decided to augment the Jagannath Express permanently with an AC two-tier and an AC three-tier coach beginning July two.
-----------------------------------------------------------
ECR is in dire need of some planners with strong balls of steel!.

pding

June 15th, 2006, 05:11 AM

Babji

June 16th, 2006, 02:17 AM

ECR is in dire need of some planners with strong balls of steel!.

why do you say that? i mean what troubles are they facing??? but yes, traffic in this zone is increasing and proper steps should be taken now before the system becomes too inefficient to handle for the needs of passengers.

Vizag is a part of ECR, but geographically, it is the southrnmost point for ECR.
Vizag, the busiest port in India, is also the major revenue earner for ECR.
ECR has not done much to improve the public emenities at Vizag.
ECR (head qrtrs in Bhubaneshwar), for some geo-political reasons, long neglected Vizag.

There has not been any planning to expand/improve the (1) station complex (2) public emenities (3) more stops for popular trains (4) more trains on popular routes (5) construction of more local routes etc.
ECR has been doing things only as adhoc/firefighting basis, in a small scale.
People of Vizag have been requesting to either create a separate Rly Zone or to merge Vizag with SCR.

If you look at SR (Chennai), any location as potential as Vizag in terms of traffic and volume of goods handled by Rlys - would have been developed as a major station.

May be the people of AP don't know how to get things done with IR, or they have been too soft with the Central Govt, or they have been too busy with state politics, so they did not pay much attention to their needs with IR.
They need some good planning with IR.
They need some good campaign with IR.
They need to get what they deserve from IR.
(IR=Indian Rlys. IR is divided into 9 or so zones - NR, SR, SCR, ECR etc)

may be some one from Vizag should fill in more info interms of what I am saying...

Babji

June 16th, 2006, 03:49 AM

URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/01/11/stories/2006011101330700.htm
East Coast Rly hopes to handle 79-mt freight traffic

EAST Coast Railway (ECR), having its headquarters in Bhubaneswar and network spread over large parts of Orissa and some parts of Andhra Pradesh, hopes to handle a freight traffic of 78-79 million tonnes (mt) in the current fiscal compared to 70.4 mt in 2004-05.

Wagon holdings: But then, as he pointed out, much would depend on the availability of rakes. There was a general shortage of Box-N wagons in the country ...

Thus, East Coast Railway was holding 98 rakes compared to 115 rakes of authorised holding. The corresponding figures for South Eastern Railway were 151 and 155, respectively and for South East Central Railway 122 and 155, respectively.

Several other zonal railways such as Eastern Railway, East Central Railway, Northern Railway, North Central Railway, South Central Railway and West Central Railway, however, presented just the opposite picture. Their wagon holdings were more than their authorised holdings.

Other problems: Non-availability of rakes is not the only problem facing ECR. The other problems include shortage of running staff and not-so-encouraging response of some of the major customers to develop their own railway sidings.

There were vacancies for 560 running staff, the majority of which had been filled up and the balance 200 or so would be filled soon.

The spokesman regretted that the railway sidings were not ready for most of the new steel plants coming up in the iron ore belt of the State; worse, some of the plant authorities were not even keen to develop their own rail infrastructure.

In some cases, land acquisition had been a problem. "The absence of sidings with major customers might force ECR to clamp restriction on wagon movement from time to time", the spokesman added.
----------------------------------------------------------------
just an example how poor their planning and management could be!

Babji

June 16th, 2006, 04:03 AM

kronik

June 16th, 2006, 04:04 AM

URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com...11101330700.htm
East Coast Rly hopes to handle 79-mt freight traffic

wait, so how is this a project or infra news from Vizag?

If it is news for a zonal railway, maybe someone should post it in the indian railways thread is what i am saying.

Babji

June 16th, 2006, 04:08 AM

wait, so how is this a project or infra news from Vizag?

If it is news for a zonal railway, maybe someone should post it in the indian railways thread is what i am saying.

its more like a lack of infrastructure or scope/need/failure to improve infrastructure.
(the dark side of the bright picture).

it is primarily related to vizag and i am trying answer PDING's question.
agreed. it could belong to Indian Railways thread as well.
but original context has been, how the railways failed Vizag...

pding

June 16th, 2006, 04:28 AM

i agree. yes, may be they do need to take some steps. this is a time when IR is in good phase and they're all happy about it. they are very confident about their future. so this is the right time to impress and persuade the IR to give more funds and make sure the problems don't persist.

Babji

June 16th, 2006, 04:31 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/13/stories/2004091312580300.htm
Readers' Mail

Vizag-Chennai Express

Sir, — I had the privilege of travelling by the 6006 Visakhapatnam-Chennai Weekly Express, whose departure time is 17-30 hrs, on August 27, and give below my experience at the Visakhapatnam railway station: 19-00 hrs: The bogies are positioned in platform no 1. 19-15 hrs: The doors of the sleeper coaches are unlocked. 19-23 hrs: Coach numbers are written on the bogies with white chalk and reservation charts are pasted. 19-27 hrs: The first trilingual announcement that the train is ready to leave is made. 19-37 hrs: The final announcement that the train is about to leave is made. 19-40 hrs: The train finally leaves the station. 20-50 hrs: The TTE makes his appearance to verify the tickets of S6 passengers. As there is no electric supply in the bogie, he does his job with the help of a pen torch. 23-00 hrs: The comfort of a light and a fan are introduced at Rajahmundry. 02-30hrs: The luxury of water is made available in the washbasin and toilets at Vijayawada.

It is my fond hope that the East Coast Railway's Waltair Division authorities will take note of the plight of passengers of this train, which has since become a super-fast express, and extend to them the comforts of travelling in a super-fast train.

C.G. Devy,

Visakhapatnam

Babji

June 16th, 2006, 06:25 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2006/06/03/stories/2006060302300100.htm

"We had a pleasant journey till now. Our travails have just begun, hope we reach our destination at least in an hour." This is the common refrain of passengers and commuters travelling by trains to the metro from Hyderabad and Vijayawada, after crossing Anakapalle Station.

Even prestigious trains like Godavari and Ratnachal are often delayed and sometimes take more than an hour to cover the 40 km. distance between Anakapalle and Visakhapatnam. The trains are often held up at Gopalapatnam and Kancharapalem due to non-availability of platforms to accommodate the incoming trains.
Visakhapatnam, a major Railway Junction and terminal Station, situated mid-way between Chennai and Howrah, has been at the receiving end for several decades when it came to provision of better amenities to passengers...
These trains are being frequently delayed after Anakapalle for the past several years. The Route Relay Interlocking (RRI) system is said to be one of the major causes for these trains being held up after Duvvada Station. The movement of trains is under the control of South Central Railway till Duvvada (excluding Duvvada Railway Station). The jurisdiction of East Coast Railway begins from Duvvada Station.

This apart, Visakhapatnam is a terminal station like Howrah and Chennai without terminal facilities. A major bottleneck in the movement of trains in and out of Visakhapatnam Railway Station is the single line through which all trains have to pass to reach the few platforms in the station. In Howrah and Chennai there are multiple lines which lead the trains to different platforms.

As if this is not enough, the powers that be in Orissa are extending one important train after another to Bhubaneswar. The same zeal is not being shown to extend the express trains terminating at Bhubaneswar to Visakhapatnam. People of the city feel that merging Waltair Division in South Central Railway or creation of a separate zone with Visakhapatnam as headquarters would solve the problem.

Another major problem for Visakhapatnam Junction is that it's a terminal station and all trains coming from Chennai and Hyderabad and proceeding towards Howrah and in the return direction have to invariably stop for a minimum of 20 minutes as the locomotives have to be detached and again attached at the other end...

There is every need to develop a satellite station to reduce the load on the main station.

But what are the plans to shuttle the passengers from Duvvada to the city?
Introduction of local trains and MMTS seems to be the only way out. Are the authorities listening?

Luckystreak

June 18th, 2006, 11:09 AM

The problem with the Vizag railway station is, it is not along the main bubhaneshwar-vijaywada railway line (courtesy of the hilly terrain around it). The passenger trains have to make a winding route from the main line to reach the station. The passing freight traffic circumvent the vizag station easing the traffic to a certain extent.

I completely agree with the delay of trains when then are close enough to the station. But, halting the train at Duvvada is ridiculous proposition, as it is quite far from the main city. BTW, Duvvada is the place of Visakhapatnam SEZ fromerly known as (Visakhapatnam Export Processing Zone). Instead of shifting the halt, it would be better if they tackle the problem of rail bottlenecks in this part.

Secondly, all the trains that used to originate from Vizag have been extended to Bhubaneshwar with a good percentage of seats allocated for Bhubaneswar. A good example is the Visakha express which was intially between Vizag and hyderabad. It was then extended to Palasa in Srikakulam district and then slowly to Bhubaneshwar although there is no necessity. The sad part is the demand for the seats is far more in Vizag than Bhubaneswar with a lot of ppl left in the waiting list in Vizag while the trains themselves arrive with almost empty coaches from Bhubaneswar. These railway politics has been causing much inconvenience to ppl. for several years. So, as a solution for this, I support the bifurcation of the current SER or atleast merge the north coastal AP region with SCR.

Luckystreak

June 18th, 2006, 03:32 PM

Tractor assembling unit in Vizag (http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=7183)

A large scale tractor assembling unit would be established at Visakhapatnam.

If the government provides 250 acres of land, Pram Leasing company of Russia would establish tractor assembly plant in Vishakhapatnam. The company is keen on investing Rs. 4500 crores in India.

pding

June 18th, 2006, 05:00 PM

that is good news. with a major port, Vizag can easily be established as an export hub for hardware and machinery type goods. such industries should be promoted and it will bring a lot of employment and investment for the region.

Babji

June 18th, 2006, 05:44 PM

... These railway politics has been causing much inconvenience to ppl. for several years. So, as a solution for this, I support the bifurcation of the current SER or atleast merge the north coastal AP region with SCR.

Thanks Luckystreak.

I too support the bifurcation of the current SER or atleast merge the north coastal AP region with SCR.

Babji

June 20th, 2006, 02:24 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/20/stories/2006062003220200.htm

Modernisation works in Visakhapatnam airport to be completed in 2008

Existing departure lounge is being extended at a cost of Rs.46 lakhs
Airport handled 2,41,212 passengers in 2005-06
About 5,876 aircraft movements were handled in 2005-06
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://i6.tinypic.com/14xjs6g.jpg
ON THE GROWTH FLIGHT: The runway at Visakhapatnam airport is being expanded to receive international flights. - Photo: K.R. Deepak

VISAKHAPATNAM: Thanks to the growing passenger traffic and ongoing development works at the Visakhapatnam airport, more and more airlines are evincing keen interest to start their operations from here. An international airline has already expressed its readiness to operate flights to Singapore and the operations are expected to start once the full-fledged modernisation works are completed in 2008.

Now Kingfisher Airlines has been given the green signal and is expected to start its operations in the near future...

The VIP Lounge has been renovated at a cost of Rs.3.5 lakhs and has been commissioned. Canopies have been installed on both the city side (entrance) and airfield side at a cost of Rs.78 lakhs to provide shade to the passengers and visitors. Work on widening of the approach road to the airport from the National Highway (NH-5), taken up at a cost of Rs.60 lakhs, is in progress. "Plans are formulated to provide new facilities at the entrance of the terminal building. These include an ATM counter, snack bar, railway reservation and tourist information counters. The State Bank of India has set up an extension counter and is providing online facilities," he said. There is a significant increase in the number of air passengers from Visakhapatnam Airport. The number of passengers increased by more than 40,000 during the financial year 2005-06 compared to the previous year. The airport handled 2,41,212 passengers in 2005-06 against 1,99,960 in the previous year.A total of 5,876 aircraft movements were handled during 2005-06.

This apart, 566 non-scheduled aircrafts were handled during the same period. In April 2006 alone, the airport received 23,363 passengers.

pding

June 20th, 2006, 03:15 AM

Airport modernization should be put on the fast track. at least 50-100 crores needed for this.

Luckystreak

June 20th, 2006, 11:39 PM

Frontline is running a series of articles focussed on Visakhapatnam in the current issue.

Ideal destination (http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/stories/20060630002009600.htm)

City on the move (http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/stories/20060630002009600.htm)

http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/images/20060630002310401.jpg
VISAKHAPATNAM PORT HAS asserted its position as India's premier port for the sixth time in a row.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/images/20060630002310402.jpg
A WORKER GIVING FINISHING touches to a ring at a diamond processing unit in the Visakhapatnam Special Economic Zone.

Visakhapatnam, aptly called the `city with a future', is fast shaping up as the tier-II location for Information Technology players.

VISAKHAPATNAM, known for its numerous public sectors units, has attained a new status as an ideal destination for software units thanks to the Department of Information Technology projecting it as the tier-II location for IT players. Satyam and Wipro have already taken up construction of their super-structures, and other leading players in the field are in the process of acquiring sites. Two IT parks, the first of their kind in India with the status of Special Economic Zone (SEZ), are coming up on the hillocks of the picturesque Rushikonda, 8 km from the city.

Konathala Ramakrishna, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Commercial Taxes, told Frontline that projects involving an investment of up to Rs.50,000 crores would come up in and around Visakhapatnam in the next three years. He said the State government had prepared a road map to transform Visakhapatnam into a mega industrial hub. The projects on the anvil include a private port and an alumina plant on the outskirts of the city, a $10-billion petrochemical complex at Parawada; an SEZ at Achutapuram, a research station of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, a second naval base at Rambilli, and the expansion of the National Thermal Power Corporation's Simhadri plant.

The expansion of the airport by early next year and the installation of night-landing facility will facilitate operation of wide-bodied aircraft, thereby attracting international airlines to introduce flights to Visakhapatnam. In view of the upgradation of the Municipal Corporation to Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation, the construction of an international airport is proposed.

On the tourism front, resorts are being developed in a big way with an estimated investment of Rs.10,000 crores along the 28 km Visakhapatnam-Bhimunipatnam beach road, considered the Marine Drive of Andhra Pradesh. "Once the connectivity problem is solved, Visakhapatnam will not only get a slot in the world aviation map but also find a prominent place in the global tourism map," Prof. D. Panduranga Rao, president, Visakhapatnam Air Travellers' Association, said.

more....

Luckystreak

June 20th, 2006, 11:45 PM

Geared for growth (http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/stories/20060630002910000.htm)

The city is expanding at a rapid pace with aggressive promotion of industrial investment. The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, the Pharma City and the Special Economic Zone are the growth sectors on the industrial front. But with more Information Technology (IT) units setting up shop here and medical facilities and educational institutions coming up, urban transportation would get priority, Srikant said.

In this respect, the GVMC is studying the techno-economic feasibility of a mass rapid transport system. In order to handle road traffic, a two-pronged strategy of upgrading the roads in the old corporation area and expanding those in the areas newly merged with the corporation is under way.

All arterial roads in the city would be of 100-ft width. Under the Comprehensive Road Development Project, the corporation is planning a 6.47 kilometre-long inner ring road at a cost of Rs.24.73 crores, which is cited as a unique experiment that could become a model for other cities.

Utility ducts are being provided along the road for cables and for the first time, even power distribution cables will be laid in the ducts. Other road projects include the development of the 1.35 km-long Jail Road at a cost of Rs.11.44 crores; a 1.28 km tunnel between Narasimhanagar and Mudarsarlova; a flyover near the Road Transport Corporation complex to ease congestion; and 200-ft roads in some parts of the city.

WATER PROJECTS

With the completion of the Rs.167.5-crore Godavari Drinking Water Supply Project, its water treatment capacity is expected to double. The project is designed to supply 40 million gallons a day (mgd) to the city.

Babji

June 21st, 2006, 01:26 AM

Great news from Vizag.
Thanks for sharing Luckystreak!

cbeboy

June 26th, 2006, 07:26 AM

Vizag airport readying for take-off (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/06/26/stories/2006062600130600.htm)

As Visakhapatnam gets into the fast lane, with several new industrial projects coming up and IT companies flocking to the city, its airport needs better facilities.

The project to expand the runway to facilitate the landing of the bigger aircraft is expected to be completed sometime in 2007 and the new terminal building with facilities such as Customs, immigration, three aerobridges, and four baggage belts will be ready by 2008, according to official sources. That will enable the operation of international flights from Vizag.

Visakhapatnam is connected to Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad and New Delhi via Raipur. Fifty-four flights operate in a week and last year (2005-2006), 2.5 lakh passengers travelled through the airport here, marking an increase of 60 per cent over the previous year. Shortly, direct flights to Port Blair and Bangalore are expected.

Airlines vie to hit Vizag

Silk Air, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, has expressed its willingness to operate flights directly from Visakhapatnam to Singapore, it is learnt. Malaysian, Sri Lankan and Thai airlines are also evincing interest in Vizag besides domestic private airline operators such as Kingfisher Airlines...more

pding

June 26th, 2006, 04:31 PM

they better modernise it before the airport becomes choked by congestion.

also, what are the designs for the terminal. i hope it is somewhat aesthetic and has some artistic sense in it, especiall since the AAI will be building it.

cbeboy

July 3rd, 2006, 03:56 PM

Kingfisher Airlines introducing new Vizag - Hyderabad sector effective from 16-07-2006

Hyderabad - Vizag 1040 1210
Vizag - Hyderabad 1235 1405

http://www.flykingfisher.in/schedule.htm

Babji

July 15th, 2006, 01:38 AM

Diversion of super fast trains opposed
Newindpress Friday July 14 2006 10:41 IST
VISAKHAPATNAM: Opposing the proposed diversion of a few super fast trains from Duvvada railways station, instead of bringing to Visakhapatnam Railway Station, a delegation of People for India, Visakhapatnam Forum submitted a memorandum to East Coast Railway (ECoR) divisional railway manager Indra Ghosh.

The delegation urged the authorities to withdraw the proposal as it will cause inconvenience to several passengers residing in the city. They demanded development of track infrastructure between Duvvada and Visakhapatnam Railway Stations to reduce the time lag between the two stations.

Ghosh told the delegation that the newly introduced trains could not be brought to the city due to shortage of tracks and platforms.

There would be a huge expenditure to develop the track between Visakhapatnam and Duvvada, and it was technically unfeasible to introduce local trains. However, he said that the Railways might consider of developing railway stations at Gopalapatnam or Simhachalam so that the newly introduced trains could be given a halt there. The delegation was led by Forum convener B B Ganesh

Babji

July 18th, 2006, 01:00 AM

http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.asp
Vizagites up in arms over train detour

Visakhapatnam, July 17: The recent proposal of the East Coast Railway to divert three super fast trains from Duvvada itself, which is 30 kms from here, without entering the city’s railway station, angered the people of the city.

Serious objections are being raised by the denizens to this move, which will deprive train facility to the lakhs of people residing in areas like Madhurwada, Simhachalam, Pendurthy and in the city. “For nearly 20 lakh people reside in the city, the railway station is in the central location. It is catering to the travel and transport needs of thousands of people everyday,” said Kiran, a resident of Lalithanagar.

The authorities proposed to divert the Tata-Yeshwanthpur Express, Amritsar Express and Vasco Da Gama Express. A delegation of People for India, Vizag chapter, met the divisional railway manager a few days ago and asked the railway authorities to develop Duvvada railway station to extend better services to the people staying in surrounding areas and all trains including the super fast trains would be made to halt at the station.

The delegation also requested the DRM to develop the track and infrastructure from Duvvada to Visakhapatnam railway station in order to reduce the time lag. It urged the authorities to understand the hardships to be faced by the majority of the people in the city and drop the move to bypass Vizag railway station.

“The DRM asserted that newly-introduced through trains cannot be brought to the city due to the shortage of tracks and platforms. He also explained the huge cost of developing the track between Visakhapatnam and Duvvada and technical unfeasibility to introduce local trains,” said B.B. Ganesh, the convener of People for India.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
It appears that IR doesn't know how to invest where there is a tremendous potential of profitability.
At least they should consult one of the IIMs to plan their investments/ developments.

pding

July 18th, 2006, 11:53 PM

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=134480

Japanese pharma firms see India as next R&D hub

Eisai Chemicals expressed their willingness to set up a new manufacturing unit and R&D Facility, which could be either at Vishakhapatnam or Indore
_________________________________________________________________

this is huge for Vizag and AP. if Vizag gets this, i'll tell you, it'll be a major breakthrough. till now Pharma and Chemicals R&D in AP has been only in Hyd. now it will start in Vizag. AP could be in for the next wave of Pharma/Chemicals expansion and investments.

Babji

July 19th, 2006, 01:57 AM

I am getting a feeling that there have been so many potential business leads for Vizag, but they are taking too long to materialize and some of them are even slipping away.

GoAP should form a special marketing team to followup on potential leads and to coordinate with GoAP.
Perhaps, the Vizag collector is too busy with the local adminitartion, to concentrate on business ventures.
They should also do something to sort out rail commuters worries.

They should create a more positive atmosphere all over Vizag!
Does any of the Vizagites have any inputs on these thoughts? :)

grimmm

July 19th, 2006, 05:27 AM

http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/19/stories/2006071902850200.htm

VISAKHAPATNAM: Beach road is all set to wear a new look following the execution of the Rs. 12.5-crore project taken up by the Greater Visakha Muncipal Corporation. With the hectic pace of work going on all along the beach, very soon the two-kilometre stretch from the Coastal Battery to YMCA will be renovated.

The deterioration of the beach has been rapid in the last couple of years. "To give a facelift to the area, the dilapidated walls along the beach are being widened and granite slabs are placed on the wall for a more sophisticated look," deputy executive engineer of the Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation K. Ravi told The Hindu .

Breath-taking view

Visitors can savour the breathtaking view of the series of lighted lamp-posts at the beach in the evenings. Standing tall against the blue backdrop of the Bay of Bengal, the bold sculptures on the lamp-post along the Ramakrishna Beach beckon people's attention. Traditional sculptures, figures of animals and cartoon characters and the fishermen community etched in the high pillars have transformed the face of this favourite tourist spot.

"Twenty such ornamental lamp-posts have been placed at the beach each costing from Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000," said Tirumal Rao, assistant engineer of GVMC. The project has been extended along the seven-kilometre area from King George Hospital to the sewage treatment plant near Kailasagiri.

"Water logging is a common problem affecting the area. To counter the problem underground drainage systems are being laid and the existing roads will also be upgraded," he said.

Cross ducts

The project that was started before the President's Fleet Review, is expected to be completed by November this year.

As part of the development project, cross ducts are being placed at five different junctions of the city.

The parking places along the beach with wall enclosures will be removed so that the visitors can enjoy the sea view from a distance. The footpath area along the beach is being widened to three metres for the convenience of the walkers and visitors.

"There are plans to develop food kiosks at different locations in the city and at the beach," Mr. Ravi added.

Babji

July 22nd, 2006, 03:55 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/22/stories/2006072200140200.htm
Vizag emerging as tier-II IT hub
Satyam's IT park is in advanced stage of construction
Wipro launches construction of its 1,000-seater facility
Work in full swing on two Special Economic Zones being developed for IT units atop Rushikonda
Low crime rate, cheap manpower, availability of reasonably priced land make city ideal destination
VISAKHAPATNAM: With several investors making a beeline to Visakhapatnam to set up IT units, the city is fast emerging as a tier-II destination. While Satyam's IT park is in advanced stage of construction, Wipro has launched construction of its 1,000-seater facility. The two campuses will come up at the old TB Hospital junction early next year. TCS is also expected to launch its operations soon. With the State Government announcing its resolve in its New IT Policy to develop Vizag as an ideal destination next to Hyderabad for software and BPO units, entrepreneurs - big, medium and small - are evincing keen interest to acquire land in and around the city.

Land allotment : The State Cabinet has already cleared a proposal to allot land to investors at the rate of Rs.50 lakhs per acre in the city and Rs.10 lakhs outside the city limits.

Consequently, Satyam Computer Services Limited was allotted 50 acres at the rate of Rs.10 lakhs per acre at Thotlakonda near Rushikonda beach resort for establishing a training and software development centre. It was charged at the rate of Rs.50 lakhs along with Wipro for allotment of land at the old TB Hospital junction. Sources say that Wipro is also negotiating with the Government for buying land at a concession near Rushikonda.

Advantages: "Due to its beautiful landscape, location of the sea and hills, availability of reasonably priced land and cheap manpower and, more importantly, the city's reputation for low crime rate are bound to make it an ideal destination for investors,"...

The city at present boasts of having 50 small and medium IT units with a projected turnover of Rs.150 crores during the current fiscal as against Rs.109 crores during 2005-06 and Rs.70 crores during the previous year. With the formation of Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation, more areas have come under the corporation limits. ... work on two Special Economic Zones being exclusively developed for IT units on an area of 100 acres atop Rushikonda hills overlooking the sea is progressing well.

Incubation centre: Software Technology Parks of India has okayed a proposal to set up an incubation centre at Yendada near Madhurawada for first generation entrepreneurs. Work on cyber towers proposed on an area of 11 acres opposite port Chairman's bungalow - close to RK beach - is also likely to take off once fresh notification is issued for expression of interest.

Babji

July 25th, 2006, 03:18 AM

Kingfisher connects 7 new cities
Webindia123.com New Delhi | July 24, 2006 10:44:27 PM IST

Kingfisher today announced daily service in 5 new routes connecting 7 cities.

With the launch of these new routes, Kingfisher Airlines will be operating 86 flights daily across 17 key Indian business and leisure destinations.

''Through the launch of these 5 new routes, Kingfisher Airlines reaffirms its commitment towards addressing the needs of its travellers by providing connectivity between major and minor cities of India, " Kingfisher Airlines Chairman and CEO Vijay Mallya said commenting on the launch.

The new routes announced are Ahmedabad to Mumbai, Hyderabad to Chennai,
Hyderabad to Vishakhapatnam, Chennai to Vishakhapatnam and
Chennai to Kochi in which Kingfisher will be using the ATR -72-500 aircraft which has just been recently inducted into its fleet.

UNI ARB SBA RAI2031

Babji

July 25th, 2006, 04:32 AM

Heritage status sought for Buddhist sites
Newindpress.com Monday July 24 2006 12:32 IST

VISAKHAPATNAM: The INTACH appealed to the Union Government to confer world heritage status on the Buddhist relics at Bavikonda, Thotlakonda and Pavuralakonda. It set the process of necessary documentation in process and the proposal will be initially examined by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and later sent to the UNESCO.

Speaking at a press conference at Thotlakonda here on Sunday, INTACH life members Rani Sharma said that the three Buddhist sites of Bavikonda, Thotlakonda and Pavuralakonda lie in close proximity to one another and their antiquity was being explained to the ASI.

She said that five relic caskets were found at Bavikonda and the corporeal remains were also found at four points of the Mahastupa and the fifth casket was found in a stone urn lying on the southern side of the stupa.

Luckystreak

July 25th, 2006, 05:12 PM

INDIA: Fishermen’s Association opposes Vizag textile park (http://www.bharattextile.com/newsitems/2000560)

:bash: :bash: :bash:

Oppose airport modernisations....oppose new port constructions.....oppose new highways...oppose land being given to IT companies...oppose everything that generates employment .... but complain about unemployment and poverty...the great Indian Hypocrisy. :bash:

The proposed 1000 acre textile and apparel park which is being setup by Brandix Lanka Ltd has been opposed by fishermen residing in the Atchyuthapuram and Rambilli mandals of the district, Mr Arjili Das, the leader of the Fishermen's Association said here on July 12.

The Fishermen's Association has raised objection at a public hearing conducted by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board here on 11th July and clarified that the effluents from the textile units released into the Bay of Bengal would pose a serious threat to the fish species in the region.

Further the leader said that fishermen were being victimised every time the government took up a new project as government is allowing tourist resorts, pharma units, a private port and other projects along the 136-km coast line in Visakhapatnam district.

However it was also considered that despite the assurances given by scientists and officials, the effluents would certainly pose a threat to fisheries.

Brandix, with a total investment of Rs 4000 crore, Rs 130 crore would be expended on building up infrastructure in the proposed textile park, which would be developed as an export hub.

The park is set to generate employment opportunities for 60,000 people directly and 30,000 indirectly and their would be no need for any apprehension as there will be a common effluent treatment plant.

Luckystreak

July 25th, 2006, 05:33 PM

India to build crude oil storage facilities (http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2006/07/19/afx2891474.html)

India will start building its first strategic crude oil storage facility in January at Vizag in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, a senior government official was quoted by the Wall Street Journal Asian edition as saying.

The official was quoted as saying in an interview that the Vizag facility 'will have a capacity to store 1 mln tons of crude oil, and it will be ready in January 2010.'

This volume is equivalent to 7.33 mln barrels, the report said.

Two other crude storage facilities will also be built, the official said. One, with a capacity of 2.5 mln tons, will be built at Padru in Karnataka state, while a facility with a capacity of 1.5 mln tons will be built at Mangalore, also in Karnataka.

The cost of building the strategic crude-oil reserves, including the cost of buying 5.0 mln metric tons of crude, will be 112.7 bln rupees, the report said, quoting government estimates.

India's refineries currently have a crude storage capacity of 5.7 mln tons, enough to meet domestic demand for oil products for about 19 days.

The plan to establish crude reserves stems from India's heavy reliance on the global market for crude oil supplies. The country imports close to 76 pct of its crude oil, with annual consumption of petroleum products estimated at about 112 mln tons, the paper said.

India's decision to build an oil reserve is the latest indication from Asia's top importers that low oil prices may be gone for good, industry analysts were quoted as saying.

In fact, the decision will likely usher in a sustained period of price support, given plans by other leading consumer nations in Asia to stock up on oil or add to reserves, they said.

Hindustani

July 25th, 2006, 05:46 PM

Anyone has any News/info regarding these 6 vizag proposals. Any news which ones are coming up if they are? :)

http://www.ociarchitects.com/images/softwarepark_14.jpg

http://www.ociarchitects.com/images/softwarepark_1.jpg

http://www.ociarchitects.com/images/softwarepark_2.jpg

http://www.ociarchitects.com/corporateoffice_2.jpg

http://www.ociarchitects.com/corporateoffice.jpg

http://www.ociarchitects.com/images/softwarepark_15.jpg

Luckystreak

July 25th, 2006, 07:19 PM

Anyone has any News/info regarding these 6 vizag proposals. Any news which ones are coming up if they are? :)

Well..no concrete details about it ..but here`s something interesting...

http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/22/stories/2006072200140200.htm
Dated:July 22, 2006

Software Technology Parks of India has okayed a proposal to set up an incubation centre at Yendada near Madhurawada for first generation entrepreneurs. Work on cyber towers proposed on an area of 11 acres opposite port Chairman's bungalow - close to RK beach - is also likely to take off once fresh notification is issued for expression of interest.

Any one of the above renderings could be used for these cyber towers.

Naga_Solidus

July 25th, 2006, 08:14 PM

http://www.ociarchitects.com/images/softwarepark_2.jpg

This is the one I hope they'll use, the other ones either look corny, tasteless, or uninspired.

pding

July 25th, 2006, 11:25 PM

if the textile park issues becomes a huge political mess, i hope Congress solves by increasing the money given to fishermen and campaigning all over Vizag district that all the parties who are opposing the park are opposing employment for ppl. no party has ever used this technique and never has anybody gotten this idea. well, if they thought about how to get things done no matter what, then maybe they would have gotten this idea.

these days every damn thing is opposed. ppl are so fucking short sighted.

Babji

July 26th, 2006, 01:52 AM

Anyone has any News/info regarding these 6 vizag proposals. Any news which ones are coming up if they are? :)

http://www.ociarchitects.com/images/softwarepark_15.jpg
they might prefer some thing more conservative.
Structures that look like ships are pretty popular in Vizag.
would anyone know what is the tallest structure in Vizag at present?

Babji

July 26th, 2006, 02:04 AM

INDIA: Fishermen’s Association opposes Vizag textile park (http://www.bharattextile.com/newsitems/2000560)

Oppose airport modernisations....oppose new port constructions.....oppose new highways...oppose land being given to IT companies...oppose everything that generates employment .... but complain about unemployment and poverty...the great Indian Hypocrisy. :bash:
The park is set to generate employment opportunities for 60,000 people directly and 30,000 indirectly and their would be no need for any apprehension as there will be a common effluent treatment plant.
I think the reason for such opposition is (a) fear of losing their livelyhood (b) lack of awareness.

may be the authorities should do more PR work
show some pictures of affluent treatment facilities
educate people about how they are going to treat the affluents
give some examples of such facilities existing any where in the world
involve community leaders to create confidence in the general public
organize a trip for some of the important people to one such facilities etc.

pding

July 26th, 2006, 02:41 AM

more PR and campaigning by officials. make the ppl know that this project has the potential to creat almost 1 lakh jobs.

sudheeshnairs

July 26th, 2006, 11:08 AM

would anyone know what is the tallest structure in Vizag at present?

Hope these are the tallest, Nausena Bagh (Naval Housing) first posted by Luckystreak. According to him, there are 10 towers of about 16-18 floors.

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/387/530952813csazmrfs2du.jpg

Babji

July 27th, 2006, 12:54 AM

Hope these are the tallest, Nausena Bagh (Naval Housing) first posted by Luckystreak. According to him, there are 10 towers of about 16-18 floors.

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/387/530952813csazmrfs2du.jpg
Thanks for the update Sudheeshnairs.
As far as business complexes are concerned, LIC building is one of the tallest.
I don't remember seeing any business house more than 12 floors (that was 7 years ago). :)
But then again, there is a Real estate boom and Vizag has hills and vallies type demograph.
if a potential builder finds a prime plot, we can certaily expect a 20+ floor business house by 2008.

Babji

August 5th, 2006, 01:35 AM

News From Webindia123.com
Floods ground Visakhapatnam airport again
Hyderabad | August 04, 2006 6:15:06 PM IST

The airport in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam was Friday flooded forcing authorities to cancel all flights for the second consecutive day and bringing back memories of last year when it remained closed for two weeks thanks to floods.

There was two-to-three-feet water flooding the runway and the space around the terminal building as heavy rains due to the impact of low-pressure area over Bay of Bengal lashed most parts of Andhra Pradesh.

Water from a nearby reservoir also gushed into the terminal building and offices of various airlines forcing the employees to run for safety.
The airport building and equipment have suffered damage due to the Flooding. The electricity supply to the building was disconnected to prevent any short circuit, airport authorities said.

The incessant rains turned the airport into a fishing pond with dozens of locals trying their luck.

Similar scenes were witnessed twice in October last year following three days of incessant rains in Visakhapatnam, 650 km from here.
Navy personnel and local fishermen had then rescued about 100 people working at the airport after the terminal building was flooded with water released from the nearby Meghadrigedda reservoir. The airport was then shut for more than two weeks.

The latest flooding has come as a jolt to the ongoing expansion of the airport at a cost of Rs.3 billion. Authorities plan to develop it as a gateway for South East Asian countries.

Ten flights operate daily from the Visakhapatnam Airport, which is used by about 1,000 passengers every day. Indian Airlines, Air Sahara and Air Deccan operate daily flights to Hyderabad. Indian Airlines and Air Deccan operate flights to Chennai. Indian Airlines also provides connectivity to New Delhi and Mumbai.
------------------------------------------------
Why can't they find a permanent solution for this?

Babji

August 5th, 2006, 09:02 PM

Vizag airport shut due to rains

Saturday, August 5, 2006 (Vishakhapatnam) (NDTV.COM):
Vishakhapatnam's dream to become a hotshot investment destination is in trouble as its airport has been shut since Thursday. The entry point of the city's airport has been closed due to heavy rains.

Last year in October also the airport was forced to close shop for two weeks after a boy drowned trying to do some fishing in the waters. At that time, authorities had promised that arrangements would be made to drain out water from in and around the airport within three months.
Nine months later, the airport is inundated once again and no flight has taken off or landed here since Thursday.

Investment destination: On one hand, the state government is trying to promote Vizag as an investment destination. On the other hand, the city's infrastructure has a long way to go. The airport is partly controlled by the Navy and it does not even have night landing facility.

"A potential investor would look at connectivity. Today business is global. One has to move in and out and the resources as well. So, there has to be an excellent connectivity. In fact, by now Vizag should have been an international destination," said Vijay Mohan Raj, Chairman, Travel Agents Association of India, AP.

After severe criticism of the airport infrastructure last year, the government identified land for building a new airport. The project has still not taken off beyond that.

"We are doing our best and work to rectify the airport was planned long back. But since there has been a heavy downpour, the construction activity planned last monsoon itself is not complete yet. Once it is then there will be no water logging," said Md Ali Shabbir, Information minister, AP.

Vizag is called the 'city of destiny' and it will take a lot to ensure an over-generous rain god does not pour water over its date with destiny.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why can't the Navy and AAI workout a more responsible solution?
Why cann't GoAP coordinate and improve the situation in Vizag?
Indian Railways, Navy, AAI, GoAP - Why is every one so negligent about Vizag?
The people of Vizag and their leaders should THINK and do some thing about it!

Anniyan

August 5th, 2006, 09:14 PM

Luckystreak

August 5th, 2006, 09:30 PM

Lack of interest!

They cant find a solution for the problem with the Railway Station. It would be too ambitious to expect something will be done to the airport.

Babji

August 6th, 2006, 02:15 AM

http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.asp?#Airport%20to%20be%20ready%20by%202007
Airport to be ready by 2007

Visakhapatnam, Aug. 5: Expressing concern over the frequent interruptions to the air services to the city, Chief Minister Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy assured that the Vizag airport expansion works would be ready by mid-2007.

Talking to reporters here on Saturday, Dr Reddy said by 2007 the airport would be in a position to overcome the inundation and waterlogging problems as the works would be completed by then.

The government had sought a report with expert consultants on the inundation problem and started temporary restoration works worth Rs 80 lakhs now.

ramkan

August 6th, 2006, 06:46 AM

as of this week
http://www.indiavarta.com/gallery/images/2006/aug/4b/rain3.jpg
http://www.indiavarta.com/gallery/images/2006/aug/4b/rain2.jpg

harsh1802

August 6th, 2006, 06:48 AM

tht's really bad....hope they are going to clean it up quickly...

Luckystreak

August 6th, 2006, 07:30 AM

Thanks for the pics Ramkan...

here are a couple more which give a picture of the gravity of the situation

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/9726/rain5qd9.jpg

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/129/rain1ew4.jpg

Even the reservoirs near vizag would not have collected so much water so quickly (Hail the engineers!). I think they can use Vizag airport as a supplementary water reservoir during the rainy season or they can even plan a new Hydroelectric project there.

This is the sorry scenario year after year, year after year.

The problem as can be seen from the second pic above is that the runway and the entire airport itself lies below the level of its surroundings. I dont understand how can they construct an airport without considering that. Coupled to that, there are hills around the airport from where the rain water drains down and collects in the airport.

Solution to the problem, will be to either move the airport from a ditch to an elevated place (which I think may not happen) or improve drainage situation and provide water barricades around the airport.

Babji

August 6th, 2006, 06:06 PM

Flights cancelled on day 2
Saturday August 5 2006 11:34 IST Newindpress
VISAKHAPATNAM: Vizag airport was closed for the second consecutive day on Friday as rainwater flooded the apron and car parking and also the terminal building and approach road. The runway was also partially inundated. Water also came from the nearby Kondagedda.

Up to three feet water is present inside the terminal building. Water is flowing over the approach road to airport making transportation difficult. Airport officials will take a decision on resuming the flights after reviewing the situation on Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, officials have ruled out inundation of the runway by Meghadrigedda, as it had happened last year, forcing closure of the airport for nearly two weeks.

An airport official involved in the airport expansion works told This website’s newspaper that there was no chance of inundation by Meghadrigedda, as the canal that carries excess water has been widened and water will be released from the moment the level reaches two to three feet below the danger mark of 61 feet. The reservoir level is now stable at 55 feet.

Airport station manager G Poornachandra Rao told This website’s newspaper that water was receding from the airport premises and flights could be resumed on Saturday. He claimed that water from Kondagedda was the cause for inundation. Efforts are being made by the district administration to divert the excess water coming from Kondagedda, he added.

Luckystreak

August 6th, 2006, 06:12 PM

Last year it was Meghadrigedda, this year it is Kondagedda, next year some other XYZ gedda. :bash:

What they fail to realise is the problem with the relative elevation of the airport to its surroundings. Why blame the babus when you can put the blame on some gedda!

Babji

August 6th, 2006, 10:00 PM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/06/stories/2006080617120300.htm

Airport to resume operations today

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Visakhapatnam airport, which was closed for three days following heavy rain, will resume operations on Sunday.

Airports Authority of India General Manager H.S. Suresh told The Hindu after inspecting the airport complex on Saturday that they were ready to resume flight operations. He said all regular flights would be operated from Sunday.

This was the third time the airport was closed in less than a year following heavy downpour. In October 2005, the air connectivity was suspended with excess water from Meghadrigedda reservoir flooding the tarmac and main terminal. Water had also damaged X-ray baggage checking machine, conveyer belt and VIP lounge.

Following public outcry over the damage caused to the city's brand value, a retaining wall was constructed to prevent entry of Meghadrigedda waters into the airport compound. However, this time, overflowing water from the hills partially submerged it.

Mr. Suresh said with respite in rain, water receded automatically. He said they were taking all pre-cautions to continue their operations without any interruption.

ramkan

August 7th, 2006, 01:32 PM

Air services restored to Visakhapatnam
Monday August 7 2006 12:36 IST

VISAKHAPATNAM: Air services, to and from Visakhapatnam, which were suspended following heavy rains and inclement weather for the last three days, resumed this morning.

As many as eight flights operated on Sunday. They were: Indian Airlines (3), Air Deccan (2), Air Sahara (1) and Kingfisher Airlines (2). These flights include those bound to Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad.

According to Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials, there has been no problem in the arrival and departure of flights as the weather has cleared and the run-way has dried up completely.

Meanwhile, the water level in Meghadrigedda reservoir did not pose any threat of inundation of the runway as had happened last year.

Babji

August 8th, 2006, 01:33 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/08/stories/2006080812390500.htm

Debate over solution to airport flooding
Draining surplus water into the sea only a temporary solution
Records show such floods occur once in 10 years: AAI official
Best solution to build subsidiary reservoir near Pedagadili: engineers
VISAKHAPATNAM : The construction of a defined channel to drain the surplus water from Meghadrigedda reservoir into the sea could only be a short-term solution to avoid the inundation of the Visakhapatnam Airport and not a permanent one.

While a report submitted by WAPCO (Water and Power Consultancy), an agency employed by the State Government, says water could be flowed into the sea behind the airport, another study submitted by a panel of retired engineers of the irrigation department says the proposal is not feasible.
This difference of opinion raises a doubt in the minds of people as crores of rupees were being pumped by the Ministry of Defence, State Government and Airports Authority of India (AAI) for its expansion.

The panel comprising the former superintending engineer of the Irrigation Department, B. Brahmanaiah; executive engineers T.V.S. Sastri and N.S.R. Avadhanulu; and consulting engineer, S. Gopal Sastry had submitted a paper to the State Government indicating the lacunae.

`Only apprehensions' : According to them, the distance from Meghadrigedda reservoir to the sea is around 12 km., and as per the basic law of channelling water, the bed fall or slope should be calculated as one metre for every kilometre. The bed level at the reservoir point is seven metres. So, by the time it touches the sea, the level goes below the surface area by minus five metres.

Convert land: According to Brahmanaiah and party, the best solution would be to convert 57.20 square metres of land immediately after the existing spillway, at the reservoir, to a 350 million cubic feet subsidiary reservoir near Pedagadili. This would hold the excess water of both the Megadrigedda reservoir and the Kondagedda stream. Surplus water from this reservoir could be diverted to the sea via a connecting drain to the Borramgedda that flows into the sea somewhere after the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Brahmanaiah is a very respected engineer in AP Engg community.
the idea of building a reservoir looks goods. may be they should explore the feasibility.

Babji

August 8th, 2006, 03:12 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/08/stories/2006080809090300.htm

Expansion work apace

80 per cent of runway work completed
AAI will spend Rs.95 crores for terminal building
No further scope for expansion after 15 years
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISAKHAPATNAM : Construction work at the Visakahaptnam airport picked up speed on Monday after the flood waters receded. According to H.S. Suresh, general manager (engineering-project) of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), 80 per cent of the runway work was completed and if there is no further stoppage due to natural calamities , it should be completed by December this year.

Expenses shared: He said the work for the proposed terminal building has commenced and is likely to be completed by the middle of next year. The expansion of the airport is a joint venture between the Ministry of Defence (MOD), State Government and the AAI. The runway expansion is being shared between the three parties with MOD contributing Rs.140 crores and the remaining Rs.50 crores shared evenly by the other two parties. The AAI would be spending around Rs.95 crores for the terminal building.

Based on the area's flood history, the AAI raised the runway by four feet from ground level and the terminal building by seven feet. After the recent flooding, the AAI will undertake the construction of a one-kilometre retaining wall from the approach point in the highway to the terminal to check the floodwater, at a cost of about Rs.2 crores.

Eye-opener: The frequent inundation of the airport due to rains and the flow of surplus water from the Meghadrigedda reservoir is not only an eye-opener but also raises doubts whether it is `just' to invest over Rs.200 crores on the project.

Moreover, according to Mr. Suresh the life of any expansion project is around 10 to 15 years. After 15 years this airport can have no further expansion, as the there is no further scope for extending the runway.

kashyap3

August 8th, 2006, 03:33 AM

man all these low lying cities and areas should get proper storm drain systems

Babji

August 8th, 2006, 03:48 AM

AIRFIELD EXPANSION PROJECT:

Flying low over Simhachalam hills, the aircraft makes a steady descent towards the Visakhapatnam airfield, a neat little enclosure with three landing strips, set in a perfect right angle triangle etched below. The aircraft aligns itself along the longest strip on its short finals before touch down. A picturesque little airport, surrounded on three sides by the hill ranges of the Northern Circars beckons passengers, welcoming them to the 'City of Destiny'. All three runways are of the World War II vintage and the airfield lies serene, secluded and secure on three sides by the Dolphin, Narva and Simhachalam Hills. While designing this airfield, its location, though wisely chosen from a defence point of view, no thought had been given to future expansion - the architects could not have envisaged the runaway growth of this sleepy little town.

http://i5.tinypic.com/23wskuw.jpg
The Visakhapatnam air field
60 years after independence, Visakhapatnam requires a bigger airport to ensure that air travel and accessibility, make a significant contribution to the transport infrastructure of the city. The Golden Quadrilateral (as the new highway project is referred to), East Coast railway and the Visakhapatnam port have been sharing amongst them inflow and outflow of trade and traffic, while air transport trails behind them.

In 2000 the Airport Authority of India with the help of M/S Rites India Limited ventured into a joint survey. Their objective was further expansion of the airfield or if necessary construction of a second airfield that could accommodate wide-bodied jets and more aircraft, marking Visakhapatnam as a port of entry for South East Asia.

The estimated cost of constructing a new airport was Rs 1500 crores. Hence further consultation and cost analysis marked the feasibility of building a new runway with marginal deviation from one of the two existing, unused stretches. A glance at the present layout of Visakhapatnam airfield reveals the three hill ranges of Dolphin, Narva and Simhachalam encircling the area. Extention of the runway in this topography, was impossible with the ranges rising 1000-1700 feet above mean sea level. The only possibility of construction lay between the Dolphin and Simhachalam hills. The Dasaripetta hillock at the foot of Narva hills was the last topographical obstacle lying directly in the approach path of aircraft.

Demolition of this hillock, which has withstood the test of time for centuries, was inevitable for development of the airport. No sooner said than done, and now a a colossal project is in progress, which will allow Boeing - 747, Boeing - 767 and Airbus -300 operate from this airport, which had modest beginning with Fokker Friendship (F-27) aircraft.

This Rs 195 crore project is a joint venture of Ministry of Defense, Air Ports Authority of India (AAI) and the State Government of Andhra Pradesh. The project initially went through some rough weather as there were objections raised by Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) on land acquisition for the project but the matter was finally resolved with timely intervention by then State Government of Andhra Pradesh. Now apart from the new runway, a new integrated terminal is also coming up at an estimated total cost of Rs. 100 crore. "The terminal is being funded by the Airport Authority of India. On completion, the present 6,000 feet landing strip will be replaced 10,000 feet unidirectional runway, equipped with night landing facility, Instrument Landing System permitting all weather operations, a new terminal and an isolation bay for aircraft" said Mr. Suresh, General Manager, Airport Authority of India, Visakhapatnam.

http://i6.tinypic.com/23wsldg.jpg
The new Runway
The Visakhapatnam Airport runway expansion project ready to be completed within the stipulated period (i.e. December, 2006)", said Mr. M. Venkat Rao, the Chairman of M/S M.Venkat Rao Engineering Contractors the sole contractor, of this Herculean project. Speaking to VizagCityOnline.com, Mr. Rao said that nearly half of the runway was complete and work on the other half is underway and the massive compound wall construction is also almost on the verge of completion. Mr. Venkat Rao, who has a successful history of undertaking huge contracts, revealed that his company was one among the major contenders for this project. The new terminal will have all the facilities that are essential for a world-class airport. After completion, the new Airport can boast of the capacity to harbour at least six jumbo aircrafts. The present operators, Sahara, Air Deccan, Alliance Air, Jet Airways and other airlines will be looking upon this city no more for transit halts but we hope reschedule their flights to cater for a larger traffic.

kashyap3

August 8th, 2006, 03:52 AM

Vizag has huge potential as an Industrial and Commercial hub of the region

the loss of the Volkswagen/Skoda PLant to chennai didnt really help raise the city's importance

but once its port starts to get bigger and better, heavy industry and commerce will be waiting

tourism is also a great in the city

all it needs is a clean-up job around Beach Road and the Beach itself and a tourism campaign India-Wide

Babji

August 9th, 2006, 03:05 AM

1. Mumbai 2. Bangalore 3. Delhi
Seven Of Ten
The other seven cities that complete the top 10 in Business Today's listing (and what they have going).
4 CHENNAI
5 HYDERABAD
6 KOLKATA
7 PUNE
8 AHMEDABAD
9 MYSORE

10 VIZAG

Day-time Destination
Andhra Pradesh's second most important city still has ways to go.

For a city that is in the top 10 in this magazine's listing of the best cities for business, Vizag has a strange shortcoming: planes cannot land in its airport after 3 p.m. (the ostensible reason is that this could pose a security threat to the navy's eastern fleet that is based in the city). Despite that minor blip in connectivity, however, Vizag, its loyalists (and there are plenty of them) swear, has enough going for it. "There is harmony on the industrial relations front here," gushes Y. Siva Sagar Rao, Chairman and Managing Director, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (also Vizag Steel). Then, there's the fact that Vizag has enough engineering colleges of its own, and serves as a catchment area for engineers from Orissa. "The main attraction (for us) is the talent pool," says T. Hari, Director and Senior Vice President (HR), Satyam Computer Services, which is looking to grow its operations in the city. And the state government is pushing the city as an alternative hub for the pharmaceuticals industry (capital Hyderabad is already one), something that has encouraged firms like Dr Reddy's Laboratories to make substantial investments in it. All that should count.
-E. Kumar Sharma

VIZAG FACT FILE
FOUNDED: 1858 A.D. (Visakhapatnam Municipality)
AREA: 450 sq. km (Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation area)
POPULATION: 1.34 million
ROAD LENGTH: 1,007 km
INDUSTRIAL LOAD SHEDDING: Nil*
RESIDENTIAL LOAD SHEDDING: Nil*
PIPED WATER: About one hour ever day
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE RATES: Rs 2,500-3,000/sq. ft
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE RATES: Rs 1,500-1,800/sq. ft
TELEDENSITY: 240 per 1,000 people
AVERAGE PER CAPITA WHITE COLLAR WAGES:
JUNIOR MANAGER: Rs 1-3 lakh per annum
MIDDLE MANAGER: Rs 2-15 lakh per annum
SENIOR MANAGER: Rs 15 lakh per annum
*Does not include unscheduled power cuts
Sources: GoI, market estimates

Babji

August 10th, 2006, 01:28 AM

http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.asp#top
Vuda for another ship museum

Visakhapatmam, Aug. 9: The Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority is still ready to take up another museum on the lines of INS Kursura submarine museum on the beach road.

Earlier, the Eastern Naval Command had proposed to set up a landing ship but as there was no response from BOT operators the idea was dropped. Vice-chairman of Vuda G. Venkataram Reddy, who was the chief guest at the fourth anniversary celebrations of INS Kursura museum here on Wednesday, told a meeting that the Vuda had written to the naval authorities that it was ready to take up a decommissioned warship for the purpose of setting up of a museum. This would be done on a BOT basis, he added.

Vuda had taken up INS Kurusura as a challenge and made it a landmark on the north coastal Andhra. The museum is also the first of its kind in Asia, he added. So far, 7.85 lakh people visited the museum and efforts were being made to add some more facilities to the visiting public.
An LCD projector would be installed in the process showing activities of navy particularly the submarine operations so that the people could understand more details about the vessel and the men operating it under the sea.

The Soviet-built T-641 class submarine was inducted into the Navy on December 18, 1969 and decomissioned on February 28, 2001 after 31 years of service. It played a major role in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. An amount of Rs 6 crore was spent for hauling the submarine on to the Ramakrishan Beach.

Babji

August 11th, 2006, 05:04 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/11/stories/2006081111770300.htm
HPCL begins work for refinery expansion The Rs. 8,300-crore project will be completed by 2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) - one of the Navaratnas - has launched work to expand its capacity to 15 million tonnes per annum.

The project will involve a total investment of Rs.8,300 crores and it will be completed by 2010. "The expansion work is taken up as per schedule and we are confident that it will be completed in three to four years," HPCL General Manager and in-charge of Visakh Refinery A.S. Rao told The Hindu .

The refinery, which scaled new heights by exceeding its installed capacity of 7.5 million tonnes per annum during the past three years, is gearing up to refine close to eight million tonnes during current fiscal.
As part of expansion, the infrastructure will be augmented and a single buoy mooring will be developed to receive crude from Very Large Crude Carrier vessels with associated crude oil storage terminal facility with a total investment of Rs.700 crores. It is proposed to set up mixed xylenes production, augmentation of propylene production and deep-water offshore crude import facilities.

The HPCL was investing Rs.2,200 crores on clean fuel project for producing Euro-III compliant petrol and diesel. The refinery is now in the process of acquiring land from the port authorities for its expansion, according to Mr.Rao.

Petroleum hub: The expansion is part of a fast-track project following the decision of the Government of India to promote Visakhapatnam into one of the Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Regions (PCPIR).

The project will help achieve conversion of the bottom-of-the-barrel and improve the size of the operations. The Centre has already decided to develop the country into a petroleum hub and Visakhapatnam is on top of its agenda. The HPCL and M/s Total of France are in advance stage of completing their joint venture LPG cavern project near Dolphin's Nose for storing 60,000 tonne.

Because of its close proximity to the domestic and South East Asia/China, it is hoped that Visakhapatnam has the potential to become premier petroleum hub. As part of it, the petrochemical complex will come up in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) proposed near Achutapuram by the State Government.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during his visit to the city for launching expansion of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant three months ago, had hinted at setting up a mega petrochemical zone near Achutapuram.

On its part, the HPCL will invest over Rs.6,000 crores on its petrochemical complex. It is likely to be completed by 2,012. The HPCL needs 3,500 acres for the project, of which the Government will give 1,500 acres in the SEZ and 2,000 acres from area adjoining the zone.

grimmm

August 11th, 2006, 05:36 AM

http://www.business-standard.com/iceworld/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=101202&subLeft=1&leftnm=8

Miracle Software Systems, Inc, promoted by non-resident Indian (NRI) Prasad V Lokam, is setting up an integrated township in Miracle City at an investment of Rs 400 crore.

Miracle City, owned and operated by Miracle Software and its subsidiaries, is located at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, about 50 km from Visakhapatnam.

“We have already invested Rs 50 crore in the project, including Rs 5 crore in purchasing land where we have built buildings with 2 lakh square feet space and hostels to provide accommodation for 400 people,” Prasad said.

Currently, 250 two-three bedrooms flats are under construction. The company would invest Rs 350 crore through internal accruals.

The project’s main objective is to develop an integrated township with all modern facilities, including world-class educational institutions and recreation zones, Prasad told Business Standard.

Miracle City, which houses a software export unit and a call centre, has about 600 software professionals and is spread over 800 acres. The company is targeting to provide accommodation for about 10,000 people by 2010 and job opportunities for an equal number.

“In 2005-06, our software exports from here were worth Rs 12 crore and we are expecting the figure to reach Rs 25 crore this year,” he said.

The company plans to add 1,000 more professionals for its Indian operations. Its turnover through US operations for 2005-06 was about Rs 160 crore.

Miracle Software, which has offices in the US, Australia, UK, Singapore, Canada and India, is planning to enter the Chinese market soon.

“In the second phase, we will take up construction of Miracle Institute of Technology and an international school. The institute will offer courses in computer sciences, IT and bio-technology. Apart from regular subjects, the school will provide world-class training facilities for cricket, tennis and chess. The company will import latest equipment from the US and other countries for its sports facilities,” Prasad said.

The company has also set up a dairy at Miracle City to cater to the needs of its residents.

In the third phase expansion, it plans to build a beach resort with golf course at a cost of Rs 18 crore. “In the later stage, we have plans to set up a granite unit and a shopping mall,” he said.

Babji

August 11th, 2006, 07:05 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/09/stories/2006080921510300.htm

Fire damages records in LIC building
Officials attribute it to electric short-circuit
Building's fire alarm system not operational

VISAKHAPATNAM : A fire on the third floor of the LIC building on e Jail Road early Tuesday damaged furniture, computers and some records. Smoke emanated from the floor after 6 a.m. and the watchman informed the fire service. Two fire tenders and a 15-member team that reached the building found the entire floor full of smoke.

They began dousing it and it took them 40 minutes to reach the source of fire and extinguish it. There were, however, no flames. The fire was caused by an electric short circuit, officials said.

Not enough oxygen: According to officials , the fire must have been smouldering for at least 40 minutes as the fire personnel reached around 6.25 a.m. However, the fire remained smouldering, slowly burning papers and melting the fibre material around. As doors and windows were closed, there was not enough oxygen to fuel flames and its spread to other parts of the building thus preventing a major fire.

Though the 10-storeyed building, the tallest in the city,
has a fire alarm it was not operational, it was learnt.

No major loss: According to LIC senior divisional manager N. Prabhakar Rao, the watchman sprayed a dry, anti-fire dousing powder at the main door of the floor, switched off power and informed the fire personnel. He said some routine correspondence, two, three computers and printers and some furniture were burnt.

The loss was estimated at Rs. 2 lakh. The server in the floor housing the pension and group annuities wing was intact and the computer systems had a perfect backup, he said, referring to apprehensions over the safety of records.

Luckystreak

August 11th, 2006, 08:09 AM

From The Hindu

Though the 10-storeyed building, the tallest in the city,
has a fire alarm it was not operational, it was learnt.

That is utter non-sense....there are several buildings taller than it. I can certify that.

Babji

August 12th, 2006, 08:05 PM

That is utter non-sense....there are several buildings taller than it. I can certify that.
"The Hindu"s stats may be old.
how tall are the Nausheva Housing buildings?
which are the other tall buildings in the city?

Babji

August 12th, 2006, 08:08 PM

By Parinda News Bureau, July 26, 2006, 12:50 IST

The committee has also recommended allotment of 16 acres to eight IT companies at Madhurawada in Visakhapatnam.

Madhurawada seems to be becoming another Madhapur!
would anyone know the names of these companies?

Babji

August 12th, 2006, 08:44 PM

http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=11745
Vizag MRTS project postponed

The proposed mass rapid transit system at Visakhapatnam has been postponed, ProjectsToday has reliably learnt from senior officials of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation.

GVMC officials told ProjectsToday that the global expressions of interest floated in December 2005 for selection of consultants had not met with good response and no consultants could be shortlisted. With no headway in this critical step, the project has reverted to its nascent stage.

Last December, GVMC had invited global expressions of interest from consultants for preparation of comprehensive traffic and transportation studies with special emphasis on techno-economic feasibility for introduction of mass rapid transit system in Greater Visakhapatnam city. The scope of work included intensive traffic study, estimation of future traffic growth, identification of major corridors, preparation of long term and short-term plans, identification of a suitable MRTS and cost estimation of the project.

GVMC officials did not comment on the future course of action,
but maintained that the project stood postponed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
with MRTS beginning to take shape in many Indian cities,
GVMC should try again to invite global expressions of interest from consultants

Babji

August 12th, 2006, 09:56 PM

NJR seeks new train services to Vizag
Newindpress
VISAKHAPATNAM: Visakhapatnam MP N Janardhan Reddy on Friday met Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and requested him to make budgetary provision in the Railway Budget 2007-08 for the construction of additional pair of railway lines between Visakhapatnam and Simhachalam railway stations, acquisition of new coaches to augment the capacity of existing trains and running new trains.

In a memorandum submitted to the Railway Minister, Reddy sought the stopping of important trains to Bhubaneswar and run a link express with coaches from Bhubaneswar instead of extending trains and make Bhubaneswar-Pondicherry Express (proposed), Tatanagar-Yeshwantpur Express and Howrah-Panjim Express (extension from Vijayawada to Howrah) trains run through Visakhapatnam instead of diverting them via Duvvada.

Reddy appealed to the Railway Minister to start additional trains from Visakhapatnam- super fast daily trains to Mumbai (via Secunderabad) and Chennai, daily fast express train to Kurnool via Kacheguda, daily fast express from Visakhapatnam to Varanasi via Cuttack, Tatanagar, Gaya and Patna, Jana Shatabi Express from Visakhapatnam to Guntur and
shuttle trains every hour from Duvvada and Vizianagaram.

Babji

August 12th, 2006, 10:01 PM

City all set to be a health hub
Newindpress
VISAKHAPATNAM: Visakhapatnam Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), LV Prasad Eye Hospital and Apollo Hospital, all the three super-specialty hospitals, coming up next to each other in the limits of Visakhapatnam city, will further boost up the city’s image of being a health hub.

After the Congress-led government was formed in the State, a decision was taken to set up a super specialty hospital on 150 acres of land near Old Dairy Farm at Adarshnagar on the lines of Nizam’s Institute of Medical College (NIMS) in Hyderabad to serve north Andhra, Orissa and Chattisgarh.

It was also decided that the funds required for the hospital will be raised with contributions from the government as well as various institutions and individuals.

Along with the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), Visakhapatnam Steel Plant has been asked to contribute Rs 10 crore each.

For generating funds for VIMS, the concerned authorities have offered the investors to develop health projects on the land adjoining the proposed VIMS, if they are ready to pay Rs 200 crore (Rs 2 crore per acre against the market value of roughly Rs 4 crore).

As a part of it, the first health project, which is being started here was LV Prasad Eye Hospital and Research Institute on area of five acres near the proposed VIMS to provide medical care free to the poor patients. Similarly, Apollo Hospital will also set up another branch at Adarshnagar.

Meanwhile, efforts were being made to generate around Rs 70 crore through sale of land to IT companies and part of it will be used for the proposed super specialty hospital, VIMS.

With the VIMS and Apollo Hospital, which were scheduled to come up shortly very near to the eye hospital, the area will be soon developed into a ‘medicity’. Also, with the upgradation of King George Hospital and establishment of a Regional Police Hospital here, the city will provide medical care to the people and employment to the locals as well.

pding

August 13th, 2006, 12:39 AM

that's good development. when a city like Vizag has good healthcare options, the areas around it will automatically have more opportunities for better treatment facilities. i'm surprised Vizag doesn't have some biggies as of yet. it's late than never.

Babji

August 13th, 2006, 11:07 PM

Newindpress.com
VSP achieves record sales

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) achieved a record sales turnover of Rs 2,530 crore during April-July of 2006-07, registering a growth of 31 percent over the same period last year.

The sales include domestic sales of Rs 2,343 crore and export sales amounting to Rs 187 crore which registered a significant growth of 25 percent and 228 percent over the corresponding period respectively.

Sales volume of 9.27 lakh tonnes during April-July also recorded a growth of 43 percent. Special steels sales volume of 3.25 lakh tons recorded an impressive growth of 75 percent over the corresponding period last year.

On the production front, 1.355 million tonnes of hot metal, 1.202 metre of liquid steel and 1.071 metre of saleable steel were produced during April-July this year.

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam (RINL) and Manganese Ore India (MOIL) have signed an MoU to start a joint venture to produce ferro alloys.
--------------------------------------------------------------
with so many infra projects on cards, things should only improve!

harsh1802

August 14th, 2006, 01:13 AM

Babji

August 15th, 2006, 02:41 AM

http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=101558&subLeft=1&leftnm=3
Vizag land registration dept eyes Rs 15cr extra revenue

The land registration department is expecting an additional revenue of Rs 12-15 crore from Visakhapatnam district during this fiscal following the state government’s decision to hike registration charges. The government increased the market value of lands with effect from August 1, 2006, resulting in steep hike.

Contrary to hiking the land value every two years, the government announced the increase for the second time since July 2005. Another departure the government made this time is to increase the land value by 15-35 per cent as against 10-15 per cent earlier.

Land prices have touched an all-time high even in surrounding rural areas in Visakhapatnam as several panchayats and Gajuwaka municipality have been merged with the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation after its upgradation to ‘Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation’.

For instance, the land value at MVP Colony has zoomed to Rs 10,000 per square yard compared with Rs 7,500 per sq yard till recently. In the Asilametta area, the land price has touched the sky at Rs 21,000 per sq yard as against Rs 16,500 per sq yard. The costliest place in Vizag is Dabagardens where the land price has reached an unbelievable Rs 21,800 compared with Rs 18,750 not long ago.

Even in peripheral areas like Madhurawada, Parawada, Aganampudi, Anandapuram, Gopalapatnam, Pendurthi and Vepagunta, land prices have increased by as much as 15-25 per cent.

According to real estate companies, the increase in land prices would make housing an expensive proposition. “During the last fiscal, the land registration department here contributed Rs 165 crore revenue to the state exchequer. This year, the government has set a target of Rs 182 crore. We are confident of crossing the target after the government’s decision,” I R Damodar Rao, joint sub-registrar, told Business Standard.

grimmm

August 15th, 2006, 05:27 AM

Source: TOI epaper

Visakhapatnam: Minister for commercial taxes Konathala Ramakrishna said that the water and power consultancy (WAPCOs) would submit a detailed report over the expansion of Visakhapatnam airport by the end of September. Briefing the media persons here, after the Airport Development Review Meeting (ADRM) conducted at the collectorate on Monday, the minister said that the WAPCOs has initially estimated that Rs 45 crore funds would be needed for overcoming the problem of inundation at the airport, in its interim report. He also said that tenders would be called before the end of next month and the entire work would be completed in 18 months.
The WAPCOs has suggested that two canals should be constructed towards the east and west directions of airport with a width of 140 metres, in order to allow the free flow of floodwaters towards sea, according to the minister. Similarly, WAPCOs has suggested that Kondagedda and Meghadrigedda should be linked in order to arrest the spread of inundation of residential areas in and around the airport, the minister said.

Babji

August 15th, 2006, 10:48 PM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/16/stories/2006081604980300.htm

Visakhapatnam set to emerge an IT hub, says Konathala

Special Economic Zone to come up in Atchutapuram, Rambilli mandals

VISAKHAPATNAM: The State Government is firm on expanding the information technology (IT) sector in Visakhapatnam which it intends to develop as a second tier IT hub. The Government has acquired 2,927 acres of land to allot for IT units. So far 148 acres has been allotted to IT giants Satyam and Wipro and Kenexa Techonolgy and 18 units, Commercial Taxes Minister Konathala Ramakrishna has said.

Listing the various ongoing development activities and those on the anvil after unfurling the tricolour at the Police Parade Grounds and inspecting a guard of honour, he said the Special Economic Zone would come up in Atchutapuram and Rambilli mandals in 9,2000 acres. Of the land, 2,115 acres was allotted to Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and 1,000 acres to Brandix Lanka Limited. For farmers being displaced, Rs.240.14 crores had been paid so far at the rate of Rs.2.95 lakhs per acre.

Alternative base : The Minister said in view of the growing traffic at the Visakhaptnam Port, it had been decided to acquire 4,287 acres of land in Rambilli and S. Rayavaram mandals for a Naval Alternative Operating Base. While the government had released Rs.83.47 crores in the first phase, so far for Rs. 40.45 crores had been paid for 1,348 acres of private land. Among the other industries the minister listed out were Apparel Export Park at Gajuwaka in which infrastructure was created in 145.6 acres spending Rs.26.42 crores. So far 60 plots have been allotted to garment units. In the Pharma City coming up in 2,500 acres, so far 457 acres was allotted to 31 units. HPCL expansion was under way at an outlay of Rs. 8,300 crores.

Water supply: Mr. Ramakrishna disclosed that full-fledged supply of water from the Godavari project implemented to meet the needs of the city would begin from December. For rural areas, 2,300 works would be taken up at a cost of Rs. 16.32 crores. In the first phase of the Indiramma scheme, 369 gram panchayats and municipal wards would be developed.

Under the scheme, besides other development works, 87,826 houses would be built spending Rs. 254.84 crores.

The Minister said Rs. 36 crores had been spent on the Rs.485 crores Indirasagar (Polavaram) Left Canal meant to irrigate 1.5 lakh acres in 10 mandals of the district. Pedderu reservoir work would be completed by the year-end spending Rs.38.41 crores and irrigating 19,969 acres.

Babji

August 16th, 2006, 01:19 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/16/stories/2006081616930300.htm
Industries in city vow to scale new heights

VISAKHAPATNAM: Industries in the city celebrated 60th Independence Day with a resolve to scale new heights by increasing productivity, achieving better results and adopt strategies to face new challenges posed by globalisation of economy.

Hoisting of the tri-colour, review of ceremonial parade, holding of competitions among employees and their families and awarding merit certificates to some of the employees formed part of the day's celebrations on Tuesday.

Unfurling the flag at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, its Chairman and Managing Director Y. Siva Sagar Rao called upon the employees to contribute for building VSP into a global corporate.

VPT aims big : At VPT, Chairman K. Ratna Kishore said there was a big challenge of handling 61.5 million tonnes of traffic in the current fiscal as per the target set by the Ministry. He said there was a need to further increase efficiency levels in consonance with the VPT's policy on quality for accelerating growth.

In his I-Day address, DCI Chairman and Managing Director N.K. Gupta stated that DCI had achieved a turnover of Rs.542 crores and highest net profit of Rs.176 crores. It also declared highest dividend of 150 per cent during 2005-06.

Long service awards : HPCL Visakh Refinery presented long service awards to 68 employees for completing 15, 25 and 30 years. After inspecting the guard of honour by HPCL CISF unit, General Manager A.S. Rao greeted the employees and remembered the sacrifices of those who fought for the freedom.

HSL celebrated I-Day in a befitting manner with Chairman and Managing Director Ajit Tewari expressing satisfaction over the progress achieved over past two years. Bharat Heavy Plate and Vessels Managing Director Om Prakash said that in order to come out of present difficulty, the company had to achieve a turnover of 200 crores during current year

Babji

August 16th, 2006, 07:31 PM

http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=11959&secid=41
Navy to build new port off Visakhapatnam

The Indian Navy is planning to build a new port near Vishakhapatnam. About 500 acres of land has been acquired, and the port will help ease traffic congestion in the commercial harbour.

The new port will initially accommodate only naval ships and let out parking space to commercial ships later, depending on the availability of space. Vishakhapatnam port has a single channel harbour, and it becomes difficult in providing space to two simultaneous ships passing by.

It will take about four to five years for the new port to become fully functional. The project is also funded by the Navy.

grimmm

August 17th, 2006, 03:30 PM

http://www.business-standard.com/general/storypage_test.php?&autono=101786

Actimus Biosciences Private Limited (Actimus Bio), an independent contract research organisation, will be investing $5 million in Visakhapatnam over the next one year.

Addressing the media here on Wednesday, Michael Fernandes, chief executive officer of Actimus, said that the company had already invested $2.5 million in setting up a bioequivalence and bioavailability study centre at Visakhapatnam.

“As part of the phase II development, we are setting up an analytical laboratory in the city at an investment of $5 million over the next one year,” he said.

The company sees immense business potential once the Pharma City, which is being set up here, becomes operational.

“Three Indian pharmaceutical companies – Panacea Biotec, Hetero Drugs and Natco Pharmaceuticals – have already expressed their willingness to use our Vizag facility for bioequivalence and bioavailability studies. We are also negotiating with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories for a similar contract,” he added.

Babji

August 19th, 2006, 12:58 AM

http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.asp#Tenders%20for%20flyover%20in%20Sept.
Tenders for flyover in Sept.

Visakhapatnam, Aug. 18: The much awaited major projects of the city — a flyover at the busy Aseelmetta junction, inner ring road and a tunnel through Madhavadhara ghats — will take off next month.
The design for the flyover was nearing completion and tenders would be called next month, said municipal commissioner of Greater Visakha N. Srikanth. Talking to this correspondent here on Friday, Mr Srikanth said the designs were in the final stage and during September-end, tenders would be called.

“The Rs 44 crore project would be taken up on a war-footing,’’ Mr Srikanth said. Aseelmetta is the busiest junction in the city with more than 50,000 vehicles crisscrossing during the peak hours. Most of the educational institutions, RTC Complex and the Corporation administration were located near the junction.

One of the roads lead to the RTC complex and railway station, another to Jagadamba junction and other to the Circuit House. Earlier, tenders were called but they were cancelled on technical grounds.

The other major project is the tunnel at Madhavadhara which cuts down the distance to the Simhachalam shrine. This project is estimated to cost around Rs 93 crores. Mr Srikanth said the proposals were sent to ministry of environment and forests and a public hearing on Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) would be conducted in mid-September.

After completion of EIA public hearing, tenders would be called for this project, the commissioner said. The third major project was inner ring road which was nearing completion.

The ring road costing about Rs 35 crores would cut down the traffic hassles in major roads in the city. Corporation sources said most of the projects — big and small — would be completed by the time the State Election Commission issued notification for corporation council elections.

Babji

August 19th, 2006, 01:32 AM

AP city to emerge as training centre for marine police: CoP
Visakhapatnam | August 18, 2006 4:41:33 PM IST

City Police Commissioner V S K Kaumdi today opined Visakhapatnam would emerge as the regional training centre for marine police not only in Andhra Pradesh but for all states on the the East Coast.

Addressing a gathering here, he outlined the importance of marine police. The city police had taken the lead by securing land, designing the marine police station building and selecting site for the jetty at Rushikonda.

Coast Guard Deputy Inspector General D B Prasad said the participants would be given on the job training on Coast Guard ships for seven days.
A four-week induction training course for the first batch of marine police of Andhra Pradesh commenced at the Coast Guard Headquarters here today.
The marine police stations were sanctioned under the Coastal Security Scheme to keep vigil on the coast.

UNI BSR GM 1537

pding

August 19th, 2006, 08:32 PM

Babji

August 20th, 2006, 11:58 PM

http://www.vizagcityonline.com/Vizagfeatures/vizagfeatures.html

AN AGONISING 'KORBANI' FOR DAILY COMMUTERS:
http://i6.tinypic.com/14kbf6f.jpg http://i5.tinypic.com/14kbfog.jpg

Though the port city has been upgraded into Greater Visakha, Visakhapatnam Railway Station is still not big enough to receive and regulate the growing passenger traffic. Because of this very reason, people travelling by the Korba-Visakhapatnam Express are made to wait for nearly an hour more to reach their destination. Those who commute daily from Vizianagaram to Vizag for work and business, board the train at 6.50 a.m. Though its scheduled arrival time at Visakhapatnam is 8.20 a.m. it rarely reaches on time. Though the Express train reaches Simhachalam Railway Station around 7.20 a.m., it moves in fits and starts from there to reach Vizag around 9.00 a.m. After halting at Simhachalam for a while, it runs for about a furlong and halts again near Marripalem for sometime.

This is followed by another brief run and a halt just after crossing the railway over bridge near RP Peta, before it finally reaches Visakhapatnam Railway Station. If it is so agonising for those travelling from Vizianagaram (an hour's run), imagine the plight of long distance travellers, who are being literally forced by the Railways to make a 'Korbani' (Sacrifice) of their precious time. Some wise travellers, who can no longer bear this agonising wait, are getting off the train at Simhachalam to catch a bus or auto to reach their homes in the city from there to save time.

The Railway authorities say that this can't be avoided, as the Korba Express or any incoming train for that matter, should be stopped near the 'outer signal' to allow incoming trains like Visakha Express and the Palasa Passenger to leave the station around that time. The problem is likely to continue till the railway doubling works are completed and more platforms are added at Vizag Railway Station.

Meanwhile, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has proposed diversion of several long distance trains via Duvvada to ease traffic congestion at Visakhapatnam Railway Station. If this becomes a reality, those travelling to Vizag will be able to reach their destination fast and on time. Till then, they may have to put up with the daily grind

state of affairs at IR: this is where they are investing:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1910055.cms
Rlys to connect Lalu's village with his sasural
[ 20 Aug, 2006 1610hrs ISTPTI ]
RSS Feeds| SMS NEWS to 8888 for latest updates

PATNA: The native villages of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and his wife, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, would soon be connected by train under a move to expand the rail network to hitherto untouched places.

Prasad's village Phulwaria and that of his wife's- Salar Kalan- both fall under the Gopalganj district. The two "VIP" villages, which boast of a helipad, are now all set to figure on the railway map of the country, Railway sources said. "The track laying work is going on in full swing and it is expected to be completed by December this year," the sources said.

Trains chugging along the Siwan-Hathua-Bhatni route would touch Prasad's native village and his 'sasural' under Banaras division under North Eastern Railway zone soon.

A railway platform is coming up at Phulwaria. Work for laying the new tracks has been going on for sometime. But the project came into the news after some villagers cried foul over the Railways acquiring their land for the purpose.

The Siwan-Hathua-Thawe-Kaptanganj route has been changed to link Phulwaria and Salar Kalan villages.
In the changed route plan, trains would not touch Kaptangan and instead would be diverted from Hathua so that they touch Phulwaria and Salar Kalan.

The sources claimed that the change of route was decided on the basis of track-population density to benefit more people by providing train services to hitherto untouched areas.

Babji

August 21st, 2006, 12:05 AM

(From Business Standard: )

... the work on doubling the Bangalore-Mysore rail track upto Ramanagaram will commence shortly as chief minister H D Kumaraswamy had promised to release the Rs 25 crore, this month. The Centre will release its share of Rs 20 crore. This will meet the project cost up to Ramanagaram, Vijayashankar said...

Is GoAP doing enough for Vizag?

Babji

August 21st, 2006, 12:24 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/26/stories/2006022606230300.htm
Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam
Passengers' association unhappy with rail budget

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Andhra Pradesh Passengers' Association, Kakinada, has termed the Railway Budget as unfortunate as no mention was made of new railway lines in the State.

In a statement on Saturday, president of the association S.S. Krishnaji noted that several surveys conducted for different railway lines in Coastal Andhra had been hibernating in the pigeonholes of the Railway Board.

However, he welcomed the budget, which doubtless created a sense of relief to passengers, as the fares had not been hiked. He described the extension of the Vijayawada-Mumbai Express to Kakinada as "the greatest gift of the Railway Minister to the agitating people of Kakinada."

`Vizag ignored': In a separate statement, G.M. Rama Rao, president of Pithapur Colony Association - Visakhapatnam, criticised the Railway Minister for totally ignoring Visakhapatnam in his third consecutive budget.

``It is sad that the Lok Sabha members and the 10 ministers from the State in the Union Cabinet have been helpless and ineffective in looking after the genuine needs of the State and its jewel, Visakhapatnam. Equally sad is the indifferent attitude of the public which is taking this utter neglect, year after year without any strong protest,''
he remarked and appealed to the public to strongly protest the neglect.

Babji

August 29th, 2006, 03:34 AM

ISO CERTIFICATE TO VSP PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT :

According to a press release to VizagCityOnline.com, The personnel department of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) was awarded ISO-9001:2000 standard for the excellent services in the areas of human resources.

On the occasion, VSP chairman and managing director Y. Siva Sagar Rao complimented director (Personnel) K. Ayyappa Naidu and his team for their commitment and hard work. The certificate was presented to Naidu by Sunil Kumar of BVOI. The VSP also gained the status of total literate organisation. Also, the personnel department launched an employee's charter, a first of its kind document in a public sector unit, expressing the personnel department's commitment to provide to customers within declared time frame.

Director (Finance) PK. Bishnoi, director (Commercial) HS. Chatwal, director (Operations) PK. Mishra and others were present. VSP CMD Y. Siva Sagar Rao yesterday inaugurated the new DC Drive Control Systems at Wire Rod Mill. These control systems increase the productivity of the Mill by enhancing the production and increasing the rolling time and reduction in spares consumption.

Babji

August 29th, 2006, 03:46 AM

Three corridors lined up for bullet trains
K P Narayana Kumar in New Delhi | BS | August 26, 2006 | 12:26 IST

India's wait for a bullet train may be over soon, with the Indian Railways contemplating to set up three dedicated high-speed corridors where trains will travel at speeds of at least 250 km an hour.

The routes under consideration for running these trains are the Mumbai-Pune, Delhi-Jaipur and Chennai-Bangalore sections. The cost to build their infrastructure could range from Rs 200-300 crore (Rs 2-3 billion) a km.

This is not to suggest that travel on such trains would be more expensive than on flights. Sources in the know pointed out that the tariffs between Mumbai and Pune could be in the range of Rs 1,500, as compared to average air fares of over Rs 2,500 for the distance.

The fares between Delhi and Jaipur could be around Rs 2,400, as against anything between Rs 2,500 and Rs 4,000 for a flight. However, for the Chennai-Bangalore route, passengers might have to fork out as much as they would for a low-cost carrier. The reason is simple: cut-throat competition on this route has seen prices fall rock-bottom.
Each high-speed train will have six coaches, and will carry 400-450 passengers. However, it would be possible to increase the number of coaches to 10. The railways are already discussing the pros and cons of such a mega project, and various estimations are being worked out. It may be recalled that Railway Minister Lalu Prasad had announced his intention of running such trains while presenting the budget, after he had had an experience of such travel during a visit to Europe.

If taken up, the Mumbai-Pune stretch could cost about Rs 32,000 crore (Rs 320 billion) at the least. It is being said that the railways might want a private-public partnership, with considerable participation from the private sector. The fastest trains in the country at present, which include the Shatabdi Express and the Rajdhani Express, run at a maximum speed of 160 km an hour. ========================================================
People of Vizag will have to travel 20KM out of city to board a train due to lack of tracks/ infrastructure.
In the mean time India will have bullet trains to compete with the airlines.
AU should invite Laloo to give a lecture on Effective Mgmt of IR... :)

Babji

August 29th, 2006, 03:59 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/29/stories/2006082909480300.htm

Lalu likely to visit Vizag

VISAKHAPATNAM: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has assured Visakhapatnam MP and former Chief Minister N. Janardhana Reddy that he will visit Visakhapatnam very soon and provide all the required help to improve railway facilities in Waltair (Visakhapatnam) Division of the East Coast Railway here.

The assurance came when Mr. Reddy, in continuation of his efforts to improve rail facilities, called on Mr. Lalu Prasad in New Delhi on Saturday to impress upon him the need to improve railway facilities in Visakhapatnam since it was yielding a revenue of over Rs.2,000 crores to the Indian Railways every year.

The issues: This was the MP's second meeting with the Railway Minister during the current month to highlight Visakhapatnam's railway needs and passenger amenities. Some of the issues put before the Railway Minister by Mr. Reddy were allocation/increase of funds in the coming Railway Budget (2007-08) for the Visakhapatnam railway division, construction of additional railway lines between the Visakhapatnam and Simhachalam railway station, and two more platforms at the Visakhapatnam railway station and augmentation of facilities at the station.

Mr. Reddy also sought immediate stoppage of the extension of important trains like Prasanthi Express to Bhubaneswar, starting of new superfast train from Visakhapatnam to Mumbai via Secunderabad and another superfast train to Chennai, and establishment of outstation reservation counters at Ukkunagaram, Pendurthy, Madhuravada, Bheemunipatnam and also at the Visakhapatnam airport.

The MP demanded that the Waltair Division be merged with South Central Railway with headquarters at Secunderabad or Visakhapatnam should be made headquarters of East Coast Railway since Visakhapatnam division was earning highest revenue not only for East Coat Railway, but also topped the entire non-metro cities in the country.

Mr. Lalu Prasad had assured the MP that he would thoroughly examine all the issues relating to Visakhapatnam railway division, the MP's city office revealed.

harsh1802

August 29th, 2006, 04:29 AM

grimmm

August 29th, 2006, 05:38 AM

I think bullet trains are going to be built on a seperate track and in no way connected to the existing railway lines.
My Q is , are they goning to use the present toilet infra in the bullet trains also.

harsh1802

August 29th, 2006, 05:45 AM

^^ Hmmm...obviously they have to be on dedicated lines. And probably need elevated or atleast fenced tracks.....

My main concern is......if they don't invest in teh crappy railway infrastructure...wht is the pt in bringing in the bullet trains?

grimmm

August 29th, 2006, 06:05 AM

All the major railway stations in the country are being properly maintained, even though the service sucks. Since they are overburdened we donot see the results to our satisfaction.

Mumbai-Pune, Delhi-Jaipur and Chennai-Bangalore stretches are very ideal for implementing bullet trains because
a) travel time is very less.
b) these stretches can attract high end business travellers whom otherwise would have used the air route.
So the railways must have seen some serious business here.

grimmm

August 31st, 2006, 03:17 AM

http://www.business-standard.com/general/storypage_test.php?&autono=103218

About 14 firms from across the country have evinced interest in setting up slag grinding units by using Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP)’s slag.

VSP generates about 1.4 million tonnes of slag every year as by-product and its production is expected to be doubled after the capacity expansion of the steel plant.

Moreover, about 60 lakh tonnes of slag stocks have been lying at the VSP’s stockyard for the past few years.

To clear the huge stocks, VSP recently invited an expression of interest (EOI) for setting up of grinding units by using slag. Grinded slag can be used in manufacture of cement.

In response to the invitation, about 14 cement companies have submitted their EOIs to VSP. “We have shortlisted eight major cement companies and slag allotment will be made depending on their price offer,” H S Chhatwal, director (commercial), VSP, said.

VSP is considering allotting slag stock of 60 lakh tonnes among three-four grinding companies instead of only one company. There is a huge export potential for ground slag too. Currently, VSP is selling slag at Rs 200 per tonne and last fiscal, it exported more than 2 lakh tonnes of slag to other countries.

VSP also plans to set up a slag-based major cement plant in Visakhapatnam with private partnership.

Previously, some major cement companies, including ACC, showed interest to set up slag-based cement plant in collaboration with VSP. “We are very serious on this proposal and very shortly we will take a decision on the matter,” he said.

Luckystreak

September 1st, 2006, 10:32 PM

Ispat to invest Rs 900 cr in Vizag plant (http://www.business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?leftnm=1&subLeft=1&chklogin=N&autono=103117&tab=r)

Ispat Industries is in the process of tying up its raw material linkages and, as a step in the direction, is planning to set up a 3 mt pellet plant in Vizag, likely to cost around Rs 900 crore.

Speaking on the sidelines of the company’s annual general meeting, Pramod Mittal, chairman, Ispat Industries, disclosed that a special purpose vehicle would be set up for the project and Ispat would be one of the sponsors. The project would be ready in two-and-a-half years from the zero date, he added.

Babji

September 2nd, 2006, 12:55 AM

http://www.deccan.com/home/homedetails.asp#Vizag%20hides%20a%20gem%20of%20a%20hill
Vizag hides a gem of a hill

Karaka (Visakhapatnam), Sept. 1: A green hillock overlooking the small hamlet of Karaka, 90 kms from Visakhapatnam, is literally a secret treasure mound. If geologists are to be believed, the hillock, spread over 32 km, contains precious gemstones ready for the picking. The mushrooming of millionaires in the area overnight has added credence to the claim of geologists.

As one approaches the village from Narsipatnam, a sign board put by the revenue department warns against gemstone quarrying and urges vehicles to get registered at the panchayat office. Ironically, the panchayat office has been closed down for the last two years. The road ends at the forest department thana (office) which was also shut down in March 2005.

Nearby is the palatial house owned by one of the most successful gem traders in the village, Anipareddy Demudu, popularly known as Karaka Demudu. He is just 28 and if villagers are to be believed, he is worth crores of rupees. Dame Luck smiled on this school dropout after he chanced upon a huge Alexandrite (Vaiduryam) deposit.

This made him a millionaire in a matter of months. He wanted to spend Rs 1 crore on his marriage last month but friends advised him against such open display of wealth. But Demudu cannot resist the temptation. “I am satisied with what I have now and I have no future plans,” says Demudu, who saunters in the village wearing expensive shirts and trousers.

He owns three buildings in Narsipatnam town, one in the village and also owns agricultural lands in East Godavari. Similarly, Korra Ramakrishna, who once made a living by running a trolley tea shop, has become a rich man overnight after chancing upon precious gems. Some distance from his house, hundreds of labourers were grading mud and stones dug from the quarry in pond while henchmen of traders kept a sharp look out for strangers. These labourers have come from interior villages of East Godavari and nearby villages of Narsipatnam and Anakapalle. Traders give them foodgrain and some money for consuming liquor.

They have been told to dig on until they chance upon precious stones. If they come across one, traders pay them Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000, depending on the size. This is motivation enough to keep on digging.
The stones are then sold to traders from Rajasthan, Orissa and Chennai who land up in Vishakapatnam.

. “The government should intervene in a better and more scientific manner,” said Mr Kasipathi. “It should take up the whole venture to prevent accidents and flight of revenue to other States.”

Babji

September 2nd, 2006, 05:53 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/02/stories/2006090213930200.htm

`Vizag set to become major industrial hub'

VISAKHAPATNAM: With lot of opportunities available for growth of industries by way of technology, finance and knowledge in Visakhapatnam, this second industrial city of Andhra Pradesh is all set to become a major industrial hub of the country in the near future, said Vizag Steel Plant (VSP) Chairman and Managing Director Y. Siva Sagar Rao on Friday.

Addressing a seminar on `Linkage 2006 - fostering partnerships for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) development' held under the auspices of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) here, he said with the expansion of VSP, defence establishments, airport and port sector on the cards, the steel city must see a remarkable development in the Indian industrial map.

Key contributor: He said the SME sector contributed about 70-80 per cent of employment opportunity in the country and accounted for 35-40 per cent of the country's exports. "The growth of the SME sector will be the key contributor to the development of our economy and the time is right today to put our best efforts to foster its growth."

He stressed the need for speedy creation of world class infrastructure in terms of power, ports, railways, roads and overhauling of labour laws for quick progress of the economy and industrial growth of the country. The SME sector required attention from policy makers, investors and large-scale entrepreneurs due to liberalisation of the economy.

Eastern Naval Command Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice-Admiral Sureesh Mehta highlighted the increased participation of the private industrial sector in the manufacture of machine and equipment for Defence needs in recent days. He said increased indigenisation and reduction in Defence imports would save a lot of foreign exchange of the country. ``We need to market India as an ultimate destination for defence production,'' he said and stressed the need for a greater synergy between the three services, Defence Ministry and the industries.

Babji

September 4th, 2006, 10:25 PM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/05/stories/2006090518290300.htm

`City airport set to join big league'

VISAKHAPATNAM: Congress MP and former Chief Minister N. Janardhana Reddy on Monday said the city would soon get international flights.

After meeting Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel in Delhi and discussing proposals to make Visakhapatnam airport as an international hub, he said Mr. Patel agreed immediately to give permission to whichever airline applied for landing rights effective from January 2007.

The MP said Visakhapatnam would soon get international airlines like Indian, Air India Express, Sri Lankan Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Thai Airlines and Silk Air to operate to various destinations.

A new runway extending over 10,000 feet being built at the airport here with night landing facility and instrument landing system was likely to get ready by year-end.
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This would be a boon to the people of coastal districts working in Singapore and Malaysia.
No more hassels of travelling to Chennai (and get fleeced by Chennai cabbies) to board a flight.

Luckystreak

September 5th, 2006, 04:06 AM

"The Hindu"s stats may be old.
how tall are the Nausheva Housing buildings?
which are the other tall buildings in the city?

Here's the 10 storied LIC building "The Hindu" was talking about.
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2293/vizag4ks6.jpg

Nausena Buildings (15-18 stories). Please note the longer shadows.
http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/1184/vizag1jp5.jpg

These are 10 storied naval buildings near the Harbor.
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/4500/vizag2yi8.jpg

A 10 storied building at Ramakrishna beach.
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/7655/vizag3yo3.jpg

Babji

September 6th, 2006, 01:12 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/06/stories/2006090620770300.htm

Chief Minister keen on setting up IIT-level institute in city

VISAKHAPATNAM : Minister for Commercial Taxes Konathala Ramakrishna has lauded the role of teachers in moulding children into better citizens of tomorrow.

At a function organised at the Zilla Parishad hall on the occasion of Teachers' Day on Tuesday, he described education without humanity as a `waste' and called upon teachers to play their role effectively.

Mr. Ramakrishna announced Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was keen on establishing an institution of IIT standard in the city. The institute would be set up with assistance of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. He felicitated best teachers from all over the district.

Babji

September 7th, 2006, 01:10 AM

http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.asp
Flyover turns a death trap

Visakhapatnam, Sept. 6: The 4.87 km flyover that has been under construction since 2002, connecting Convent Junction to dockyard and the airport road is becoming dangerous by the day with accidents only waiting to happen on it.

The metal beam crash barriers built on either side of the flyover and the basic road markings seem to be the only work done since the project started. The flyover hasn’t been inaugurated yet, but for the past fortnight traffic has been plying on it. Says the port connectivity project director, National Highways Authority of India, K. Srinivasulu, “Since the road on the flyover is completed, we had a special request from the DCP, traffic, Vizag, on account of threats to the Naval establishments to divert the traffic to the flyover for four days starting from August 14, 2006. “

There are no medians on the flyover, because the road is two-lane. The stretch was manned earlier by a group of constables at the Convent Junction and a watchman at the dockyard entry point, but now a lonely constable handles the traffic. There isn’t a constable at the fork on the flyover that poses a major threat to the travellers plying on the road.

DCP, traffic, P.Viswaprasad says, “The flyover was mainly built to transfer the port vehicles from the roads below so that they could reach their respective godowns without hindering regular traffic in the area. The Navy had objected, for security reasons, to part of the road from a Y junction below the flyover up to Scindia to be used by the port vehicles. But since the flyover was opened to public because of security concerns of the Naval establishments, for about four days this month the traffic has been quite regular here. The concerns of road markings, lanes etc are that of the NH authorities who have taken up the project”

The DCP said one-way traffic would be imposed during certain hours in the morning for the traffic from the Convent Junction to the Malkapuram and Gajuwaka. The evenings would see the flow of traffic in the opposite direction though still one way, he said adding that final decision would be taken after studying the local traffic.

Incidentally, the flyover doesn’t have streetlights, which is an obvious concern for traffic plying on this road at night. But many travellers are unconcerned.

The fatal accidents on this stretch still are a little below 10, perhaps why are lax in solving the issue. Out of 32 accidents in this stretch, according to them, only eight have been fatal.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
so, how many fatal accidents should happen, before they could take some action?...

Babji

September 7th, 2006, 04:08 AM

Total SA and Kuwait Petroleum eyes stake in HPCL complex
Source: IRIS (06 September 2006)

France`s Total SA and Kuwait Petroleum International may each pick up a stake of 25-30% in a refining and petrochemicals complex planned by Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd, reports Financial Express.

HPCL will hold 25% per cent while the remaining would be held by Total, Kuwait Petroleum and financial institutions.

The estimated cost of the integrated project was about Rs 14 billion ( USD 303 million). The deal was envisaged on a rationale that the refinery serves as an important link for exports to China and south-east Asia markets.

State-run HPCL plans to build a petrochemical plant in Vishakhapatnam, where it runs a 1,50,000 barrels per day refinery that will be expanded to 300,000 bpd by mid-2008. The petrochemicals plant will have one million tonne capacity to produce benzene and paraxylene.

The three oil firms have yet to finalise the the structure of the proposed joint venture and may form a separate company to run it.

Babji

September 8th, 2006, 02:23 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/08/stories/2006090820150300.htm

Train halt at Duvvada

VISAKHAPATNAM: The EcoR has announced that Visakhapatanam-Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam Ratnachal Express and Visakhapatnam-Kazipet-Nizamuddin-Visakhapatnam Link Express will halt at Duvvada from Oct.2 on an experimental basis.

does it mean these trains do not touch Visakhapatnam Stn any more?...

Babji

September 11th, 2006, 02:19 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/11/stories/2006091119660300.htm

YSR commissions underground drainage system
VISAKHAPATNAM: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Sunday commissioned the Rs. 20- crore integrated underground drainage system of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) in the old city area.

"Visakhapatnam is being developed as never before and Central funds are also being tapped," Dr. Reddy said while addressing a public meeting organised on the occasion.

... The Godavari water supply scheme was completed and Rs. 100 crores was secured from the Centre under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Reconstruction Mission (JNNURM) to lay distribution network to supply water round the clock to every household in the city while huge investments being made in the industry sector would provide employment to many, he said.

Babji

September 14th, 2006, 03:47 AM

HPCL plans Rs 20,000cr spend in Vizag
BS Reporter / Vizag September 13, 2006

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) is planning to invest over
Rs 20,000 crore in Visakhapatnam over the next four to five years. The company has proposed to set up a petrochemical complex at the Andhra Pradesh SEZ coming up near Visakhapatnam.

“The state government has already allotted 1,000 acres to us at the SEZ as against 3,500 acres we sought," A S Rao, HPCL exec director of Visakha refinery, said here.

Of the proposed investment, the corporation is planning to spend nearly Rs 10,000 crore on its petrochemical project and Rs 9,000-10,000 crore on capacity expansion of its Visakha refinery to 15 million tonne, he said.

A single-point mooring facility with a crude oil terminal is also being set up at an estimated cost of Rs 600 crore. For this, discussions are going on with Vizag Port for acquiring additional land required for the expansion and for a new crude oil terminal, Rao said.

In addition to this, HPCL is setting up a mounded bullet storage facility for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at an investment of about Rs 125 crore. The company has appointed PDIL as the consultant to implement this project. After completion of work on this, LPG storage capacity at Visakha refinery would go up to 7,500 tonne.

During FY06, Visakha refinery processed 75.74 lakh tonne of crude oil as against the original capacity of 75 lakh tonne. As on date, the refinery has achieved 3.47 safe million-man hours, and fire-free days reached 1,080.

Babji

September 14th, 2006, 04:14 AM

Swette port revival to shore up Vizag port
Wednesday September 13 2006 14:48 IST
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Visakhapatnam port is set to receive a boost from the Indian Government’s proposal to develop a port at Swette (called ‘Akyab’) on Myanmar coast.

The cross-country project will facilitate a substantial jump in export and import of foodgrains, petroleum products and container traffic at Visakhapatnam port, which has the biggest logistical advantage to tap Southeast Asian markets.

Swette port which was to be upgraded at a cost of $103 million, will be an alternative route to the Indian Northeast and establish a direct link between Myanmar and Visakhapatnam and other ports on the east-coast through the Kaladan river.

The Swette port project is a major component in India’s attempts to strengthen trade ties with Southeast Asia in the context of the Northeastern states’ plea to reopen the 1,700-km Stilwell Road which connects the region around Assam with Myanmar, Thailand and China.

“The Kaladan multi-modal transport project, proposed to be implemented soon, envisages connecting Indian ports on the eastcoast with Mizoram through a combination of sea, inland waterway and highway connections,” Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed said in the Rajya Sabha recently.

Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh also stressed the economic significance of Settwe/Kaladan project stating it would enhance navigability on Kaladan River in Myanmar and enable opening of another route for trade between the Northeast and the rest of India.

The Stilwell road laid during World War II, will link the northeastern states with the Swette port, starting at Ledo (Assam) and cutting through Pangsau pass in Myanmar to Kunming in south China. The road will touch all-important Southeast Asian capitals.

A Research and Planning Department official of VPT said: “It is not new actually. Visakhapatnam port had suggested development of this port on Myanmar coast to augment sea-borne trade and included it in the perspective plan of 1996 but the proposal was not taken seriously due to various reasons.” Once the Swette port comes up, it would benefit Vizag port in strategic and commercial terms, the official added.

At present, border trade between India and Myanmar takes place on a daily basis at Moreh in Manipur and Zakhawthar in Mizoram and the Swette port will give connectivity to Mizoram and Tripura.

Babji

September 22nd, 2006, 05:27 AM

================================================================
Welcome back SSC!
Thanks to the ADMINS and MODS for all the good work.
We all appreciate the important task of cleaning up and keeping up of the systems.
================================================================

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/22/stories/2006092221050300.htm

Vizag airport to have world-class facilities

VISAKHAPATNAM: The proposed Rs. 95-crore integrated terminal building complex at the Visakhapatnam airport would have world-class facilities, according to Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel.

The Minister, in a letter inviting Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha MP N. Janardhan Reddy for the foundation-laying function to be held on September 25 (Monday) at the airport complex, said

the 20,200 sq.mt. building would have central air-conditioning system. Besides, it would have modern passengers amenities, including passenger boarding bridge (aero bridge) with visual docking guidance system, escalators, lifts, and conveyor belts in the arrival and departure halls. Mr. Patel said there would be a huge parking area wherein as many as 600 cars could be parked.

Babji

September 22nd, 2006, 06:42 AM

Divyakshetram status for shrine

Visakhapatnam, Sept. 21: The temple hill of Simhachalam will soon become ‘Divyakshetram’ and the State government sent the orders to the local office here to go ahead with the works. The status of Divyakshetram will enable temple officials to clear the hilltop of all private properties besides providing for improved infrastructure facilities. Executive officer(EO) of the temple V. Shankara Reddy told this correspondent here on Thursday that 230 families living on the hill would be shifted to the foothill area for which land has been already sanctioned for them.

Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (Vuda) was asked to develop the area for construction of houses. “All the houses and private constructions will be demolished and roads and parks would be constructed in their place,” the EO said. The queue complex for the devotees would be modernised for the convenience of the people coming in large numbers from different parts of the country.

The main kalynamandapam would be also be developed for conducting important festivals. Free dormitories, drainage system and other basic infrastructural facilities would be created on the lines of major temples in the State, the EO said. The contract for entire works was being given to Central public works department.

The works would begin from the first week of October, he added. He said the security cover would be enhanced after the entire hill town becomes Divyakshetram. Presently, only five armed police personnel were manning the security system and keeping in view the present threats to the temples across the country, it needs to be enhanced further, Mr Shankar Reddy felt.

Meanwhile, Sarada Peetham seer Swaroopanandendra Sway said many tribals living on the hill would lose their livelihood if the temple town was declared a Divyakshetram. He said that at least one member from a tribal family should be given employment in the temple. “The temple is shifting the rich by giving them prime lands. The authorities should also think of poor tribals,” the Swamy said.

grimmm

September 23rd, 2006, 04:22 AM

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/09/23/stories/2006092303521900.htm

Sets up training facility for women at Pendurthi to work in apparel city

Of the 1,000 acres allotted for the apparel city project, 60-65 per cent will be used for industrial purposes and the rest for setting up common effluent treatment plant and other common facilities.

Visakhapatnam , Sept. 22

Brandix India is bullish on its apparel city project in Visakhapatnam district and the work is going on as per schedule, said Mr Vinu Sudan, a company spokesman.

The AP Government has allotted 1,000 acres near Atchyuthapuram in Visakhapatnam district for the project, which is expected to generate 60,000 jobs. The company has ambitious plans to develop Vizag as a major export hub.

At a press meet here on Friday, he said the MoU was signed in June, 2005, and the land had been handed over only in June, 2006.

"We have taken some accommodation in the Visakhapatnam special economic zone (SEZ) and set up a training facility at Pendurthi for the first batch of 200 women recruited by the company. It shows our commitment to the project," he said.

`NO SLOWDOWN'

Playing down the recent remarks of the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, over the "slow pace of the project," Mr Sudan said the company was glad the Chief Minister himself was evincing interest in the project and monitoring its progress.

"We are on the job and we are aggressively marketing the Vizag apparel city and have got major companies such as Brandot, Sara Lee, Fountain Set and Crystal Group to visit the site and we are positive that our efforts will bear fruit," he said.

Yamato, a machine supplier, had agreed to set up service centre in the apparel city, which had been given the status of a SEZ, he said. Two fabric mills, with a combined capacity of 15,000 million tonnes per month, would require 250 acres of land. There would be 20 apparel units and some accessory units.

LAND ALLOTMENT

"Of the 1,000 acres allotted for the project, 60-65 per cent will be used for industrial purposes and the rest for setting up common effluent treatment plant and other common facilities besides the green belt. We need all the land," he explained.

Asked a specific question about how long the project would take for completion, he said the State Government would have to provide the power, water and roads.

INFRASTRUCTURE

"The infrastructure should be in place by May-June 2007 and from then it may take five more years for the completion of the project. There need not be any doubts about the employment generation," he said.

On the scale of investment, he said the company would have to invest $40 million for setting up the facilities in the park and the ultimate total projected investment may be $1.5 billion.

Mr Sudan said the first batch of trainees would start production by January, 2007.

Babji

October 15th, 2006, 03:26 AM

http://www.cyberabadtimes.net/2006/10/audi-plant-in-andhra-pradesh.asp
Friday, October 13, 2006
Audi plant in Andhra Pradesh

German luxury car manufacturer Audi AG has decided to set up its own manufacturing facility in India and has selected Andhra Pradesh to put up the plant.

Industry sources said that Audi might set up the plant either in Hyderabad, Nellore or Visakhapatnam as these places have existing industrial clusters.
Earlier, Audi had planned sharing Volkswagen group's sister concern Skoda's Aurangabad plant for rolling out its cars in India. It was also contemplating using Volkswagen's facilties once the latter set up its plant in India.

Industry sources said that Audi might set up the plant either in Hyderabad, Nellore or Visakhapatnam as these places have existing industrial clusters. Rahil Ansari, country manager, India, Audi AG confirmed to FE about the company's plan to set up its own manufacturing faciltiy, but declined to divulge the location.

Sources said Audi could have ruled out sharing Volkswagen's facilities, as the company is yet to decide the location of setting up its plant. In September Volkswagen had announced that it would set up its plant in Andhra Pradesh, however, later it said it might opt for Maharashtra, Punjab or West Bengal.
At present, Audi sells its A4, A6, A8, TT and Q7 models in the Indian market as completely built units (CBUs). It would launch S8 and RS4 models in the country by the end of this year.

In calendar year 2005, Audi sold 105 cars in the Indian market and plans to sell 300 units this year and 700 in 2007. Source: The Financial Express

grimmm

October 15th, 2006, 04:35 AM

^^^ If at all they decide to set up a plant in a.p, then they should seriously prefer vizag. vizag is a very underrated tier 3 city and has true potential to become an industrial hub.

Naga_Solidus

October 15th, 2006, 07:04 AM

^^^ If at all they decide to set up a plant in a.p, then they should seriously prefer vizag. vizag is a very underrated tier 3 city and has true potential to become an industrial hub.

Exactly. If they set it up in Hyderabad, it will be (a) too centralized, and (b) too far inland for easy shipping to take (unless they intent to ship them by cargo plane).

Nellore may work, but I'm not sure if it's a port city or not.

Babji

October 15th, 2006, 10:32 PM

Exactly. If they set it up in Hyderabad, it will be (a) too centralized, and (b) too far inland for easy shipping to take (unless they intent to ship them by cargo plane).

Nellore may work, but I'm not sure if it's a port city or not.

Nellore is close to Krishnapatnam Port, which is being developed with three new berths and two power stations. A new Rail link and a parallel road link are also on the pipe line from Obulavaripalem (Cuddapa) to Krishnapatnam Port, which would make Nellore easily accessible to the port by road and rail.

Babji

October 15th, 2006, 10:35 PM

'Global tenders for new facilities soon'
Sunday October 15 2006 00:00 IST Newindpress.com
HYDERABAD//VISAKHAPATNAM: Keeping his promise of providing outlets for farmers in railway stations, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Saturday announced provision of cold storage plants, container service and freezer rail wagons for their benefit.

Speaking at the Ruby Jubilee celebrations of South Central Railway, the minister said: “We are planning cold storage and processing units in all the railway stations which will help the farmers preserve their produce till they are transported to other places. Besides, the railways will also provide freezer wagons to transport perishable goods.”

The move, the minister said, will provide employment opportunities to the youth. “Global tenders for all the new facilities will be called soon,” the minister said.

Earlier in the day in Visakhapatnam, the minister promised to look into all the pending railway projects relating to AP. "It is my duty to clear them," he said, responding to representations made by a delegation of MPs and MLAs led by N Janardhan Reddy and V Hanumantha Rao.

The requests included upgrading Waltair division of East Coast Zone into an independent zone, making Visakhapatnam railway station as a terminus and constituting a railway recruitment board for the area besides sanctioning a few more trains.

Babji

October 15th, 2006, 11:02 PM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/16/stories/2006101607060200.htm

Demand for separate railway zone with Vizag as headquarters

VISAKHAPATNAM : The city based NGO Praja Spandana has urged the railway ministry to delink the Waltair railway division from the East Coast Railway (EcoR) and form a new railway zone with Visakhapatnam as headquarters to cater to the needs of the people in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and East Godavari districts.

Enhance development: Praja Spandana president C.S. Rao, who gave a memorandum in this regard to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav during the latter's visit to the city on Saturday, said development in north coastal Andhra would gain momentum only when a separate railway zone was formed.

He pointed out the Waltair division, which achieved a revenue collection of Rs.2,300 crores during 2005-06, had recorded a whopping 23 per cent increase in its income when compared to the previous year (2004-05).

Due recognition : Though over two lakh rail travellers had used Visakhapatnam station during the last financial year it never received due recognition from the railway ministry ever since it was merged with the new ECoR zone on April 1, 2003.

In fact, the growth of Visakhapatnam rail network had retarded due to the indifferent attitude of ECoR authorities, Mr. Rao alleged and reiterated his demand for creating an exclusive railway zone at Vizag.

October 18th, 2006, 08:24 AM

Babji

October 19th, 2006, 01:35 AM

AP Govt allots land for cricket academy
Vijayawada | October 18, 2006 3:45:30 PM IST News From Webindia123.com

Andhra Pradesh Government would allot 7.28 acres of land to Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) to construct a full-fledged indoor cricket academy at Madhuravada in Visakhapatnam.

According to former Vice-President of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and ACA General Secretary N Venkata Rao, the state Information Minister Shabir Ali announced it after a Cabinet Meeting chaired by Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy at Hyderabad recently.

Mr Rao said the ACA, would construct the academy with all modern facilities as specified by the BCCI National Cricket academy.

The ACA is likely to invite Dr Reddy and BCCI President Sharad Pawar for the academy's foundation laying ceremony next month.

The cost of the project would be around Rs five to six crore and expected to be completed in one year, he added.

UNI CS KVV PM RK1515

Babji

October 19th, 2006, 02:11 AM

There was a news item in Eenadu that R&B is going to build at a coastal corridar road (expressway) connecting Kakinada port and Gangavaram port along the coast at a cost of 225 crores.

Has anybody seen it?

I heard about it. the original plan was to connect all the ports from Visakha to Gangavaram to Kakinada to Machilipatnam to Krishnapatnam by road. don't know the time-line.

Babji

October 20th, 2006, 04:00 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/20/stories/2006102018270300.htm
Trains to be diverted via Duvvada
VISAKHAPATNAM: Owing to non-interlocking work to be taken up at Duvvada railway station to put into operation the Route Relay Inter-locking (RRI), trains passing through the Visakhapatnam railway station will be diverted via Duvvada from October 26 to November 10.
As many as 58 trains, including nine pairs of daily trains, one pair of five-days-a-week train, 12 pairs of weekly trains, four pairs of bi-weekly trains and a pair of tri-weekly trains would be diverted via Duvvada while all the trains starting and terminating at Visakhapatnam alone would operate from Visakhapatnam. All trains will have a 10-minute halt at Duvvada.

One enquiry counter, three more booking counters, a facilitation cell, all to work round the clock, extended hours of reservation and two additional reservation counters, licensed porters, additional gates and lighting, four additional catering stalls, buses to carry passengers to and from Visakhapatnam to Duvvada and other facilities would be created at Duvvada railway station, said Divisional Railway Manager Indra Ghosh at a press conference here on Thursday.

After the non-interlocking work is completed, the RRI would be made operational. Once RRI came into effect along and the Rs. 16-crore yard remodelling work and new coaching complex at Visakhapatnam railway station were completed, the station would have an additional platform (No. 6) which could accommodate 26 coaches. There would also be provision to add two more platforms. The station could handle more number of trains.

The existing length of platforms 4 and 5 could be extended to accommodate 26 coaches and platforms 2 and 3 to accommodate 24 coaches. Platform 1 is already receiving trains with 24 coaches. Other benefits were extension of foot over-bridge towards north to platforms 4 and 5 with a provision to reach platform 6 also.

Once platform 6 was commissioned, second entry into the station from Gnanapuram side could be opened. A new washable apron was being added to platform 4 and the remaining washable aprons on other lines were extended and repaired to ensure better hygiene and cleanliness.

An automatic signalling system was being introduced between Gopalapatnam and Visakhapatnam. The new facilities would further reduce the risk of accidents.

Once the RRI and the automatic signalling system were commissioned, the detention of trains near Visakhapatnam station would be reduced and entry into the station should be smooth.

Island platform : In two years, an island platform between platforms 5 and 6 could be created as part of the future development. There was provision to have only eight platforms at Visakhapatnam station, Mr. Ghosh said, and added that the station could not be converted into a terminal station (for which a demand is being made by the local people). This was because a lot of shunting was being done from the side where the common approach to all platforms had to be created. An existing station could be not be converted into a terminal station because a terminal station was planned in such a way before it was constructed, he explained.

Babji

October 21st, 2006, 01:02 AM

Vizag Rly Stn - Summary of Developments - Newindpress.com
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Waltair Divisional Railway Manager Indra Ghosh said route relay interlocking (RRI) works and yard remodelling were taken up to add up platform 6, extend the length of all other platforms except 2 and 3 to accommodate 26 coach trains, provide automatic signaling between Visakhapatnam and Gopalapatnam by the end of next month, open the second entry point at Gnanapuram and extend foot-over bridge towards north to access platforms 4 and 5.

Ghosh said the commissioning of RRI system would eliminate the inconvenience caused by detention of trains at Gopalapatnam and it would reduce the travel time from Anakapalle to Visakhapatnam.

Babji

October 21st, 2006, 01:10 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/21/stories/2006102115850300.htm
Mega projects: VUDA to open bids from Oct. 23

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) will open financial bids for four of its mega projects on Monday and Tuesday.

The four projects are a multiplex and shopping mall in MVP Colony, a shopping complex at Siripuram, and housing ventures with private partnership at Madhurawada and Vepagunta.

Expert evaluation : The process of inviting the bids and evaluation by experts before opening financial proposals was detailed at a press conference on Friday. VUDA Chairman P.S.N. Raju and Vice-Chairman G. Venkatram Reddy said that to ensure transparency, a meticulous process had been followed by appointing consultants and a jury to appraise techno commercial proposals.

The jury was going through 16 bids: The multiplex and mega shopping mall would have a built-up area of 1.2 lakh square feet costing around Rs.18 crores and the Siripuram shopping complex 1.4 lakh sft costing Rs.20 crores. The projects would be on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis with VUDA giving land on lease for 5 per cent of land value with escalation every year.

The Madhurawada and Vepagunta housing projects will come up on 80 acres and 50 acres respectively.

Described as mixed use, they would have LIG and MIG housing besides apartments, villas, recreation facilities etc. The site for two international schools to come up at Madhurawada and Rishikonda would be on the basis of outright sale.

Detailed process: The Vice-Chairman said the VUDA was assured of minimum guarantee with revenue sharing arrangement and it would cross-subsidise LIG housing.

The eminent persons involved in the process are Suresh Kuppu Swamy, Director of Department of Architecture, Anna University; Dinakar P. Samant, Chief Architect and Planner of CIDCO, Navi Mumbai, S. Ramesh, Chief Architect of Municipal Corporation of Delhi, T. Ramachander, a practising architect and Y. Ramesh, Town and Country Planner of the Union Ministry of Urban Development.

K.Lakshminarayana, Project Associate of APITCO, consultant for the projects, said a detailed study of the agencies, their experience and that of their associates had been made before coming to the stage of the companies submitting "request for proposal document."

He said a 10-member screening committee had done the evaluation. When it came to housing, because it was being taken up in a difficult terrain in Madhurawada, "architectural, technological, engineering and environmental considerations have been taken into account."

Babji

October 24th, 2006, 04:03 AM

http://www.vizagcityonline.com/news/vizagnews.html
VCEC OPPOSES SUBWAY CONSTRUCTION

Offering their expertise in easing traffic problem in the city, the members of Visakhapatnam Consulting Engineers' Consortium (VCEC) yesterday asked the municipal corporation officials to restrain from subway construction.

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) authorities are in a dilemma whether to provide flyovers or subways or light rail transport system to ease the traffic VCEC secretary S. Gopala Sastry opined and asserted that construction of subways will not serve the problem as they will be helpful only to pedestrians but not the increasing vehicles in the city.

Sastry said that the subways can be water logged and might be occupied by beggars. In addition, once subways are constructed it will be difficult to construct flyovers if required in the future.

The members of VCEC suggested the GVMC officials to shift the RTC complex Maddilapalem to ease the traffic on the city roads. They also offered to design the bus station if the authorities are interested.

cbeboy

October 24th, 2006, 10:00 PM

AAI feasibility study on intl airport at Vizag

--Tirupati airport to have night landing facility soon
--Dr Reddy also discussed a proposal to open airports at smaller towns such as at Tadepalligudem, Nellore and Kadapa.

Hyderabad , Oct. 24

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will conduct a feasibility study soon on building an international airport at Visakhapatnam.

The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to develop an international airport at the port city keeping in mind the growing needs and the regular interruptions to services due to flooding of the present airport.

Updating the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, at a review meeting here on Tuesday, on the developments in the aviation sector, officials said they had sent a draft memorandum of understanding to AAI for the development of Rajahmundry and Vijayawada airports.

Tirupati airport would have night landing facility soon, a Government release said...more

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/10/25/stories/2006102501141300.htm (AAI feasibility study on intl airport at Vizag)

Babji

November 1st, 2006, 01:46 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/01/stories/2006110104460400.htm

Cabinet approval for film city near Vizag

HYDERABAD: The State Cabinet on Tuesday gave the nod for a full-fledged film city to be developed by the Andhra Pradesh Film, Television and Theatre Development Corporation over 316 acres of land near Visakhapatnam.

The proposal was mooted last year by the then District Collectorand was forwarded by the corporation for Government approval. The Government land, spread over three villages of Bheemunipatnam mandal close to Visakhapatnam, across Kummaripalem, Kothavalasa and Annavaram, would be sold to the corporation at a price of Rs. 50 lakhs per acre.

Information Minister Mohd. Ali Shabbir told reporters later that the corporation would develop the film city but did not explain whether it would be its owner or if it would remain a mere facilitator by allotting lands to individuals/ companies. The film city will house studios, laboratories, dubbing theatres and other facilities required for production and post-production work.

It is aimed as a second technical facility for film-makers apart from existing infrastructure in and around Hyderabad.

Babji

November 2nd, 2006, 02:23 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/02/stories/2006110217250300.htm

Direct flight to Bangalore introduced

VISAKHAPATNAM: For the first time, a direct flight to Bangalore from the city was introduced by Air Deccan on Wednesday. Flying via Tirupati, it was also the first air connection to the pilgrim centre.

Air Deccan had already connected the industrial and port city with Hyderabad and Chennai, said its Andhra Pradesh operations in-charge M. Ramakrishna at a press conference here on Wednesday.

Air Deccan, the three-year-old low-cost airline and second largest in the country with a market share of 21.2 per cent, is operating flight from all the five airports in the State, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry and Tirupati and is keen on connecting Kadapa and Warangal once the airstrips there are made fit for aircrafts' operations, he says.

Tickets could be booked three months in advance and the price of tickets depended on the time of booking and demand and was decided by computer software.

The price of ticket from Visakhapatnam to Bangalore would be between Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 5,000. Fare to Tirupati would be a few hundred rupees less.

The flight to Bangalore would be operated with a 72-seat aircraft. The occupancy was 60 per cent on the first flight and the bookings made for ensuing dates also showed the same trend. Booking could be made through its website www.airdeccan.net or the 24x7 call centre (39008888, by prefixing city code).

Timings :The flight leaves Bangalore at 10.55 a.m., reaches Tirupati at 11.45 a.m. and Visakhapatnam at 1.40 p.m. It leaves Visakhapatnam at 1.55 p.m., reaches Tirupati at 3.35 p.m. and arrives at Bangalore at 4.40 p.m.

Babji

November 4th, 2006, 02:37 AM

http://news.tradingcharts.com/futures/6/6/85115766.html
HPCL allotted 1,500 acres in Visakhapatnam SEZ

Hyderabad, Nov 01, 2006 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) will be allotted 1,500 acres of land in the upcoming special economic zone (SEZ) at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh for setting up a refinery.

Besides refinery, the state-run oil major would use the area for setting up an aromatic lant and naphtha cracker project at a total investment of Rs 30,000 crore, an official release said.
This was decided at a brief meeting on Visakhapatnam SEZ chaired by Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, it said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/287618.cms

HPCL plans Rs 30-k cr SEZ in Vizag
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2006 02:14:26 AM]

HYDERABAD: Hindustan Petroleum Corporation is planning to invest Rs 30,000 crore for setting up a mega refinery complex in the special economic zone in Visakhapatnam.

The Andhra Prdaesh government has allotted 1,500 acres to the company for what could be considered as one of the largest investments in the state. HPCL is also planning to set up an aromatic plant and naphtha crackers in the allotted land, according to a government release on Tuesday. The funding, business plan and timeframe of the mega project are yet to be finalised, said sources.

The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation has already acquired 9,200 acres for the SEZ in Vizage. Nearly 2,800 acres have been allotted to Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and 1,000 acres to garment manufacturer and exporter Brandix Lanka.

“While Brandix is planning to invest Rs 600 crore for its unit, BARC will pump in Rs 1,000 crore for setting up its R&D centre in the SEZ,” said a government official. With the HPCL refinery, the zone may also attract petrochemical and other allied industries.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/02/stories/2006110217220300.htm

More land will be acquired for SEZ, says Konathala

VISAKHAPATNAM: Acquisition of more land is proposed for the special economic zone (SEZ) coming up in Achyutapuram and Rambilli mandals of the district for accelerating industrial growth, according to Commercial Taxes Minister Konathala Ramakrishna.

Addressing the State Formation Day celebration at the Collectorate here on Wednesday, he said work was going on at a brisk pace on the SEZ proposed in 9,200 acres. For the displaced, Rs.240 crores had been paid so far. The Government had released another Rs.15.5 crores towards payment of compensation. It is proposed to acquire 8,056 acres more for the SEZ, the Minister said.

Among the other ongoing projects were the expansion of the steel plant, the Gangavaram port work, Pharma City at a cost of Rs.276 crores and the apparel park. Eastern Naval Command's alternative base in 5,000 acres and atomic research facility in 2,600 acres were also proposed in the district.

Giving top priority to irrigation in the Jalayagnam programme, Pedderu reservoir was inaugurated and it would provide ayacut to 19,969 acres by the next kharif, Mr. Ramakrishna said. Modernisation of medium irrigation projects on Tandava, Raiwada and Konam was proposed. Under the third phase of land distribution 6,200 acres would be distributed. So far, 36,721 acres had been distributed benefiting 19,469 persons.

Hetero Drugs to develop a pharma SEZ near Vizag to meet its future expansion
Thursday, September 21, 2006 08:00 IST Pharmabiz.com
Phani Raj, Hyderabad

Hetero Drugs has obtained a formal approval to set up a pharma SEZ at Narsapuram near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Hetero has acquired 400 acres for the proposed SEZ.

Vizag summary:

Hetero Drugs Pharma..... "ON"
Film City ... ... ... ........ "ON"
Satyam SEZ ... ... ........"ON"
HSBC ... ... ... ... ... ..... "ON"
WIPRO ... ... ... ... ... ... "ON"
RINL (VSP Expansion)....."ON"
Pharma City ... ... ... ....."ON"
Eastern Naval Relocation "ON"
HPCL Refinery ... .... ..... "ON"
BARC R&D ... ... ..... ..... "ON"
Brandix Lanka ... .... ..... "ON"
Vizag Beach Resorts ..... "ON"

drwho

November 4th, 2006, 02:49 PM

http://img317.imageshack.us/img317/9250/imageloaderimagep09a312fm4.jpg

Caption: Construction work under progress for Satyam Computers building near the TB Hospital junction in Visakhapatnam. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam 31-10-2006

pding

November 4th, 2006, 04:53 PM

that building looks pretty sweet. this should def bring the boom to Visakhapatnam.

Babji

November 5th, 2006, 12:23 AM

Sonia may visit city on 25th: To lay stone for garment facility

Visakhapatnam, Nov. 4: AICC president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will be visiting the city on November 25 to lay the foundation stone for the facility of Brandix India Apparel City of Sri Lanka, a pioneer in garment exporting and manufacturing.

Speaking to this correspondent, minister for commercial taxes Konatala Ramakrishna on Saturday said that as per the tentative schedule, Mrs Gandhi would be visiting the city on November 25. “We are very hopeful that there will be no change in the programme,” he said.

It would be Mrs Gandhi’s first visit to the city after she assumed charge as UPA chairperson. She last visited the city in 2004 as part of the election campaign. She would be here for a couple of hours.
“Mrs Gandhi always stresses upon the women empowerment. And the foundation stone for Brandix would empower women in this region. She will be addressing a meeting especially for the women after the foundation and will also distribute loans to women,” Mr Ramakrishna said.

The garment unit of Brandix along with other garment manufacturing companies will come up in 1,000 acres of the land allotted by the State government near the 4,000 acres earmarked for the proposed Apparel City in Atchyutapuram.

It may be recalled that District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) is training rural and urban poor women in garment manufacturing and other related fields. Until now the DRDA had trained 2,350 women in advanced garment construction, 11,740 in surface ornamentation, and 400 in machine embroidery through 61centres functioning across the district.

Brandix has already selected 250 candidates for first batch training that started on August 15. They will also select the candidates in phased manner from the DRDA trained women. Manager, projects, Brandix India Apparel City, Anton Jayawardena, said that big branded garment companies like Gap, M&S, NEXT, Abercrombie and Fitch, Fountain Set, Sara Lee Courtaulds, Victoria’s Secret, Hanes and J C Penny etc are some of their clientele and these women whom they are going to take in will stitch clothes for those companies.
http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.asp

Babji

November 5th, 2006, 01:05 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/05/stories/2006110511660300.htm

Gangavaram case adjourned: Lok Ayukta favours appointment of a commissioner to determine the number of people to be displaced

VISAKHAPATNAM: The District Lok Adalat on Saturday expressed the view that a commissioner could be appointed to determine how many people of Dibbapalem would be displaced by the Gangavaram private port and their trades.

Chairman of the Lok Adalat Y.V.S.B.G. Parthasaradhi and Members H.V.S. Prasanna Kumar and C. Umadevi, said that appointment of a commissioner and further action could be taken after counsel of the fishermen who lodged complaints with the Lok Adalat negotiated with the port officials.

The Gangavaram Port Dibbapalem Displaced Persons Ikya Vedika filed three petitions seeking stoppage of work on the port till the implementation of the 2005 R and R package policy, enhancement of cost of houses by conducting another survey and scrapping of a 32-member committee of villagers which entered into an agreement with the port management, on the plea that it was not the true representative of the entire village.

Directive to official : While adjourning the case to November 9, the Lok Adalat directed the special officer of Gangavaram port to submit copies of GO MS No. 236. He was also asked to submit permissions from the Mines and Environment Departments and related documents on that day.

Meanwhile the copies should be handed over to counsel of the petitioners.

pding

November 5th, 2006, 06:00 AM

Babji

November 5th, 2006, 04:40 PM

looks like these are only final adjustments to the original R&R package.
major hurdles have been past behind and the works are in progress.
a lil more time and some give n take should resolve the remaining issues.
Gangavaram Phase I should be operational by 2008.

Babji

November 5th, 2006, 05:38 PM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2006/07/29/stories/2006072901930100.htm

Fully entrenched

The City of Destiny has not only captivated its settlers but is all poised to be a great city in their opinion, writes SUMIT BHATTACHARJEE

What are the questions that would come to one's mind before choosing a city to settle down? How good are the education and health facilities? How peaceful it is? Are the basic amenities available? And how good are the natives? And so on...

This budding metropolis scores at least 9 out of a 10-point rating. And the rating is observed by people who have left their ancestral homes in various States to make this city their home.

Lancelot Gomes who retired as commodore in the Indian Navy moved to this city from Mumbai in 1993. Gomes who worked in various capacities including as the defence attaché to Pakistan feels that Vizag is one among the most beautiful cities in the world. "I have seen the world and some of its best places but nothing to beat the sea view from the balcony of my apartment.

This city has the rare combination of the sea, sand and the hills. And most importantly are its people. They are warm and hospitable," says he.

B. K. Agarwal who came to Visakhapatnam two decades ago from Bolangir in Orissa to expand their family business, fell in love with this city within the first few days itself. "There was a choice between Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Raipur and this city and today I have no regrets in choosing the City of Destiny. It was an experimental venture in the beginning but as the days passed I realised the beauty of this city.

It has got good education facilities, health sector is on par with the best in the country and as far as law and order is concerned, which is a major concern in other states, this is top class. And most importantly the living standard is moderate and comfortable despite being an upcoming city," opines Mr. Agarwal.

He had come as a businessman but later turned to be an ace photographer and through the lens he points out that `Visakhaptnam is a photogenic city'.

"This city is a paradise for fashion photographers. Within a radius of 100 km. you have the sea, sand, mountains, rivers, jungle and rural settings. It is a rare combination and only a few cities in the world are blessed with this combo. Visakhapatnam has got all the pictorial value that a photographer looks for," says he.

Peaceful city : When it comes to the peacefulness both Mr. Agarwal and Lt. Cdr. P.S. Anand are of the same opinion. "If one cannot settle here, he or she cannot settle any part of the world.
It is a cultured city inhabited by gentlemen. There is very less animosity among the people and that makes the city peaceful by and large.

Most of the people are occupied and there is hardly any time to indulge in nefarious activities," says Lt. Cdr. Anand.

Being an ex-serviceman and one who has seen the world from a different perspective feels that India is the best country in the world and Visakhapatnam is the best city in India. "It has tremendous potential and it will grow to outbeat cities like Hyderabad and Bangalore in a few years from now. Once the expanded airport opens up nothing can stop the City of Destiny to rise to the top rungs.

It is already well-connected by rail and the road, it has got the biggest industries in the form of a major port and an integrated steel plant, has its prominence felt as being the headquarters of Eastern Naval Command and now it is poised to be the IT hub with companies like HSBC, Wipro and Satyam setting up shop," says the Sardar.

City of settlers : Mayank Devi who hails from Rajasthan and is married to the royal Deo family of Jeypore in Orissa is of the opinion that Visakhapatnam is a city of settlers. "Our family moved to this place a couple of decades ago, initially for its pristine beauty.

But today it's one among the best as far as facilities are concerned. It has got everything; a university, good colleges, corporate hospitals, shopping facilities and now it is becoming a job-hunters paradise.

The city not only captivates you but everything that is required for a decent living is available within hands reach without much trouble. In short it is a budding metropolis sans the hassles and problems of a metropolitan," says Mayank.

Babji

November 7th, 2006, 02:18 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/07/stories/2006110704711601.htm

Paramount Airways adds new destinations

KOCHI: Paramount Airways, with the acquisition of the fifth Embraer aircraft, has added three more destinations, says a release. The new routes will connect Hyderabad and Bangalore, Hyderabad and Vizag, Bangalore and Hyderabad, and Coimbatore and Bangalore, adds the release.

Babji

November 7th, 2006, 03:37 AM

Vizag steeling rural India
Source: IRIS NEWS DIGEST (06 November 2006)

Vizag Steel has strengthened its distribution channel to promote the consumption of steel in rural areas as part of the centre`s steel policy, which seeks to double per-capita consumption of steel in rural areas to 4 kgs per man by 2020.

Vizag Steel director, commercial, H. S. Chhatwal said the company has appointed 96 district-level dealers across the country, and another nine will be added by the year end.

It has already covered all the districts in the south. The expanded channel will be in addition to its existing 22 marketing outlets and the company is looking at an offtake of 50 tonne a month per dealer and expects to double the target soon.

He said there was tremendous scope to promote steel in rural areas as it has a distinct advantage over conventional construction materials. It costs less, protects the environment, is recyclable and also wind, cyclone and earthquake resistant.

He said that a unique steel village adopted by the company near Visakhpatnam will be ready by February `07.

Babji

November 8th, 2006, 01:26 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/08/stories/2006110803100200.htm

Vizag set to find a place on the world tourism map
VISAKHAPATNAM: With the new runway getting ready to facilitate landing of wide-bodied aircraft at the airport here, Visakhapatnam is poised to find a place on the world tourism map.

Air connectivity has always remained a problem for showcasing Vizag as a tourist place. Now with the new runway, night landing and instrumentation facility in place for commissioning in early January, international flights will launch their operations in the city.

Feeder service : The introduction of a feeder service from Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad to take passengers to Colombo by SriLanka Airlines is certainly a welcome development. Several airlines have submitted proposals to have their operations. Silk Airways, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, has shown interest in operating international flights from the new terminal next year.
With the opening of customs and immigration offices at the airport, the city will automatically get qualified to become an international hub, says D. Varada Reddy, president of the Air Travellers' Association (India).

Trans India - another airline -- has plans to have its night hub in the city and run flights between Vizag and Hyderabad at night. King Fisher wants to operate a new generation aircraft.

The new terminal will be ready by 2007-end and the city can stake claim for an international airport status by January 2008.

Facelift welcomed: The officials and the tourist operators are also in a jubilant mood over the recent developments in the wake of indications that the city's airport is getting ready for a facelift.

The State Cabinet has also allotted 316 acres for setting up of a film city near Bhimunipatnam by the Andhra Pradesh State Film Television and Theatre Development Corporation. Noted film actor Rama Naidu is also setting up a modern studio with permanent sets and shooting floors at Thimmapuram on the city outskirts on an area of 35 acres.

There are also plans to allot sites for establishment of three star hotels with a total investment of Rs.200 crores on the 27-km stretch of Visakhapatnam-Bhimunipatnam beach road.

With all this and several investments in industries and IT sector, the city is going to become a prominent hub for tourists.

Babji

November 11th, 2006, 02:05 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/11/stories/2006111109730300.htm

Rs. 37 cr. for old town under JNNURM
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) which met on Friday sanctioned Rs. 37 crores for construction of sewage treatment plant and other allied works for the underground drainage scheme in the old town area.

The sanction follows the recommendation of the second State-level Steering Committee under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

GVMC Commissioner N. Srikant and Chief Engineer P. Panduranga Rao attended the committee meeting in New Delhi on Friday.

Clearance for tunnel : Meanwhile, the AP Pollution Control Board has given environmental clearance for the tunnel road proposed through the hill from near Narasimhanagar.

The State-level Steering Committee has already recommended the road proposed with an outlay of Rs. 93 crores under JNNURM.

Babji

November 13th, 2006, 12:16 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/13/stories/2006111317380300.htm
Non-interlocking work nearing completion
VISAKHAPATNAM: Visakhapatnam railway station will never be the same again. No train will be hereafter detained for want of platforms. Quick dispatch of trains, flexibility in operations and reduction of delays in terminal detention will be the watchword at the railway junction in the next couple of months. Non-interlocking work is going on at a brisk pace and expected to be completed as per schedule by November 15.

At present only platforms 1 and 3 can accommodate 26-coach trains. Platforms 2, 4 and 5 were designed to receive only 18 coach trains. That's why 26-coach trains like Godavari and Ratnachal had to be detained after Duvvada Station whenever platforms1 and 3 were not free.

New platform : While platform 2 is being extended to accommodate 24-coach trains, platforms 4 and 5 are being extended to receive 26-coach trains. The newly constructed platform no. 6 can also accommodate 26-coach trains. The national standard is to construct platforms, which can cater to 26-coach trains. In the next couple of years, the space created by the shifting of the Coaching Complex (washing lines) would be utilised for construction of two more platforms.

"Automatic block signalling work being undertaken on the Gopalapatnam - Visakhapatnam section will be completed by December-end and this would further help in reducing delays," said Divisional Railway Manager Indra Ghosh. "Visakhapatnam being a terminal station, trains will have to retrace their path. Earlier there was criss-crossing of lines to enable trains to reach the different platforms. Cross movements are being avoided to reduce delays," Deputy Chief Engineer Victor Joseph said.

"Within a month passengers can notice perceptible changes in movement of trains to and from the station," he said. A modern route relay interlocking cabin has already been constructed close to the old north cabin. Work on changing the course of the tracks and shifting of the overhead traction lines on platform 5 was going on at the station on Sunday.

It took 38 years to add just one platform at the Visakhapatnam Junction, which is the lifeline of the bubbling metropolis. Whatever may be reason the initiation of development works, which will have far-reaching consequences in a short span of time, calls for all round appreciation.

Babji

November 13th, 2006, 02:35 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/13/stories/2006111300970200.htm
Perfect place to unwind
http://i15.tinypic.com/2hp10gj.jpg
IDYLLIC GETAWAY: Visitors at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. — Photo: K.R. Deepak

VISAKHAPATNAM: The gleeful chatter of scores of visitors livens up the bright Sunday morning at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park. Abounding in shade-giving trees, the zoo provides an ideal rendezvous for picnickers during the `Karteekamasam' to eat in groups and watch the animals in captivity.

Entertainers all: Amidst the non-stop prattle of the regular stream of visitors, the bears entertain their guests with their antics. The calm and friendly deer are better behaved. They go for lunch in Indian file, the youngest leading the way. As for the avian wonders, meal-time is any time. They catch shrimp and fly off to their nests and young ones, whom they feed lavishly. Not to be outdone, the crows, kites and other scavengers get a mouthful too, as do the sparrows and doves drawn to the place. During the year 2005-2006, the zoo recorded some 3.35 lakh visitors. "Due to incessant rain last year, people preferred to stay indoor. But this year, the climate looks clear and pleasant," says zoo curator Vijaykumar.

Going by the huge response now, the authorities are expecting a quantum jump in revenue this season. "We are expecting more than 3.6 lakh visitors this time," he adds.
Watch on cleanliness : On an average, some 1,000 people visit the zoo every day. The figure swells to 3,000 during the Karteekamasam. "And on Sunday alone, we receive 10,000 visitors during this period," reveals Mr. Vijaykumar. To keep the surroundings clean and to meet the heavy rush of visitors during the season, the zoo authorities have taken up a series of measures.

Polythene bags have been banned within the zoo premises and paper bags are being distributed free of cost to the visitors.

Babji

November 16th, 2006, 01:57 AM

ATC to come up in city
Wednesday November 15 2006 09:47 IST Newindpress.com
VISAKHAPATNAM: City-based Air Travellers’ Association of India (ATAI) will soon set up Aeronautical Training Centres (ATCs) in Visakhapatnam and Chennai in collaboration with Falcon Group of UK and Satyabhama Deemed University, Chennai.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Tuesday, ATAI president D Varada Reddy said the proposals were awaiting clearance from the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The ATCs will provide training in aircraft maintenance and ground operations, besides training the cabin crew, pursers and baggage handling staff. The diploma and certificate courses to be offered by the ATCs will be designed under the aegis of DGCA. The ATCs will benefit the youths of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu.

ATAI member RV Rama Rao was also present.

Babji

November 16th, 2006, 02:07 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/16/stories/2006111616760100.htm
All trains to touch city again
VISAKHAPATNAM: Through trains will again enter Visakhapatnam railway station from Friday with the completion of works relating to modern route relay interlocking (RRI) taken up by the Waltair division of the East Coast Railway (EcoR).

The work, which began on November 3, was completed one day ahead of schedule, claimed Divisional Railway Manager Indra Ghosh.

Talking to newsmen on Wednesday, he said all through trains that would touch Duvvada after 10 a.m. on November 17 would enter the Visakhapatnam station. Similar would be the case of trains coming from the Vizianagaram side. Trials would be held on Thursday. While RRI work was taken up at a cost of Rs. 7.6 crores, the "increase in traffic facilities and yard remodelling" work, including laying of additional platform (6) and extension of platforms 2, 3, 4 and 5 to receive trains with 24 coaches, was taken up at a cost of Rs. 16.6 crores. Asked how far the train delay would be reduced, Mr. Ghosh said if two trains approach Vizag at the same time, preference would be given to the more important train. Hence, if at all there was to be any delay it would only be for five or seven minutes.

Salient features : Explaining the salient features of RRI works, deputy chief engineer G.H. Victor Joseph said the push-button operation would automatically set routes within 10 seconds, and henceforth there would be least delay to trains. On frequent breakdown of computer link in the passenger reservation system (PRS) in the city, Mr. Ghosh said the Railway Board had sanctioned a higher capacity networking system with alternate routing. This would be in operation by next year. To help people avoid standing in long queues, token system would be introduced in the Vizag station in the next three days.

"There is a plan to construct a separate building for PRS with separate parking area and other facilities in the station," he said.
A wonderful job by IR. This looked almost impossible, only a few months ago.
YSR and his team did it again with a vigorous pursuance.
and Lalu kept his promise to the people of Vizag!

kvijayasundaram

November 16th, 2006, 04:24 AM

link to news...... (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/16/stories/2006111603560400.htm)

Promantra Synergy Solutions, a US-based business process outsourcing company focusing on healthcare services, has announced plans to expand operations, which would include the addition of a new centre in Visakhapatnam.

The Vizag centre would go on stream in first quarter of 2007 with about 200 people. The Chief Executive Officer of Promantra, Dr Praveen Vadlamudi, told Business Line that the company plans to recruit both at Hyderabad and for the new facility at Visakhapatnam and together they expect to ramp up headcount from 325 to about 1,200 people by December 2007.

grimmm

November 17th, 2006, 06:07 AM

Source: Economic times

• RIL And Aditya Birla Group Are Mulling Plants

THE 9,200-acre SEZ project in Visakhapatnam is attracting major industry players including Reliance Industries and Aditya Birla Group.
It is learnt that RIL is planning to set up a chemical fertiliser plant while the Aditya Birla Group is zeroing in on the site for a rayon manufacturing unit. Besides, Ludhianabased Ralson Tyres is also planning to acquire 100 acres for a setting up a facility. “We are in talks with RIL and Aditya Birla Group for land allotment in the SEZ. RIL is looking at acquiring 1,500 acre while Aditya Birla Group wants 250 acres,” said a senior government official.
RIL’s plan is to set up a gas-based fertiliser unit in the proposed site. When contacted, an RIL spokesperson said the company would finalise its business plans only after studying the chemical composition and availability of the gas. “It is a proposal from the state government and we have not taken any decision on setting up a plant,” he said. An Aditya Birla Group spokesperson said that the company would not like to comment on projects which are in the initial stages of negotiations.
The Vizag SEZ developer, the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), has already allocated land to Sri Lankabased Brandix, Babha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), HPCL and Chennai-based WS Industries. “WS Industries has acquired 50 acres for setting up a Rs 100-crore insulator manufacturing facility. It is expected to be ready in a year,” said the government official.
Brandix has acquired 1,000 acres and has lined up investment to the tune of Rs 600 crore. BARC will pump in Rs 1,000 crore for setting up its R&D centre spread over 2,800 acre while HPCL, which has received 1,500 acres, would invest Rs 3,000 crore for a petrochemical complex, it is learnt.

pding

November 17th, 2006, 11:03 PM

lot of hype but lot of inconsistencies in these proposed plans. so, i'll take them for granted only when they actually start building something brick and mortar.

Babji

November 18th, 2006, 03:34 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/18/stories/2006111817250300.htm
Big relief for commuters as all trains chug in again

VISAKHAPATNAM: After a gap of 14 days, through trains started touching Visakhapatnam railway station from Friday, thanks to completion of the route relay interlocking (RRI) and other civil works relating to station expansion carried out by the Waltair division of the East Coast Railway (EcoR).

The reopening of the lines for those trains running via Visakhapatnam has come as a big relief to passengers as they, particularly women and children, found it difficult to go to Duvvada, about 40 km from the city, to board the trains. Similar was the case of those coming to Visakhapatnam after getting down at Duvvada from en route trains.

First entrant : The first train to enter Visakhapatnam was 8004 Yeswantpur-Howrah Express. The train entered the station at 10.30 a.m. Divisional Railway Manager Indra Ghosh told The Hindu that all the through trains had started entering the city railway station as announced earlier and the operation was normal in both Vijayawada and Bhubaneswar directions.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager K.C. Pradhan, expressing satisfaction on the first day operation of trains in the new RRI system, said it would take some more time for the staff to get accustomed to the new system.

Safety certificate : Deputy Chief Engineer G.H. Victor Joseph, the man behind the RRI and civil works, formally sent a safety certificate, jointly signed by him and the chief signal and telecom engineer Rajesh Rattan, to the Commissioner of Railway Safety mentioning that the new system had become operational since Thursday after trial runs.

Mr. Joseph said that the ongoing civil works on the extended platforms (2, 3, 4, 5 and the new platform 6) would be completed by Pongal. As this was the first time the signalling staff work with the actual movement of trains in the RRI system (they had undergone only simulator training earlier), it would take another 10 to 15 days to know how far the running time of the trains had reduced.

It is to be mentioned that previously trains entering Visakhapatnam used to get delayed between 30 minutes and 45 minutes as the 38-year-old signalling system was operated from mechanical lever frame with rod-operated points.

Moreover, only platform no.1 of the five platforms had the length to accommodate trains with 24 coaches. So, trains like Godavari Express had to wait indefinitely for the to clear. With the new RRI system and extended platforms, there could be a sea change in train operations in Visakhapatnam.

Babji

November 18th, 2006, 05:09 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/18/stories/2006111819350100.htm
Plan to end airport flooding on the anvil

VISAKHAPATNAM: Measures to prevent flooding of the Visakhapatnam airport are expected to take shape soon. An exercise to chalk out an action plan had begun after the airport and its terminal building were flooded in October 2005 hitting the image of the city as an investment destination. Flights remained cancelled for nearly two weeks. The flooding occurred during this August too.

Final recommendations : After a meeting by the Chief Minister to tackle the issue, Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) had been appointed as consultants to suggest measures by the Engineer-in-Chief, Irrigation in December last. After a series of studies, technical surveys and meetings with user agencies, officials concerned and the airport authorities, WAPCOS gave final recommendations, it is learnt. Rates for work also have been decided upon and tenders are likely to be finalised by December-end, say sources.

The plan envisages systematic channelising of the surplus course of the Meghadrigedda reservoir and also Kondagedda, both of which flooded the airport. The two channels are designed to carry more than 70,000 cusecs.The one carrying surplus water from the Meghadrigedda reservoir to the tidal area up to the Parallel Bridge is designed to carry a flow of about 62,000 cusecs. The design keeps in view the full capacity of 55,000 cusecs of the Meghadrigedda reservoir. Besides, a link canal will be created to Meghadrigedda surplus channel diverting about 7,000 cusecs from Kondagedda. With a width of 140 metres, the surplus channel will run 6.8 km. The maximum discharge from Kondagedda is estimated at 17,000 cusecs and the new channel from it to the tidal area will carry the remaining flow. With a width of 30 metres, it will be 6.8 km long. The link between the two canals will be of a length of 750 m. The channels will also act as inlets to the other minor streams in the vicinity. The Meghadrigedda surplus course and Kondagedda have natural courses but encroachments and structures of user groups that have come up and haphazard urban growth led to flooding. The new scheme aims at aligning and channelising the flow by removing encroachments. The initial cost of the scheme is estimated at Rs. 75 crores. The cost will be borne equally by GVMC and VUDA.
Work schedule: Sources said the schedule for completion will be 18 months. Initial work will be devoted to clearing the course and taking up earthwork and completing it by July next so as to pre-empt the possibility of flooding. If the schedule is strictly followed by 2008 inundation of the airport will be a thing of the past.
little confusing.
(1) one carrying surplus water from the Meghadrigedda reservoir to the tidal area up to the Parallel Bridge
(2) a link canal to Meghadrigedda surplus channel... from Kondagedda.
I thought these reservoir areas (Meghadrigedda and Kondagedda) were below sea level.
would these new canals be able to discharge water under high tide conditions?
lets hope the experts have taken that into consideration!

cbeboy

November 19th, 2006, 10:02 PM

Self edited...Double Post

Babji

November 20th, 2006, 12:52 AM

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

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

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

The Gopalpur Ports Limited (GPL), being developed with an investment of nearly Rs.2,000 crores to handle 11 million tonnes by 2009 by a consortium comprising Orissa Stevedores Limited (OSL), Noble Group and Sara International, has exuded confidence that new ports will prevent investment on cargo handling facilities at Vizag by the industries coming up in Orissa. For instance, the coal being taken from Talcher by Tamil Nadu could be handled at Paradip or Gopalpur or Dhamra port coming up in Balasore of North Orissa to cut expenditure on freight charges.

Obvious choice : GPL Director Mahima Mishra said the projected cargo of Paradip and Visakhapatnam is expected to go to 125 million tonnes in 2010 from the present 85 million tonnes. "For this spill over cargo, neither Paradip nor Vizag has the capacity and therefore, Gopalpur Port will be an obvious choice." According to Mr. Mishra, who owns OSL, a stevedoring firm which handles over nine million tonnes annually from Vizag, Kolkata, Haldia, Paradip, Kakinada and Chennai ports, the Gopalpur Port will also handle LNG.

Tata's SEZ : Tata's Special Economic Zone is proposed adjacent to Gopalpur Port and is expected to produce steel products and value-added minerals for exports. The rice of Orissa, which does not have export exposure, will be brought in at the SEZ for processing, packaging and then exporting from Gopalpur Port. The promoters of GPL also anticipate that they will get two million tonnes of fertilizer import for the eastern sector.

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

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

Babji

November 20th, 2006, 01:00 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/20/stories/2006112017680100.htm

Confusion continues as trains get delayed

VISAKHAPATNAM: Though through trains are touching Visakhapatnam railway station now after the completion of route relay interlocking (RRI) and civil works, passengers and those waiting to receive them are undergoing difficulties due to late arrival and departure of trains.

But the railways say this delay is bound to occur as the operation, communication and signalling staff are yet to fully familiarise themselves with the new computer-operated system...

A senior official said the number of signals under the RRI system had increased from 31 to 67. The number of shunting necks had also gone up. All stop signals are provided with safe operation in case of track-circuit failure. "So passengers have to bear with us for some more time as the staff are operating electronic gadgets instead of mechanical ones," he said.

pding

November 20th, 2006, 01:40 AM

i don't think VPT's reputation will suffer. the naval base is shifting and i am sure some of that land will be taken over by VPT for expansion and modernisation. also, Gangavaram port will be a supplement for VPT. if Orissa is developing a port, then that is not really a cause for concern. there are many companies like L&T, HPCL, etc doing projects in this area. so they will invest and cooperate.

Babji

November 21st, 2006, 02:55 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/21/stories/2006112116160300.htm
Terminal delay to continue for a while

VISAKHAPATNAM: How long will it take for an express train to reach Visakhapatnam from Anakapalle?
Four hours, if not more. This is the average time being taken by many express trains during the past few days to cover the 45 km. distance.

Undue delays are likely to continue for a few more weeks till the synchronisation of the non-interlocking works taken up between Duvvada and Visakhapatnam Railway Stations.

Many passengers would prefer to alight at Anakapalle or Duvvada and take a bus or taxi to reach the city in less than an hour instead of waiting listlessly in the train hoping to reach their destination.

Sources told The Hindu on Monday that the Railway authorities were once again planning to divert trains at Duvvada. When contacted Divisional Railway Manager Indra Ghosh maintained that there would be no diversion of Express trains.

However, he admitted that there would be `short-termination' of passenger trains at Duvvada. The passengers of these trains would be allowed to board `express trains' from Duvvada on the same ticket.
The short termination would be there for about 10 to 15 days, he added.

Babji

November 23rd, 2006, 09:14 PM

RINL charts out Rs 250 bn expansion plan
Source: IRIS NEWS DIGEST (23 November 2006)

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam (RINL) has an expansion plan to raise its capacity from 3.6 million tonnes per annum to 16 million tonnes by 2018, along with setting up a special economic zone at an investment of over Rs 250 billion, reports Business Standard.

Steel Authority of India (SAIL) had announced similar plans, to expand the capacity to 40 million tonnes by 2020 from 13.5 million tonnes presently. hese projects would raise the combined steelmaking capacity of state-run companies to 56 million tonnes in 14 years.

RINL, also known as Vizag Steel, is the country`s only plant that is located on the coastline in proximity to a port. The company is also keen to develop a special economic zone (SEZ) in the Vizag-Kakinada corridor, near the existing plant, that would help it access overseas markets.

The company had earlier made plans to expand to a capacity of 6.8 million tonnes before 2008. But its board approved the roadmap for the latest expansion plan, given the rapid growth in the demand for steel in both the domestic and international markets.

The investment of Rs 250 billion would be funded by a combination of internal accruals and debt. RINL manufactures long products used in construction and infrastructure activities, but will also make a foray into flat products.

The proposed SEZ would be available to downstream manufacturers - mainly auto ancillary units - who could purchase finished steel from Vizag Steel and convert this to auto components and forgings. On completion, the plant would manufacture 8.5 million tonnes of long products and 7.5 million tonnes of flat products.

Suncity

November 23rd, 2006, 09:52 PM

some photos

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=10597372&postcount=173

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=10335304&postcount=165

Babji

November 23rd, 2006, 11:22 PM

some photos

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=10597372&postcount=173

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=10335304&postcount=165

Great new arials of Vizag - Thanks Sun!

cbeboy

November 25th, 2006, 04:13 AM

IT majors eyeing Vizag: CII (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/25/stories/2006112501582100.htm)

IT majors and IT-enabled services units are eyeing Visakhapatnam and many IT units are likely to come up in the near future, according to Mr Shakti Sagar, the convener (IT and communications panel) of the AP region of the Confederation of Indian Industry. He was addressing a conference on "bridging the digital divide" here on Friday, organised by the Vizag zone of the CII. He said Vizag had the potential to become a major IT centre, with a vast talent pool and congenial atmosphere. The infrastructure would have to be built up. Mr D. Ramakrishna, MD of Efftronics Systems Pvt Ltd, emphasised the need for improving human resources. Mr G. Vivekananda, the Chairman of the CII (Andhra Pradesh), and Dr Varma Vegesna, the Vizag zone vice-chairman, also spoke.

cbeboy

November 25th, 2006, 04:15 AM

Jewellery mall in Vizag (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/25/stories/2006112501512100.htm)

Sanghvi jewellery mall, the first one here to be certified by the International Gemological Institute, will be opened here on Sunday......

Babji

November 26th, 2006, 02:05 AM

City transport to take A leaf out of metro
SHANTANU NANDAN SHARMA TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2006 02:00:37 AM]

The amount, which will be earmarked from Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), will not, however, include the rolling stock which would be arranged in public private partnership.

As many as 18 cities including Vizag, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai etc. have expressed their willingness to go for bus-based solution to urban transport by introducing high-capacity system of 16,000 to 18,000 persons per hour. According to the sources, the proposal for Vizag may get a green signal soon.
Already, Delhi government has been working on a bus rapid transport system, the pilot project of which connecting Delhi Gate to Ambedkar Nagar is expected to be completed by August 2007. Also, Jaipur’s bus-based solution has received in-principle nod from the urban development ministry.

A senior official from the ministry told SundayET that the bus-based solution will be projected as a viable alternative to the metro rail in many small cities. “Our concept is — think metro, implement bus. That means bus passengers will be given almost the same amenities which a metro train passenger enjoys. As roads will be re-engineered under the scheme, there will be segregation between buses and other slow moving vehicles. Hence, the average speed will increase substantially”, he said.

In fact, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), had earlier rejected the viability of a metro rail system in Jaipur on the ground of low population. However, an urban rail system is on the pipeline in many cities like Kochin, Ahmedabad, Chennai. “We recommend Delhi-type metro system only if the city has a population of 3 million and above. For cities between a population of one to three million, light rail is recommended.

In fact, the urban development ministry is working on a model which will ensure that all new initiatives are compliant with the national urban transport policy. “We are encouraging several modes of transport in a city. Let some cities have both urban rail and bus system. But we are ensuring that all these initiatives are well within the framework of the national urban transport policy,” the urban development ministry official said.

Babji

November 28th, 2006, 02:16 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/28/stories/2006112814420300.htm

NJR seeks better facilities for city rail users
Introduction of a daily Express between Vizag and Mumbai sought
Developing Duvvada as a `satellite station' among priorities

VISAKHAPATNAM : N. Janardhana Reddy, MP, met Railway Minister Lalu Prasad in New Delhi on Monday and submitted memoranda seeking improvement of rail facilities in Visakhapatnam.

While expressing happiness at the assurance given by the Railway Minister during his visit to the city last month, Mr. Reddy said the city has now emerged as `Greater Visakhapatnam' and the four coastal districts were poised for a major growth with projected investments of Rs.81,000 crores in 40 sectors.

The region could be developed further if proper rail facilities were improved in Visakhapatnam. He sought, among other things, introduction of a daily Express between Visakhapatnam and Mumbai via Secunderabad, making the Bhubaneswar - Chennai Super fast Weekly Express into a daily train, introduction of a new Super fast Express from Visakhapatnam to Shirdi via Secunderabad and developing Duvvada as a `satellite station' by providing all `A' class station facilities since Duvvada falls under the jurisdiction of GVMC. .
here is one MP, trying relentlesly to improve the lives of his constituents.
hope, the other leaders also will wake up and do their bit.

Babji

November 28th, 2006, 03:21 AM

Jurong India, KSR group plan Rs 800 cr township
Monday, 27 November , 2006, 08:09 Sify Business
Visakhapatnam: Jurong India, a subsidiary of Jurong International of Singapore, and KSR group are planning a mega Rs 800-crore township on 80 acres at Madhurawada in Visakhapatnam, according to Rao Munukutla, CEO of Jurong India.

He was addressing a press meet here on the occasion of the inauguration of a club in the Sunny Isles project of the group at Rushikonda on the Vizag-Bheemunipatnam road by Tang Tat Kwong, President and CEO of Jurong International Group.

He said the proposed township would have an IT park, a Vizag mall, five-star hotel and a golf course, "all measuring up to international standards." Jurong India and KSR group would be equity partners in the venture and several US companies would also participate in the equity, he explained.

Plush Villas : The project - christened Global Entropolis - would be completed in 39 months from now. The Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) would allot the required land. The Sunny Isles project at Rushikonda, taken up at a cost of Rs 45 crore by the KSR Group and Jurong India, comprises 54 plush villas facing the Bay of Bengal and the club would have all facilities. "It is a repeat of the premium villa township in Bangalore," he said.

Tourist Destination : Besides the above two projects, Jurong was also undertaking another major housing project at Mahurawada near here on its own and a star hotel - Tranquil Inn - here in association with the KSR group.

"These projects would really give a shot in the arm to tourism and IT sectors and contribute to the overall growth of the city," he said. B.G Reddy, Director of KSR group, said the membership fee for the club in Sunny Isles would be Rs 50,000 and 1,000-1,500 members would be taken.

cbeboy

December 3rd, 2006, 09:18 AM

Video cameras to be installed (http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/03/stories/2006120317670300.htm)

Police Commissioner V.S.K. Kaumudi has taken a decision to install video cameras at tourist spots, important junctions and shopping areas in the city to prevent rowdy elements from indulging in eve teasing.

The decision was taken in view of the usual influx of tourists during the winter holidays. Those misbehaving or picking quarrels with tourists and strangers would be caught by the video cameras and they would be produced as evidence in court to punish the guilty.

Babji

December 6th, 2006, 02:10 AM

Public to pay for flyover travel

Visakhapatnam, Dec. 5: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is gearing up to set up a tollgate for collecting road tax on the newly constructed 4.87 km flyover near Convent Junction that connects Industrial Area, Naval and Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) establishments and Sheelanagar. This would be the first time that toll tax would be collected in the city limits.

All the vehicles, including cars and RTC buses, passing through the flyover have to pay toll tax. However, autorickshaws and two-wheelers are exempted. It is learnt that the NHAI is contemplating to collect Rs 15 for one side and Rs 25 for to and fro travel as toll tax. Vehicles carrying industrial workers also have to shell out toll tax.
It is expected that RTC alone would have to pay around Rs 60 lakhs per annum as more number of buses ply on this flyover to industries, Naval and VPT establishments and also Gajuwaka.

The NHAI constructed this ‘Y’ shaped flyover at a cost of Rs 114 crores keeping in view of the needs of the industries, VPT and Naval establishments as the old flyover was totally damaged.The works on the longest flyover in the city commenced in 2002 and were completed recently.

When contacted, NHAI projects director K. Srinivasulu said that they have not yet finalised the toll charges and would soon announce them. The NHAI proposed to implement the new proposal on December 1 itself but it was deferred due to the model code of conduct that came into force in the district due to the bypoll for Bobbili Lok Sabha constituency.
http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.asp

harsh1802

December 7th, 2006, 02:43 AM

3-month deadline for Vizag airport

Source: deccan.com (http://deccan.com/City/Citynews.asp#3-month%20deadline%20for%20Vizag%20airport)
Hyderabad, Dec. 6: The State government and Airport Authority of India have decided to get the technical feasibility report for the proposed international airport near Visakhapatnam in the next three months. A decision in this regard was taken by top officials of the two agencies after they visited three proposed locations around the Steel City. It is mandatory for the State government to propose three sites out of which one would be selected based on the technical feasibility report.

Official sources told this correspondent that the feasibility report would include study of weather conditions, wind directions, rain fall and the time taken for the rain water to drain out and climactic changes. The study will be conducted based on the data of last 35 years. “One of the empanelled consultants of the AAI will take up the report and we wanted to complete it as quickly as possible for narrowing down on the site,” a senior official said.

The three proposed locations are situated at S. Rayavaram, Achyutapuram and Sabbavaram, which are in the radius of about 50-75 kilometres to Visakhapatnam. “The general practice in our country is that the run way is built in East-West direction keeping in view the Indian weather conditions. Another feature that plays vital role in selecting the site is the time taken for draining out of rain water,” the official pointed out.

Babji

December 8th, 2006, 03:04 AM

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/08/stories/2006120815520300.htm
Duvvada on fast-track route

VISAKHAPATNAM: Passengers going to the Duvvada railway station will soon have direct access to the station from the Visakhapatnam Special Economic Zone (VSEZ) flyover. The partly done work on the ramp from the flyover to the station, which is pending for more than a year, is expected to be completed in a couple of months.

East Coast Railway (ECoR) authorities have plans to develop Duvvada into a satellite station. Already, some important trains have been given a halt at the station for the convenience of employees and their families of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

It's nearer : The station is 15-minute drive from colonies like Kurmannapalem, Aganampudi, Lankelapalem, Gajuwaka and the industrial belt. People of these areas have to travel more than 20 km to reach Visakhapatnam station otherwise. Passengers coming to Duvvada station from Kurmannapalem side have to take the road from under the flyover to reach the main entrance. However, just outside the station building there are two tracks of NTPC Simhadri, which are for the exclusive use of transporting coal rakes to the power plant. The NTPC management constructed walls to prevent passengers from crossing over the tracks to reach the station building.

It, however, constructed a foot overbridge, connecting platform no. 1, close to the main entrance, from the parking lot outside, to enable passengers to reach the station. Those who wish to reach platforms 2 or 3 have to take another foot overbridge from platform no. 1.

Though a provision was made to provide a ramp from the VSEZ flyover to enable passengers to directly reach the other side of the railway station, the contractor stopped the work halfway. "Work on the ramp will be completed by March 31. The height of the island platform (nos. 2 and 3) will also be raised to enable passengers to board trains easily," Divisional Railway Manager Indra Ghosh said. "Work on construction of the ramp started sometime in March 2005. The contractor who was supposed to have completed the work by October has sought extension of time up to December. If he fails to do the work as promised, the contract would be terminated and a new contractor be appointed and the work completed in a couple of months," says Deputy Chief Engineer (Survey and Construction) Victor Joseph.

Babji

December 8th, 2006, 03:25 AM

3-month deadline for Vizag airport
Source: deccan.com (http://deccan.com/City/Citynews.asp#3-month%20deadline%20for%20Vizag%20airport)The three proposed locations are situated at S. Rayavaram, Achyutapuram and Sabbavaram, which are in the radius of about 50-75 kilometres to Visakhapatnam.

Wonderful. This is a great news for Vizag.

Sabbavaram is close to Vizag and Vizag is already congested.
Achyutapuram (about 45 KM SouthWest of Vizag?) is already earmarked for Garments and other SEZs.
S. Rayavaram (about 65 KM SouthWest of Vizag?) seems to be a better choice.
S. Rayavaram would be closer to Kakinada also. (relatively speaking!).

http://www.mapsofindia.org/andhra-pradesh/vishakapatnam.html

Babji

December 8th, 2006, 04:46 AM

Vizag District - Mandal Names
http://i14.tinypic.com/2nut3tf.jpg
Mandal Code Name ---------- Mandal Code Name ----- Mandal Code Name
1 Munchingiputtu ------------16 Nathavaram --------- 31 Pedagantyada
2 Pedabayalu ----------------17 Narsipatnam ---------32 Paravada
3 Hukumpetau ---------------18 Rolugunta ------------33 Anakapalli
4 Dumbriguda ----------------19 Ravikamatham -------34 Munagapaka
5 Arakuvalley ----------------20 Butchayyapeta ------35 Kasimkota
6 Ananthagiri ----------------21 Chodavaram ---------36 Makavarapalem
7 Devarapalle ----------------22 K Kotapadu ----------37 Kotauratla
8 Cheedikada ----------------23 Sabbavaram -------38 Payakaraopeta
9 Madugula ------------------24 Pendurthi ------------39 Nakkapalli
10 Paderu -------------------25 Anandapuram --------40 S. Rayavaram
11 Gangaraju Madugula ------26 Padmanabham -------41 Yelamanchili
12 Chintapalle ---------------27 Bheemunipatnam -----42 Rambilli
13 Gudemkothaveedhi -------28 Visakhapatnam -----43 Atchutapuram
14 Koyyuru -----------------29 Visakhapatnam (U)
15 Golugonda ---------------30 Gajuwaka

WillyWick

December 8th, 2006, 06:55 PM

WS Industries achieves financial closure for its new plant

The greenfield project is warranted as WS Industries recently signed a technical and marketing agreement with the US-based PPC Insulators whereby the American company would source substation insulators up to 171 kV for overseas markets. WS Industries Chennai facility caters mainly to the domestic market with some capacity used for exports.

Nearly 90 per cent of the new plant's production will be exported. As such the plant would mostly come up in Vishakapatanam in Andhra Pradesh where a special economic zone is being set up. The other advantage of Vishakapatanam is the availability of gas to fuel the plant. It should be noted that the fuel cost accounts for 18 per cent of the insulator's cost. And if the furnace is fired using gas then the fuel cost comes down by nearly 8 per cent. Further exports will be much easier if the new plant comes up in a port city

http://www.domain-b.com/industry/power/20061208_achieves.html

Babji

December 10th, 2006, 12:58 AM

Bids invited for JVs on 35 non-metro airport projects
Press Trust Of India / New Delhi December 08, 2006
Bids are being invited from five shortlisted consultants for the selection of joint venture partners for city-side development of 35 non-metro airports, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told the Lok Sabha today.

“11 consultants had expressed their interest out of whom five were shortlisted,” he said during the Question Hour. The decision was based on the techno-economic feasibility reports of foreign and Indian consultants on the preparation of master plans, identification of development works concerning terminal buildings and air side, land use plan and commercial development for enhancement of non-aeronautical revenue for these airports, he said.

The airports listed for modernisation were Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Guwahati, Jaipur, Udaipur, Trivandrum, Lucknow, Goa, Madurai, Mangalore, Agatti, Aurangabad, Khajuraho, Rajkot, Vadodara, Bhopal, Indore, Nagpur, Vishakapatnam, Trichy, Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore, Patna, Port Blair, Varanasi, Agartala, Dehradun, Imphal, Ranchi, Raipur, Agra, Chandigarh, Dimapur, Jammu and Pune, the union minister informed the Lok Sabha.

For the remaining 10 non-metro airports, the techno-economic feasibility study was being done by the Airports Authority of India, Praful Patel said, adding that the central government proposed to complete modernisation and expansion of these airports by 2010-2011.