Cochin (Kochi) / Ernakulam Projects II

[mohammedirshad06]

With businesses scaling new heights, the demand for commercial space has gone up. Real estate groups, quick on the uptake, have thus been launching commercial projects.

Multi-storey buildings in strategic locations in cities are in good demand as business houses hunt for office and retail space. Some builders combine residential and commercial offerings and there are clients who buy both with the intention of running a business just a few flights of stairs from home.

With entrepreneurial confidence rising and the recessionary trend three years ago fast turning a blur, the time looks ripe to build business infrastructure. Several builders have taken successful steps in this direction, and more are expected to follow suit.

The commercial space at Oceano Mall at Marine Drive in Kochi, which also has 72 apartments, has been sold out, though the project will be completed only in two months, says Sagil Kumar, marketing executive of Desai Homes, which launched the project two years ago. Ever since the launch, the centrally air-conditioned retail space coming up had been in demand.

The 12-floor complex has 36,000 sq.ft of commercial space spread over three floors and the apartments on the upper floors. Non-resident Indians form the majority of the buyers, and several among them are letting out space. The rent can be around Rs.90-100 a sq.ft. Most of the apartments have been sold out. Those three-bedroom apartments initially sold at about Rs.80 lakh now have a resale value of Rs.1-1.5 crore now, he says.

A residential-cum-commercial complex has its own advantages. Living in the same complex where you do business can be a convenient proposition. Many of the sea-view apartments have been bought by owners or partners of business ventures to be set up in the building. Even for those residents having no commercial interests, living in a building with a mall selling world-class goods can be an added advantage.

Marine Drive being one of the prime locations in the city, the rental income from commercial space there is higher than in other locations. Many business people have begun preferring projects where commercial activities can be carried out from the residential premises. It is a new trend, Mr. Kumar says.

Several buildings accommodate businesses on the lower floors and apartments on the upper floors in Marine Drive and other areas. There is a specific demand for such buildings in Kochi and elsewhere, he says. Of course, complexes meant to carry out business activity alone continue to flourish.

Trade Tower in Kaloor, a commercial complex set up by Desai Homes, has office space with areas ranging from 2,500 sq.ft to 11,000 sq.ft and retail space of 28,000 sq.ft, spread over eight floors. Considering the ever-increasing demand for car parking, two underground floors have been set apart for it. The rental rate in the complex ranges from Rs.50 a square feet, say the marketing personnel.

Commercial space in prime locations in cities such as Thrissur is much in demand, Ravi Nair, manager of Capital Group, says.

The group has constructed an 11-floor commercial complex at Swaraj Round in Thrissur. The commercial space at the complex with extensive car-parking facilities can be utilised for setting up offices, banks, textile and jewellery showrooms or restaurants, he says. The rate varies from Rs.50 to Rs.90 a square feet, depending on the floor.

A centralised location attracts better business and hence, the rental value is higher in comparison to areas with lesser demand in the city where commercial space can be available at Rs.40-45 a square feet, he says. The complex will be ready within a month. The entire space is expected to be let out by then.

While residential spaces can be found in distant corners of a city or its suburbs, commercial structures have to be built at strategic locations.

Quite often, functioning from a busy spot of business means a lot to an entrepreneur who wants to add value to work. An ideal location may open doors to a successful venture. And that tells the story behind the growing graph of commercial complexes.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper...cle2152784.ece

[Malayaali]

ISRO goes for tech by Kochi firm

From people oriented project management that has been in existence ever since its inception in early 1960’s, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is switching over to a system oriented project management for all its ongoing and future projects.

The first ever Indian Project Life Cycle Management System (PLM) developed by Wrench Solutions, a Kochi based company, has been selected by ISRO for the system oriented project management.

PLM is used by companies and institutions across the world for optimum utilisation of their design engineering departments. The system helps storage of vital data in a secure way and ensures sharing of the same among pre-assigned departments and officials.

The decision to use the PLM for launch vehicle programmes (PSLV, GSLV and HSP) as well as India’s first ever Human Space Flight programme was taken after ISRO tested the design engineering based system for more than eight years.

“ISRO has also decided to use Wrench on past projects as a knowledge management tool to preserve and reuse data effectively,” Mr K Varghese Daniel, director of Wrench Solutions, told Deccan Chronicle.

On the Human Space Flight Mission programme WRENCH will be deployed over multiple locations and will allow (for the first time) all the various ISRO offices/locations to work concurrently in real-time, he added. ISRO’s partnership with Wrench began in 2002 with the GSLV-Mark3.

The first Wrench implementation was declared live by then chairman, Dr. Madhavan Nair, and since then PLM has been deployed on several GSLV Mark3 subsystems including the S200, C25 etc, and in other major ISRO division.

DC Kochi

[Malayaali]

Judicial Academy in Kochi

Kochi, July 2 (PTI)
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said about five acre land would be set apart at nearby Thrikkakara for setting up a Judicial Academy. Ernakulam District collector has identified the land and orders had been issued to hand it over for the Academy, Chandy told reporters here. Earlier, the Chief Minister visited the Kerala High Court and met Chief Justice J Chelemeswar and held discussions with him for about an hour. High Court sources said it was a one-to-one discussion and no one else was present.

IBN Live

[KMC]

Kochi Medical City ....

another huge medical city coming up, Kapil Dev is also director in this project..

M/s. Cochi Medical City Tourism Pvt. Ltd., is a proposed venture to set up a Multi Super Speciality Health Project under one roof in an eco friendly atmosphere. The project envisages Multi Speciality Hospital both for Allopathic and Ayurvedic treatments at international standards of quality and facilities.

The project proposes to provide Medical Education of International standards in various disciplines.
The project also aims to provide eco friendly atmosphere creating large water lagoons for encouraging fish farming, and to create a park and a deep forest to encourage the living and breeding of birds and butterflies.

With cutting edge technology and experienced medical professionals, the proposed Health city envisages to become one among the top 10 healthcare destinations in the world, providing the best available treatment in the state of Kerala. This will be attracting large number of patients from other states in India as well as becoming a destination for international patients to avail quality healthcare. There will be direct employment opportunities for about 7,000 professionals and nearly to 25,000 people indirectly, when the project is completed.

M/s. Cochi Medical City Tourism Pvt. Ltd. brings together an outstanding team of doctors, scientists and clinical researchers to foster collaborative, multidisciplinary investigation, inspiring new ideas and discoveries; and translating scientific advances more swiftly into new ways of diagnosing and treating patients and preventing diseases.



http://www.kochihealthcity.com/

[Malayaali]

Fantastic find KMC!

goosebumps seeing Mega projects announced every other day for Kochi!

Hopefully, the land for this project does not come under wetland or Mangroves!

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by KMC

Kochi Medical City ....

another huge medical city coming up, Kapil Dev is also director in this project..

M/s. Cochi Medical City Tourism Pvt. Ltd., is a proposed venture to set up a Multi Super Speciality Health Project under one roof in an eco friendly atmosphere. The project envisages Multi Speciality Hospital both for Allopathic and Ayurvedic treatments at international standards of quality and facilities.

The project proposes to provide Medical Education of International standards in various disciplines.
The project also aims to provide eco friendly atmosphere creating large water lagoons for encouraging fish farming, and to create a park and a deep forest to encourage the living and breeding of birds and butterflies.

With cutting edge technology and experienced medical professionals, the proposed Health city envisages to become one among the top 10 healthcare destinations in the world, providing the best available treatment in the state of Kerala. This will be attracting large number of patients from other states in India as well as becoming a destination for international patients to avail quality healthcare. There will be direct employment opportunities for about 7,000 professionals and nearly to 25,000 people indirectly, when the project is completed.

M/s. Cochi Medical City Tourism Pvt. Ltd. brings together an outstanding team of doctors, scientists and clinical researchers to foster collaborative, multidisciplinary investigation, inspiring new ideas and discoveries; and translating scientific advances more swiftly into new ways of diagnosing and treating patients and preventing diseases.



http://www.kochihealthcity.com/

Wowww!!!!! Kochi is really rocking with several health brands.... Perhaps soon we have every reason to see ourselves, the most healthiest people in India

[mohammedirshad06]

കൊച്ചി നഗരസഭ സ്​പില്* ഓവര്* ഉള്*പ്പെടെ 2011-12 വര്*ഷത്തില്* 68.21 കോടിയുടെ പദ്ധതി പ്രവര്*ത്തനങ്ങള്* നടത്തും. നടപ്പു സാമ്പത്തിക വര്*ഷത്തെ ജനകീയാസൂത്രണപദ്ധതികള്*ക്ക് നഗരസഭ കൗണ്*സില്* അംഗീകാരം നല്*കി. ആകെ തുകയില്* 13.43 കോടി പ്രത്യേക ഘടകപദ്ധതിക്കായി മാറ്റി വെച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. 21.27 കോടി മെയിന്റനന്*സ് ഫണ്ടായിരിക്കും. കൃഷിക്കായി 59.20 ലക്ഷവും മൃഗസംരക്ഷണത്തിന് 23.50 ലക്ഷവും മത്സ്യബന്ധനമേഖലയില്* 1.08 കോടിയും വ്യവസായ മേഖലയില്* 71.45 ലക്ഷവും ചെലവഴിക്കും. ഖരമാലിന്യസംസ്*കരണ രംഗത്ത് 44 ലക്ഷവും പരിസ്ഥിതിസംരക്ഷണത്തിന് 26.94 ലക്ഷവും, വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ കായിക മേഖലയ്ക്കായി 28.02 ലക്ഷവും മാറ്റിവെച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്.പൊതുജനാരോഗ്യ മേഖലയില്* 91.43 ലക്ഷം ചെലവഴിക്കും. എന്നാല്* ഇതില്* 5 ലക്ഷം രൂപ സെപ്ടിക് ടാങ്കുകളുടെ വെന്റ് പൈപ്പുകള്*ക്ക് നെറ്റ് സ്ഥാപിക്കാന്* മാറ്റിവെച്ചതില്* അംഗങ്ങള്* പ്രതിഷേധിച്ചു. കഴിഞ്ഞ പദ്ധതിയില്* 5 ലക്ഷം മാറ്റിവെച്ചിട്ട് പണം ചെലവഴിച്ചിട്ടില്ലെന്ന് അംഗങ്ങള്* ചൂണ്ടിക്കാട്ടി. ഇതേത്തുടര്*ന്ന് ഈ തുക പശ്ചിമകൊച്ചിയില്* ഒച്ചിനെ നശിപ്പിക്കാന്* മാറ്റിവെയ്ക്കാന്* കൗണ്*സില്* യോഗം തീരുമാനിച്ചു.

കൗണ്*സില്* അംഗികരിച്ച പദ്ധതി രേഖ ഡാറ്റ എന്*ട്രിക്കു ശേഷം സംസ്ഥാന ടെക്*നിക്കല്* കമ്മിറ്റിക്ക് അയക്കും. തുടര്*ന്ന് ജില്ലാ ആസൂത്രണ സമിതിയുടെ അംഗീകാരത്തിനായി അയക്കും.

Kochi Corporation kept aside 68.21 crore for this year's financial activities.

Out of this, 13.43 crore will be kept for Special projects fund for financing various infrastructural projects

21.27 crore will be kept as Mayor's fund over various projects

Remaining amount for agricultural, industry, animal husbandry and sanitation projects

[mohammedirshad06]

Highrises in Kaloor

[India101]

Originally Posted by KMC

Kochi Medical City ....

another huge medical city coming up, Kapil Dev is also director in this project..

http://www.kochihealthcity.com/webad.../image-g41.jpg[

http://www.kochihealthcity.com/

Fantastic find!

We might have to start a Kochi megaprojects thread.

[Malayaali]

Corporation to ease pedestrians’ woes

KOCHI: In order to ease pedestrians’ woes, the Kochi Corporation is planning to look into the possibilities of implementing the product package for improved pedestrian facilities suggested by the Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA). The agency in its feasibility study report for the betterment of public transport sector in the city has suggested various steps including pedestrian precincts, new off-street parking facilities, footbridges and more one-way roads for reducing pedestrians’ woes.
As per the report, the pedestrian precincts will free small connecting lanes or streets from vehicular movement to encourage people to walk short distances.
New pay and park facilities near the precincts will provide the space for reduced movement of vehicles in small lanes leading to safety of pedestrians and reduced pollution and carbon
emissions.
“When faced with similar circumstances of gentrifying inner urban brownfield sites, cities across the world invest in urban precincts by improving streetscapes, limiting vehicular access to selected inner city precincts, and providing additional options for off-street parking. Coupled with complementary community education programmes, these initiatives build and reinvigorate communities. This has a beneficial economic impact with business activity improving,” says the report. However, Kochi Corporation Town Planning Standing Committee chairman K J Sohan said that the civic body should conduct a detailed study on the recommendations made by CDIA in its report.
“The foot overbridges were experimented by the civic body in the past but were a failure. So, when planning new projects to improve pedestrian facilities, the planners should identify the most feasible components for implementation. For a city like Kochi, underpasses can be the most effective facility compared to foot overbridges,” he said.
He also said that new parking facilities would be developed once the new parking policy suggested by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) is executed. “Pedestrian precincts is a good proposal made in the report."
"But before that a detailed study should be conducted to identify the streets and roads that can be changed into pedestrian precincts,” he said.

Indian Express

[mohammedirshad06]

Police and RTO officials are planning a fare chart for auto rickshaws, along the lines of those introduced in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

The fare chart would be displayed behind the drivers’ seat for easy display. It will help commuters calculate the approved fare they need to pay for travelling from one point in the city to another.

“We’re planning to introduce a fare chart similar to the ones used in Bangalore. We are planning it with RTO officials. We’ll have a discussion with auto unions and finalise it soon,” said commissioner of police M.R. Ajith Kumar.

City police initiated the fare chart move after widespread public complaints about overcharging. Even though police conducted several drives against auto rickshaws, the fleecing continues unabated. So the decision to introduce fare charts was due, officials revealed.

The auto rickshaw charts in Bengaluru and Hyderabad include the fare based on kilometres travelled as well point based fares. Even though final plans for the fare charts are not completed, it would be a reflection of the charts being used in other cities, officials noted.

The fare chart will take into account fuel price hikes so that auto drivers cannot fleece public with the excuse that the chart doesn’t reflect current fuel prices.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chann...ochi-autos-524

[Malayaali]

KFC - U/C - MG Road


cc: kochigallan

[Jayesh Joy]

from CochinSquare
http://www.cochinsquare.com/644-c-pr...port-in-kochi/

The Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA) has suggested an ambitious plan at an estimates for improving of the public transport means in Kochi city.The pre-feasibility study report in this regard prepared by international agency, Global Works, was presented at the Kochi Corporation Council Hall on Thursday.The report concentrates on four sectors. And they are Ferry services,bus services,Pedestrian precincts, Pedestrian overbridges.
For the betterment of ferry services, the pre-feasiblity report suggests increase in frequency of existing services and number of vessels through five ferry service routes. The routes are Vypeen-Fort Kochi, Mattanchery-Ernakulam High Court, Edakochi- Thevara, Panchayat Terminal-High Court and Kumabalam-Chittoor.
And an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore of the project mainly aims at enhancing bus services. The report suggests the improvement of 35 km of the new priority bus lanes, seven new park and ride facilities and upgradation of existing 26 bus shelters.The report suggests five pedestrian precincts where vehicular traffic will be totally banned, 16 off-street parking facilities, modifying eight existing streets as one-way and proper road signs and marking.The CDIA report also proposes the construction of 14 pedestrian overbridges at various locations.

[Malayaali]

Minister promises to conserve Mattanchery bridge

KOCHI: The proposal by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to safeguard and conserve the old Mattanchery bridge as a heritage monument was accepted by Public Works Minister Ebrahim Kunju at the felicitation meeting held at the Indian Chamber Hall here on Monday.
"Necessary permission to entrust the work to the Chamber will be taken up at the Cabinet meeting," he said.
Ebrahim Kunju said the foreshore road connectivity between Fort Kochi and Alappuzha would soon become a reality.
He sought the intervention of the Chamber in the issue regarding the pending land acquisition.
"The drinking water problem faced by West Kochi will be solved in 18 months as about `11 crore has been allotted under the JNNURM project," he said.
Replying to the Chamber's demand to resolve the higher tariff charged by the DP World compared to the neighbouring ports, Ports Minister K Babu said that a highlevel meet would soon be convened under the Chief Minister to resolve the issue.
He too was participating in the felicitation meeting by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Indian Express

How do they think to connect Foreshore road to Fort kochi? Another bridge?

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by Malayaali

Minister promises to conserve Mattanchery bridge


How do they think to connect Foreshore road to Fort kochi? Another bridge?

No I think, he might be referring new foreshore road between Fort Kochi and Alleppey, parallel to old NH.

[mohammedirshad06]

A final decision on setting up a solid waste treatment plant in Kochi will be taken at a high-level meeting convened by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.

“The plan is to construct a plant with more capacity, so that waste from neighbouring panchayats can also be processed. We plan to set up the plant on the lines of the one in Coimbatore,” said Mayor Tony Chammany.

A team comprising the Mayor, health standing committee chairman T.K. Ashraff, town planning committee chairman K.J. Sohan and opposition leader K.J. Jacob had visited Coimbatore to study the plant there and report its functioning to the state government. “The plant there is similar to Brahmapuram. Only that it has more capacity,” said Ashraff, adding, “We don’t want to repeat mistakes. We’ve enough land at Brahmapuram to construct a new plant. We may also visit similar plants in Chennai and Mumbai before inviting expression of interest.”

Replicating the 600-acre Coimbatore plant that processes in the open, however, may be tough as Brahmapuram is a thickly populated area close to Kadamprayar river and SmartCity.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chann...lant-today-772

[mohammedirshad06]

On the eve of the meeting to be held on Tuesday, Almitra Patel, a former member of the Supreme Court Committee for Solid Waste Management has asked the Chief Minister to carefully deal with the serious issue of solid waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram.

In a memorandum to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, she reminded him about the Municipal Soild Waste Rules 2000, which clearly states that municipalities should make use of waste so as to minimise the burden on landfill and biological processing for stabilisation of waste.

Such stabilisation can and should start at every existing open dump for every incoming truckload.

But a far better alternative is the successful Kochi model for decentralised composting in biobins and compost pots.

“If such a big city like Kochi can steadily handle 30 tonnes per day in a division-wise ward-wise manner with tremendous savings in pollution both by waste and by transport vehicles, how much easier will it be for tiny polluted towns like Pathanamthitta and Kottayam to manage their far smaller quantities of waste,” she said in the memorandum.

She also cautioned the Chief Minister to issue the work only to those companies which have a clean and successful image.

Some solid waste management companies are in the blacklist of states like Maharashtra and UP.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/a-reminde...11-60-122.html

[mohammedirshad06]

The IAAI – Kerala Chapter recently conducted a similar meeting with Malaysian delegates in Kochi. According to Biji Eapen, National President, IAAI, the Malaysian High Commissioner had agreed to look into the demand of the agents to set up a Malaysian Visa Facilitation Centre in Kochi soon.

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/mala...ocessing-13875

[mohammedirshad06]

The official website of the Kochi Corporation will soon wear a new look and will be equipped with advanced features. The designing of the new website as part of the e-governance project is progressing and the interactive site is expected to be launched by September.

Unlike the existing website, www.corporationofcochin.net, which is only an informative one, the new site will be an interactive web portal. The features that will be added include separate links for civilians to file their complaints and grievances, online property tax payment, submission of online application forms, birth and death certificates and marriage certificates.

“The new website is expected to be launched by September. The hosting of the site will also mark the launch of the pilot phase of the e-governance programme of the Kochi Corporation,” said a top Corporation official. The new site is likely to have an extension—‘gov.in’— instead of the existing ‘.net.’

The official said that a reference number will be provided to those who register complaints and grievances through the website. “This will help them to track the status of their complaint and actions taken,” the official said.
He said that along with the work of the website, three other major activities related with the implementation of the e-governance project are also in different stages of completion. “The Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) which is implementing the e-governance programme has already completed the System Requirement Study (SRS) for various departments. The TCS team will present the details of the SRS before a core team of selected officials from respective departments. The SRS report will then be handed over to the software development team,” said the official. The `8 crore e-governance project is implemented under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and once implemented will bring all the major services offered by the civic body online.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/a-newlook...08-60-122.html

[Malayaali]

Kochi Master Plan - Priority for Transport

The Master plan envisaged with Kochi 2031 vision for Greater Kochi region comprising Kochi Corporation, nearby 5 municipalities & 11 panchayats were presented by town planning department before the Corporation council.

The master plan emphasises on transport. The various road projects to be completed on an urgent and long term basis are being included in the MP.

The road projects include:

1) 27m wide Seaport - Airport Highway
2) 27m wide road from Container road to Elankunnapuzha
3) 22m wide Tammanam-Pullepady-Smart City road
4) 22m wide Thrikkakara-Vadavukode-Puthenkruz road
5) 27m wide Fort kochi-Chellanam road
6) 22m wide Kaloor-Kadavantra road to be extended till Kundannur
7) 22m wide Mamangalam-Pottakuzhi road

The master plan emphasis on a minimum 5.5m width for all small roads within the city.

Mathrubhumi