Hyderabad Update I - project news from Hyderabad

[Madhusudhan]

This is great news for the city of Hyderabad. With so many IT firms in that city, it might have missed opportunities to host International Events and seminars. Not anymore, after the completion of this project. Conventions and conferences not only showcase the city to the outer world, but also bring in much needed corporate revenue.

[Hindustani]

[Madhusudhan]

Originally Posted by Hindustani

Otherwise, a beautiful building with a good color scheme and facade, but what's with the ugly staircase? The designers could have been more descreet: the staircase looks disproportionate to the size of the building.

[Hindustani]

Madhu...........those disproportionate stairs is something I can live with. Atleast they are on the side. But take a look at the Supersized Umbrella on the roof. That totally killed the architecture.

[Madhusudhan]

Originally Posted by Hindustani

Madhu...........those disproportionate stairs is something I can live with. Atleast they are on the side. But take a look at the Supersized Umbrella on the roof. That totally killed the architecture.

I agree. This is called botching up an otherwise handsome project. The idea of aesthetics has yet to seep into the Indian minds, as we on this forum, have come to expect.

[Jai]

Well, the display of overtly high-tech equipment, like dishes, etc. has become somewhat of a fad in Bangalore and Hyderabad, with little businesses wanting to show how technologically advanced they are

[Suncity]

I believe it is the VSNL building.

[Hindustani]

ITE ExpoCity & Recreation Center, Hyderabad: Official Website (MUST VISIT...Lots of Info)

[Suncity]

Looks good.

[Hindustani]

Bit of an Old news......but with the rise of Sania Mirza as a new Indian individual sporting event Icon. I Just wanted to bring this article to your attention & let you know that there are lot more things to come.



Breakfast of champions: IMG plans $350m sports hub
By Rimin Dutt
Published: Thursday, July 1, 2004

The Florida-based IMG Academies plans to invest about [/b]$350 million[/b] to build a sports academy in Hyderabad, India. The 400-acre proposed facility will be able to house and train 1,200 athletes. Sports will include tennis, soccer, basketball and golf.


BRANDENTON, Fla. - In a major deal that could change the face of non-cricket sports facilities in India, the Florida-based IMG Academies will pump in close to $350 million to build the country's largest sports academy in Hyderabad.

"Our goal is to train champions," said Andrew Krieger, chairman of the project.

The sports complex, which will be built in the outskirts of Hyderabad, will spread across 400 acres and will support a training facility for 1,200 athletes.

"We are looking to train Olympic athletes from India and other countries," said Krieger.

The site will also be marketed for major international sporting events.

"Our goal is to have it ready to win mandates for the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and the Olympics in 2020."

Last year, Krieger met with officials of the government of Andhra Pradesh and signed an agreement to begin work on the first 100 acres of the facility.

The first phase of the project will involve an investment of $135 million. It includes the setting up of an athletic center by August 2006, said Krieger.

Initially, the complex will focus on tennis, soccer, basketball, golf, aquatics and cricket. In the later stages, the training will include more Olympic-geared sports such as track and field, said Krieger. The center hopes to attract coaches from the United States and Europe.

The center will scout for athletes through talent search programs around India and support about half of the students through scholarships.

"We want to create a generation of scholar athletes," Krieger said.

Krieger believes that the center will help change the prevalent Indian mindset that it is difficult to make a living through sports - especially with the center offering scholarships to Indian children.

"People can learn many good things from sports such as team work and focus that can be transferred to other businesses," he said.

Plans for the center include a 300-room, five-star hotel, a five-star golf resort and spa, advanced medical center and a prep school.

Krieger believes that the new center and a new international airport currently under construction in Hyderabad will help attract tourists.

"Tourism would be a major source for revenue generation for the state and for us," he added.

Additionally, the complex will also open a secondary school to complement the full program of training and athletics.

The sports center is designed to become the most advanced complex in the region and the only of its kind outside North America, said Krieger.

IMG intends to work with the government of Andhra Pradesh to promote the complex. It has agreed to pass on a portion of its revenues to the state government.

The idea to build the complex came from Krieger and IMG.

Asked why he chose India over other countries, he said that it was partly because of his admiration for India.

"I am a long-time lover of India," he said. Krieger was a student of South Asian culture and studied Sanskrit during his masters program at the University of Pennsylvania.

Admitting that India has had an "abysmal" international sports record, Krieger said the country was yet to see real champions emerge with the help of good facilities.

"There is a lot of unexplored talent there that exists," he said. "I believe India has the genetics to produce world champions. It already has a proven mastery in yoga."

"The country is going through a major transition," he said. "It was time for a huge change in sports as well."



I think the rise of Hyderabad's own Sania Mirza will benefit India one way or the other. When it comes to individual events like Tennis, track & field, all we needed was one leader & the rest will follow.

[Madhusudhan]

Wonder whatever happened to the F1 race track CBN was after?

[Hindustani]

Originally Posted by Madhusudhan

Wonder whatever happened to the F1 race track CBN was after?

Formula 1 for Hyderabad is shot down now. Chances are that either it will come up in Mumbai or Delhi & I think these are ideal places to fill Formula 1 stadium every event & turn in lots of revenue.

IMG Sports City is bound to happen Hyderabad. Any other Indian city, it'll cost 2 to 3 times as much money to by 400 acres of land. & the good thing about Hyd is it has the latest state-of-the-art stadia, facilities & games village recently built for 32nd national games & afro-asian games. In reality, work is half way done. Naidu gov't gave this land to IMG at throwaway price, in return IMG will maintain these sporting stadias & share the revenue. Its truly an everybody win situation.

Guys,
Seems IMGB proceedings are stalemate.
Govt has to do a long legal battle to get the land back, but don't like to give up due to political reasons. IMGB is not in a position to go ahead unless they get green signal from state Govt.
Seems the IMGB director is not in the good books of current state Govt, as he was known to be close to CBN.

But my guess is someday both the parties would strike a deal and finally things will start moving..

BTW..This land would be more & more sought with the Emmar's convention centre & world class Hotell.

Here is BS News:
http://www.businessstandard.com/bson...?autono=163859

IMGB land deal may hit legal hurdle

With IMGB having already registered 400 acres in its name, experts see possible legal wrangle

B Dasarath Reddy / Hyderabad August 11, 2004



The decision by the state government to revise the price at which 400 acres of prime land in Hyderabad was allotted to IMG Bharata for setting up a sports academy may run into a legal tangle, as the land has already been registered by the company in its name.

Speaking to Business Standard, IMG Bharata director Billy Rao admitted that the 400 acres of land in Gachi Bowli had already been registered by the company.

“We registered the land a long time back,” Rao said. Refusing further comment on the issue, Rao said, “We continue to take care of our obligations.”

Legal sources point out that once the land is registered, it cannot be claimed back by the government.

“Once the land is registered, the government has to make a case legally that the land was allotted cheap and then make a move to acquire the land back. Then the government may have to pay the costs incurred by the company associated with the project as the land is legally owned by it,” leading legal sources pointed out.

Senior state government sources though told Business Standard that the government was confident that it could find a way to cancel the registration if IMG Bharata was not willing to comply with the revision in the land price.

The state government had on Friday last rescinded the previous TDP government’s decision to allot land for the company at Rs 50,000 per acre and revised the price by a whopping 400 times to Rs 2 crore per acre.

IMG Bharata, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Florida-based International Management Group, is proposing to set up an athletic training, education, leisure and resort complex project in the city at a cost of about Rs 700 crore, to be in invested in two tranches.

The fate of the project is hanging in balance because the state government’s decision has drastically altered the project cost. While the proposed project has seen IMG Bharata acquire 400 acres of land at a cost of Rs 2 crore, now the land cost alone would come to about Rs 800 crore.

The ‘Group of Ministers’ felt that the previous government’s decision to give away 400 acres of land at a throwaway price of Rs 50,000 per acre was totally unjustifiable, especially when its market value was close to Rs 2 crore per acre.

The ‘Group of Ministers’ is headed by state finance minister K Rosaiah and has been constituted to review decisions of the Naidu regime taken after January 2003.

As per the government order (GO) issued by the Naidu government, the promoters of the project are supposed to pay only Rs 2 crore for the entire 400 acres of land which belonged to the Hyderabad Central University.

Besides signing an MoU in his last days in office, the then chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu had laid the foundation stone in the second week of February 2004.

As per GO Ms No 11 issued on February 9, after the dissolution of the state Assembly, the state Government sold to IMG Bharata (IMGB) 400 acres of University of Hyderabad land at a rate of Rs 50,000 per acre.

The GO also allowed IMGB to conduct activities that would generate profits, revenue fee among others, without limitation, without charging registration fee.

The Naidu government had also decided to sell another 450 acres of land near Shamshabad in Ranga Reddy district for the second phase of IMGB’s activities.

Besides this, the said GO allows the transfer of the government's stadia properties for a long-term lease not less than 45 years, during which, IMGB has a right to purchase the buildings and land at its discretion at a value, comprising land, building, maintenance and development costs incurred.

For five years, the government would have to bear the cost of maintenance and upkeep of stadia property at Rs 2.5 crore per annum along with the insurance cost; The government would contribute towards defrayment of IMGB costs for the promotion of the city up to $50,000 every year for five years, apart from extending all concessions, subsidies and other incentives that are provided to educational institutions.

The state government under the GO should also ensure uninterrupted, high-quality power supply and potable water and shall reimburse to the IMGB 100 per cent of their power, water and sewerage bills in the first three years and for next four years 25 per cent of the said bills. There would be no entertainment tax for 10 years on any of the events held by the IMGB in the property.

Responsibilities of the IMGB as per the GO include that it shall pay the value of the land at the time of registration as follows: Rs 2 crore for the 400 acres of land in Hyderabad Central University, Rs 112.5 lakh at the time or registration of 450 acres in Shamshabad; an additional amount of Rs.112.5 lakh with respect to development of roads and other facilities for Shamshabad within 90 days of the inauguration of new international airport; the IMGB shall spent Rs 500 crore in phase I and Rs 200 crore in phase II.

The GO also said: “IMGB shall use its reach to secure sponsorship for major sporting, lifestyle and entertainment events in Hyderabad; the IMGB shall pay Rs 5 crore to University of Hyderabad for developing specialised academic sources for athletes training with IMG and allow them to study in the university. The payment shall start at the end of the third year of entering the MoU. The IMGB has been granted television and broadcasting rights, sharing of revenue through gate sales and advertising and sponsorships.”

[Hindustani]

HYDERABAD INDUSTRIES LIMITED HeadQuarters

[magestom]

Frenetic activity overtakes Hyderabad realty

Netscribes / Manisha Khosla
February 11, 2005

Just as in other Indian cities, the Information Technology (IT) boom is beginning to affect bourgeoisie Hyderabad’s real estate scenario. The realty landscape has been altered with the influx of IT workers whose more cosmopolitan needs and deep pockets are fuelling the property market like never before.

The city is seeing a phenomenal increase in the number of recreation alternatives like malls, pubs restaurants and hotels, and their values. Apart from this expansion in commercial realty, residential and housing property is also displaying an upward trend, both in terms of availability and prices.

Land prices, not only in the main city but also in the outskirts, are climbing due to the increased incidence of buying. In the vicinity of Kukatpally, particularly in and around the area of Nizampet, land prices have risen sharply owing to an increase in the number of buyers belonging to the IT sector.

Apart from land prices, the cost of built-up units like apartments and bungalows has also skyrocketed. Many real estate developers have entered the fray in the Kukatpally and Nizampet areas owing to its better connectivity with the IT neighbourhood and superior road infrastructure as compared to the main city. A duplex house built on 250 sq yds in Nizampet is today priced at anywhere between Rs 20 lakh to Rs 35 lakh.

Similarly, activity in the property market in the suburb of Uppal is assuming pace. This is primarily stimulated by the anticipated development of a major facility belonging to a global corporation and the likelihood of a new IT park being constructed at Pocharam.

Thus, purchasing power of the noveau riche, and speculation by those anticipating a further appreciation in real estate prices, is driving the Hyderabad realty market for the moment.

[centralized pandemonium]

Real estate boom at Shamshabad

http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/02/stor...0216610300.htm

[Hindustani]

Dubai Internet City may set up Hyderabad campus
Indo-Asian News Service


Hyderabad, March 2 (IANS) Dubai Internet City is exploring the possibility of setting up a campus here and joining with the Andhra Pradesh government in developing a knowledge corridor in the state.

A four-member team led by Omar Bin Sulaiman, director general of Dubai International Financial Centre and CEO of Dubai Internet City (DIC), Wednesday called on Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to discuss possible areas of cooperation.

Sulaiman said they were interested in exploring the possibility of associating with the development of the proposed knowledge corridor.

Dubai was also exploring the possibility of establishing a DIC in Hyderabad, he added.

Reddy directed K.V. Rao, principal secretary of industries, to examine the DIC issue and formulate necessary proposals in this regard.

A statement from the chief minister's office said senior officials including DIC sales director Fareed Abdulrahman and minister for major industries B. Satyanarayana also attended the meeting.

Sulaiman said Dubai was keen to explore the possibilities of building investment relations in Hyderabad.

About 700 information and communication technology (ICT) companies have their operations in DIC. DIC is a free trade zone and a regional business hub for ICT companies, targeting emerging markets in a vast region extending from the Middle East to the Indian subcontinent, and Africa to CIS countries.

DIC is also the Middle East's biggest IT infrastructure and has the largest commercial Internet Protocol Telephony system in the world.


Knowledge Corridor to be set up
K SREEDHAR RAO

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 02, 2005 11:27:12 PM ]

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HYDERABAD: The government has approved a proposal to set up a Hyderabad Knowledge Corridor consisting of IT and ITeS companies covering over 20,000 acres in Ranga Reddy district.

Work on the project will commence in about six months time, official sources told The Times of India . The initial cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs 5,000 crore. The government's investment will be of the order of Rs 100 crore. It will be developed with complete private participation.

The government will float a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to execute the project. The corridor begins from the area adjacent to the Indian School of Business (ISB) and extend to the proposed Outer Ring Road, sources said.

The idea is to build a self-contained, ultra-modern satellite city having a eight-lane trunk road and six-lane interior roads, high security, 24-hour water supply and uninterrupted power. Describing it as a dream project, a senior government official said this would be completed in about 5-7 years time.

Non-polluting knowledge-centric industries would be located in the proposed corridor. Working and living place, entertainment, education, health facilities etc would be provided to those who opt to stay in the corridor. The government will notify the land required for the purpose and bring the land owners and the developers face to face for acquiring the land. The second option before the administration is to make the land owners profit sharing partners in the venture. The government wants to provide facilities like drinking water to the local villagers, which fall under the Corridor.

The officials are confident that during a period of four years, the Corridor would employ 3 lakh people, who are estimated to contribute about Rs 450 crore per annum to the state's exchequer.

[Hindustani]

Hyderabad impresses Iranian speaker
Indo-Asian News Service


Hyderabad, March 4 (IANS) Iranian Majlis (parliament) speaker Ghulam Ali Haddad Adil Friday visited this historic city and said he was impressed with the architectural and cultural similarities with his country.

"I am impressed by the similarities between this city and Iran. There is so much in common between Hyderabad and several cities of Iran. The architecture and culture are all the same," he told reporters.

Adil, who is leading a 32-member delegation, went around some historic places in the city and held talks with Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara, Andhra Pradesh assembly speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy and other officials.

Adil, who later left for Iran, also addressed a meeting of the Iranian community. The city has a sizeable population of Iranian descent, who migrated and settled here decades ago.

The Iranian leader, who earlier visited New Delhi and Bangalore, went around the 800-year-old Golconda Fort, the historic Charminar and Makkah Masjid.

Indo-Asian News Service


Hyderabad, Suwon enter `Sister city' pact

By Our Staff Reporter



HYDERABAD, MARCH 3. The City of Hyderabad and the City of Suwon in the Republic of Korea, signed the "International sister city" agreement here on Thursday for promotion of mutual understanding and friendly relations.

The agreement was inked by the Hyderabad Mayor, T. Krishna Reddy, and his Suwon counterpart, Kim Yong Seo, the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Chitra Ramachandran, and the Director General, Culture and Tourism, City of Suwon, Lee Jae-Sun.

The agreement seeks to establish cooperative exchanges in economy, environment management, city development, culture and tourism. Both cities will also exchange information and ideas to improve the welfare of citizens.

Mr. Yong Seo, who is leading a 24-member delegation, said Korea and India were developing relations in various fields and both were strong powers in the field of IT. Hyderabad and Suwon had similar aspects like historical heritage and high tech science. Suwon was the hub of Korean high tech industry such as information, semiconductor, nanotechnology and biotechnology. "This relationship will become the corner stone for promoting quality of life of citizens of both countries", Mr. Yong Seo said.

In his address, Mr. Krishna Reddy, briefly referred to the activities undertaken by the MCH and said this year it was proposed to build five more flyovers to ease traffic congestion.

The Deputy Mayor, Subhash Chanderjee, and the Chairperson of Suwon City Council, Kim Myeong-su, also spoke.

Ms. Chitra Ramchandran said the two cities could also have exchange of meritorious students besides cooperation in culture and urban economy.


Real estate boom at Shamshabad

By M.L. Melly Maitreyi



HYDERABAD, MARCH 1. There has been a spurt in the real estate activity in the surrounding areas of Shamshabad with the work on the international airport set to commence in near future and work on the first phase of Outer Ring Road project from Gachibowli to Shamshabad in about three months.

The Shamshabad International Airport area is in the jurisdiction of the Hyderabad Airport Development Authority (HADA) comprising an area of 450 sq.km and one-fourth of the area, has been earmarked for the International Airport. The latest HADA master plan is yet to be notified in view of the amendments proposed to the draft master plan. However, as per the 1996 Government Order, 40 per cent of HADA under the catchment area of Osmansagar and Himayatsagar comprising 86 villages is notified. Some of the villages are in the jurisdiction of HUDA and the others under HADA.

While industries had been banned in the notified area, institutions and facilities coming up should follow low density norms ie. 5 Floor Area Ratio. In other words, the FAR in the notified area would be one-third of what would be allowed in other areas, according to HUDA sources. Normal development is allowed in the remaining area other than the notified area and land earmarked for the airport. The first layout developed as per the draft HADA plan, on Nagarjuna Sagar road is likely to be approved shortly, it is disclosed.

The sources point out that not many developers are in a hurry to apply for layout approvals as for a majority of the buyers land is only an investment option. "Unlike in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the plots are registered in our State even if a layout is not approved by the urban development authority concerned. But it has inherent risks," points out an official.

While the norms are in place, there are however no special provisions to prevent illegal constructions. Not only in HADA, in any urban development authority, admits an official. One hopes to regularise them in due course and unfortunately there is no stigma attached to building plan violations, quips the official.

[29A]

Man this is gr8!
Hi tec city looks very nice.
About the tower proposed by the G S group of companies, can anyone tell me what is the status of that project?. Is is still "proposed" or Hafeez contractor hired to do the job finally?

[Hindustani]

Sonia lays foundation stone for Hyderabad airport

Indo-Asian News Service

Hyderabad, March 16, 2005|22:59 IST



Work on Hyderabad International Airport formally began on Wednesday when United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation stone for the project.

The airport coming up on 5,400 acres of land at Shamsabad, 20 kilometre from here, could become India's first world-class international airport with the longest runway of 4.26 kilometre.

Though it is the second international airport taken up as a public-private project after the Bangalore airport, it could well be the first project to be completed when its initial phase becomes operational in 2008.

The Rs 14.18 billion ($320 million) airport, being built by a consortium of construction major GMR Infrastructure Ltd and Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad (MAHB), will have a capacity of handling 3.7 million passengers a year.

Named after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, the airport will have several unique features like a village to provide wholesome shopping environment and an entertainment ambience for the passengers.

Hyderabad had witnessed the historic launch of India's first aviation company and the existing airport at Begumpet in 1936. Deccan Airways Limited was owned by the then princely state of Hyderabad.

A message from Princess Durrushehvar, daughter-in-law of the last Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, was read out on the occasion. The princess, who now lives abroad, had inaugurated the Begumpet airport.

To mark the occasion, a photo exhibition on the aviation history of Deccan Airways was organised.

The existing Begumpet airport in Hyderabad would be closed down once the new international airport becomes operational.

Sonia Gandhi, who unveiled the plaque, said the new airports were necessary to keep pace with global developments in the aviation sector.

"World-class airports are a must for business and trade. They not only generate jobs for millions of people but also help the country earn foreign exchange and promote national integration by connecting different places of tourism, historic and religious significance," she said.

The Congress president also underlined the need for the upgradation of existing airports in the country.

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and GM group chairman GM Rao were among those present.