Cochin (Kochi) / Ernakulam Projects II

[Cosmicbliss]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

Emke Group to invest 1500-2000 crore worth projects across Kerala.

Kochi remains favourite destination for Emke Group's investment.

The projects are

1. Lulu Shopping Mall- India's largest Mall at Edappally

2. Grand Hyatt International Convention and Hotel facility- Bolgatty- planned to India's largest ICC Facility

3. 2 Million Sqft Logistics Park at Aluva again planned to country's largest. The park will feature a 1.5 Million Sqft General Warehousing facility, while remaining 0.5 Million Cold storage facility, aiming to improve food and agricultural exports/imports.

In addition to this, Lulu Flight Kitchen and Marriot Airport Hotel at Nedumbassery as well as ICC-Kozhikode are some of other key projects.

Mohammed, can the government expand city corporation limits of Kochi so that Kochi has 30-35 lakh people? Is it politically feasible? As of now, Kochi city-not UA-has only 6-7 lakh. Expansion will help the city get more funding. My personal feeling was the whole Ernakulam district can become Kochi district and 90 % of it can be under city corporation limits. That will also end the debate about why Kochi with less people should get Metro and at the same time pave the way for Kochi to become 10th or 9th biggest city in India.

[AbrahamVCherry]

Multiple delights await Kochiites
By Amritha K R - KOCHI 24th July 2012 11:27 AM


A model of the upcoming Kettuvallam Bridge at the extended stretch of the Marine Drive.
Kochiites will soon have four brand new public spaces along its most popular walkway. Come August and Marine Drive will spot two sea view towers, a food court and the Kettuvalam Palam (Houseboat Bridge).

The two sea view towers will come up along the newly extended portion of the Marine Drive stretching up to the Goshree Bridge. The Kettuvallam Palam will be constructed in such a way that the portion at the centre is left open. The two towers will be constructed here. The bottom of the tower will spot restaurants and other amenities like bathrooms, kiosks and so on.

The visitors will be able to climb to the very top of the tower and get the view of the backwaters and beyond. The food court too will be along the length of the walkway. It will be an open food court, again to make the most of the beauty of the waters.

“The structures are part of our efforts to promote tourism in the city. One of the towers is in its final stages, the other is almost half done. The Kettuvalam Palam has also been constructed. The food court will be given away for lease. We will be opening the whole structure along with the walkway by August,” said GCDA Chairman, N Venugopal.

The whole structure along with the 1.5 metre-long extended walkway comes at a cost of `7 crores for the GCDA. This includes lighting facilities along the length of the walkway, remote controlled musical systems at suitable points and other basic facilities.

Apart from this, the GCDA will soon float tenders for laser light-cum-musical water facility at Rajendra Maidan. The facility will include a dancing musical water fountain show.

After the musical water fountain show there will be a laser light show. The laser light show looks at making fluorescent structures in mid-air, short laser light films and cartoons on a screen of water formed by the musical fountain.

The facility will be charged between ` 50- `100 for a show of one hour duration. The whole facility is expected to cost under `3 crores for the GCDA. The structure is expected to come up in a few months' time.

http://newindianexpress.com/cities/k...icle575107.ece

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by Cosmicbliss

Mohammed, can the government expand city corporation limits of Kochi so that Kochi has 30-35 lakh people? Is it politically feasible? As of now, Kochi city-not UA-has only 6-7 lakh. Expansion will help the city get more funding. My personal feeling was the whole Ernakulam district can become Kochi district and 90 % of it can be under city corporation limits. That will also end the debate about why Kochi with less people should get Metro and at the same time pave the way for Kochi to become 10th or 9th biggest city in India.

Thats purely politics coupled with issue of being a Business city....

Just like Kerala, Kochi's city politics has its own paradoxes. Its a business city and supposed to be inclined towards pro-capitalist attitude. But over past few decades, its CPM/Left who was ruling the corporation. The prime reason is because, a good chunk of upper and higher class people, refuses to vote for Congress, because of their basic legarthy towards politics.

Whereas if one looks, the surrounding Muncipalities and Panchyats are more pro-Congress/Right oriented.... This is where the real Middle class of Kochi lives.....

However, a combined/larger corporation makes all parties fear, who will get the lion's share.... For example, its well known, Kalamassery, Maradu and Thrikkakara are absolute and natural part of Kochi. But Congress govt will never wish to merge it with Cochin Corporation, fearing loss of power.... A similar fear exists within Left, when many of their powerful centres, including Tripunithara, Chottanikara, Varapuzha etc merges with Corporation....

Thats why Kochi remains the only major corporation which remained NOT REDEFINED even in 2009 Govt decision to increase size of existing corporation.

One thing, we must note, all these Municipalities are cash rich, as they get lot of funds for projects..... Which Political party, donot want to dip their hands into it?

Secondly today a very large percentage of real business house, that generates larger income have moved outside the real Cochin Corporation limits. They are currently subjected to lower Municipality/Panchyat taxes, whereas Corporations have more larger.... They will try to veto very decision of govt to annex these Municipalities into larger Corporation nets.....

Not just corporates, even a good number of individuals like me, owing to our personal reasons, donot wish to see Corporation limits extending. For example, I am basically supporting a larger Cochin Corporation. But as a current resident of Thrikkakara Muncipality, I feel they are doing things 100 times better than Cochin Corporation. We are having better roads, better street lighting, better waste management here, than Cochin Corporation, at the same time essentially enjoying being part of Kochi City for all practical purposes.

Aluva is another example. The Municipality of Aluva is highly proactive. They take people's grievances more seriously and better responding, than Corporation and its age old antics..... Naturally, there won't be extensive public pressure to annex and add these places into Kochi Corporation.

[psanthosh]

Terminal for Lakshadweep vessels to be inaugurated



The terminal is ready for receiving vessels and other passenger vessels are expected at the terminal in the coming days. The terminal has been built on the Mattancherry channel.

The new terminal complex for passenger vessels to and from Lakshadweep islands, built at a cost Rs. 38 crore, is nearing completion and is expected to be inaugurated in early September. The terminal was, however, informally inaugurated with the arrival of the vessel Lakshadweep Sea here on Monday.

The terminal is ready for receiving vessels and other passenger vessels are expected at the terminal in the coming days. The terminal has been built on the Mattancherry channel and is 300 metres long and 12 metres wide. It can receive up to three vessels at a time.

The terminal will be served six metres of draft.

Sources in the Lakshadweep Administration said that work on the building and the terminal complex would be completed by the end of August.

The terminal complex, a two-storey building with 16,500 sq. ft. of space, was funded by the Union Home Ministry and the work was carried out by the Port Trust. The complex comprises ticket counters and other facilities for the passengers.

The spokesman said that the terminal will serve around two to three thousand passengers a month. The Lakshadweep administration has four vessels plying between Kochi and the islands during the monsoon season. These vessels are Lakshadweep Sea, Kavaratti, Bharat Seema and Arabian Sea.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle3681732.ece

[psanthosh]

http://malayalam.deepikaglobal.com/N...ewscode=100562

[psanthosh]

കൊച്ചിയില്* നിന്ന് ശബരിമലയ്ക്കും ഗുരുവായൂര്*ക്കും ഹെലിക്കോപ്റ്റര്* സര്*വീസ്

കൊച്ചി: ഡല്*ഹി ആസ്ഥാനമായുള്ള ചാര്*ട്ടേര്*ഡ് വിമാനക്കമ്പനി ചിപ്*സാന്* ഏവിയേഷന്* കൊച്ചിയില്* നിന്ന് ശബരിമലയിലേക്കും ഗുരുവായൂരിലേക്കും ഹെലിക്കോപ്റ്റര്* സര്*വീസ് ആരംഭിക്കുന്നു. മലയാളികളായ സുനില്* നാരായണന്റെയും ഡെയ്*സിയുടെയും നേതൃത്വത്തിലുള്ള കമ്പനിയാണിത്. അടുത്തയാഴ്ച ഹെലിക്കോപ്റ്റര്* കൊച്ചി അന്താരാഷ്ട്ര വിമാനത്താവളത്തിലെത്തും. ആഗസ്ത് ആദ്യ പകുതിയില്* സര്*വീസ് തുടങ്ങും.

അയല്* സംസ്ഥാനങ്ങളില്* നിന്നെത്തുന്ന തീര്*ത്ഥാടകരെക്കൂടി ലക്ഷ്യം വച്ചാണ് ഹെലിക്കോപ്റ്റര്* സര്*വീസ് തുടങ്ങുന്നതെന്ന് സുനില്* നാരായണന്* പറഞ്ഞു. കൊച്ചി അന്താരാഷ്ട്ര വിമാനത്താവളം കേന്ദ്രീകരിച്ചാണ് സര്*വീസ്. പാര്*ക്കിങ്, മെയിന്റനന്*സ് എന്നിവയ്ക്കായി സിയാലുമായി ധാരണയിലെത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട്.

ശബരിമലയില്* 43 കിലോമീറ്റര്* അകലെ സജ്ജമാക്കുന്ന താത്കാലിക ഹെലിപാഡിലായിരിക്കും ഹെലിക്കോപ്റ്റര്* ഇറങ്ങുക. ഗുരുവായൂരില്* ക്ഷേത്രനടയ്ക്ക് നാലര കിലോമീറ്റര്* അകലെ ഇറങ്ങാന്* സൗകര്യമുണ്ടാവും. കൊച്ചിയില്* നിന്ന് ശബരിമലയില്* ഒന്നരമണിക്കൂറിലും ഗുരുവായൂരിലേക്ക് ഒരു മണിക്കൂറിലും പോയി വരാം. ഹെലിപാഡില്* ഇറങ്ങിയ ശേഷം റോഡ് മാര്*ഗം സഞ്ചാരികളെ ക്ഷേത്രത്തില്* എത്തിക്കും.

ശബരിമലയിലേക്ക് ഹെലിക്കോപ്റ്റര്* സര്*വീസ് തുടങ്ങാന്* ഏതാനും വര്*ഷം മുമ്പ് മറ്റൊരു കമ്പനി രംഗത്തെത്തിയതാണെങ്കിലും അനുമതി ലഭിക്കാത്തതിനെത്തുടര്*ന്ന് പിന്*മാറിയിരുന്നു.

ഫ്രാന്*സില്* നിര്*മിച്ച യൂറോകോപ്റ്റര്* എ. എസ് 350 ബി3 ഹെലിക്കോപ്റ്ററാണ് സര്*വീസിനായി ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നത്. പൈലറ്റ് ഉള്*പ്പെടെ ആറ് പേര്*ക്ക് സഞ്ചരിക്കാം. മണിക്കൂറില്* ശരാശരി 230 കിലോമീറ്റര്* വരെ വേഗത്തില്* സഞ്ചരിക്കാവുന്നതാണ് ഈ ഹെലിക്കോപ്റ്റര്*. ഒറ്റയടിക്ക് രണ്ടു മണിക്കൂര്* യാത്ര ചെയ്യാം. മണിക്കൂറിന് ഒരു ലക്ഷം രൂപയാണ് നിരക്ക്. ഓരോരുത്തര്*ക്കാണെങ്കില്* 25,000-30,000 രൂപ വരും.

ശബരിമല, ഗുരുവായൂര്* എന്നിവയ്ക്ക് പുറമെ മറ്റു പ്രദേശങ്ങളിലേക്കും സര്*വീസ് ഒരുക്കാന്* പദ്ധതിയുണ്ട്. ഷെഡ്യൂള്*ഡ് സര്*വീസുകളല്ലാത്തതിനാല്* എപ്പോള്* വേണമെങ്കിലും പറന്നുയരുന്നതിനും പറന്നിറങ്ങുന്നതിനുമുള്ള അനുമതിയും ചിപ്*സാന്* ഏവിയേഷനുണ്ട്.

തീര്*ത്ഥാടകര്*ക്ക് പുറമെ, വ്യവസായികള്*, സിനിമാതാരങ്ങള്*, രാഷ്ട്രീയ നേതാക്കള്* എന്നിവരെക്കൂടി ലക്ഷ്യം വച്ചാണ് ഹെലിക്കോപ്റ്റര്* സര്*വീസ് ആരംഭിക്കുന്നത്. അത്യാസന്ന നിലയിലുള്ള രോഗികളെ ആസ്​പത്രിയിലെത്തിക്കാന്* ആംബുലന്*സ് ഹെലിക്കോപ്റ്റര്* സര്*വീസും ഒരുക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. സിനിമാ ചിത്രീകരണം, പുഷ്പവൃഷ്ടി എന്നിവയ്ക്കും ഹെലിക്കോപ്റ്റര്* വാടകയ്ക്ക് നല്*കും.

അവധിക്കാലത്തും ഉത്സവകാലങ്ങളിലും നഗരം കാണാന്* അവസരമൊരുക്കുന്ന പാക്കേജുകളും ഒരുക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. ആദ്യപടിയായി കൊച്ചിയില്* ' ജോയ് റൈഡ്*സ് ' എന്ന പേരില്* പ്രത്യേക പാക്കേജ് അവതരിപ്പിക്കും. 15 മിനിറ്റ് കൊണ്ട് കൊച്ചി നഗരത്തിന്റെയും പ്രാന്തപ്രദേശങ്ങളുടെയും ആകാശക്കാഴ്ച കാണാന്* അവസരമൊരുക്കുന്ന പാക്കേജിന് ഒരാള്*ക്ക് 5,000 രൂപയായിരിക്കും. സമീപഭാവിയില്* മറ്റു നഗരങ്ങളിലേക്കും ഇത് വ്യാപിപ്പിക്കും.

http://www.mathrubhumi.com/online/ma...2-07-27/kerala

[psanthosh]

http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bi...D=@@@&tabId=11

[tonapz]

Few days(or weeks) back some one was asking about the huge construction activity going on at Padma Junction. The one with the huge Nikon Camera Flux in Front.

Well the construction is that of IBIS Hotel Kochi.

[mohammedirshad06]

Woww

Good to hear, another famous hotel brand coming to Kochi... Kudos

[KMC]

Good they started construction... so Accor group also made its presence here...

Lots of branded hospitality projects....

[mohammedirshad06]

GCDA's Laser-Water Screen shows

The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) will soon conduct a feasibility study for the musical-water-fountain-cum-laser-light-show proposed to be installed at the Rajendra Maidan.

After holding a meeting with the representatives of firms GCDA chairman, N Venugopal said that the project would be tendered after analyzing the feasibility study report. The project is being planned as part of the agency's efforts to promote tourism.

The estimated cost of the project would be around Rs 3 crore, and the agency hopes to recover the cost by holding three or four shows per day.

Last week, a show was organized by a Bangalore-based firm as a demonstration for the GCDA. According to Venugopal, the firm uses German technology and it is already in place at tourist spots in Singapore, Dubai and other areas. The show would be performed on a water screen which would double up as a musical fountain.

Speaking on the underground exhibition centre being planned at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, he said that the agency had invited designs from registered architects. The agency will shortlist select designs and the final design would be chosen from this.

An underground exhibition centre is also being proposed. The proposed facility will have advanced disaster management equipment and will accommodate 500 exhibition stalls.

[passionfruit12]

In a major revenue-raising exercise, the city corporation has started an inspection and assessment of the unassessed buildings in the Willington Island. Around Rs30 crore of additional money is expected to flow into the corporation coffers when it completes the inspection of over 3,500 door numbers there.

The cash-strapped civic body has started inspecting the Cochin Port Trust-owned buildings in the Island two weeks ago. Officials of the port authority and the corporation revenue department are jointly conducting the assessment.

“We’ve completed inspection of more than 1,000 door numbers. The inspection started from the Island’s north end and we hope to finish it within 30 to 40 days. Three revenue inspectors from Mattancherry, Palluruthy and Fort Kochi zonal offices, bill clerks and officials of the port trust are assessing the buildings,” said a revenue official.

For the past several years, the corporation was not getting tax from these buildings. The Port Trust was giving only a nominal 30 per cent service tax. As most of the buildings in the area have been rented out, leased or licensed by the Port Trust, they were not paying building tax to the corporation. The buildings had been exempted from remitting tax as per an earlier agreement between the Port Trust and the city corporation.

“The buildings in the area, including major hotels, offices and other commercial establishments, are either owned or leased and licensed by the Port Trust. With the revised tax structure, all the buildings except those directly owned by the Port Trust need to pay the actual amount of building tax based on the floor area,” added the official.

from deccanchronicle: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chann...-buildings-088

[passionfruit12]

The four new bio-toilets announced for the city by the will be operational in less than a month’s time. This will take the total number of bio-toilets in the city to seven. The new toilets will come up on Ernakulam Market Canal Road, Palarivattom junction, Vyttila junction and near Kaloor Regional Cancer Centre.

“The installation work of the bio-toilet at Vyttila is almost completed. What remains is the power connection. The one at Palarivattom and Market Road are also in its final stages.

In the case of the bio-toilet next to the Cancer Centre, we have marked off the area. All we need to do is to install it in the area. All of them will be operationalised in three weeks,” said the works committee chairman Soumini Jain.

As of now, three such bio-toilets have been installed by the Corporation at the Town Hall, Kacheripady Junction and at Fort Kochi. Apart from the fact that the toilets occupy very less space and produces only odourless gas and water as bi-products after processing of the septic waste, another advantage of the toilet is that it can be shifted easily as per requirements.

from newindianexpress: http://newindianexpress.com/cities/k...icle577226.ece

[passionfruit12]

Bringing relief to hundreds of people who had invested in different stalled apartment projects of Apple a Day Properties and Star Homes, these two companies have roped in two prominent real estate firms based outside Kerala to complete the projects by pumping in money and repaying those who want their money back.

According to Kerala State Legal Services Authority (Kelsa), a quasi-judicial body under the Kerala high court, the promoters of both the firms recently entered into agreements with two different real estate firms for completing their projects.

Star Homes has entered into an agreement with an Andhra Pradesh-based company to complete its Star County project in 2.87 acres in Aluva. The Andhra firm will pump in Rs 45 crore for this project. This amount will be sufficient to complete other projects and repay those who have invested in the Star County project. The company has agreed to repay investors in six months from August 31.

Apple a Day Properties has roped in a real estate firm based outside the state for completing its projects including Apple Ice at Manjummal, Apple Guest House at Palarivattom and Apple New Kochi, Aroor.

KELSA officials said except three projects of Apple a Day Properties, all others would be completed in three or four months as a good per cent of the projects was already over and could be handed over to customers by December this year. "The company has agreed to repay people who do not want apartments. It requires Rs 12 crore to repay customers completely. It can raise additional money by selling its vacant apartments in the completed projects," said KELSA member secretary P Mohandas.

from timesofindia: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/15153833.cms

[mohammedirshad06]

Petronet in talks for Rs 3,000 cr power plant at Kochi

Petronet LNG Ltd, the nation's largest natural gas importer, is in talks to set up a Rs 3,500-crore power plant adjacent to its upcoming LNG import facility at Kochi in Kerala.

Petronet has proposed to set up a 1,200 MW gas-fired power plant a 50:50 joint venture with the Kerala government, sources privy to the development said.

Kerala, which faces power shortages, is willing to partner Petronet and the land it will give for setting up of the power plant would be considered as part of its equity contribution in the project.

Also, the state government has shown inclination towards accepting Petronet's condition of buying at least 75% of the power generated at the power plant under a long-term power purchase agreement or PPA.

Sources said the power generated at the plant, which would use liquefied natural gas (LNG) imported from Australia as fuel, would be priced at less than Rs 7 per unit, much cheaper than Rs 11 per unit the state government is currently buying power from some private generators.

Three units of 350 MW each would be set up in 48 months but operationally it will generate 1,200 MW of electricity.

A MoU for the project is likely to be signed between Petronet and the state government shortly, they said, adding a detailed feasibility report would be prepared subsequently.

For Petronet, the power plant would be a blessing in disguise as it would consume most of the high-priced LNG it has contracted from Gorgon project in Australia.

The firm had in 2009 signed a pact to buy 1.5 million tonnes of LNG at a price equivalent to 14.5% of prevailing international oil price.

At $100 per barrel oil price, the LNG will cost $14.5 per million British thermal unit at the time of loading in ships on the Australian ports.

After adding $1.25-1.5 per mmBtu in shipping or transportation cost and 5% import/customs duty, the landed price of gas will be $16.5 per mmBtu.

The prices of the fuel to consumer after adding local transportation, taxes and other charges will cost about $19-20 per mmBtu or more than three times the delivered price domestic gas.

Sources said the 5 million tonne a year Kochi terminal, which was originally scheduled for mechanical completion in second quarter of 2012-13 fiscal, is now being targetted for finishing by the year end to synchronise it with building of pipelines that will take the gas to consumers.

State-owned gas utility GAIL India Ltd is running behind schedule in laying of pipelines that will connect Kochi import terminal to major power and fertiliser consumers.

[Malayaali]

Lulu to invest Rs 2500 crore in Kerala

Lulu-Lufthansa Flight Catering near CIAL.

Lulu-Grand Hyatt Hotel and Convention Centre at Bolghatty.

Logistics Centre at Aluva.

[IMG]http://i48.************/t5jb7p.jpg[/IMG]
cc: Mathrubhumi

[e_arunsid]

2500 cr

[vjkrishn]

Originally Posted by Malayaali

Lulu to invest Rs 2500 crore in Kerala

Lulu-Lufthansa Flight Catering near CIAL.

Lulu-Grand Hyatt Hotel and Convention Centre at Bolghatty.

Logistics Centre at Aluva.

cc: Mathrubhumi

Ho eee Pranchiyettente oru karyam.

[vjkrishn]

Willingdon Island

[Prasanth_KCV]

Awesome pics vj