Kolkata Project Update II - project news from Kolkata [Archive] - Page 9

HopePersists

March 15th, 2009, 05:40 AM

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Services/Kolkatas-property-turf-recovering-slowly/articleshow/4259844.cms

KOLKATA: It’s still early days, but Kolkata’s property turf appears to be recovering slowly if responses at the city at the recently concluded
property fair, Realty Expo 2009, is any indication. The city's annual property exhibition witnessed record footfalls, enquiries and residential spot bookings.

The state chapter of Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (Credai-Bengal) — the apex industry body and organisers of the fair, claims the number of spot bookings nearly doubled this year compared to the 30-odd recorded in 2008. What’s more. The fair saw an unprecedented degree of footfalls with some 12,500 people visiting this year, a near 20% jump against the last edition.

"We did not anticipate such a turnout for the fair, especially since market sentiment has been negative in the past few months. It has come as a pleasant surprise, especially for the 60-odd realtors who participated in the property fair. Apart from spot business, developers are now confident of accomplishing significant incremental business in the coming weeks," feels Credai Bengal president Pradeep Sureka.

Rough industry estimates suggest that spot business during the fair could well exceed Rs 10-to-15 crore. Credai officials, however, claim it’s the ‘quantity’ that matters in this market rather than the value. Says leading realtor PS Group chairman & managing director Pradip Chopra, "There were many more serious buyers this time. Consumers have long been waiting in the wings for a good deal and the fair offered just that."

PS Group has been one of the most successful exhibitors in the fair. It sold some 20 flats of ‘Ixora’ coming up at Rajarhat on-the-spot and hopes to close deals for another 50 flats shortly. "We sold flats at Rs 1,699 per square feet (sq.ft.) — rates which are much lower compared to Rs 2,000 per sq.ft. which Rajarhat was commanding even an year back," Chopra adds.

Is it merely a price correction that has lured consumers back to the market or is it the recent spate of home loan rate cuts ? Most in the industry feel it is a combination of both factors which propelled end users to visit the fair on a daily basis. Property prices have shrunk by nearly 5-20% across the city. Even promotional schemes like the EMI waiver created excitement amongst prospective consumers.

"Builders have become much more flexible and consumer-centric. The focus of the fair was on affordable housing — which has been the flavour of season. We have also showcased some commercial projects for the first time. Even these properties received good response," says Sureka.

If the fair’s success is considered a yardstick, the city’s realty community feels the market is finally on a revival path. "Consumer sentiments are reviving bit-by-bit. People are probably realising that all those doomsday predictions are unlikely to impact India. Kolkata’s property turf has always been much more stable than other cities. Hence, it is reviving faster than other markets," avers Hiland Group managing director Sumit Dabriwala.

While demand for projects across all formats — be it residential apartments, row houses, villas, plotted land, premium lifestyle projects, malls, office buildings and even IT parks — is picking up, the craze is for affordable flats priced at sub-Rs 20 lakh. Little wonder, Credai Bengal kept ‘affordability becomes reality’ as the theme for its fair this year.

avishar

March 16th, 2009, 09:17 PM

Does anybody have information about the history behind the Tata centre and the Chatterjee international?.I find them to be unique to kolkata.

todscreen

March 17th, 2009, 12:23 PM

This is nearing completion, I believe. Does anyone have the stats on this? i saw pics before of buildings that looked fairly similar to this and it looked almost completed.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u284/dave302de/infospace_it_park_kolkata_rmjmlib29.jpg

ScarfaceSG

March 17th, 2009, 12:26 PM

todscreen

March 17th, 2009, 01:47 PM

Wish mamata was here
Dais crashes under heavy' star power
17 Mar 2009, 0327 hrs IST, TNN
Print Email Discuss Share Save Comment Text:
SURI: It creaked for a brief second before crashing from a height of two feet. A makeshift dais inside a second-floor room at Dubrajpur's Indira

Gandhi market couldn't bear the weight of nearly 50 Congress and Trinamool leaders jostling to be on the dais with Birbhum candidate, actress Satabdi Roy.

It was a grand photo-opportunity as Satabdi, Birbhum district Congress president Sushobhan Banerjee and Trinamool MLA Ashish Banerjee raised their hands in a show of unity. But the shouts of "Vande Mataram" got drowned in the cries that followed the collapse.

Satabdi was the quickest to get back on her feet, leaving the party leaders groaning and grimacing. The meet had to be called off. An unhurt but mildly rattled Satabdi left for a mazaar at Patharchapri, 50 km from Bolpur, seeking blessings for a safe campaign and then headed for Suri, where another meeting was scheduled.

For the last three days that Satabdi has been camping in the district, Congress and Trinamool workers don't seem to have seen enough of the star. Rural Bengal is not new to her, neither is public adulation. After all, she has been touring the districts performing in jatras. But the kind of flurry that she has set amongst Congress and Trinamool leaders trying to grab the nearest seat, signaling their friends to take snaps while they do some "serious talk" with the candidate hadn't been seen before in Birbhum.

At Rabindra Sadan in Suri, leaders again jostled with each other to be on the front row, so that the cameras don't miss them with Satabdi. The uneasiness was evident. For all these years, the actress was used to her audience at a distance. That invisible line has obviously been breached, and Satabdi is banking on her screen image to sail through.

"I have not come here for fame or money. You have given me enough of that. I want to work for the people. Tell them so. Your word will be my word. Ask people to give us just five years. For 32 years, they have seen one party. Ask them to give us an opportunity now," she told the audience.

Her message to both Congress and Trinamool workers was to rise above petty squabbling and work to win the seat. "Congress and Trinamool have become one big family now. In every family, minor issues might crop up. But remember that this is an election. If we cling to our egos and let go of this opportunity, people will not forgive us," she said.

With her initiation into the electoral churning process over, Satabdi has gone back to Kolkata. She will return on Saturday. Since her arrival, Satabdi has met workers in the seven Assembly segments of the Birbhum Lok Sabha seat Rampurhat, Nalhati, Muraroi, Hasan, Sainthia (a new Assembly seat following delimitation), Dubrajpur and Suri.

dumb &*^&%

arijeetb

March 17th, 2009, 04:04 PM

It resembles with the Unitech Infospace IT park in New Town

^^It is infospace. About 1500 work out of the completed blocks/towers.

HopePersists

March 18th, 2009, 05:08 AM

some whispers going on(must be due to the coming elections).

After a failed attempt in the late 1990s, Calcutta Tramways Co is once again trying to get trolleybuses in the city

Click here (http://www.livemint.com/2009/03/03234828/Trolleybuses-may-soon-run-on-K.html)

arijeetb

March 18th, 2009, 10:43 PM

Idea, Shyam Sistema acquire prime space at Kolkata tech park (Idea, Shyam Sistema acquire prime space at Kolkata tech park)

KOLKATA: Two of the country’s biggest telecom players - Idea Cellular and Shyam-Sistema - have just acquired prime space at PS-Srijan Tech Park,
which is being billed as Kolkata’s first true blue telecom complex. While Idea Cellular has mopped up 50,000 square feet (sq.ft.) of prime floor space for its fledgling eastern hub, Shyam-Sistema - a JV between Russia’s Sistema and Shyam Telelink - is learnt to have taken 30,000 sq.ft. on long-term lease. And the buzz doing the rounds is that CDMA biggie Tata Teleservices is also poised to lap up a cool 1 lakh sq ft at the 15-storied PS-Srijan tower.

Minutes away from Wipro’s sprawling IT SEZ in the city’s Salt Lake Electronics Complex, the PS-Srijan Tech Park is an upmarket green building that will offer a total 5 lakh sq.ft. of office space to some of the biggest names in the telecom scene.

Commercials of the twin property deals are in a haze. But if the property and telecom grapevine are to be believed, then Idea seemingly bought space at roughly Rs 4000-to-5000 per sq.ft., while in the case of Shyam-Sistema, the lease charges were Rs 50 per sq.ft.

When contacted, Srijan Group director Shyam Agarwal told ET: "We have offered space to Idea Cellular and Shyam-Sistema at PS-Srijan Tech Park. While Idea has gone for an outright purchase, Shyam-Sistema has taken space on a 21-year lease. We are also in advanced talks with three leading telecom firms, including Tata Teleservices to offer space in our commercial complex. If the talks mature, each company may take up at least 1 lakh sq.ft. of office space."

When contacted, a senior Idea Cellular executive declined to share commercials but said: "It’s true we have acquired 50,000 sq.ft. of floor space at PS Srijan Tech Park. It will house Idea’s eastern headquarters. We are close to hiring 150-odd professionals who will be reporting to Mr Vijay Grover, our COO for the eastern markets. He will be responsible for Idea’s GSM rollouts in Kolkata, West Bengal, Assam, Northeast and Orissa circles."

While Shyam-Sistema couldn’t be reached for comments, officials at Tata Teleservices declined to confirm plans to acquire prime floor space at PS-Srijan Tech Park. Asked specifically on whether the company planned to acquire space at the PS Srijan Tech Park, Tata Teleservices’ regional head (East) Sanjiv Sinha told ET: "I am not in a position to comment as all property related matters are handled by our admin team."

Interestingly, PS Srijan Tech Park was originally conceived as an IT complex. It was recently re-modelled as a standalone telecom park in the eastern fringes of Kolkata. The Rs 100 crore project has been developed jointly by two city-based realtors - the PS Group and the Srijan Group.

^^Looks like THE HUB will end up being a telecom hub of the region.

HopePersists

March 22nd, 2009, 10:17 AM

Calcutta, March 21: Philip Yeo, the man who played a crucial role in turning Singapore into a global industrial hub, will land in Calcutta tomorrow to explore ties between Bengal and the city state.

Yeo, who from 1986 to 2001 was the chairman of the economic development board in Singapore, its apex business panel, will be accompanied by David Lim, the chairman of Jurong International that is preparing the master plan for the chemical hub in Nayachar.

Yeo will meet chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Monday. Although only Haldia and Nayachar may be on their list, in industry circles the visit is being seen as the first step for greater involvement of the Singapore government in the state.

Yeo’s visit comes at a time the state government has received the nod from the Centre for setting up chemical hubs in Nayachar and Haldia.

Prasoon Mukherjee, the chairman of New Kolkata International Development that is building infrastructure for the hubs, is behind organising the visit.

The state government is also sending a team to Tokyo and Seoul to win investment for Nayachar and Haldia.

The team will be part of a larger delegation of the Union ministry for chemicals and fertilizers.

The Singapore government’s involvement may boost the state’s pitch for investments abroad.

Yeo is now the chairman of Spring Singapore, a development agency that nurtures growing companies.

He is also a special adviser for economic development at the Prime Minister’s Office there.

The largest chemical and petrochemical complex in Asia is located in Singapore’s Jurong industrial estate that falls under the jurisdiction of JTC Corporation, a Singapore government agency.

Jurong International is the global arm of JTC Corporation.

Nayachar is one river island but the Jurong island in Singapore is built by joining seven islets.

Jurong International chairman Lim is also a director of Ascendas India Trust, a Singapore company that builds IT and business parks.

Ascendas had earlier shown interest in setting up an IT park in Rajarhat but the project fell through as the company could not get enough land.

Sources said Lim’s visit might open up the possibility of Ascendas coming back to the city.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090322/jsp/bengal/story_10706552.jsp

March 22nd, 2009, 03:53 PM

Hello everybody,

I came across this site recently and have just joined the community. There is a particular locality in Kolkata, I was hoping to get some information on.

This is M.G.Road, near Karunamoyee More in Tollygunge. I believe there is a big project called Diamond City South which is coming up. But beyond that, how is the locality shaping up? Any new projects around that area?

Thanks in advance.

arijeetb

March 24th, 2009, 01:05 AM

Source: Times EPaper

July 31 bus scrap deadline: Subhas

Kolkata: Commercial vehicles — buses, trucks and taxis — more than 15 years old will not be allowed on the streets of Kolkata after July 31, 2009, transport minister Subhas Chakraborty announced in the Assembly on Monday.
Since LNG and CNG were not available in Kolkata, there was no possibility of converting the engines of commercial vehicles registered before January 1, 1993, he said. Hence, in observance of the order of Calcutta High Court, there was no option but to scrap these vehicles.
The government had announced an incentive package for bus and taxi owners to purchase new vehicles in place of old ones, he said. For metered taxis, the government would give a grant of Rs 20,000 and pay Rs 45,000 in lieu of the old vehicles. For the balance of the cost of the vehicles, bank loans would be arranged in easy instalments. Besides, for the first year, tax and some other fees would be waived, the total value of which would be Rs 3,500.
Bus owners had been given an offer of procuring new buses in private-publicpartnership under the Centre’s Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission. In the first phase, 700 semi lowfloor buses would be offered to the bus owners.
Chakraborty said the government had received 19,500 applications from Kolkata, North 24-Parganas and South 24-Parganas for conversion of two-stroke autorickshaws into four-stroke LPG, and nearly 1,000 autos have already made the green switch. The government is giving a grant of Rs 10,000, besides some tax concessions for the auto conversion.
Public sector oil companies planned to set up 10 LPG pumps in Kolkata within March, 2009, in addition to 12 such pumps already in operation, Chakraborty said.

sidney_jec

March 24th, 2009, 01:12 PM

Seems the ugly lady has a sense of humour :D
Source: IBNLIVE.COM (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kolkata-will-be-london-in-trinamool-rule-mamata/88500-37.html)

Kolkata will be London in Trinamool rule: Mamata

MAMATA'S VISION: If Trinamool comes to power we'll show what is called development, says Mamata.

Kolkata: Although she was instrumental in pushing the Nano out of West Bengal through her sustained agitation, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee promises to turn the coastal tourist resort of Digha into Goa, northern Bengal into Asia's Switzerland and finally Kolkata into an international city like London.

"If Trinamool Congress comes to power, we'll show what is called development. Tell me why East Midnapore's vast coastline, Digha, cannot be turned into Goa? Or northern Bengal cannot be developed like Asia's Switzerland, when we've all resources available in these regions?" Mamata told a press conference in Kolkata.

"Kolkata is an international place and it will be transformed into London, if Trinamool Congress comes to power," added Mamata.

But how can the Trinamool think of coming to power in the state at this time when elections are being held for the Lok Sabha? :rofl:

"I know this is just a Lok Sabha election. But what I want to say is that in future, if Trinamool comes to power in the state we will give shape to this vision," said Trinamool chief.

"We've great talents (in the state) but the only thing missing here is clear political vision and mission in our ruling Left Front government," she added, while releasing the party's manifesto for the April-May Lok Sabha polls.

"The state has hilly regions, sea, rivers, forests and a vast Sundarbans estuarine belt. Can't the state government bring some economic change using these natural resources?" Mamata asked, adding, "We promise if we come to power, we'll make these happen in West Bengal itself.

The Trinamool manifesto said the party aims at forming a secular, progressive and stable government at the centre which will focus on economic reforms, industries, agricultural development and pro-people policies.

"We want a stable government and thus we are neither with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nor with the newly formed Third Front-led by the communists," Mamata told media persons.

"I appeal to all people of West Bengal to vote for the Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance as it is the only alternative in the state against the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Front government," she added.

HopePersists

March 24th, 2009, 02:17 PM

^^wish our dear Miss Kolkata had some sense of what she says and what she does. really joke of the day that she is thinking to come into power and later realises that :bash: it's the Lok sabha elections:lol:

arijeetb

March 25th, 2009, 01:50 AM

Infospace IT Park
Source: E-Architect Website (http://www.e-architect.co.uk/india/infospace_it_park_kolkata.htm)

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9523/infospaceitparkkolkatar.jpg

arijeetb

March 25th, 2009, 01:56 AM

Intl Convention Center, New Town
Source: E-Architect Website (http://www.e-architect.co.uk/india/kolkata_convention_centre.htm)

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/350/kolkataconventioncentre.jpg

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9130/kolkataconventioncentrep.jpg

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/350/kolkataconventioncentre.jpg

sidney_jec

March 25th, 2009, 07:56 AM

^^ is the project still on?

Civitas

March 25th, 2009, 08:55 AM

All work stopped for last many months. Unitech even moved out all the equipments. I heard they are planning to sell it out. So, even if government still wishes to continue with the project they have to find another builder and it will be massively delayed.

^^ is the project still on?

arijeetb

March 25th, 2009, 04:39 PM

arijeetb

April 1st, 2009, 12:05 AM

Source: Times EPaper

ITC charts own route on hotels

Kolkata: Impacted by economic slowdown, developers of hospitality projects along the Eastern Metropolitian Bypass have slammed on the brakes. Some have put projects in the back burner, others have slowed down work.
But hotel major ITC Welcomgroup, that has one of the largest luxury properties in the locality, is actually going ahead with an expansion plan that will increase its capacity by 200%.
Speaking to TOI, ITC Welcomgroup eastern region head and ITC Sonar Kolkata general manager Ranvir Bhandari said the hotel chain’s expansion plans in Kolkata and rest of the eastern region were on track. On the anvil is a new tower with 500 rooms at the ITC Sonar Kolkata grounds. At present, the 238-room ITC Sonar Kolkata comprises of two towers. There is abundant space in the 17 acre property for the addtional tower being planned.
“Kolkata is very proud of its people, its intellectual prowess and capability, and in the next five years, all this will lead to a spurt in foreign as well as domestic majors setting up their business here. I am bullish about Kolkata and all our expansion plans would be geared accordingly,” Bhandari said.
Though a time-frame for expanding the Luxury Collection hotel at Kolkata is yet to be finalized, architects are already on the job to design a 25-storey plus tower that is expected to cost in excess of Rs 1,000 crore. “It will house a super luxury hotel that will take hospitality to the next level in Kolkata,” he said.
Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo, a leading design consultant for the hospitality, leisure and entertainment, is the architect for the project.
Bhandari said Bhubaneshwar, Guwahati, Bhutan, Shillong and Gangtok were on the group’s radar. In Bhubaneswar, ITC is planning a 150-room five-star property on the 6.5 acre plot. The hotel chain is also looking at Thimpu and Paro in neighbouring Bhutan. The expansion will be across brands — Luxury Collection, Fortune and WelcomHeritage.

vivekkedia

April 2nd, 2009, 07:19 AM

http://www.nkrealtors.com/greenfield_status.html
This page has the latest (1st April 2009) picture of greenfield ambition, a residential project behind city centre 2 , new town.
the size of rooms in the brochure is much bigger than the sample flat, the 2 bathtubs in the brochure is also missing from the sample flat, which is again gross misselling from the green field housing development company, anyone else experienced this misselling?

regards,
vivek kedia
Visit Bhajans (http://www.allbhajans.com) for soulful devotional music

arijeetb

April 5th, 2009, 08:42 PM

Source: Pioneer Khaitan website (http://www.pioneerkhaitan.com)

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4811/raikvaembypass.jpg

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/8850/assystpark02.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/2838/videoconitpark.jpg

Suncity

April 6th, 2009, 05:00 AM

The Videocon towers look cool.

Suncity

April 7th, 2009, 03:40 AM

The Eastern High project seems to be going on at snails pace. It started long before the downturn. Must be because it is being developed by the West Bengal Housing Board on its own.

photo copyright Rita

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2231/easternhighkolkatarita.jpg (http://img26.imageshack.us/my.php?image=easternhighkolkatarita.jpg)

Suncity

April 7th, 2009, 05:43 AM

Diamond City West

photos copyright Sankarshan

1
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/9664/diamondcity2sankarshan.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/my.php?image=diamondcity2sankarshan.jpg)

2
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/2797/diamondcitysankarshan1.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/my.php?image=diamondcitysankarshan1.jpg)

avishar

April 7th, 2009, 02:32 PM

Suncity:sorry for my ignorance but what is the Eastern High project?

arijeetb

April 7th, 2009, 09:38 PM

arijeetb

April 7th, 2009, 10:20 PM

Cognizant to kick off operations in Kolkata before September (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infotech/Cognizant-to-kick-off-ops-in-Kolkata/articleshow/4371317.cms)

KOLKATA: IT biggie Cognizant will kick off operations at its second IT services unit in Kolkata before September. This was indicated by a senior
West Bengal IT department official on Tuesday.

He was speaking to ET shortly after Cognizant founder and vice chairman N. Lakshmi Narayanan met West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at Writers' Buildings on Tuesday to discuss the progress of the company’s second IT unit in the city.

Talking to newsmen after the meeting, the Cognizant VP said: "Work at the Bantala unit is progressing according to plan."

Cognizant is setting up its second IT and business process outsourcing (BPO) services unit in Kolkata with an investment of close to Rs 188 crore. This is expected to sharply raise Cognizant's footprint in Kolkata with the addition of over 5 lakh sq ft of office space that may accommodate nearly 4,000 new employees. The new fully-owned techno-complex will come up on 20 acres in the Bantala IT SEZ.

In this light, the state government official said: "Cognizant’s second unit will be operational before the Pujas. It will have a capacity to accomodate some 4,000-to-6,000 people. This will be enhanced to 16,000 subsequently."

At present, out of its 44,000 global workforce, around 33,000 are at the India development centres spread across eight cities, including Chennai and Bangalore. In addition to this facility, Cognizant will continue to lease additional facilities in Kolkata to meet its headcount growth requirements, according to a company press release.

Cognizant has around 4,000 professionals in Kolkata focussing on segments such as financial services, pharmaceuticals, retail, enterprise resource planning and customer relations.

^^There was news some time back of stench in the IT park coming out of the tanneries around. Wonder how the folks can work in this foul environment.

arijeetb

April 7th, 2009, 10:39 PM

Auto switch picks up steam (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Kolkata-/Auto-switch-picks-up-steam/articleshow/4363513.cms)

KOLKATA: Finally, some hope on the green front. Kolkata, environmental activists' favourite whipping post, has finally given them something to cheer
about. Replacement of smoke-belching autorickshaws with LPG ones has finally gathered steam, even without any sort of pressure from the government.

The figure is encouraging, to say the least. In March alone, nearly 1700 new green autos hit the roads in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA) alone. Magic? Not really. In fact, it's pure economics. First, there's subsidies from the government and the auto manufacturer. But what's most important is the fact that switching to LPG makes pure business sense.

LPG for autos sells at Rs 26.30 per litre, whereas the poison-belching kaata tel is Rs 30 per litre. Petrol, too, is far costlier, at Rs 44.30 per litre. Add to it the fact that LPG gives autos greater mileage, and it's easy to figure out why more auto owners are preferring to switch over. "Old petrol-run autos gives us a maximum mileage of 16-17 km per litre these days, whereas a new LPG auto gives me 26 km per litre," said Bikram Das, an auto operator on the Jadavpur-Golpark route.

"A large number of operators are not even waiting for government subsidy. Those who can afford it are replacing autos on their own. So, there are more and more green autos on every route," said Arun Sain, an auto operator in Behala. Sain derives immense satisfaction just by looking at his bright, shiny green auto. "If passengers feel comfortable riding it, I find driving it even more comfortable and satisfying," he said.

A senior transport department officer admitted that the drive had gained new impetus, with the idea doing the rounds that the government might withdraw the subsidy after the election. "The rate of replacement would have been much faster had the regional transport authorities (RTAs) and banks been more proactive. Auto operators get tired by visiting the RTAs, as files move slowly from one desk to another. The operators are interested in the shift, as they are finding their fellow LPG-run auto operators reaping profits," said city based auto-emission consultant, S M Ghosh.

^^Now that the conversion is picking up steam, hope this continues with the phaseout of buses and taxis.

Suncity

April 8th, 2009, 03:59 AM

Suncity:sorry for my ignorance but what is the Eastern High project?

It's in New Town

http://wikimapia.org/303721/Eastern-High

SarafIndian

April 13th, 2009, 07:38 PM

Hindustani

April 14th, 2009, 03:46 AM

saraf

^^ thanks. 4 cranes means atleast 4 u/c big towers we dont know of. Calcutta is getting lots of 32-35 fl towers. this could've been anounced at last min & got u/c immediately. :)

Suncity

April 14th, 2009, 04:01 AM

Photo cc SarafIndian

This is a project opposite to Metropolitan mall. We can see there are four big cranes. I guess they are constructing four/five big towers.
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00883.jpg

This is probably the Bengal Ambuja Upohar project

http://www.bengalambuja.com/projects/residency/upohar/index.asp

sidney_jec

April 16th, 2009, 06:56 AM

Source: TOI Epaper

Three green buildings to come up in city
Suman Chakraborti | TNN

Kolkata: Three commercial establishments in the city have expressed desire to build ‘green buildings’ and get green energy certification. This spells good news as a year after the green-rating system was launched in the city for evaluation of energy savings practices observed in commercial buildings, more and more private and government agencies are opting for green buildings.
Officials of the real estate group that would set up the international convention centre in New Town met West Bengal Green Energy Development Corp o r at i o n ( W B G E D C ) authorities on Tuesday to apply for green rating norms. “They want to set up their entire complex as a green building. We would help them to do so,” said WBGEDC managing director S P Gon Choudhuri.
The convention centre will also have a hotel that would follow green norms. “The hotel authorities would be able to generate energy from food waste. Besides, the building’s walls would be constructed using a method to keep the heat at bay and so the rooms will be much cooler ,” Gon Choudhuri said. Apart from this complex, the government’s science and technology department and a private company would construct their buildings in Salt Lake according to green energy norms. Eco-friendly materials and renewable energy sources will be used to minimise electric consumption and keep the interiors cooler than any normal building complex.
WBGEDC is urging the government to make green energy norms mandatory for all commercial and IT buildings. “With many commercial and IT buildings coming up at Rajarhat and Salt Lake, we want green rating to be made mandatory,” Gon Choudhuri said. The state government also wants all re s i d e n t i a l and commercial buildings to use solar energy. “It is encouraging that more and more real estate developers are showing interest in using green technologies,” Gon Choudhuri said.
On Tuesday, the CPM set an example by making all lights on the ground floor of its Alimuddin Street party headquarters solar-powered. Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had earlier said that he wanted government agencies like the environment department, disaster management authority and science and technology department to work together and formulate a strategy to combat global warming and climate change.
The state’s Expert Appraisal Committee has already made rainwater harvesting mandatory for all new multistoried real estate projects to prevent an imbalance in the ground water level.

avishar

April 16th, 2009, 04:04 PM

arijeetb

April 16th, 2009, 07:58 PM

It came in the papers today that DLF has given up SEZ status on a 10 acre plot in kolkata.
Also capital expenditure of infosys this year is going to be curtailed so most probably their plans of constructing a centre in kolkata is going to be cancelled.

Regarding Infy the chances are high but not sure about DLF. Their second project should be ready for occupation by the end of 2009 and that is on a 25 acre plot. I think the existing one is on a 10acre plot

Samrat

April 16th, 2009, 10:07 PM

Kolkata residential projects back in demand

Namrata Acharya / Kolkata
Business Standard 16.04.2009

The real estate sector is finally showing signs of revival, on the back of an increasing investment in the residential segment.

Property developers are of the view that there has been a significant improvement in demand in the last couple of months, and at lease one has increased prices in the last one month.

Pradeep Chopra of PS Group, said he had increased prices for one of its projects by Rs 200 per square feet to Rs 1,899 per square feet in the last one month.

Several real estate developers are also planning to launch new projects, which they have been holding for the last six months, which could be seen as a manifestation of demand revival.

"The demand for residential projects has started picking up, and the worst is probably over for the real estate sector. Property prices should look up in the coming months," said Chopra.

P S Group is planning to launch two new residential projects in Narendrapur and Rajarhat by May this year.

Harshvardhan Neotia, chairman, Ambuja Realty, also agreed that demand for housing projects had started picking up since last month.

Property prices in Kolkata and its fringes has seen a correction of almost 25 per cent in the last six months.

Santosh Rungta, president, Confederation Of Real Estate Developers Association Of India (Credai), said, "The real estate scenario is now taking a turn for the better, not only in the eastern part, but across the country. For instance, in Mumbai, there are reports that one developer could sell 700 flats in just two days."

However, the demand for commercial and retail projects are yet to see a pick-up, and the segments are still reeling under the pressure of economic meltdown. Also, rising cost of cement has been a cause of concern for the developers, though the rise has been partly set-off by falling metal prices.

Pradeep Sureka of Sureka Group said, "In the last two months, demand has significantly picked up in the property market. There is no scope for further price correction, as certain raw material prices are still on the higher side. "

Cement prices have gone up by 20 per cent in the last one year, Sureka added.

In the months of October-November last year, several property developers had started advertising freebies to attract customers. However, they are no longer pursuing the strategy.

Eden Realty, which is developing one of the largest housing project in south Kolkata, tried to woo customers by offering free car parking space with flats few months back.

However, the response to the offer was lukewarm, and the realty company was no longer in a position to offer the scheme, admitted Sachchidanand Rai, managing director, Eden Realty.

"We expected selling about 100 flats through the scheme, but could sell about only 32. Now things have started improving and customers' interest has gone up significantly, which is also translating into sales," said Rai.

Sensing the need for easier finance, rather than freebies, developers are now focusing on pragmatic tie-ups with banks.

Thus, while earlier, many developers were paying pre-equated monthly installments (EMI) to banks for the customers, under interest subvention scheme, they were now refraining from paying the entire pre-EMI.

Recently, Eden has tied-up with four banks-- State Bank of India (SBI), IDBI, Bank of Baroda and HDFC-- under its "Empowerment " scheme.

"The scheme is a refined version of the interest subvention scheme, in keeping with the concerns of the banks as well as customers," said Rai.

The scheme, though not much different from the interest subvention scheme, involves a15 per cent down payment of advance by the customer, against which Eden would receive the sanctioned home loans in tranches, based on actual completion of the project. This would reduce the burden of the pre-EMI on developers, as payments would be based on the project completion, Rai said.

Chopra of P S Group also said, "Pre-EMI was not a profitable option for developers, as pre-EMI sometimes constituted even up to 70 per cent of the EMI, which was payable only when the project is up for possession."

HopePersists

April 17th, 2009, 11:06 AM

source: http://business.rediff.com/report/2009/apr/17/tatas-to-launch-housing-project-in-bengal.htm

April 17, 2009 10:52 IST

Five months after the Tatas shifted their small car project from West Bengal, the group is set to launch a new project in the state from the Tata Housing stable.

In two weeks, the first phase of an integrated township spread over 50 acres at Rajarhat, close to Kolkata, would be launched, said informed sources. It will be a combination of residential, commercial and retail, the first phase being the residential one.

Refusing to divulge the pricing of apartments, sources said the property would offer premium facilities and was targeting the segment between the middle income and the high income group. The starting range would be lower than Rs 60 lakh (Rs 6 million). The company has already gone for a 'soft launch' with a 'teaser' campaign.

The project will mark Tata Housing's foray into West Bengal. It will be the first new project from the Tata group after the pullout from Singur.

Tata Housing already has the 50 acres in possession. The company bought the land from the West Bengal Infrastructure Development Corporation, the nodal agency for allotting land in New Town, Rajarhat.

Sources said the land was bought about two years earlier but work could not start due to slowdown in the market. It was around the same time that the group began facing problems with the land in Singur, the site of the small car project.

It is not known at what price Tata Housing bought the land. Land prices in Rajarhat had gone through the roof prior to the economic meltdown, pushing many IT companies who were eyeing land in the area to reconsider plans.

"In Rajarhat, we are looking at bringing our township expertise, manifested in Jamshedpur," said a source.

The residential project has been christened Eden Court and is situated in Action Area II of New Town, in proximity to the main road.

The complex would be spread over five acres and would have three towers with two- and three-bedroom apartments. Two of the towers would have G+18 floors.

arijeetb

April 17th, 2009, 06:52 PM

It came in the papers today that DLF has given up SEZ status on a 10 acre plot in kolkata.
Also capital expenditure of infosys this year is going to be curtailed so most probably their plans of constructing a centre in kolkata is going to be cancelled.

^^It is 10.48 hectares which is ~25 acres. We are talking about the 2nd DLF IT park that is to be denotified from SEZ status. Does this mean construction will stop ?

arijeetb

April 18th, 2009, 01:09 PM

Source: TOI Epaper

Volvo buses to hit Kolkata roads soon
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2522/getimageb.jpg

Kolkata: Volvo city buses are all set to hit Kolkata roads soon. Kolkata features prominently among 63 Indian cities where these buses will be introduced under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme.
Volvo Buses (India) managing director Akash Passey said on Friday that these buses would bring about a paradigm shift in the travelling experience of Kolkata commuters.
“The biggest advantage of having Volvo buses in the city routes is that they will substantially decongest the roads by drawing a large number of car-owners. This was experienced in Bangalore. This happens
simply because Volvo buses offers an experience that even a luxury car fails to give,” said Passey.
If you think that the fares of these buses would be too high, think twice. The fare on the Joka-Salt Lake (54 km) route is likely to be Rs 15 to Rs 30, said a transport department official. Volvo officials said that most of the buses on city routes can run for no more than 12 hours. In case of Volvo, it can be run for 18 to 19 hours. So, the longer run reduces operating costs.
The trial run of the Volvo buses on three city routes, which tastes a major success, has in fact expedited the process of introducing Volvo buses in the city routes, said a senior official of West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation. A senior transport department officer said, “around 1,300 better quality buses would be brought under JNNURM scheme — a 100 of them for Asansol and 1,200 for Kolkata. Of them, 900 would be AC buses and 300 would be high-quality lowfloored ones. Of these 300, 60 would be Volvo buses.”
Under the JNNURM scheme, 35% of the fund would come from the Centre and 15% would be given by the state government. The rest of the fund would come from a private operator. While the private operator would run the bus, he would pay a monthly royalty to the transport PSU.
Today, southern cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Mysore
and Pune have sizable fleets running on city routes.
Throughout their trial in Kolkata, the performance of these buses were closely surveyed. Passengers were found to have been ready to pay more. Unlike most of the buses in India, which were built on truck chassis, these buses do not have steps at the entry. The entire chassis could be lifted to a height and even lowered, depending upon the situation.
Gautam Banerjee, executive director of Royal Cruiser, which successfully run intercity Volvo buses in Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, said, “We have submitted our expression of interest for running the Volvo city buses in Kolkata. Volvo buses gives passengers an altogether different experience.

Samrat

April 18th, 2009, 01:36 PM

A good news for the city commuters. Kolkata needs more and more these type of buses to replace those ricketed and ugly buses plying on the city roads:)

The distance between Joka and Salt Lake is wrongly shown as 54 kilometres which should be much less than that.

Suncity

April 19th, 2009, 02:16 AM

^^It is 10.48 hectares which is ~25 acres. We are talking about the 2nd DLF IT park that is to be denotified from SEZ status. Does this mean construction will stop ?

Heard from someone that a SEZ status IT park requires that only new projects of new clients can be housed there. Not sure about the authencity of the claim. But that kind of restriction in this economy can be a dampener.

Suncity

April 19th, 2009, 04:53 AM

Tirumani, 20 storeys, Ballygunge

http://www.mani-group.com/tirumani/index.html

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/6286/elevation.jpg (http://img144.imageshack.us/my.php?image=elevation.jpg)

avishar

April 19th, 2009, 12:29 PM

Looks nice.Modern glassy design.I guess the top floors house the residents club and swimming pools.

arijeetb

April 22nd, 2009, 07:21 PM

Kolkata hosiery park to create 20,000 jobs, benefit 250 SMEs (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/kolkata-hosiery-park-to-create-20000-jobs-benefit-250-smes/355784/)

The Rs 100 crore hosiery and textile park coming up at Howrah district, six km from the Kona Expressway on the Delhi Road, developed by the special purpose vehicle (SPV), West Bengal Hosiery Park Infrastructure Limited (WBHPIL), is expected to generate more than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs, besides promising state-of-the art training and manufacturing facilities to more than 250 small and medium units.

K B Agarwal, president of the West Bengal Hosiery Association, the nodal body of small and medium hosiery units in Bengal, said “WBHPIL has already purchased 325 bighas of land. Over 200 small and medium size units have already booked plots inside the park at a cost of Rs 22 lakh per bigha. Only 10 per cent of the land remains unoccupied, and it can house 10-20 units more.”

The association is not worried about registrations for the remaining land. So far, only 10 per cent of the total number of existing units in the state have found place in the park. When fully operational, which it is expected to be by the end of this year, the park will house a total of 250-300 SME units.

There are more than 2,500 hosiery units in the state, with some big names like Amul, Lux and Rupa, but almost 90 per cent of them are SME hosiery units that mainly cater to the domestic market. Despite the recent meltdown there had been no shutdown, but overall earnings were low, because of low productivity, pointed out Agarwal.

“The total annual production of all the units taken together is worth Rs 2,000 crore, which is comparatively lower compared to Tirupur, which exports around Rs 10,000 crore worth hosiery goods and supplies another Rs 2,000 crore to the domestic market,” he said.

“We lack the infrastructure and training compared to Tirupur. Labour productivity is low in West Bengal because of lack of training, all of which will be addressed in the textile park. There will be seperate training and manufacturing facilities for skilled and unskilled labourers,” said Agarwal.

The 125-acre textile park is thus being developed as a special cluster zone, modelled on Tirupur in Tamil Nadu, which houses the country’s largest hosiery and textile cluster with annual exports worth Rs 10,000 crore.

The park has also managed to get Rs 40 crore sanctioned under the Central government’s Scheme of Integrated Textile (SITP) scheme. “The file applying for the grant stands approved. A grant of Rs 40 crore has been allotted. After the elections, the funds will be disbursed once the new government is in place,” said Agarwal. The state government, realising the employment potential of the textile and hosiery sector, has begun to take special interest in this sector and is also looking at buying the unused properties of the hundreds of sick units, which are lying locked in the state for such hosiery and textile clusters.

Manabendra Mukherjee, minister for tourism and micro and small-scale industries said, “The textile and garment industry has always been one of our focus areas, since we have the required manpower and skill. We like to promote it in our state through such parks. There are plans to set up eight textile parks within the next five years to meet the target of creating 10 lakh jobs from this sector alone. We are in talks with the Central textile ministry to realise this.

Recently, the state government inaugurated Paridhan, a state-of-the-art textile and garment park, which when fully operational is expected to generate more than 8,000 direct and 24,000 indirect employment opportunities.

arijeetb

April 22nd, 2009, 09:57 PM

Future Group plans talent hub in Kolkata (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News-by-Industry/Future-Group-plans-talent-hub-/articleshow/4434265.cms)

KOLKATA: The Kishore Biyani-led Future Group has decided to set up a talent development and learning centre in Kolkata. The group has taken on lease some 45,000 sq ft of prime space in Rajarhat for this facility located right next to its eastern India regional office.

The facility is being set up by Future Learning & Development Ltd (FLDL), a recently floated Future Group company that does hiring, training and leadership development across group businesses.

Apart from conducting internal training and leadership development programmes for the group, the facility will also deliver courses for general students and offer corporate training solutions. FLDL intends to open the Kolkata facility next month. Incidentally, the company already runs two such facilities in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

"While the Bangalore centre acts as the talent development hub for South and Ahmedabad for North and Western territories, the Kolkata unit will be the eastern hub for talent development. The facility will have classrooms, an auditorium, a library and simulation labs to provide a holistic learning experience," FLDL’s marketing head K.C. Kurien told ET.

The group is finalising four courses which will be offered to general students — a certificate programme on retail skill development targeted at entry-level employees at the shop floor level, a 100-hours programme on spoken English, a one year course in retail management for under-grad students and a 12-weeks course on beauty and wellness.

"We are looking at university affiliation for some of these courses. Students who have completed these courses will get a preference when we recruit talent for our own expansion. We are also planning several other courses for students in retail and allied services," said Mr Kurien.

Incidentally, Future Group plans to make FLDL an independent profit centre. While it already charge fees from group companies for the services it renders, the company plans to focus more on conducting general courses and corporate training programmes to grow its revenue stream. FLDL has already trained some 4,000-odd group employees since it was floated last July.

sidney_jec

April 24th, 2009, 10:04 AM

Source: TOI Epaper

Loss-making film lab to get joint venture boost
Suman Chakraborti | TNN

Kolkata: The state government has decided to revamp the Roopayan film editing laboratory and studio — situated in Sector-V — with private help. This move comes after the lab incurred huge losses over the past few years.
Roopayan was set up in the late 80s for processing, sound recording and editing Bengali films and documentaries. However, the lab’s losses mounted because of inadequate infrastructure, outdated tools and techniques that failed to draw directors to get their films edited there.
Losses incurred in the last fiscal alone crossed Rs 40 lakh. It is not possible for the state government alone to upgrade the lab’s infrastructure as it would cost several crores, said officials of state information and cultural affairs department. The joint venture partner will work to modernize the lab with advanced tools, they said. The task of selecting the JV partner has been entrusted with the state’s public enterprises department.
Senior officials of the department said a tender has been floated in this regard. They said seven to eight well known companies have already submitted bids to be the joint-venture partners. “We are now shortlisting those who have submitted bids,” said an official. PricewaterhouseCoopers has been appointed as the consultant for the job. Officials refused to disclose the names of bidding companies, saying they had been instructed to keep the names confidential.
Filmmakers welcomed the government’s decision. “It is a very good idea. Though it has been instrumental in promoting art and culture, the government can’t come forward with huge capital investment periodically to keep pace with fast-changing technology. Roopayan is a very good studio and its upgrade with private help will definitely benefit the film fraternity,” said film director Anindita Sarbadhikari.
Earlier, trouble had brewed when the state government had decided to privatize the state-owned technicians’ studio. The Bengali film fraternity expressed concern over the studio’s fate if it went to a private player.

sidney_jec

April 24th, 2009, 11:22 AM

Source: Hospitality Biz India (http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=4496&sid=1)

Ambuja Realty to invest Rs 400 Crore in two new Kolkata properties

Thursday, April 23, 2009, 12:00 Hrs [IST]
By HBI Staff | Kolkata

According to the Financial Chronicle, Ambuja Realty plans to invest Rs 400 Crore in the set up of two hotel properties in east Kolkata. One hotel will come up within the company’s second City Centre mall, New Town. The second, Takshasila, will incorporate 150 rooms and will come up on an existing Ambuja heritage plaza property, Swabhoomi; it is expected to launch by end 2009.

The New Town hotel will see an investment of Rs 150 Crore; it will be owned and operated by Ambuja Realty. The property will be contained within a multi-utility development (City Centre II), which will also house fine dining restaurants, branded stores and another business hotel, Hotel City Centre-New Town. The 156 room Hotel City Centre-New Town will be spread over five acres. It will offer a swimming pool, club, conferencing facilities, gym, banqueting and a fine dining restaurant, Aafraa.

Currently, Ambuja Realty has stalled work on three projects — two in Darjeeling and one in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal.

todscreen

April 24th, 2009, 11:31 PM

Coal India Headquarters, New Town
77Q_xNT5Ai4
looks like another green building....great going.

todscreen

April 25th, 2009, 05:37 AM

^^I applaud their decision to build their National Headquarter in Kolkata, but they better not be building any coal factories in this state. There are plenty of other good states that can have them like Maharasthra, Orrisa, and Gujurat.

or else i am telling Mamata.

todscreen

April 25th, 2009, 07:23 AM

anyone know what this is? the title read some earth developmental dome.
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv233/kolkatawb/3451541759_89403a98cf_o.jpg

this is not part of the Science Center....the domes at Science City looks different.

Suncity

April 26th, 2009, 07:23 AM

anyone know what this is? the title read some earth developmental dome.

this is not part of the Science Center....the domes at Science City looks different.

It is part of Science City

http://ncsm.gov.in/earth_exploration_hall.aspx

HopePersists

April 26th, 2009, 09:03 AM

what's those high buildings visible behind the dome?

avishar

April 26th, 2009, 09:41 AM

Looks like south city.

HopePersists

April 26th, 2009, 10:28 AM

i was also guessing it to be south city...

Samrat

April 26th, 2009, 12:05 PM

its Southcity.

arijeetb

April 26th, 2009, 04:53 PM

Coal India Headquarters, New Town
77Q_xNT5Ai4
looks like another green building....great going.

^^Great find!. I was wondering how they plan to utilize the land parcel next to DLF IT park marking the entry to NewTown from Salt Lake. Perhaps a park would have been ideal, but with a green building, no worries:)

arijeetb

April 26th, 2009, 05:00 PM

The website of Sanon Sen & architects (www.sanonsen.com) has some interesting renders. Posting some of them here

A commercial building at Syed Amir Ali Avenue
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9083/officesaaa.jpg

Chartered Accountants Institute
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/8837/cainstitute.jpg

A commercial building @ Salt Lake
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/7619/commercialbuildingsaltl.jpg

Cognizant campus @ Bantala
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6706/ctsbantala.jpg

arijeetb

April 26th, 2009, 05:03 PM

Continuing from previous post..

EMAAR Hotel on EM Bypass
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/5669/emaarembypass.jpg

Haute Street Mall @ Topsia
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6503/hautestreetmall.jpg

A buliding at Karl Marx Sarani
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7171/kmsarani.jpg

Meghalaya House, Russel Street?
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/6168/meghalayahouse.jpg

SarafIndian

April 26th, 2009, 05:49 PM

^^ Those are some cool designs. And that coal india office render is just awesome. :banana:
______________

Some updates.

Rising waterside.
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/26042009005.jpg

An u/c.
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/24042009001.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/24042009.jpg

Water supply and sewerage structure of most part of South, South-East, East kolkata is changing silently. If everything goes fine there should be no water supply problem/ sewerage problem in those areas after 2011. Under JNURM.
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/24042009002.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/24042009003.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/24042009004.jpg

Globesyn u/c
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/24042009007.jpg

u/c
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/26042009004.jpg

arijeetb

April 26th, 2009, 06:03 PM

^^Nice updates, Saraf:cheers: Waterside has risen so quickly!

sidney_jec

April 27th, 2009, 07:11 AM

Source: Economic Times (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Airlines--Aviation/Kingfisher-to-launch-Kolkata-Dhaka-flight-from-May-15/articleshow/4450671.cms)

Kingfisher to launch Kolkata-Dhaka flight from May 15

26 Apr 2009, 1131 hrs IST, PTI

MUMBAI: Domestic air-carrier, Kingfisher Airlines, has plans to launch its Kolkata-Dhaka flight from May 15, an airline official said.

"We will be launching our first flight to Dhaka from Kolkata on May 15," Kingfisher Airlines's spokesperson told media here.

Dhaka would be the third overseas destination after London and Colombo for the Vijay Mallya-owned air-carrier, which already has the Government's permission to fly across 13 international routes.

The airline has deployed an ATR 72-500 (60-seater) for the Kolkata-Dhaka flight which would run daily, the spokesperson said.

The flight IT-73 would leave Kolkata at 2.45 pm (local time) and arrive at Dhaka at 4.15 pm (local time), he said.

The return flight would take-off from Dhaka at 5.00 pm and land at Kolkata airport at 5.30 pm.

Kingfisher had launched its international operations in September last year with a Bangalore-London flight followed by the Mumbai-London, Bangalore-Colombo and Chennai-Colombo flights in January this year.

Though Kingfisher had planned to launch flights to Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai, these have been deferred in the wake of low passenger demand, downturn in the global economy and staggering losses.

The airline posted a Rs 626-crore loss in Q3 FY 09. Kingfisher was scheduled to launch a flight each to Singapore and Hong Kong in January and for Dubai in March.

It has permission to fly to the US, UK, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Suncity

April 28th, 2009, 03:28 AM

There are so many Kolkata Dhaka flights. Is there really that much air traffic between the two cities?

todscreen

April 28th, 2009, 04:00 AM

There are so many Kolkata Dhaka flights. Is there really that much air traffic between the two cities?

the train ride is too long. Most people prefer flight service. Dhaka-CCU bonds well.

egaro

April 28th, 2009, 05:32 AM

Source: Hospitality Biz India (http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=4496&sid=1)

Any updates on the Bengal Ambuja Siliguri projects like City center.Some project is heard to pop up in Haldia too.

sidney_jec

April 28th, 2009, 06:52 AM

^^ no idea abt those boss

sidney_jec

April 28th, 2009, 06:55 AM

There are so many Kolkata Dhaka flights. Is there really that much air traffic between the two cities?

these flights are the (few) saving graces for the International airport..
if these stop too then kolkata should only have a domestic terminal with a seperate area for international passengers..
so i am happy even if there's a minimal traffic..
at least we have some "international" flights..

sidney_jec

April 28th, 2009, 07:02 AM

Source: The Telegraph (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090428/jsp/calcutta/story_10883047.jsp)

Airline unveils city plans
A STAFF REPORTER

Paramount Airways, which launched operations in the city on Monday with business class only flights to Chennai and Agartala via Guwahati, has ambitious expansion plans in the region.

The airline is planning to connect Calcutta to Delhi, Mumbai and destinations in the Northeast. It will also take up a study to assess the viability of operating flights to Cooch Behar. The airport in north Bengal is lying unused for almost a year after an upgrade.

“We will strengthen our base in Calcutta and start more flights to the Northeast and other destinations,” said M. Thiagarajan, the managing director of Paramount Airways who was in the city for the launch.

A year back, the Airports Authority of India extended the runway and set up navigational aids at Cooch Behar airport. It is lying unused as private operators feel it is not commercially viable to operate flights to the town.

A few days back, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had requested Thiagarajan during a meeting at Writers’ Buildings to start operations to Cooch Behar.

Paramount, which has five small aircraft, plans to buy 15 planes by 2010. The airline operates 72-seater Embraer E170 for business class only flights and Embraer E175, each of which has 11 first-class and 64 business-class seats.

Thiagarajan said the airline would launch international operations in a few years with flights to Southeast Asia, West Asia and later to the US and Europe. “For this we have to buy wide-bodied aircraft like Boeing and Airbus.”

Also on the airline’s radar are flights from Calcutta to Shillong, Ranchi and Bhubaneswar.

arijeetb

April 28th, 2009, 10:43 PM

Deloitte’s arm expanding in Kolkata (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/04/04/stories/2009040450591100.htm)

Kolkata, April 3 Deloitte & Touche Tohmatsu is looking at expanding its business in Kolkata by launching a more diverse spectrum of services within the next two to three years, according to Mr Shanto Ghosh, Senior Director and Chief Economist.

Deloitte & Touche Consulting India Ltd, the consulting arm of Deloitte, is also planning to expand its existing office space in Salt Lake, he said.

“We are planning to extend all our service lines to Kolkata and it will soon fall in line with our centres in Bombay and Delhi,” he said. Deloitte may launch services related to audit, tax, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, market analytics, etc on a much wider scale in Kolkata, he pointed out.

Currently, the bulk of Deloitte’s activity in Kolkata comes from its consultancy business, accounting for over 65 per cent of the total portfolio. In its countrywide operations, however, Deloitte is most active in the auditing services, accounting for nearly 50 per cent of total business, followed by tax (25 per cent), consultancy (15 per cent) and other services such as corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and business analytics (10 per cent), Mr Ghosh said.

“While consultancy may continue to be the major contributor in Kolkata, the audit and tax services will occupy a larger foothold here than at present,” he said.

The consulting arm in Kolkata, Mr Ghosh said, has firmed up plans of taking a larger space of around 70,000 sq ft on lease within its existing office campus of Bengal Intelligence Park in Salt Lake Sector Five. Its existing establishment has an office space of around 20,000 sq ft.

The company is also looking to raise its headcount to 400 in the next two years to support its plans in Kolkata. In the newly opened Global Transfer Pricing Centre on tax, for example, the workforce may increase to 100 from the existing 40.

Deloitte currently has a workforce of nearly 300 in Kolkata, said Mr Roopen Roy, Managing Director. The company’s new office at Park Street started operations from April 2, he said. Its third office in the city is at Park circus.

Deloitte Consulting is expected to clock a 65 per cent growth in 2008-09, Mr Roy pointed out.

arijeetb

April 28th, 2009, 11:01 PM

Food & fun zone this Puja- Restaurateur ties up with british firm (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090429/jsp/calcutta/story_10839073.jsp)

Tuck into a seafood salad or Swiss fondue, enjoy a stand-up comedy show, angle for trout or do an instant recording of your favourite songs, rendered in your own voice.

This Puja, you should be able do all this at one stop — a destination dining and entertainment park in New Town, Rajarhat.

To come up on a 1.5-acre plot close to The Axis mall, the Rs 15-crore project breaking through the gloom of downturn is being planned on the lines of out-of-town destination retail rendezvous in the UK and the US.

“We are doing the day destination in a 50:50 joint venture with Apex F&B and Entertainment of the UK,” Anjan Chatterjee, the chairman and managing director of Speciality Restaurants Pvt Ltd, owners of the Mainland China, Sigree and Oh Calcutta! brands, told Metro.

The first phase, featuring two theme restaurants of 200 covers each, a large children’s play area, a world food theatre and parking for 250 cars, will be ready by September. The second phase construction will span another six months.

The global food theatre will feature a “crack team of chefs” juggling and tossing ingredients like bar tenders, with carnival elements thrown in to celebrate a variety of cuisine.

In Phase II, the extended food-and-entertainment park will add a 24x7 coffee shop, a seafood restaurant and an interactive theatre restaurant to its menu.

“The idea is to encourage people to have a great time and indulge their passions. The entire entertainment package is anchored on food, and we will have a clutch of activity centres, like fishing, a studio where you can record your own voice on an instant CD or tape, or paint your favourite landscape…. You can just be yourself,” said Chatterjee.

The UK partner, which is bringing in the technical expertise, the architecture and design, will be creating a number of chill-out zones, both indoor and outdoor, across the low-rise development that draws inspiration from the Liberty malls in the UK, among others.

“When everybody is talking pessimism, we chose to take the plunge, because we believe in creating destinations and being ready to catch the crest once the market mood improves,” said Chatterjee, whose Speciality group is now running 25 Mainland China outlets across the country.

The company is also preparing to launch its outdoor catering service, which would enable Calcuttans to serve up Mainland China or Oh! Calcutta cuisine at private parties.

“We have catered at several events, including the Prime Minister’s farewell dinner for Somnath Chatterjee. Now, we will take our signature dishes to Calcutta homes,” says the restaurateur.

arijeetb

April 28th, 2009, 11:13 PM

Dozen wings to Dubai this winter - Emirates first international airline with double daily flights from town (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090429/jsp/calcutta/story_10892157.jsp)

British Airways did not find it viable to operate even one flight a week from Calcutta but Emirates will fly a dozen a week from the city this winter.

The Dubai-based airline, which launched its operations in Calcutta in 2006 and now has a daily flight, will have two flights a day on five days of the week and one each on the other two days. The additional flights will start operating from the first week of December.

This is the first time that Calcutta will have “regular double daily flights” to any international destination. One flight will take off from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at 8.30pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and arrive in Dubai at 12.30am. The other flight will operate daily, taking off at 8.55am and arriving in Dubai at 12.55pm.

“All our flights are doing very well and a market survey has revealed that there will be further growth,” a senior Emirates official said on Tuesday. “The airline is going for a major expansion of operations in India,” he added.

The seven Calcutta flights are said to be recording an 80 per cent-plus average passenger load, on the wings of the withdrawal of British Airways and Gulf Air. “A number of Europe and US-bound passengers, who earlier used to take BA, are now flying Emirates. Also, there has been a substantial growth in labour traffic movement,” said Anil Punjabi, the chairman (east) of the Travel Agents Federation of India.

“Also, Dubai has been a hot destination for shoppers and leisure tourists for years. It is easier to get a visa to Dubai than some other destinations in that part of the world,” added Punjabi.

Emirates sources said the airline would be able to add the extra flights after acquiring a new aircraft in December. To lure passengers, the airline is also offering pick-up and drop for first class and business class passengers.

Calcutta airport officials were upbeat with the news of Emirates increasing frequency. “This will provide a boost too the aviation sector in the city which has been severely hit by the withdrawal of a number of airlines in recent times,” said airport director V. K. Monga.

Kingfisher airline will start its Calcutta-Dhaka flight from May 15, airline sources said. “Bangkok and Chittagong are next,” they said.

Suncity

April 30th, 2009, 06:29 AM

Nice updates Saraf!

:cheers:

sidney_jec

April 30th, 2009, 07:29 AM

^^ thats arijeetb :P

Suncity

April 30th, 2009, 02:51 PM

^^ thats arijeetb :P

I was actually referring to the photos by Saraf.

sidney_jec

April 30th, 2009, 07:21 PM

oh the jokes on me :(

HopePersists

May 2nd, 2009, 01:52 PM

Bengal seems to be back in focus of global investors with a large German business team visiting the state after a year.

The 30-member team from the Lower Saxony province is the first delegation from Germany since the Tata pullout from Singur dented Bengal’s image.

At least seven large business teams from various German provinces came to India in the past year but all of them gave Bengal a miss.

“The Tata Nano pullout was a setback. But we want to look beyond that,” said Wilfred Prewo, the chief executive of the Hannover Chamber of Commerce.

The delegation is led by Philipp Rösler, the minister for economics, labour and transport of Lower Saxony.

Rösler is one of the youngest ministers in Germany and is of Asian origin. He was born in Vietnam but was adopted and raised in Germany.

Industry observers said German businessmen were back in Bengal to seek a market with a growth potential. Germany, Western Europe and the US are in the grip of recession but the Indian economy is expected to grow at 5-6 per cent.

“We have brought small and medium-sized groups. They want to build good business contacts here,” Rösler said. He met chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for an hour on Thursday afternoon.

The chief minister told the delegates that he wanted more investment in the small and medium-scale sectors in Bengal and was looking forward to collaborating with German businesses. Rösler assured him of “all possible” help.

Bhattacharjee also sought Lower Saxony’s help in three areas: electrical equipment for power plants, medical equipment manufacturing and tie-ups with German educational institutes, said B.G. Roy, the regional director of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, which facilitated the German tour.

One of concerns voiced by the delegation was of an inflexible bureaucracy. Rösler said “bureaucracy” must be avoided at all times, especially during recession. He also called for free trade with India. “Economic protectionism during this time would be fatal. We are completely against it. We want to trade,” Rösler said.

source:http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090501/jsp/calcutta/story_10901350.jsp

SarafIndian

May 2nd, 2009, 08:37 PM

Went through Newtown today. Got few photos. All of them may not be so clear and I forget the name of some of those projects around. I am sorry for that.

Photo cc SarafIndian

Termins u/c
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00918.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00919.jpg
--
Synergy I think
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00921.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00925.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00926.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00927.jpg
--

Akankha & Hiland
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00930.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00931.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00932.jpg

SarafIndian

May 2nd, 2009, 08:51 PM

^^ Cont.

Don't know which project. But seems its quite big.
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00935.jpg

Bengal Ambuja.
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00936.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00937.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00939.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00940.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00941.jpg
--
Akankha from distance
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00942.jpg
--

Unknown
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00943.jpg

Suncity

May 2nd, 2009, 08:51 PM

cool updates Saraf.

:cheers:

SarafIndian

May 2nd, 2009, 08:59 PM

cool updates Saraf.

:cheers:

Thanks Sun. There are more.. coming soon.. :cheers:

Suncity

May 2nd, 2009, 09:11 PM

Thanks Sun. There are more.. coming soon.. :cheers:

:banana:

SarafIndian

May 2nd, 2009, 09:11 PM

Cont..

City Centre II looks almost completed. Even, I guess it is going to open very soon. They already putting ads and doing other beautification works. And yes, its not just big, its huge. :banana::banana:

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01009.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01010.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01011.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01012.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01013.jpg

SarafIndian

May 2nd, 2009, 09:44 PM

^^ Cont..

A business park in its way of completion. I think it is Ecospace. They put ad all over kolkata. I am not sure but it looks like Ecospace..

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC00922.jpg
--

Unknown
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01018.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01019.jpg
--
120 kph@Newtown exway. Unitech Infospace..
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01024.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01023.jpg

sidney_jec

May 3rd, 2009, 12:36 PM

^^ Nice updated there saraf..

Is this a new project or already launched and talked about?
Source: TOI Epaper

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/294/getimagedllj.png

Hindustani

May 3rd, 2009, 01:34 PM

sarafindian

thanks. thats one unbelievable real estate activity going on. :)

ribose_dna

May 3rd, 2009, 04:21 PM

NY Times' Travel section has an article on Kolkata titled "A Walk in Calcutta".

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/travel/03calcutta.html?ref=travel

And an old Atlantic magazine article on Kolkata "Oh Kolkata".

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200804/kolkata

Both painted a fair picture of Kolkata.

Suncity

May 4th, 2009, 03:48 AM

Unitech Vistas

http://www.unitechonline.in/vistaskolkata/index.asp

Sprawled over 9 acres
Towers upto 14 storeys high

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/1674/frescopic3.jpg (http://img114.imageshack.us/my.php?image=frescopic3.jpg)

arijeetb

May 4th, 2009, 02:30 PM

Wonderful updates there, Saraf:cheers:

SarafIndian

May 4th, 2009, 07:14 PM

Thanks Sidney, Hindustani and Arijeet.. :cheers:

Sankalpa
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01028.jpg

--
Terminus when returning back
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01029.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01030.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01031.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01032.jpg
--

Axis u/c
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01033.jpg

sabret00the

May 4th, 2009, 08:14 PM

arijeetb

May 4th, 2009, 08:20 PM

^^ Cont..

A business park in its way of completion. I think it is Ecospace. They put ad all over kolkata. I am not sure but it looks like Ecospace..
120 kph@Newtown exway. Unitech Infospace..
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01024.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01023.jpg

^^yes, that is Ecospace; i think two blocks are let out and the last I heard is they will adopt a wait n watch strategy for the remaining ones.

And dude, did you actually do 120 kmph on the second arterial road??:banana: It was a little more than a mud path 8 months back.

arijeetb

May 4th, 2009, 08:25 PM

I had joined this forum long time back but this is the 1st time I'm posting here. I must say this a very informative and interesting thread with very nice pictures.

Can someone tell me if 2BHK flats are available in the Metropolitan / Ruby area currently or if any projects are going to start soon in these areas?
How much should a 2BHK + one 4 wheeler + one 2 wheeler parking cost?

Welcome to SSC India:) To begin with, this is not a real estate site, hence if you seek the above information I suggest that you visit magicbricks.com or 99acres.com. You can however find most project news and updates in the forum and are free to post any relevant project updates.

SarafIndian

May 4th, 2009, 08:36 PM

^^yes, that is Ecospace; i think two blocks are let out and the last I heard is they will adopt a wait n watch strategy for the remaining ones.

And dude, did you actually do 120 kmph on the second arterial road??:banana: It was a little more than a mud path 8 months back.

Ya, the road is very good now. I think they re-constructed it. But its very dusty for the construction activities there.

arijeetb

May 4th, 2009, 08:50 PM

Ya, the road is very good now. I think they re-constructed it. But its very dusty for the construction activities there.

^^good to know that you are safe n sound:) I did 100kmph on a cruiser bike, but that was on the main arterial road, and it must be a lot more stable in the car. Yes, from your pics, even the main arterial road looks quite dusty. I do not think govt is gonna spend bucks to relay again anytime soon, so as long as the road is free from cracks and is cleaned regularly it should be fine.

India101

May 5th, 2009, 01:42 AM

Unitech Infospace, New Town, Rajarhat, Kolkata::

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/4417/b01lh3.jpg

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6066/nfo2fi4.jpg

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/236/nfo4kk3.jpg

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2263/b04tz9.jpg

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9806/b05xo1.jpg

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3875/b06ug6.jpg

Tech pushes futuristic frontiers - Upcoming IT park in Rajarhat raises bar of cutting-edge office space (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060831/asp/calcutta/story_6677613.asp)

Update from Unitech's Website (http://www.unitechgroup.com/projects/commercial/kolkata/infospace/index.shtml).

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/1694/63959923.jpg

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/6012/uk1.jpg

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/1987/uk2f.jpg

SarafIndian

May 5th, 2009, 07:36 PM

^^ Great update there. Thanks India101 :banana:

HopePersists

May 8th, 2009, 07:16 AM

IT companies look for commercial space

Pradipta Mukherjee / Kolkata May 08, 2009, 0:08 IST
As the real estate market has started showing signs of stability, several IT and telecom companies have already started actively looking at space in the city, especially in Rajarhat and Salt Lake Sector V areas, for setting up operations.

According to Mayank Saksena, head – transactions, Kolkata, Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj, “From January onwards, we have been tackling an increase in live enquiries in Kolkata. The rate of enquiries is significantly higher than in cities such as Hyderabad. Chennai, Pune and Bangalore, primarily because Kolkata has a large number of old business houses that have been occupying prime spaces in the central business district (CBD). These entities are now in the process of shifting to suburban locations such as Rajarhat and Sector V in Salt Lake because of the huge difference in the cost of occupancy as well as the quality of buildings there. Typically, these clients have been occupying B-grade projects in the CBD, due to a dearth of A-grade buildings. However, these suburbs now offer A-grade buildings, which are available at reasonable occupancy costs in the suburbs.”

“While Kolkata has not, so far, witnessed the rate of company consolidation evident in cities like Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi, we expect a step-up in consolidation in the coming quarter. This is because occupancy costs are now becoming a primary criterion even in Kolkata,” Saksena said.

Real estate developers Srijan and P S Group have jointly built what is Bengal’s first telecom park to house telecom and ITeS companies. According to Shyam Agarwal, chairman of Srijan, “Srijan and P S Group have jointly invested Rs 100 crore into the 5 lakh sq ft telecom park. Already Tata Teleservices and Idea Cellular have taken possession within the building.”

Tech Mahindra too is looking at acquiring prime space in Kolkata to set up its fifth BPO centre here for outsourced telecom client servicing. According to a spokesperson of the company, “We are talking to several developers in Kolkata for a 500-seater BPO to begin with.”

Currently Tech Mahindra operates two centres in Kolkata offering IT services. It has close to 1,000 employees delivering IT services to clients like British Telecom and others.

HDFC Bank is also in the process of setting up an integrated operation hub in Kolkata to undertake the bank's entire back office operation in Eastern India. This will be the fourth facility after Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. The bank has already committed 100,000 sq ft to undertake various processing operation such as account management, fixed deposit and loan monitoring of 125 retail branches across eastern India. The facility aims at centralising bank operations in one place. The facility will start with 300 employees, which is likely to go up to 900 later on.

By the end of 2009, West Bengal’s ‘Data Centre’ is also expected to take off at Sector V, Salt Lake, informed Debesh Das, state IT minister. The facility will be a one-stop repository for key information which the government departments may use for data storage and retrieval.

According to Jones Lang Lasalle Meghraj, rentals in Kolkata CBD is Rs 75-130 per sq ft, while at Rajarhat it is at Rs 30-32 per sq ft, and at Sector V rentals are around Rs 40-45 per sq ft.

“In these suburbs, companies with larger space requirements are currently in a position to get positively revised quotes even on the prevailing rates. Occupancy rates in the CBD have seen some moderate correction over the last quarter, since developers there have begun waking up to the challenge posed by locations such as Rajarhat and Sector V. However, the fact that they are becoming open to reconsidering rental figures can do nothing about the overall quality of buildings in the CBD,” said Saksena.

SEZs make little progress
Several SEZs in West Bengal are stuck even after receiving all formal approvals, because of the refusal of the state land and land reforms department (LLRD) to record the change in status of the land from farm land to one eligible for industrial use.

The failure of the land reforms department has also held up finalisation of the financing package for the SEZs because the proposals could not be placed before bankers with the land recorded as agricultural land.

For instance, the IT park adjoining the Calcutta Leather Complex in Bantala has become a dumping ground for pollutants.

Around 130 acres, out of the 1,200 acres of the leather complex, was sanctioned for the IT park in 2006, and the facility was to be commissioned by the first quarter of 2010.

Around 17 companies, including Cognizant Technology Services, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra and Patni Computers, purchased land for approximately Rs 75 lakh per acre. However, as of now, hardly 25 per cent of the 130 acres has been developed. According to officials in Infinity Infotech, which had acquired four acres, work could not start if pollution levels were so high.

According to Ramesh Juneja, the president of the Calcutta Leather Complex Tanners’ Association, a leather complex and an IT park cannot exist side by side as leather is a polluting industry and IT requires a clean environment.

Among projects stuck before the LLRD was the 71 acre information technology (IT) sector SEZ at Panagarh in Bardhaman district 160km from Kolkata on National Highway 2.

This SEZ was notified in August 2007 and was being developed by the Kolkata-based Sonthalia group. The IT Panagarh SEZ master planning was being done by Voyants Solutions, a Ramky Infrastructure group outfit, and project planning by IL&FS as technical consultants and equity partner in the project.

Also stuck was the Sonthalia group's 25 acre biotech SEZ at the same site for which land was in hand and formal approval received from the board of approvals (BOA) of the Union ministry of commerce (MoC).

The Panagarh biotech SEZ demand study was done by Jones Lang Lasalle Meghraj while IL&FS was the technical advisor and equity partner. Sonthalia group recently proposed a third, 25-acre, SEZ dedicated to solar energy also at Panagarh, after acquiring land for the project.

Application for approval had been filed with BOA-MoC, backed by a recommendation from the state department of information technology.

The Sonthalia group was also developing two SEZs in the Rajarhat area, just east of Kolkata's city limits.

DLF Ltd, the country’s largest real estate company, had recently approached the Government for de-notifying four IT/ITES SEZs. The SEZs are in Orissa, Gujarat, West Bengal and Haryana. The de-notification has reportedly been sought in view of the falling demand in the IT and BPO industry. “It is due to the global slowdown and less demand for IT and BPO space. It has nothing to do with cash crunch. In other cases, whatever DLF has constructed so far has already been pre-leased, and so in IT there is no point in going ahead if the demand has slumped,” DLF said.

source:http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/it-companies-look-for-commercial-space/357411/

Suncity

May 9th, 2009, 04:29 AM

Bharat Sevashram Hospital, Joka

photo copyright Nilayendra

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9321/bharatsevashramsanghaho.jpg (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bharatsevashramsanghaho.jpg)

arijeetb

May 9th, 2009, 04:07 PM

Eden Lakeside - A large residential project in North Kolkata from Eden Realty (http://www.edencal.com)

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/5959/lakeside6big.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/9301/lakeside1big.jpg

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/4126/lakeside3big.jpg

amar11372

May 9th, 2009, 11:24 PM

Great looking projects.

Suncity

May 11th, 2009, 04:07 AM

Hangout hub 2

“We are extremely excited to bring to Calcutta another destination before the Pujas, and we hope City Centre New Town can live up to the expectations that now come with the brand,” Neotia, managing director of Bengal Ambuja Housing Development Limited, developers of the Rajarhat retail-entertainment venture, tells t2.

City Centre II has 350,000 sq ft of leasable mall area, 125,000 sq ft for a 147-room five-star hotel, parking space for about 700 cars and is expected to open its doors and retail racks in August.

Designed by Mumbai-based architect Kapil Bhalla, it will be “New Town’s first full-service family destination”. The design effort has been to glean elements from the urban chic of Tokyo’s fashion district Ginza, the timeless melange of New York’s Times Square and the celluloid seductiveness of London’s Leicester Square to create a melting pot of “organised chaos”.

More here

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090505/jsp/entertainment/story_10915517.jsp

Tintin27

May 11th, 2009, 01:50 PM

After travelling thru rajarhat expressway when visiting kolkata in Apr - May, I am really impressed with the way most projs u/c are taking shape. There are so much more activity being seen from the VIP connector to the Terminus Mall at Action area 1. The traffic has increased, more roads to other parts of New town are under construcion (some are done).

Also travelled through Belgharia expressway to Barrackpore and it halved my journey time compared to Jessore road/Madhayamgram route. But VIP - Jessore road crossing is a mess and the stretch between kaikhali flyover and jessore road can take a very long time.

SarafIndian

May 12th, 2009, 07:42 PM

Ultadanga flyover u/c

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/09052009.jpg

todscreen

May 13th, 2009, 04:40 AM

nice updates.

todscreen

May 13th, 2009, 05:44 AM

Kolkata need this:
http://www.archicentral.com/wp-content/images/unbenannt-23.jpg
http://www.archicentral.com/wp-content/images/unbenannt-5.jpg

HopePersists

May 13th, 2009, 09:51 AM

Ohhh my.........., what an ultra modern style bus:cheers:. whole of India needs this:)

Samrat

May 13th, 2009, 01:31 PM

Kolkata need this:
http://www.archicentral.com/wp-content/images/unbenannt-23.jpg
http://www.archicentral.com/wp-content/images/unbenannt-5.jpg

which city is this?

vinod_2007

May 13th, 2009, 02:20 PM

WOW... Just got stunned....

Bangalore too needs it

avishar

May 13th, 2009, 02:41 PM

That is london and those are computer generated images.
These buses are a concept study of how to replace London's aging red buses.

arijeetb

May 13th, 2009, 04:56 PM

That is london and those are computer generated images.
These buses are a concept study of how to replace London's aging red buses.

I do not think London's buses are aging even from a developed world perspective. They are much more modern than some of the buses I have seen in USA. But it is great to have sleek designs for the future.

Nibbs08

May 13th, 2009, 08:04 PM

arijeetb

May 13th, 2009, 11:50 PM

Ultadanga flyover u/c

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/09052009.jpg

^^Are all the pillars complete ?

Samrat

May 14th, 2009, 10:45 AM

among all other things British, I quite fancy the old red london bus which one can still see on the roads,specially no 25 thru oxford Street. But was startled to see these pics as havent seen them at all, n yes thanks for clearing tht these r computer generated one.

cheers

Nibbs

That's why I had a doubt about the city as I had not seen these type of buses in London when I visited the city a few years back

todscreen

May 14th, 2009, 10:52 AM

fred_the_cute_guy

May 14th, 2009, 11:39 AM

haha

funny guys.

sorry, should have clarified that this is what London is planning on introducing to its circuits in a few years.

But, i have full faith that Kolkata will get these buses before London. I have my fingers crossed.
but if London does get lucky and manages to pull off these buses before Kolkata, I am sure that they will send 1 or 2 to Kolkata as samples.

Long live your faith, though I personally believe you are looking backwards from 100 years in future, instead of looking forward from today, which is why you see these buses in Kolkata before London.

Anyway, on a more hopeful note, now that the elections are over, maybe some of the issues will see a bit of road forward. The Ultodanga flyover progress definitely looks impressive - no way worse than Delhi's Munirka flyover in a similar time span (and of course any Delhi development today fights the CWG deadline). This indicates, at least Kolkata is doing fast enough compared to rest of India in some patches at least.

Samrat

May 14th, 2009, 01:42 PM

Anyway, on a more hopeful note, now that the elections are over, maybe some of the issues will see a bit of road forward. The Ultodanga flyover progress definitely looks impressive - no way worse than Delhi's Munirka flyover in a similar time span (and of course any Delhi development today fights the CWG deadline). This indicates, at least Kolkata is doing fast enough compared to rest of India in some patches at least.
__________________

The DMRC has opened recently the Yamuna Bank metro station on the Indraprastha-Noida corridor 5 months ahead of schedule.
(ref: Delhi metro pics and updates thread, dt. 11.05.09)

SarafIndian

May 14th, 2009, 07:28 PM

^^Are all the pillars complete ?

Yes, most of them completed. This is the bypass side. But I think they are still working on 2-3 short pillars on the VIP side.

arijeetb

May 14th, 2009, 08:24 PM

haha

funny guys.

sorry, should have clarified that this is what London is planning on introducing to its circuits in a few years.

But, i have full faith that Kolkata will get these buses before London. I have my fingers crossed.
but if London does get lucky and manages to pull off these buses before Kolkata, I am sure that they will send 1 or 2 to Kolkata as samples.

^^:lol:. London will get sleeker before the 2012 games when the whole city ( along with its relatively undeveloped east) will be given a facelift .I recall seeing vintage stuff like the 60s type double deckers and the half a century old trains that run on district/circle lines.

From the render these buses look huge and they will have trouble negotiating Kolkata's narrow roads. Kolkata does not need them.

fred_the_cute_guy

May 15th, 2009, 06:08 AM

The DMRC has opened recently the Yamuna Bank metro station on the Indraprastha-Noida corridor 5 months ahead of schedule.
(ref: Delhi metro pics and updates thread, dt. 11.05.09)

Yes. Don't want to hijack the thread, hence my last post for the time being on non-Kolkata topics in this thread - but Delhi metro has been exceptional and would have been great to see Kolkata metro in the same lines. But Delhi, too, probably stops being of a great speed only at metro. It is volume and mass, not speed, that has characterized the great development in Delhi. In other words, as a rather loose example, if you develop 50 roads at the same time, all very slowly, you still get to see 50 developed roads after a certain time span (say 5 years) which is still good. This is how Delhi has been mostly doing it. And it is much better than developing say 2 roads in parallel and getting them completed after the same 5 years. It is still 4% of the 50 roads, so to speak.

Now, no more from my side for now here on this topic, want to cheer for Kolkata and focus on Kolkata inside this thread. :cheers:

SarafIndian

May 17th, 2009, 08:52 PM

Photo cc SarafIndian

Office buildings u/c
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01388.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01389.jpg

Suncity

May 18th, 2009, 06:32 AM

^^

Looks like there are houses in between too??

todscreen

May 18th, 2009, 12:43 PM

^^

Looks like there are houses in between too??

if it's sector V then it's strictly commercial. that mansion can just be a luxury commercial estate, perhaps a newspaper/magazine agency.

SarafIndian

May 18th, 2009, 05:00 PM

^^

Looks like there are houses in between too??

Those are offices actually. That small white bungalow type building in the 2nd pic is a Indian archaeological office.

arijeetb

May 19th, 2009, 01:01 AM

if it's sector V then it's strictly commercial. that mansion can just be a luxury commercial estate, perhaps a newspaper/magazine agency.

^^Not really. There is atleast one residential complex within Sector V that I know of. It is just before Millenium city.

arijeetb

May 19th, 2009, 01:03 AM

TechM to nest BPO arm in DLF towers (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infotech/ITeS/TechM-to-nest-BPO-arm-in-DLF-towers/articleshow/4547346.cms)
Tech Mahindra, the new owner of scandal-hit Satyam Computer Services, is locating a brand new 1000-seater BPO unit at the plush DLF Towers in Kolkata’s eastern fringes. It is poised to conclude a two-stage acquisition of 50,000 square feet (sqft) of prime floor space at DLF Towers on a long term lease.

When contacted, a senior Tech Mahindra executive told ET: “We will acquire about 50,000 sqft of floor space at DLF Towers on long-term lease in two stages. We’ve just taken 25,000 sqft and will acquire the balance shortly. We propose to launch our Kolkata BPO unit in the Rajarhat IT zone by mid-July as a 500-seater facility that will be scaled up to a 1000-seater facility in another nine months.”

At present, Tech Mahindra runs four national BPO units in Noida, Chennai, Gurgaon and Pune. This apart, it runs two offshore centres in Belfast and Newcastle. Tech Mahindra has some 4,000 employees operating at its four BPO units in India and another 500-odd in Northern Ireland and the UK.

The company propose to hire about 1,000 techies for its Kolkata contact centre. Tech Mahindra executives were unwilling to confirm the deal size, but information trickling in from property circles suggest the company may shell out just a shade below Rs 60 per sq ft as lease charges to the DLF group.

“In the short term, the city’s real estate market appears to be improving. Companies are increasingly looking for commercial office space in Rajarhat area simply because of the quality of infrastructure and attractive real estate price,” property consultant Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj (JLLM) associate director & head (Kolkata) Mayank Saksena said.
While commercial office space in Salt Lake Sector V is being leased out at Rs 40-45 per square feet per month, that in Rajarhat is being let out at Rs 30-35 per sq ft per month (excluding the maintenance cost, property tax and other miscellaneous charges).

“Apart from lower real estate prices, builders developing projects in Rajarhat are giving more client focus support such as additional transport services connecting city and Rajarhat to lure prospective clients,” Mr Saksena added. Tech Mahindra’s Rajarhat unit will essentially do outsourcing work for some of the top telecom companies operating in the Asia-Pacific.

^^I hope they are referring to DLF IT Park II

arijeetb

May 19th, 2009, 01:07 AM

Photo cc SarafIndian

Office buildings u/c
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01388.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/DSC01389.jpg

^^Looks like small time builders. They have utilized all of the land. And that is a poor excuse for a connector between two parallel roads.

Nice updates, though!

Suncity

May 19th, 2009, 04:15 AM

TechM to nest BPO arm in DLF towers

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infotech/ITeS/TechM-to-nest-BPO-arm-in-DLF-towers/articleshow/4547346.cms

Tech Mahindra, the new owner of scandal-hit Satyam Computer Services, is locating a brand new 1000-seater BPO unit at the plush DLF Towers
in Kolkata’s eastern fringes. It is poised to conclude a two-stage acquisition of 50,000 square feet (sqft) of prime floor space at DLF Towers on a long term lease.

When contacted, a senior Tech Mahindra executive told ET: “We will acquire about 50,000 sqft of floor space at DLF Towers on long-term lease in two stages. We’ve just taken 25,000 sqft and will acquire the balance shortly. We propose to launch our Kolkata BPO unit in the Rajarhat IT zone by mid-July as a 500-seater facility that will be scaled up to a 1000-seater facility in another nine months.”

At present, Tech Mahindra runs four national BPO units in Noida, Chennai, Gurgaon and Pune. This apart, it runs two offshore centres in Belfast and Newcastle. Tech Mahindra has some 4,000 employees operating at its four BPO units in India and another 500-odd in Northern Ireland and the UK.

The company propose to hire about 1,000 techies for its Kolkata contact centre. Tech Mahindra executives were unwilling to confirm the deal size, but information trickling in from property circles suggest the company may shell out just a shade below Rs 60 per sq ft as lease charges to the DLF group.

HopePersists

May 19th, 2009, 04:53 AM

todscreen

May 19th, 2009, 06:07 AM

^^uh dude. the TMC is pro-development.

CPM was only now pro-industrialization. Therefore, you can expect all these projects to move on in full scale.

Samrat

May 19th, 2009, 09:12 AM

One question--- With the change of government in WB due to centre elections, what will be the fate of many projects in the queue which are waiting for their aproval for the welfare of the city and state?(like elevated road project, monorail and LRTS and many more) will it be reconsidered or will it be scrapped!!!

There is no change of government in West Bengal at present. It was the parliamentary election(Lok Sabha) which has nothing to do with state government. The elected members will go to New Delhi to join the government or opposition.

HopePersists

May 19th, 2009, 01:56 PM

^^ thanks for clarification Samrat:), but what i am afraid is about those projects which could be interferred by Mamata like the following example....

Mamata game to talk to Tatas on Nano, if they want to (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mamata-game-to-talk-to-tatas-on-nano-if-they-want-to/92924-7.html?from=rssfeed)

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is game to talk to the Tatas if they want to speak to her on setting up the Nano plant in Singur, but said the auto major will have to return 400 acres of land acquired from farmers for the project.

"If the Tatas want to speak to us on Nano, I will talk. But they have to build the factory on 600 acres after returning 400 acres," Banerjee said in an interactive programme on Bengali television channel Star Ananda on Monday night.

Singur, a rural pocket 40 km from Kolkata in Hooghly district, turned into a battleground for about two-and-a-half years since May 2006 when the Left Front-ruled state government announced the world's cheapest car would be built there.

Demanding return of 400 acres - of the 997.11 acres acquired - to farmers, the state's principal opposition party Trinamoool Congress-led protesters laid siege on the plant. Finally, Tata Motors moved the plant to Gujarat's Sanand last October.

Tata group chief Ratan Tata had then blamed Banerjee for the shift of the plant.

At the Nano launch, asked about his message for Banerjee, Tata had said "Good afternoon".

"But I will again tell him good morning... He has bad mouthed us a lot. But it won't be proper if we also use bad language," Banerjee said.

The Trinamool-Congress-Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) combine bagged 26 Lok Sabha seats, reducing the Left Front to 15, of the 42 seats in the state.

The Trinammol candidate won from Hooghly, which includes Singur.

Following the anti-farmland agitation, the Trinamool also made a clean sweep of the seats in the area during last year's rural body polls.

Mamata may even put her own pro-agriculture type terms and conditions to many upcoming industrial projects (already proposed by Buddha government) resulting in projects being moved out of the state:ohno:.

fred_the_cute_guy

May 20th, 2009, 06:22 AM

Do you call a "good afternoon" bad-mouthing?

The sarcastic tone is obvious. But Mamata can not have her cake and eat it too. If she needs the state to proceed, then one sureshot step is to remove issues with Tata.

I personally suspect her political stand and political milage and not her personal viewpoints or moral obligations in the Tata issue. If it is political and if she wants the best of West Bengal in her own political interest then it is high time she says the good morning in a nice and pleasant tone, not with sarcasm.
________________________________________
Far Infrared Sauna (http://www.cwglive.com/lifestyle/infraredsauna/FarInfraredSauna.php)

Suncity

May 20th, 2009, 07:34 AM

Samrat

May 20th, 2009, 11:55 AM

I fully agree with Suncity on this count. In no place other than Bengal or Kolkata you will find an "aborodh" "rasta roko" "gherao" "chakka jam" etc. etc. at the drop of a hat. When there is no local issue, they will surely find something in Kosovo, Baghdad, Chechnya or Israel.

It applies to both the ruling party and the opposition. In no other place you will find a state-sponsored "dawn to dusk" or 24 hours' bandh

todscreen

May 20th, 2009, 12:03 PM

i love bandhs.

thats the only time we get to put on our thinking cap and win nobel prizes.

sidney_jec

May 20th, 2009, 02:02 PM

the situation of bandhs/gheraos in Bengal is the same as was the situation in Gujarat during riots in 2001 where (i quote) "even a sneeze was enough to trigger a riot"..
or may be a just a tad better (i hope this tackles todscreen for a while :D)

sabya99

May 20th, 2009, 02:19 PM

What is Mamata's policy?

Bangla Bandhs, dharnas, abarodhs, violence, drama and goondaism.

What is Left Front's policy?

Bangla Bandhs, dharnas, abarodhs, violence, lecturing and goondaism.

So the vote results will not affect West Bengal radically. Just get ready for more Bangla Bandhs, more dharnas, more abarodhs, more violence, more drama, more lecturing and more goondaism.

:lol:

The election result reflects replacement of one group of lumpens by anther group of lumpens. No body has any vision about WB and anarchy is their staple food. Professional class has no role in electoral process. Educated people have two choices: leave bengal for good or just hybernate and think of good day at distant future.

Hindustani

May 20th, 2009, 07:57 PM

What is Mamata's policy?

Bangla Bandhs, dharnas, abarodhs, violence, drama and goondaism.

What is Left Front's policy?

Bangla Bandhs, dharnas, abarodhs, violence, lecturing and goondaism.

So the vote results will not affect West Bengal radically. Just get ready for more Bangla Bandhs, more dharnas, more abarodhs, more violence, more drama, more lecturing and more goondaism.

:lol:

so you dont believe Communist Left threat being put to rest for next 5 yrs & calcutta now in the hands of congress, calcutta still will not see Delhi type of development. thats serious pessimism there Sun. :ohno:

sudheeshnairs

May 20th, 2009, 08:23 PM

^^I would say he is more realistic. I have never thought about Mamta as pro development. Anyway it is the state govt which would play more role in the development of a state rather than MPs. Of course MPs too can exercise their role for the development of the state.

I always felt like Budha is more pro development than anybody in TMC.

arijeetb

May 20th, 2009, 10:13 PM

so you dont believe Communist Left threat being put to rest for next 5 yrs & calcutta now in the hands of congress, calcutta still will not see Delhi type of development. thats serious pessimism there Sun. :ohno:

^^yes, I too was a bit shocked by the negative emotions. The problems mentioned are not unique to Bengal even though WB gets a overdose of it. One has to actually live in Bengal or Kolkata to get the real picture. Things will surely change but for the better or the worse only time will say.

HopePersists

May 21st, 2009, 05:49 AM

so you dont believe Communist Left threat being put to rest for next 5 yrs & calcutta now in the hands of congress, calcutta still will not see Delhi type of development. thats serious pessimism there Sun. :ohno:

Though Buddha belongs to communist left party, their way of thinking has largely changed(specially this decade). they adopted the concept of pro-industrialization. That's why the role of Mamata has changed from prodevelopment to scrapdevelopment :ohno:.Let's now see what the scenario will be in future.

Can someone tell me what's the reason even the urban population(who favour industry or development) did'nt vote for Buddha party? or may be they kept centre in mind while casting their valuable votes!!

SarafIndian

May 21st, 2009, 09:32 PM

Though Buddha belongs to communist left party, their way of thinking has largely changed(specially this decade). they adopted the concept of pro-industrialization. That's why the role of Mamata has changed from prodevelopment to scrapdevelopment :ohno:.Let's now see what the scenario will be in future.

Yes, communists in WB changed a lot. Personally I would like to see them in power in WB again. In addition, they are less corrupted unlike most politicians in India.

SarafIndian

May 21st, 2009, 09:41 PM

And this election is a surprise. I don't know how a leader like Md Salim could not win. :ohno:

todscreen

May 21st, 2009, 11:17 PM

looks like the wall of the India Coffee House has been renovated.
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv233/kolkatawb/3551421414_0cbbfeec86_b.jpg
from flickr

arijeetb

May 22nd, 2009, 01:24 AM

looks like the wall of the India Coffee House has been renovated.
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv233/kolkatawb/3551421414_0cbbfeec86_b.jpg
from flickr
^^Nice find, Tod:) Next to go should be the chairs & the tables. The doors and the high ceilings will continue to add to the old world charm.

Suncity

May 22nd, 2009, 05:31 AM

Can someone tell me what's the reason even the urban population(who favour industry or development) did'nt vote for Buddha party?

They wanted "Paribartan" as promised by some of the "intellectuals" of West Bengal. Let's hope they are really ready for the "Paribartan" roller coaster ride. Didi has promised to make Calcutta like London, Digha like Goa, Darjeeling like Switzerland (unlesss the BJP converts it into Gorkhaland).

For now Anandabazar is saying Didi has "matured" and is not wanting President's rule in WB. On the other hand TOI is reporting that her colleague, Dinesh Trivedi wants President's rule.

Nayachar chemical hub will in all probabilty get scrapped because Didi doesn't want to disturb the environment of the state. Didi's party leaders have already decided to campaign against expansion of Rajarhat New Town.

Na and No - that's slogan of the new era of Paribartan.

Suncity

May 22nd, 2009, 05:42 AM

An u/c.
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/24042009001.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/24042009.jpg

Looks like this one

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/5433/serviceapartment.jpg (http://img41.imageshack.us/my.php?image=serviceapartment.jpg)

http://www.surekaproperties.com/proj_hos_servhotel.html

sidney_jec

May 22nd, 2009, 07:24 AM

^^ any idea whos gonna manage this property?
theres no mention of it on there website..
and as far as feel the real estate companies arent apt enough to do the job???

HopePersists

May 22nd, 2009, 08:15 AM

They wanted "Paribartan" as promised by some of the "intellectuals" of West Bengal. Let's hope they are really ready for the "Paribartan" roller coaster ride. Didi has promised to make Calcutta like London, Digha like Goa, Darjeeling like Switzerland (unlesss the BJP converts it into Gorkhaland).

For now Anandabazar is saying Didi has "matured" and is not wanting President's rule in WB. On the other hand TOI is reporting that her colleague, Dinesh Trivedi wants President's rule.

Nayachar chemical hub will in all probabilty get scrapped because Didi doesn't want to disturb the environment of the state. Didi's party leaders have already decided to campaign against expansion of Rajarhat New Town.

Na and No - that's slogan of the new era of Paribartan.

The over-intelligence of our state intellectuals has already ruined the glory of our state and with the blessings of our literate intelligent voters who invited this Parivartan, it will again witness another downfall (God Forbid).

I would be very much happy, if my above said words come untrue.

sidney_jec

May 22nd, 2009, 08:35 AM

^^ lets suffer and reach such lows that it doesnt matter anymore..
doesnt affect us..
after some point in time it will become a habit (of sorts)..
nothing would then make a difference..nothing

sidney_jec

May 22nd, 2009, 08:48 AM

Source: TOI Epaper

END OF ANOTHER DREAM
Now, DLF pulls plug on Rajarhat IT SEZ

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolkata: After abandoning plans to develop a township at Dankuni, another DLF project in Bengal is headed for the doghouse with the realty giant seeking denotification of the IT/ITeS SEZ it proposed to establish on 25.89 acres in Rajarhat on the northern fringes of Kolkata.
The Board of Approvals (BoA) — the final deciding authority on SEZs — has decided to take up the DLF Rajarhat denotification request, along with similar pleas for three projects of the company in Gujarat, Haryana and Orissa, at its next meeting on June 2.
“The developer (DLF) has requested for de-notification of the (Rajarhat) SEZ due to slow down in the economy and liquidity crunch in the overall industry. The developer has undertaken that they would pay the applicable duties as per SEZ Act,” the BoA said in its website. The Rajarhat SEZ was notified on June 23, 2008.
Incidentally, DLF already operates an IT park in Rajarhat, which, however, does not qualify for being an SEZ since it occupies less than 25 acres. The decision not to go ahead with the IT SEZ has also raised question marks on whether the same fate now awaits the proposed hotel in Kolkata for which DLF had acquired land earlier. :(
Although Kolkata’s growth in the IT space has picked up since 2003, the state is still paying the price for the controversies generated by Nandigram (where police firing on March 14, 2007 led to the death of 14 people protesting land acquisition) and Singur from where the Tatas had to withdraw their small car plant.
Several companies have been forced to revise their plans in Bengal because of the land issue. Things may become more difficult in future if the state government decides to go more slow on this aspect from here on because of the drubbing suffered by the Left in the Lok Sabha polls.
Development commissioner Arun Bit, however, said that till date, there has been no denotification requests from Bengal, except that made by DLF. On June 2, the BoA would also consider a request of Bengal Shapoorji Developers Private Ltd for extension of the validity period of the formal SEZ approval beyond August 24, 2009 to August 23, 2010.

sidney_jec

May 22nd, 2009, 08:50 AM

I wonder what the people from the industries have to say about the political upheavel in the state..
haven't heard a word from them yet..

HopePersists

May 22nd, 2009, 09:11 AM

Suncity

May 22nd, 2009, 02:26 PM

DLF pulls plug on Rajarhat IT SEZ

Source: TOI Epaper

Isn't this old news? I doubt it has got anything to do with Nandigram or Singur. It has more to do with the current downturn in the IT industry.

The question is what happens to the building? I thought Mahnidra was moving in there.

However land acquistion in Rajarhat area could be a problem in the future with Trinamool's goonda leaders standing up to the CPM's goonda cadres.

IT companies should try to reduce their land demands and instead build modern highrises that will give the city iconic landmarks.

Suncity

May 22nd, 2009, 02:39 PM

^^ They are in same dilemma like us. They are confused about this state. they are solving the following MCQ at present.

Q: The Government (including the oppposition) of the state of WB supports
(a) Industries (b) Agriculture (c) both Industries & Agriculture (d) NONE of the above.

:lol:

I think industrialists and businessmen are shrewd people. Politicians and businessmen know that they cannot survive without each other. As long as businessmen and industrialists keep politicians happy, the politicians will also keep businessmen happy. If Trinamool or CPM is against a project, then one of the reasons could be that they did not get their share of cut money.

arijeetb

May 22nd, 2009, 03:13 PM

Isn't this old news? I doubt it has got anything to do with Nandigram or Singur. It has more to do with the current downturn in the IT industry.

The question is what happens to the building? I thought Mahnidra was moving in there.

However land acquistion in Rajarhat area could be a problem in the future with Trinamool's goonda leaders standing up to the CPM's goonda cadres.

IT companies should try to reduce their land demands and instead build modern highrises that will give the city iconic landmarks.

^^yes, it has nothing to do with the local state of affairs in WB. But I am surprised that a company like DLF lacks foresight. Tech Mahindra is supposed to move in July and perhaps many others may have booked for later in 2009.

Land acquisition in Jagdeeshpur for the IT hub looks remote, but Infosys has also stated that they have not given up on Bengal. They will go where there is money to be made. It is time they booked some of the plush tech parks coming up in the Salt lake/New town region to start with.

sabya99

May 22nd, 2009, 03:15 PM

This election result has one good aspect: at last two center of gravities have emerged in Bengal politics. Jyoyi babu carefully manipulated opposition so that they could not challenge his authority . As a result people had no chance to thing of any alternate force good or bad. This verdict will eliminate that probability and it is good for healthy democracy. Whether TMC is anti or pro industry has to judge by people of W.Bengal and then they must decide how much the balance between industry/agriculture should be, 50:50 or 5:95. At that point a fully matured and vibrant democracy will take which is geared for bengal’s own domestic issues and not Vietnam or Cuba. If TMC occupies Writers building in two years time, I don’t see anything wrong in it. Prolonged occupation by one group of parties will create corruption.
Buddhadeb knew very well that left front was responsible for Bengal’s downfall from the most industriasized state to low industry level state. He introduced forced Stalinist style industrialization which unknown to our culture. Many in West Bengal still don’t appreciate the heroic role Dr. B.C Roy played in industrializing Bengal and subsequent rehabilitation of refugees. History does not forgive ungrateful people and they will be punished in due course. I hope future Bengal politics will evolve around a need based politics and not based on some trivial events like Vietnam war or Cuba or Mao Tse Tung!!

todscreen

May 23rd, 2009, 12:22 PM

^^hey

which part of NJ are you from?

HopePersists

May 24th, 2009, 01:27 PM

KOLKATA: With civic elections approaching, the Left Front government is pushing through "visible infrastructure" projects like roads and flyovers after its Lok Sabha election debacle. Water supply, solid waste management and sewerage desilting projects along with drives to keep roads clean are also high on the agenda to help the Left recover lost ground.

The Cabinet cleared some populist measures at its first meeting after the poll debacle. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) top brass have also been sensitized on the development issues. So much so that mayor Bikash Bhattacharya and some Left councillors began right from the early hours of Saturday around 2 am to inspect the underground desilting work at Bowbazar and Dalhousie. The Rs 45-crore project is being implemented under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission scheme.

Desiltation of underground sewer lines will prevent waterlogging in many low-lying areas of the city. "We have been asked to carry out the work on a war-footing so that people can feel the benefit this monsoon. Hopefully, we can do that in a major part of the city before the rains arrive," said a KMC official.

"We have been carrying out development work throughout the year. Compared to our previous board, our track record is much better. So, we expect to do better than the last election," said the mayor. He reportedly chanted the do it now' mantra to his mayor-in-council members.

KMC has also been working hard to give a fresh cover of mastic asphalt to city roads at Ultadanga, Kankurgachi, Charu Market, Asutosh Mukherjee Road and Raja Subodh Mullick Road. KMC has also held a coordination meeting with underground utility services so that dug-up roads are mended effectively and timely.

KMC is also planning a Rs 800-crore project for a 45 million gallon water supply project at Dhapa that will be showcased before the civic polls. The Left Front leadership wants the project to take off before that. KMC has already expedited the Palta-Tala water pipe-laying project that would result in the minimum wastage of water and the supply of potable surface water to large parts of eastern Kolkata.

Another populist measure is to shelve the proposed introduction of water tax this year. "Water tax will only be collected from the commercial sector," a KMC official said.

Similarly, in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area, KMDA is embarking on some showpiece projects like integrated solid waste management. "If the project is implemented, the environment of greater Kolkata will be far more clean. KMDA is also set to push through the Park Circus-EM Bypass elevated roadway. The transport department is also going to kick off the elevated ring road project," the official said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com//Cities/Kolkata-/Eye-on-civic-polls-state-on-development-path/articleshow/4570468.cms

SarafIndian

May 24th, 2009, 03:39 PM

looks like the wall of the India Coffee House has been renovated.
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv233/kolkatawb/3551421414_0cbbfeec86_b.jpg
from flickr

Looks good. They can put black/white square marbles to the floor. That will give a typical royal bengali 'Jomider Bari' look.:) Also, the chairs/tables need to be changed.

SarafIndian

May 24th, 2009, 03:46 PM

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com//Cities/Kolkata-/Eye-on-civic-polls-state-on-development-path/articleshow/4570468.cms

The water supply project is the biggest project currently going on. Probably one of the biggest underground projects Kolkata ever seen after Metro railway. They are using hi-tech machineries/simulation software’s/pumping equipments. In some areas for very important roads they are using small tunnel boring machines instead of digging the roads.

SarafIndian

May 24th, 2009, 04:59 PM

u/c Sec-V
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/16052009.jpg

u/c karnamoyee
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/23052009.jpg

HopePersists

May 24th, 2009, 05:11 PM

The water supply project is the biggest project currently going on. Probably one of the biggest underground projects Kolkata ever seen after Metro railway. They are using hi-tech machineries/simulation software’s/pumping equipments. In some areas for very important roads they are using small tunnel boring machines instead of digging the roads.

That's a very delighting news for Kolkata. Hope after such measures being taken throughout the city, Kolkata would be able to welcome the monsoons with a smiling face.:)

SarafIndian

May 24th, 2009, 05:46 PM

That's a very delighting news for Kolkata. Hope after such measures being taken throughout the city, Kolkata would be able to welcome the monsoons with a smiling face.:)

Ya, but definitely not the coming monsoon. The project has a deadline of 2011(or 2013?) I think. And everything has to go well according to plan. Kolkata has a very poor record of implementing such a large scale project. I heard that once they already finished the work for a vast area of Behala and just after completion they found that the whole alignment was wrong(opposite actually:lol:) and they are completely re-aligning the pipelines there. Means again digging all the roads, removing the pipes and etc etc. Not sure how true that news is. But I can tell you something is wrong on that area. They are working there for ages.

HopePersists

May 24th, 2009, 05:56 PM

^^ :lol: And that must have happened due to lack of proper communication and cooperation between different departments as it is obvious in Kolkata.

todscreen

May 24th, 2009, 06:03 PM

its all that flat face slimey's fault. women.

arijeetb

May 24th, 2009, 07:46 PM

^^ :lol: And that must have happened due to lack of proper communication and cooperation between different departments as it is obvious in Kolkata.

^^that incident is true and happened during mid of last year. Along with the drain on public money, the public had to go thru a lot of hardship ( and are still tolerating!)

arijeetb

May 24th, 2009, 07:48 PM

u/c Sec-V
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/16052009.jpg

u/c karnamoyee
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/23052009.jpg

^^Out of the 4 autos, nice to see that 50% of them are Green.:)

SarafIndian

May 24th, 2009, 07:52 PM

^^Out of the 4 autos, nice to see that 50% of them are Green.:)

I think Avg 6,7/10 autos around saltlake are Green now. :cheers:

arijeetb

May 24th, 2009, 07:59 PM

I think Avg 6,7/10 autos around saltlake are Green now. :cheers:

^^thats a positive and re-assuring news. Do they have LPG outlets in Salt lake? I am hoping CPM does a better job with the phasing out of the buses & cars.:)

SarafIndian

May 24th, 2009, 08:06 PM

^^thats a positive and re-assuring news. Do they have LPG outlets in Salt lake? I am hoping CPM does a better job with the phasing out of the buses & cars.:)

Yes, LPG outlets are there. I think auto owners are getting well with LPGs. :cheers:

Kewl Batty

May 24th, 2009, 08:08 PM

Here comes the DEMON again :lol: :nuts:

Mamata threatens to resume agitation in Singur
24 May 2009, 2227 hrs IST, PTI

Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mamata-threatens-to-resume-agitation-in-Singur-/articleshow/4572783.cms)

KOLKATA: Accusing the state government of "quietly" renewing land lease to the Tatas, Trinamool Congress on Sunday threatened to resume its
movement in Singur for return of 400 acres of land forcibly acquired from farmers.

"When we were busy with Lok Sabha elections, the Left Front government quietly renewed lease of the land to the Tatas at Singur. We will resume our agitation for return of the 400 acre after six of our MPS take oath on Tuesday," TC chief Mamata Banerjee said here.

The state government
had renewed the lease in Singur though the Tatas had not announced any plan to resume work, she claimed, adding "the Tatas also holds unutilised land in Gujarat and Kalinganagar in Orissa".

"It is unacceptable to us that some people will go on increasing their land holding while another section will not have enough to eat," Banerjee, the new railways minister, said.

Earlier, the Tata's Nano project, planned at Singur, was shifted out of the state following strong protest from the Trinamool Congress.

SarafIndian

May 24th, 2009, 08:38 PM

todscreen

May 25th, 2009, 05:14 AM

The DEMON is always there. :|

saraf, do you have the feeling, that the people of Bengal are the smartest people alive?

why? because it seems like they voted for the trinamool to get this demon you speak of out of the state and focused on the national government in this general assembly.

hoping that this way, bengal can prosper under the state leadership of the CPM?

HopePersists

May 25th, 2009, 05:29 AM

^^ their smartness won't benefit them. Mamata and her party members have decided to stay in Bengal 5 days a week to continue obstruct upcoming projects (yes, sooner you will find her in singur again:lol:). Atleast the following news supprts my point.

Union ministers on state ‘duty’ (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090524/jsp/bengal/story_11012994.jsp)

Calcutta, May 23: No Trinamul Congress minister will stay in Delhi for more than two days a week.

“My priority is Bengal,” Mamata Banerjee told a large crowd in front of her Harish Chatterjee Street house on her return from Delhi this evening.

“I have made it absolutely clear to my ministers (who will be sworn in a few days later) that they will have to spend five days a week in Bengal.” The country’s new railway minister will do the same herself. “For me, becoming a minister is not important,” Mamata said. “The maa, mati, manush of Bengal are more important.”

LL_Investor

May 25th, 2009, 06:04 AM

Folks, New to this board, quick question on Rajarhat development, Will the TMC have other plans for development at Rajarhat ?. Also hear a lot about Unitech project, bankrupcy, delays etc.. Is all that true ?

todscreen

May 25th, 2009, 06:19 AM

todscreen

May 25th, 2009, 06:20 AM

sidney_jec

May 25th, 2009, 08:57 AM

:rofl:

A Hindi saying goes for the below.
"Ab kya rona jab Chidiya chug gayi khet"

Source: Telegraph (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090525/jsp/bengal/story_11016767.jsp)

Copycat land protest by CPM
ABHIJEET CHATTERJEE

Durgapur, May 24: A poll-stung CPM has taken a leaf out of the Trinamul Congress’s book and forced work to stop at a state government coal-mining project, demanding better compensation for landlosers.

Some 1,000 villagers alle- gedly led by local CPM leaders stoned workers at the open- cast mine project in Bankura’s Borjora on Friday, demanding jobs for landloser families and cash for their farm labourers. One worker was injured.

Trinamul had earlier objected to the project with similar demands but with the CPM then in favour, 105 acres of the required 750 acres were acquired in 2007 and digging started last October.

Now CPM opposition has halted the project with 25 per cent of the work already done.

“We have stopped work since our workers are feeling insecure after the stone-throwing,” said P.P. Mishra, an official of Trans Damodar Coal Mining Project, a private firm hired by the government.

Aloke Mukherjee, Trinamul leader and Borjora gram panchayat chief, said: “The CPM is trying to hijack our agitation. We were agitating from the outset; now the CPM has placed the same demands. They are trying to copy us to improve their image.”

One perceived reason for the CPM’s poll debacle was its post-Nandigram image of land-grabber. The party is now desperate to acquire a “farmer-friendly” face.

The secretary of the CPM’s Borjora zonal committee, Tarun Raj, denied forcing the project to stop. “We submitted our charter of demands; we don’t know about Trinamul’s demands,” he said.

Bankura district magis-trate Sundar Majumder said: “The ADM will hold a meeting with the parties and project authorities in a day or two.”

The project was conceived after the state government appealed to Coal India in 2004 to mine coal in Bengal so that the steel and sponge-iron plants in Burdwan, Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore had uninterrupted coal supply.

Most of the land in Borjora is multi-crop, and the government offered Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6.4 lakh an acre. The compensation package included jobs for those losing two acres or more, 3.5 cottahs of developed residential plot against loss of a house, and 25 per cent of the land price to the sharecroppers.

todscreen

May 25th, 2009, 10:07 AM

^^that tmc worker said "improve their image"

it only tarnishes them...but wtv...mamata's face needs a makeover.

sidney_jec

May 25th, 2009, 10:49 AM

^^ dude that was below the belt :D

SarafIndian

May 25th, 2009, 11:26 AM

HopePersists

May 25th, 2009, 02:43 PM

^^ Hope the cyclone doesn't last long in the city. It really does bring the destruction. When I was in chennai, i witnessed two cyclone raised from the bay of bengal. It sweeps away many trees, destroys old buldings, and even takes away children if left outside. And when the cyclone passes, it leaves the city well deserted:ohno:

arijeetb

May 25th, 2009, 07:26 PM

Suncity

May 26th, 2009, 12:24 AM

Not related to projects. Just to let you guys know. There is a powerful cyclone (Called “Aila” or something) going on over the city (and parts of Bengal. I have never seen such a cyclone in my life man. It seems, it will 'clean' all the hawker stalls, slums and those blue buses from the city (ok, sorry for the cruel joke:shifty:). And, KMRC doesn't have to take permission from PCB to cut trees for EW metro work:lol:. There is a red alert the situation can become worse after 4:30pm(IST).:ohno:

Aila claims 29
Statesman News Service

KOLKATA, 25 MAY: At least 29 people including eight women, were killed and over one lakh people rendered homeless after a devastating cyclonic storm, Aila, hit the southern districts and the city this afternoon.
The storm, with a windspeed of 100 kilometre per hour hit the city at around 2 p.m. uprooting hundreds of trees and killing at least seven people. Thereafter, the storm blew through Howrah, Hooghly and Burdwan districts and was moving towards the northern part of the state, Met officials said.
The scale of devastation was so severe that the Army was deployed in the worst-affected blocks in North and South 24-Parganas for rescue operations.
Seven of the deceased were residents of Kolkata while nine were from South 24-Parganas. Unofficial reports said seven people, including a man who died of electrocution and two women killed after their houses collapsed on them, died in Howrah during the storm. Three persons were killed in Hooghly, two deaths were reported in Midnapore East and one in Bankura district.
Mr Asim Dasgupta, state finance minister, however, could confirm only nine deaths till the afternoon. He said the toll could rise further. A red alert has been sounded across the south Bengal districts. Relief materials are being distributed to affected people. Several thousand houses and more than 100 river embankments were damaged in North and South 24-Parganas. Crops worth several lakh rupees have been destroyed.
Leave of employees belonging to departments like health, disaster management and relief have been cancelled, Mr Dasgupta said. He added that medical teams would be visiting the affected districts to stop outbreak of waterborne diseases. Three ministers ~ Mr Abdur Rezzaq Mollah, Mr Kanti Ganguly and Mr Subhash Naskar ~ were sent to South 24-Parganas to supervise rescue operations. Union minister Miss Mamata Banerjee and chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will also be visiting various affected areas tomorrow to assess the damage caused.
Large parts of Kolkata including areas of Ballygunge, Kasba and Jadavpur and parts of Baghajatin went without electricity today after power cables were snapped in many places.
Earlier today, the chief minister held a meeting with Mr Dasgupta and senior officials at Writers’ Buildings after weathermen predicted that the storm would hit Sagar Island around 1 p.m. and would pass through Kolkata. Control rooms were opened at Writers’ immediately and district magistrates of all south Bengal districts were alerted. People living in the coastal areas and Sundarbans were advised to move to higher areas.
“Preliminary reports say that at least 1 lakh people were rendered homeless. Of them 80,000 people have been rescued till late this afternoon,” Mr Dasgupta said. Apart from Army jawans, employees of the state civil defence department, forest department, and district police are also carrying out rescue operations.
Because of the storm, trams were withdrawn from city roads. Train and flight services were also disrupted. Calcutta University has also called off all examinations scheduled to be held tomorrow.

arijeetb

May 28th, 2009, 02:05 AM

Bengal bets on infotech investment (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090528/jsp/business/story_11030107.jsp)

Calcutta, May 27: Bengal is hopeful of attracting more infotech firms at a time when IT majors are going slow on infrastructure spending and developers are tweaking projects.

“We are confident of growing faster than last year. We are in talks with a few global IT firms who have shown interest in establishing operations here,” Bengal IT minister Debesh Das said on the sidelines of a programme organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce today.

In 2008-09, 30 new IT and ITeS firms had come to Bengal against 33 a year ago.

During the last few months, the country’s top three software exporters — TCS, Infosys and Wipro — have been talking of reducing their infrastructure spending as part of the cost-cutting measures to tackle the global financial downturn.

Last week, infrastructure developer DLF had sought a denotification of the IT/ITeS special economic zones it had proposed to establish on 25.89 acres at Rajarhat. “None of the companies intending to set up operations here, has expressed any intention to back out,” Das said. The state is in the process of acquiring land for the tech firms, he said.

On the DLF project, he said, “I am not aware of what you are saying. You may be right. We are not worried.”

Sources said DLF might not scrap the project. Denotification would allow the company to convert the building into normal commercial space, allowing it to let out space to any tenant, irrespective of whether the prospective customer is engaged in exports or not.

todscreen

May 29th, 2009, 10:42 AM

NEW TAXIS for Kolkata, Phasing out Ambys
Kolkata will get Indigos and Wagon-R yeahhhhhhh

unlike Mumbai, no cheap Maruti Omnis for us
Finally, Amby cab monopoly ends
29 May 2009, 0528 hrs IST, Subhro Niyogi & Swati Sengupta, TNN

KOLKATA: After half a century, the Ambassador’s monopoly on the metered taxi market in Kolkata has ended. You will soon see sleek Wagon-Rs and Tata Indigos in the yellow-and-blue combo.

The transport department has already issued the notification for permitting 1,000 vehicles of both makes (petrol and LPG versions of Wagon-R and diesel Indigos).

The move comes in the wake of a Calcutta High Court order to phase out commercial vehicles more than 15 years old. Though the March 31 scrap deadline is over and 6,300 old Amby cabs continue to ply in the city, the government order will pave the way for a modern taxi fleet. Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors have offered a subsidy of Rs 20,000 to cab owners to match the one given by Hindustan Motors (HM) for Ambys. “If the response is good, we will consider allowing more Wagon-Rs and Indigos,” a transport department official said.

Till now, the department has steadfastly sheltered the antiquated Ambys and prevented competition from modern cars despite repeated pleas by carmakers. Other cities have long dumped the Amby taxis.

Taxi associations, while welcoming the move, want LPG Maruti Omni and diesel Indica to be allowed as well. “Omni is spacious and much cheaper,” said Calcutta Taxi Association secretary Tarak Nath Bari. Some years ago, a couple of Omni taxis were allowed but permission was quickly withdrawn. Transport secretary Sumantra Chowdhury claimed the vehicle was ‘unsafe’ but taxi associations allege there was pressure from HM.

Little has changed in terms of ride comfort since Amby taxis were introduced in 1958. The fare has increased from 8 annas a kilometre to Rs 10/km. But the ride is still as bumpy.
dumb taxi secretary wants to bring in Omnis and destroy the Regal city's grandeur.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4591490,prtpage-1.cms

sidney_jec

May 29th, 2009, 12:39 PM

WTF? has anyone seen/heard of any construction at their site..i havent..
just read it in numerous news articles like the one below...

Source: Express Hospitality (http://www.expresshospitality.com/20090531/market05.shtml)

Shristi Infrastructure Development Corporation ventures into hotel sector
DINKAR FARWAHA - New Delhi

Housing and infrastructure development company, Shristi Infrastructure Development Corporation, has announced its entry into the hotel sector. Speaking exclusively to Express Hospitality, Sujit Kanoria, its MD, said, "We have launched a subsidiary company called Shristi Hotels. We believe luxury and culture are the way to move forward and we aim to develop hotels, which will present the old traditions of our country in the modern realm of things."

The company has launched its own hotel brand 'Vedic Hotels & Resorts'. The first property under the brand will open in Udaipur. Kanoria said, "We have already completed the acquisition in the city and started the development. We plan to open the property within the next two to three years."

The company is also developing the tallest hotel in the country in Kolkata. "The seven-star property will be the tallest hotel in the country and will open its doors for guests in 2011," added Kanoria. According to him, the company has signed a management and franchise agreement with an international hospitality major for the upcoming property in Kolkata. "Vedic brand is more apt for resort locations. Since, we are developing a business hotel in Kolkata, we have taken the decision to go for an international branding for this property," said Kanoria.

The company is looking at places like Goa, Kerala etc to extend the 'Vedic' brand further. "We will venture into these cities in our second phase of growth," said Kanoria.

todscreen

May 29th, 2009, 01:25 PM

^^yeah it's under construction.

remember the twin towers that look like 2 devil's horn.

i am not talking about the twin Westin towers which is also under construction.

sidney_jec

May 29th, 2009, 01:34 PM

^^ dude any updates on that..
i mean construction status and all?

sidney_jec

May 29th, 2009, 01:36 PM

Source: Express Hospitality (http://www.expresshospitality.com/20090531/market14.shtml)

'We will manage hotels with a capacity of 25 to 1000 rooms'
Mandeep S Lamba, MD and CEO of the Ten Hotels, a joint venture with Duet India Hotels, speaks about the venture and his plans for the future. By Sayoni Bhaduri

What is the nature of your JV with Duet Group?

Ten Hotels is a joint venture with Duet India Hotels. We will provide management expertise to third party hotels in the budget and mid scale segment using either the Ten Hotels brand, the hotel owner/developers choice of brand or select international brands that we will work closely with.

What will be the ideal hotel management project for Ten Hotels?

There is no ideal hotel development that we have in mind. We are looking to manage hotels with room capacity of 25 to 1000 rooms as long as the hotel can meet its stated objectives for the owner/developer and as long as Ten Hotels can clearly demonstrate ample value addition to the relation. Our focus is on developing and maintaining ideal relationships with hotel owners/developers and brands.

How will you brand and position Ten Hotels?

Ten Hotels' concept is for mid-scale development and we would be using the owners' brands and international brands to help us position ourselves in the market.

What is your sales and marketing strategy?

Sales and marketing is the key to success for any hotel and it will always be the measure used by hotel owners to determine the success of the brand/management company that they have chosen to work with. Ten Hotels will provide a large distribution of sales offices, cutting edge technology to power our reservations from our own website as well as GDS and ADS listings and support. We are setting up our own data centre to centrally host PMS, provide complete CRS and manage 24x7 room inventories and yields. Besides this, a call centre and a toll free line are a given.

Have you tied up with any development projects?

We have just set up our office last month and have put our initial infrastructure, website, and a world class team in place. We are currently deliberating with developers/owners in Kolkata, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Goa, Mumbai and Delhi. We aim to have four projects by the end of this year.

arijeetb

May 29th, 2009, 03:37 PM

^^yeah it's under construction.

remember the twin towers that look like 2 devil's horn.

i am not talking about the twin Westin towers which is also under construction.

^^Both Westin & Shristi are one and the same.

arijeetb

May 29th, 2009, 08:49 PM

Ambuja Realty to invest Rs 1,000 cr this fiscal (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ambuja-realty-to-invest-rs-1000-cr-this-fiscal/63237/on)

Kolkata-based Ambuja Realty today said it plans to invest around Rs 1,000 crore in the current fiscal for developing malls, residential townships and IT parks in Kolkata.
He said the group's turnover for last fiscal was around Rs 250 crore.

The real estate company, at present, is developing four malls in Siliguri, Haldia and Raipur apart from an IT Park in Kolkata spread over 1 million sq ft, Neotia said.

"About one-third of the IT Park is ready. We are also developing a 150 room five-star hotel in Kolkata near the airport," Neotia said.

The company is in talks with some international hotel chains and hopes to finalise a deal by July, he added.

"We plan to open the hotel in the January-March quarter next year," he said.

Although rents and lease rates have shrunk by 10-15 per cent in Kolkata, there is not much reduction in the cost of raw materials, he said.

Samrat

May 30th, 2009, 03:59 PM

todscreen, your comments on posts 2190 and 2194 are contradictory. In 2190 you are saying its under construction whereas in 2194 you are saying "are the westin towers done yet?" what does that mean?

you did not reply to sidney jec's query also.

If you know yourself that the westin tower is under construction, post some documentary proor of construction:nuts:

todscreen

May 31st, 2009, 02:51 AM

Suncity

May 31st, 2009, 05:34 AM

I doubt construction has started on this project. Saraf probably is the best person to find out more.

Civitas

May 31st, 2009, 07:40 AM

Suncity

May 31st, 2009, 03:37 PM

It really started around 2 months back...many piling machines are there inside and sristi's board outside

:banana:

Samrat

May 31st, 2009, 03:47 PM

then it will be really great if Sarafindian posts some construction activity photos of the site as per his convenience:cheers:

Suncity

May 31st, 2009, 03:49 PM

then it will be really great if Sarafindian posts some construction activity photos of the site as per his convenience:cheers:

Or Civitas.

India101

June 2nd, 2009, 01:34 PM

Project by Studio u+a Architects

Asian Gateway

300 acre mixed use mini-township

Client: The Chatterjee Group

Status: Design

Render:

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5537/1bigw.jpg

Site Plan:

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/2146/2big.jpg

Link to website (http://www.studioua.com/)

mooktada

June 2nd, 2009, 04:22 PM

[QUOTE=India101;37635812]Project by Studio u+a Architects

Asian Gateway

300 acre mixed use mini-township

Client: The Chatterjee Group

Status: Design

Render:

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5537/1bigw.jpg

This was one of those projects that was abandoned. it clearly says "unbuilit".

SarafIndian

June 2nd, 2009, 07:41 PM

It really started around 2 months back...many piling machines are there inside and sristi's board outside

I doubt construction has started on this project. Saraf probably is the best person to find out more.

then it will be really great if Sarafindian posts some construction activity photos of the site as per his convenience:cheers:

I will try to take some photos next time when I will be in New Town. It is great to hear that construction started as Civitas informed us. :cheers:

khilani003

June 3rd, 2009, 12:56 PM

HopePersists

June 4th, 2009, 05:59 PM

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/5249/thumb1a.jpg

Jun 2009, 0000 hrs IST, PRIYANKA DASGUPTA , TNN
Few among them came with expectations of seeing an elephant or two on the streets of Kolkata.

Having shot here in Trisha Jhim Ray’s Sugar Baby for two weeks, the five actors returned to the US recently with memories of the city as a cosmopolitan hub. As for elephants, well, one of them carried home a mini one from a curio shop!

Iheny Nieto

Kolkata has been an amazing experience for me. I loved the people and the city’s work culture. I’ve been eating the spicy food too. There is absolutely no truth to the myth about Kolkatans having a laid-back attitude. People report on time and have very high energy levels. Jasmine, Christina and I play street singers. Though this hardly happens in Kolkata, we wanted to use this to project a surreal Kolkata. It’s a Kolkata that our director would love to see. I was very excited to have acted with Soumitra Chatterjee. I’ve admired him as an actor. Once I return to Venezuela, I’ll describe Kolkata as the most fascinating place to work in. I’m taking back a memento of an elephant that I bought from a curio shop in Kolkata.

Jasmine Darby
This was my first visit to India. My grandparents were from Chennai and it’s great to be in touch with my roots this way. Not that I had too much of expectations before I came down to India, I sure am happy with my Kolkata experience. I’m touched by the warmth and don’t feel like going home. I’m impressed with the
dedication of the Indian actors.

My co-actor, Tanmay Dhanania, was extremely impressive since he was always in character. I’ve got addicted to sipping tea from earthen cups. When I return to Houston, I’m going to tell my American friends that an India visit is a must to see how people can be so happy and content even when they don’t have a lot at their disposal. That’s something, we Americans, hardly know about.

Christina Aldridge
Kolkata has been a magical experience for me. Though I never harboured great expectations, deep down I felt I just might chance upon an elephant on the street. Not that I was very disappointed when I didn’t see any. But I did get to see a lot of cows straying on the streets while shooting. What was particularly interesting is that I’m playing a Bengali in this film. I had my doubts over whether I would be able to pull off my role. But I think I did a decent job, speaking in a slight British accent. I loved the Bengali rituals and culture too. Being a vegetarian, I’ve also tasted Bengali vegetarian cuisine.

Zak Tomic
Ami Kolkatar lok ke pocchondo kori. I’ve picked up some Bengali phrases. By the time I return for the film’s premiere, I’m sure will have mastered a lot more. In Sugar Baby, Sean and I play American record producers who come down to India. I loved working with Soumitra (Chatterjee) and Barun (Chanda). Shooting in Kolkata in the guerrilla style has been so exciting. While Texas is quite slow-paced, Kolkata is much faster. I’m taking back kurtas and neckpieces from Kolkata. And I must say, the chicken tandoori tastes awesome!

Sean Will
Kolkata beats Texas hands down in terms of its energy levels. The city is vibrant. People have a good sense of humour. I am intrigued by the city’s spiritual history. I wouldn’t dwell too much on the city’s slums. Poverty is not something unknown in Amercia. Kolkata didn’t give me any culture shock. It’s as cosmopolitan now as any other city in the States. What I like about Kolkata is its undying spirit. Of course, working with Soumitra was an unforgettable experience. He is very professional as well as great fun to work with.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Potpourri/Kolkata-beats-Texas-hands-down/articleshow/4613237.cms

SarafIndian

June 5th, 2009, 07:02 PM

SarafIndian

June 6th, 2009, 07:22 AM

Source: Times of India

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv214/SarafIndian3/Ad0011417.png

khilani003

June 6th, 2009, 07:47 AM

The Eden Gardens project was awarded to Burt Hill:

LINK (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/glam-look-awaits-eden-gardens-ahead-of-2011-world-cup/472288/)

In months to come, Kolkata's beloved cricket stadium Eden Gardens will have a hip and glam look.

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has roped in world-famous American design firm Burt Hill to overhaul the stadium in a two-year project. With infrastructure makeover of the Eden long overdue, CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya announced that the US-based firm has been picked for redesigning the Eden, in association with Ahmedabad-based architectural consultants VMS.

"We had invited three parties to give us presentations on the renovation project. We have chosen Burt Hill for the job," Dalmiya told The Indian Express shortly after the CAB top brass held a final meeting on the issue.

The CAB is expected to shell out Rs 50 crore to Rs 80 crore for the project and the Indian Cricket Board has promised to fund half the expenditure. The work involves complete restructuring of the stadium, including replacing the decades-old concrete seats with comfortable, world-class plastic chairs, establishing a top-class shade spanning the stands, renovating the existing structure, building an additional media box and setting up additional practice facilities within the stadium complex.

A new-look Eden is all the more necessary since the existing stadium falls short of norms set by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the 2011 World Cup, to be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Burt Hill is based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and has massive experience Â— from building many world-renowned university campuses to providing blueprint plans for urban townships in the US and the UAE.

The American design firm's projects include the Tamil Nadu Assembly complex in Chennai, University of Chicago and Middle East Broadcasting Network complex in Dubai. Burt Hill's partner for the Eden makeover Â— Ahmedabad-based VMS Â— is not new to the job, having built the stadium's BC Roy Club House complex in 1987.

Dalmiya said the next step is to seek permission for the project from the authorities. Since the Kolkata Maidan is under the Defence Ministry, the CAB will have to seek the Army's permission for any infrastructure-related work on Eden Gardens.

"We have to discuss the new plan with the Army and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. We need their permission to go ahead with it," Dalmiya said. IPL team Knight Riders' co-owner Jay Mehta, too, had offered to take up the Eden makeover job, and Mehta's Singapore-based firm HOK had given the CAB officials a detailed presentation.Â But the CAB opted for the US firm.

Strangely, all 3 firms are technically US based. HOK's headquarters is in St. Louis & REDO has an office in Milwaukee. Out of the 3 only HOK is world famous. What isn't mentioned is that Burt Hill has an office in Ahmadabad and REDO has 3 offices in India. Seems that VMS being the firm that worked on the stadium in 1987 had more to do with this than anything else. Let's hope that Burt Hill rises to the occasion and turns out a great project for the City.

HopePersists

June 7th, 2009, 09:46 AM

KOLKATA: The UPA government would make take all possible steps to bring back the past glory of Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), minister of state for
shipping Mukul Roy said here on Saturday. A project to dress up the riverfront in key towns along the Hooghly river seems to be also on the minister’s mind.

Mr Roy held a meeting with senior KoPT officials today and assured them that the government would look into the pending projects and issues concerning the port, which is the country’s only riverine facility.
There are proposals for a container terminal at Diamond Harbour and few additional jetties outside the lockgate of Haldia Dock Complex.

"The government would like KoPT officials to take up a beautification project along the river Hooghly," Mr Roy said later at Trinamool Congress’ Kalighat party office. The shallow draught of the Hooghly has been a key issue and the minister instructed KoPT officials to address this problem post haste. On Haldia dock, he said, five dredgers are at work and the number would be increased to seven or eight.

The Kolkata port has two dock systems -- Kolkata dock system at Kolkata and a deep water dock system at Haldia Dock Complex.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Transportation/UPA-to-bring-back-past-glory-of-Kolkata-Port-trust/articleshow/4625749.cms

sidney_jec

June 8th, 2009, 08:32 AM

Saw a headline in Zee business today that Infy has withdrawn its project from Bengal..
why did they ever made tyhe decision to come to bengal cuz all they do is flip flop their decisions..

sidney_jec

June 8th, 2009, 10:33 AM

More on the above news:

FC (http://www.mydigitalfc.com/companies/infosys-drops-west-bengal-project-058)

Infosys drops West Bengal project

By Darlington Jose Hector & Thanuja BM

As far as Infosys goes, the West Bengal story is as good as over. Neither has the state government shown any interest in pursuing Infosys, not does the company see any urgent business need to begin operations there.

In 2004 (:?) Infosys had planned to invest Rs 500 crore in setting up a development centre, seating 5,000 people, in Kolkata.

Infosys CEO Kris Gopalakrishnan told Financial Chronicle that the company was forced to have a “relook” at its plans in West Bengal. It had sought up to 100 acres of land, but it was not satisfied with the plot offered.
A couple of months ago, West Bengal’s minister for information technology and biotechnology, Debesh Das, had told reporters in Bangalore that his government was planning to provide land to Infosys this year.
“There seems to be no communication on this. So we have decided to put the project on the backburner,” said Gopalakrishnan.
“The new economic environment is not conducive to any expansion. So that’s a consideration as well,” he said. “Instead, we plan to focus on ongoing expansion at Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad.” Infosys plans to add 20,756 seats this year to take the total to 1,15,000.

Infosys is facing problems also in the Sarjapur project in Bangalore. The company has tied up about 300 acres “but land conversion has not taken place yet,” Gopalakrishnan said. The project has been on the drawing board since 2000 when Infosys had asked the Karnataka government for 845 acres. This was refused. Three subsequent requests were approved but the project has not moved an inch since controversies arose after former prime minister Deve Gowda questioned the company’s land acquisition motives.

todscreen

June 8th, 2009, 06:21 PM

^^wtv, the Bengal government was doing good for the country by allowing national big wiz to set up shops in Bengal...but I guess, that was the wrong way to go.

foreign, european and american companies are always better. it doesn't take much to make them happy.

Civitas

June 8th, 2009, 07:48 PM

845 acres in Bangalore !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No surprise that it was denied (I am not supporter of our sleeping prime minister either)
But, Mr. Murthy should have some parity between his tall talks in different international conferences and actual practice of his company.

More on the above news:

FC (http://www.mydigitalfc.com/companies/infosys-drops-west-bengal-project-058)

SarafIndian

June 8th, 2009, 07:50 PM

More on the above news:

FC (http://www.mydigitalfc.com/companies/infosys-drops-west-bengal-project-058)

So, what is their point? They didn't like the land or didn't get the land.. or state govt's reluctance.. or current economic condition? :nuts:

Lets offer the land to some others.

fred_the_cute_guy

June 9th, 2009, 06:14 AM

But I know it for a fact (no citation/reference with me at the moment - but if anyone can give one I would be more than happy) that Infosys had considered selling off some of its massive land bank during the recession.

So, I see absolutely no sense in developing a state-sponsored real estate business on behalf of Infosys. What happened in Bangalore is good for the country in the sense of building the right practice, and in some sense I am still absolutely sure that if Infosys was serious about Kolkata then they would agree to a few blocks of highrises.

Yes, they "love" their great green campuses. They claim it is a great company practice they have always followed - it is great for their employee morale and hence their business.

But in the recession times, they have cut a lot on many fronts just like all other companies, which also used to be their norms earlier all along. In other words, they had to adjust to reality. Given all this, they could have adjusted to the land reality too had they wanted and needed.

I still say, kudos to Bengal for not giving away half of Rajarhat to Infosys. A real business need can be met by real actions, not sky-high demands of personalization of public property just showing track record.

P.S.: I am no Infosys employee or is no way related to Infosys.

P.P.S.: When I read all this crap of demands coming from Infosys, I sincerely wish something I had barely managed to avoid during my Masters' Degree awarding convocation had happened - it was raining and I was climbing open stairs - I slipped and barely avoided a fall. I wish I had fallen then, since the next man walking to me was none other than the famous N. M. of Infosys, and I would have landed with all my 100 Kilos of weight on him. Such a flattering might have been good for our country!:lol:

P.P.P.S.: I feel like asking some of the Govts that I want to develop <project foobar>, would you kindly gift me 5 cities, 33 towns and 229 villages, all from India? I am really flexible, and I shall leave it for you to select which are the cities, towns and villages you would give me, given that you have a fair definition of such agglomerations.:rofl:
________________________________________________________________
Far infrared sauna (http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1617393)

sidney_jec

June 9th, 2009, 08:28 AM

^^ i have personally started hating Infy for their filthy demands..
one thing is for sure that they have a parallel business of real estate running along successfully..

todscreen

June 9th, 2009, 08:55 AM

stop hating yo...he is not worth it. or is he? my god..its a mystery. i am high.

good night.

Jim856796

June 10th, 2009, 06:15 AM

Not sure if anyone is keeping up on this, but 3 architecture firms have presented to the Cricket Association of Bengal here in Kolkata over the last month in hopes of getting the renovation project. The teams are:

Burt Hill Architects w/ VMS Group
HOK Singapore
Research Design Office (REDO) w/ REX, Tom Leader, & Ove Arup

The CAB is looking to do a major renovation of Eden Gardens with 3 deadlines in mind - IPL 2010, World Cup 2011 (Eden Gardens will be site for one of the Semi-Finals, among other matches), and 2018 - 100th Anniversary of the initial First Class Match.

Decision should be made within the next week or so. Let's hope Eden returns to great form.

If there were a renovation/redevelopment plan for Eden Gardens, two tiers topped by a roof would encircle the cricket pitch. But in order for the stadium to achieve this appearence, the following things must happen:

1. The two-tiered stands in the northwest, east, and south are kept (the existing roofs above them and all the old seating and bleachers are removed).
2. The north, northeast, southeast, and west sections are demolished, the entrance is removed and new two-tiered stands similar to the aforementioned stands are built in their place.
3. The floodlights are dismantled and an entirely new roof is built above the existing and new stands.
4. New seating is installed all around the stadium.

The info is all based on this image:

http://connected.uwc.ac.za/blog/images/uploads/eden_gardens2.jpg

This would be a perfect renovation plan for Eden Gardens, but the Cricket World Cup is in two years. and this renovation project might not meet the deadline (if there is a deadline).

sidney_jec

June 10th, 2009, 10:20 AM

Wel wel wel..no surprises i guess..
seems like TMC has undid in just months what Buddha babu was trying to do for the past decade or so..:bash:
ie the return of Bengal to great economic slump (ok fine a little melodramatic but i am SAD right now so that justifies it :( )

after DLF its now Unitech..
i guess in coming time it will only be Bengal based realtors bidding for whatever space is available (?) and that too for peanuts AND of course if they are really interested..
lets see now how much HIDCO would ask for the land (which was charging a hefty 2.5 crores per acre of land in New Town)

BS (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/unitech-exits-new-kolkata-spv/360601/)

Unitech exits New Kolkata SPV
Ishita Ayan Dutt / Kolkata June 10, 2009, 0:00 IST

Sells entire 40 per cent stake to partners, won’t say why.

Unitech, the country’s second-largest property developer, has exited from New Kolkata International Development (NKID) Pvt Ltd, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed to develop several large projects in West Bengal, including the proposed petroleum, chemicals and petrochemical investment region (PCPIR) at Nayachar.

Unitech had 40 per cent stake in NKID, which has been acquired by the Salim group and Universal Success. Sources said NKID was now a 50:50 partnership between these two; earlier, Salim had a 40 per cent stake and Universal had 20 per cent.

When asked why Unitech quit NKID, the former’s managing director, Ajay Chandra, said, “I have no comments on this.”

NKID is a 51 per cent partner for the Nayachar project, while the balance is with the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC). PCPIR apart, NKID has a host of projects over a 15-year period, which include an Eastern Link Highway, SME industrial estates and a deepwater port close to Nayachar island.

Industry observers said one reason behind Unitech’s exit from NKID could be the long gestation period, given the nature of the projects and the huge investments. Though NKID was incorporated in early 2007, some of the projects ran into rough weather with land acquisition, the most important being the PCPIR, which was ultimately relocated from Nandigram to Nayachar.

The investment in developing infrastructure at Nayachar would be Rs 10,000 crore, while the port could cost Rs 8,500 crore. The investments proposed in NKID projects are sizeable. On the other hand, Unitech has run up debt of around Rs 7,800 crore, and plans to cut it by at least Rs 1,000 crore this fiscal. The company has sold assets over the past few months, and aimed to raise around Rs 1,600 crore for the year ending March 31, from sale of non-core assets in Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon and Kolkata. The focus for the company and all other real estate developers now is affordable housing.

Though the Nayachar investments would be made over a long period of time, smaller investments are underway. For instance, four different studies are on. Also, Singapore-based Jurong Town Corporation have been appointed as consultants. Consultants have been appointed for the deepwater port, too. Even with the offloading of stake in NKID, Unitech would have a presence in West Bengal. The company has a residential project in New Town Rajarhat and an IT park, in partnership with the Universal Success group.

sidney_jec

June 10th, 2009, 11:06 AM

Rediff (http://business.rediff.com/report/2009/jun/10/kolkata-to-boast-of-a-ghost-restaurant-soon.htm)

Kolkata to boast of a 'ghost restaurant' soon!

If you move into a rundown building off a national highway in Howrah this November and are ushered in by a skeleton to a cob webbed dining hall, don't shriek.

Ghosts will take orders from you with a welcome smile and goblins will pop out of frames on walls to sit beside you in a ghost restaurant being constructed by world-famous magician P C Sorcar (junior).

The restaurant is coming up on a secluded spot beside the National Highway-6, a few kilometres from Kolkata [ Images ] and the apparitions will be certainly hosting the earthlings post-Diwali this year.

The dilapidated look of the house, which has graves in the compound, spooky pictures on the walls and small windows, will be accentuated by diffused lighting, laser rays and animated models. Sorcar (junior) is not willing to divulge more.

"Imagine how it will be like if a waiter takes off his own head and puts it on plate while noting orders from the customer. Or if a ghoul springs up from the nearby grave and sits next to you. Or a goblin walks out of the picture frame and asks your name," the master illusionist asked.

"My ghosts will be kind enough to allow one to leave the place through side doors if things become too much for him to bear. But if one stays till the end, he will only become less superstitious by knowing magic is nothing but science and ghostly acts are all executed by humans," Sorcar (junior) explained.

The guests will get to savour multi-cuisine dishes but the USP will be the other-worldly virtual show, probably the country's first such venture, the magician said.

"My purpose is not to start a restaurant business and make profits; I want to provide unadulterated fun to people of all ages and educate people about what magic is all about. It is nothing supernatural, god-gifted, but plain science," Sorcar (junior), added.

The restaurant will be open on all seven days with Sorcar (junior), his magician daughter Maneka, other members of the family and members of the troupe monitoring the show.

"I am sure it will be a one-stop destination for tourists and local people," he says.

arijeetb

June 10th, 2009, 01:17 PM

sidney_jec

June 10th, 2009, 01:55 PM

^^ I do not see this as a impact to Uniworld city or Infospace projects.

i know and i never said that..
i am just pesimistic about the future projects..

SarafIndian

June 10th, 2009, 08:31 PM

Two small bridges(4 lanes) over the Canal near swiss gate(Near Saltlake 8 no) and nico park have almost been completed. Excepting them to be opened within a week or two. This may relieve some traffic pressure on wipro junction. I think Tantia was working on those :cheers:

arijeetb

June 11th, 2009, 12:46 AM

Diamond Prestige @ AJC Bose Road - Renovation and reconstruction by Diamond group is being done well!

photo cc - arijeetb

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/9716/diamondprestige.jpg

arijeetb

June 11th, 2009, 12:50 AM

Lake Mall @ RB Avenue

photo cc - arijeetb

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/2254/lakemall.jpg

arijeetb

June 11th, 2009, 12:53 AM

Terminus Mall under construction

photo cc - arijeetb

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/1012/terminusmall.jpg

HopePersists

June 11th, 2009, 04:36 PM

^^fresh updates there...:cheers: thanks arijeetb

arijeetb

June 11th, 2009, 06:51 PM

^^fresh updates there...:cheers: thanks arijeetb

HP:cheers:

Suncity

June 12th, 2009, 03:27 AM

Nice updates arijeetb!

:cheers:

todscreen

June 12th, 2009, 03:45 AM

yeah...awesome updates

i like all the new buildings that are coming up.

arijeetb

June 12th, 2009, 07:33 PM

Ideal Center on AJC Bose Road
photo cc - arijeetb

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/1527/idealcenter.jpg

arijeetb

June 12th, 2009, 07:35 PM

Diamond City West on Ho Chi Minh Sarani, Behala
photo cc - arijeetb

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/1646/dcw02.jpg

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/185/dcw01.jpg

todscreen

June 12th, 2009, 10:05 PM

Ideal Center on AJC Bose Road
photo cc - arijeetb

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/1527/idealcenter.jpg

looks horrible.

some of these architects needs to be shot. who gave them the right to create such top heavy buildings.

godly buildings are always built bottom heavy. this idea needs to be taught to these shoddy architects.

todscreen

June 13th, 2009, 06:38 AM

Hey sun, can you make salt lake stadium, Kolkata projects I and II, Rajarhat Trip 2008 all stickys so that the Kolkata Subforum looks better organized.

also can you correct the font design on this project:
New Town |World Bengal Tower |42 fl |Proposed ‎( 1 2)

new town needs to be all caps

thanks

fred_the_cute_guy

June 13th, 2009, 07:51 PM

Hey sun, can you make salt lake stadium, Kolkata projects I and II, Rajarhat Trip 2008 all stickys so that the Kolkata Subforum looks better organized.

Yes, this makes sense. Not sure about Rajarhat trip and Salt Lake Stadium, but Kolkata 1 and II definitely are good candidates to make sticky.

also can you correct the font design on this project:
New Town |World Bengal Tower |42 fl |Proposed ‎( 1 2)

new town needs to be all caps

thanks

Why should New Town be all in CAPS? Does it not read weird?
___________________________________________________________
Far infrared sauna (http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1617393) Healthmate sauna (http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1678444")

todscreen

June 13th, 2009, 07:59 PM

Yes, this makes sense. Not sure about Rajarhat trip and Salt Lake Stadium, but Kolkata 1 and II definitely are good candidates to make sticky.

Why should New Town be all in CAPS? Does it not read weird?
___________________________________________________________
Far infrared sauna (http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1617393) Healthmate sauna (http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1678444")

oh thats just the design all the other projects are setup in.
if you go here...you can see the basic setup when writing head titles.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1233

todscreen

June 13th, 2009, 08:02 PM

i was thinking about having a Kolkata Google EARTH thread. which subforum should i place it in. any suggestions.

this will be different than the google Kolkata thread..which is from google maps.

Google earth is awesome. and some of the images really stand out and are very interesting with amazing details. we can locate and name the general places and create some sort of a main tourist attraction list.

sabya99

June 13th, 2009, 11:18 PM

Please put it to Google's Kolkata thread.Make sure it is updated frequently. Lots of Kolkata people work in google campus at SFX , they might help you!

Suncity

June 14th, 2009, 04:26 AM

Salt Lake-New Town bridge inaugurated

Statesman News

four-lane bridge connecting Sector V of Salt Lake with Rajarhat New Town was inaugurated today.
The project had been taken up for faster movement of airport-bound traffic from Sector V, the state's main electronic hub.
It may be recalled that heads of several IT companies had met chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and IT minister Mr Debesh Das and requested them to ensure a hassle-free drive between Sector V and airport. The estimated cost of the 30 metre bridge is Rs 1.50 crore. The state government and the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) have borne the expenditure. A senior KMDA official said the bridge is likely to reduce the pressure of vehicular traffic on JK Saha Bridge in Salt Lake.

todscreen

June 14th, 2009, 04:40 AM

Nirvana Country is coming up well
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv233/kolkatawb/NirvanaCountry.jpg

http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv233/kolkatawb/nirvanacountry2.jpg

cc;todscreen

todscreen

June 14th, 2009, 04:42 AM

I just spotted something amazing.

this could very well be the inner-city diversionary highway linking Kona Expressway to Central Howrah and Grand Howrah.
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv233/kolkatawb/newroad.jpg

the new leveled ground follows the rail track from Satragachi station to Howrah station and connects to major road through intersection.
cc:todscreen

Suncity

June 14th, 2009, 07:03 PM

Uniworld City and Rosedale - from Google Earth

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/2397/kolkatarajarhatgglunis.jpg (http://img194.imageshack.us/i/kolkatarajarhatgglunis.jpg/)

HopePersists

June 15th, 2009, 05:18 AM

^^ That's incredible Sun...:cheers: .. left me speechless...

sidney_jec

June 15th, 2009, 10:58 AM

lovely..
amazing pic..

Samrat

June 15th, 2009, 11:46 AM

wonderful image. Thank you very much Sun for posting the clear picture :banana:

But one thing worrys me that work seems stalled at the site of Unitech Air which is apparently not growing for quite some time. Can anybody put light on the current situation there:)

sidney_jec

June 15th, 2009, 01:33 PM

^^ dont worry..
they wont abandon the project at this stage :)

sidney_jec

June 16th, 2009, 07:53 AM

TOI EPaper

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/9073/getimagedll.png

arijeetb

June 16th, 2009, 09:27 PM

Wipro crossing Flyover update
photo cc: arijeetb

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/8652/flyoverwipromor.jpg

arijeetb

June 16th, 2009, 11:12 PM

HomeTown opens up in New Town (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090617/jsp/calcutta/story_11118687.jsp)
Calcutta is set to welcome its biggest retail outlet, a 200,000sq ft answer to international giants Ikea and Home Depot, at a time when a clutch of large-format shop stops have downed shutters or are on the brink of closure.

HomeTown, the “first-of-its-kind home improvement retail format in India”, will unveil its largest store this week at Bengal Shrachi’s Block by Block mall in New Town. The store will be as big as the entire Forum mall.

“We have always shared a special emotional connect with Calcutta and this HomeTown store is an affirmation of our faith in this city,” Kishore Biyani, the CEO of the Future Group, told Metro. The HomeTown chain is owned by Home Solutions (India) Ltd, a part of the Future Group.

The Rajarhat shop stop, to be inaugurated on June 20, will be the seventh in the chain after Noida, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Lucknow. The store will be divided into three sections — exhibitions, markets and services, with over 150 rooms designed and fitted out on display. It will also provide design-and-build services to customers, with a team of designers on the rolls.

The markets section will feature products for living room, dining room, bedroom, kids’ room, kitchen, bathroom, home furnishings, mattresses, eZone (consumer durables and electronics) and Depot (books, music etc). The services section will offer options such as Mr Carpenter, Mr Plumber, Mr Electrician, Mr Painter, door delivery and installation.

“This will do wonders for Rajarhat’s sagging public image, which has seen negative perception amplify in recent months over infrastructure issues. A huge destination retail address like HomeTown has the power to draw footfalls from far and wide,” said Rahul Todi, the managing director of Bengal Shrachi.

Consumers will also get professional advice on various home-related issues, ranging from interiors, carpentry, plumbing and painting to even grihapravesh puja.

Future Group is targeting revenues of Rs 1,800 crore from the chain of HomeTown stores. The Rajarhat address is twice the average size of the other outlets and is expected to generate “substantially higher” revenues than the template target of Rs 200 crore from each store.

“Such a gigantic store is an emphatic renewal of faith in Calcutta’s retail climate and will go a long way in boosting investor confidence in these troubled times. The Rajarhat HomeTown will have a large catchment area and a home-solutions format like this will always have takers, boom or bust,” said Abhijit Das of retail and property consultants Lemongrass Advisors.

Future Group is also rolling out seven large-format stores in and around the city over the next few months — four Big Bazaar outlets in Salt Lake and Lake Mall (45,000sq ft each), Sealdah (50,000sq ft), Birati (21,000sq ft), a Pantaloons store in City Centre 2 (40,000sq ft) and two outlets in Mani Square — Fashion @ Big Bazaar and Planet Sports.