Gujarat - Projects and Development

[vibrant]

Gujarat SEZ exports go up by 37%, touch R 1.26 lakh crore

Gandhinagar: The Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the state are providing the silver lining among the dark clouds of global economic slowdown. Amidst reports of financial meltdown, exports from SEZs in the state have risen by more than 37%.

According to data provided by Development Commissioner’s office, Kandla SEZ, the 15 functional SEZs in the state accounted for exports worth Rs 1.26 lakh crore from April to November 2011. Exports in the same period last year was of Rs 91,923 crore.

Physical exports from SEZs in the state rose from Rs 82,385 crore to Rs 1.13 lakh crore, a rise of almost 38%.
However, service exports fell from Rs 1,183 crore to Rs985 crore. Deemed exports went up from Rs 8,345 crore to Rs 11,787 crore in the current year.

“SEZs in the state have been doing well, which is reflected by the sharp rise in exports so far. However, there is a possibility that the growth may slow down if the economic situation worsens,” said an official in the industries department. With exports of Rs1.07 lakh crore, the Reliance Refinery in Jamnagar accounted for 85% of the total exports from Gujarat SEZs from April to November.

However, exports from Reliance SEZ in the current year are significantly lower than last year when it achieved exports of Rs 1.17 lakh crore between April and November. The multi-product Surat Special Economic Zone in Surat had the second highest exports among SEZs in the state with exports of Rs14,615 crore in the first eight months of the year. The Kandla Special Economic Zone in Kandla recorded total exports of Rs1,965 crore between April and November, followed by Adani Group's Mundra Port & Special Economic Zone with exports of Rs 1,180 crore. The Dahej SEZ in Dahej achieved exports of Rs 450 crore, while Zydus's pharma SEZ in
Ahmedabad recorded exports of Rs 180 crore.

A senior official in one of the private SEZs said requesting anonymity that SEZs too were feeling the pinch of the economic concerns. "The level of fresh investments in SEZs is lower than the targeted, as companies are wary of making new investments during uncertain times," he said.

Physical exports from SEZs in the state rose from Rs 82,385 crore to Rs 1.13 lakh crore, a rise of almost 38% However, there are concerns that the growth in exports may slow down if economic situation worsens

[kalkibhagwan]

What makes Gujarat vibrant?

December 23, 2011:


It was the Tata Nano that first put the spotlight on Gujarat four years ago, when the car project was relocated here after a troubled stint in West Bengal. Since then, other automakers have followed Tata Motors to the State.

investments

Now, Nestle is gearing up to make Gujarat its home next year. The Indian arm will set up a (Maggi) noodles making plant with an investment of Rs 500 crore.

This marks a major step by the State in attracting investments in the food processing industry whose market size is expected to increase from $330 billion to $900 billion by 2020.

According to observers, this is only the tip of the iceberg from Gujarat's point of view with the best yet to come. In the process, it could end up becoming one of the country's most vibrant manufacturing centres. For years, it has had topnotch residents such as Reliance Industries and Essar in the hydrocarbons space. The stage is now set for the next big bang.

Creating history

What makes Gujarat tick? Why do industry leaders believe that the Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, is a strong candidate for the future Prime Minister of India? Is Gujarat's good showing a result of his contribution alone or was the State up and about even before he came on the scene in October 2001?

Not the easiest of questions to answer but a quick trip down memory lane may throw up some clues. In 1971, a member of the visiting Maharashtra delegation, impressed with the Amul revolution, asked his counterparts in Gujarat how this State, carved out of Bombay State in 1961, had managed to develop so fast. “Well, you have history, we believe in creating one!” replied the counterpart.

never-say-die spirit

This pretty much epitomises the Gujarat spirit of moving on with the times. On January 26, 2011, some of its residents would have recalled that the State was observing the anniversary of the earthquake that claimed nearly 13,000 lives a decade ago. It was a monumental tragedy but what was remarkable was the rebuilding process even when the wounds had not completely healed.

Once again, it was a tribute to the never-say-die spirit of the Gujarati which helped overcome this difficult obstacle and, in the process, set a benchmark for the rest of the country.

Bigwigs

The fact that this is a business-savvy State is not news. Gujaratis account for nearly 40 per cent of all investors in India and are the centre of gravity of Bombay Stock Exchange. They know how to leverage their achievements and multiply businesses. The Ambanis, Adanis, Zydus Cadila and a host of other business houses are testimony to their zeal.

What also goes in Gujarat's favour is its infrastructure which has always been one step ahead of other States. This explains why it has attracted industry over the years with the momentum increasing now. The agriculture sector, likewise, has constantly been buoyant and the results are there for all to see.

CM Harnessing new opportunities

What Mr Modi did, after consolidating his hold and ending the political instability that was characteristic of Gujarat between the 1970s and 1990s, was to accelerate the economic development process.

He also harnessed the new opportunities brought in by the ongoing economic reforms, liberalisation and globalisation of the Indian economy.

Vibrant Gujarat summit

Mr Modi masterminded events such the biennial Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit since 2003. Thousands of crores of rupees have since flowed into the State.

Kutch district alone saw investments of nearly Rs 30,000 crore.

As the sole decision-maker, Mr Modi also ushered in the single-window policy, cut through the red-tape and simplified procedures while keeping corruption in check.

Best infrastructure

The results of these efforts have been stupendous.

Gujarat now has some of the best infrastructure in the country. It is power surplus and sells power to other States.

It is free of labour disputes and issues relating to land acquisition.

The recurring droughts of the recent past are now history thanks to the Narmada waters and the effective use of drip and sprinkler irrigation schemes.

Nearly two lakh dams are in place to prevent wastage of rainwater.

In the last decade, Gujarat has seen double digit growth in agriculture and horticulture, acknowledged by the Washington-based International Institute of Food Policy Research in 2007-08.

infrastructure developments

Among the major infrastructure developments are Ahmedabad's Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) and the Metro planned between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

The six-lane road between Ahmedabad and Mumbai is nearing completion.

The State is marching ahead with the proposed Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), with Japanese investments of $90 billion.

Nearly 40 per cent of this corridor passes through Gujarat.

India's existing LNG import terminals are also housed in the State.

Car manufacturing plants are rapidly dotting the landscape with the likes of Ford, Peugeot, Tata Motors and Maruti-Suzuki set for some big plans.

Gujarat is now the largest State to use natural gas through a 2,200-km long pipeline network.

It is in the process of setting up India's largest privately operated port at Mundra, developed by the Adanis.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...cle2738149.ece

[0Roller]

Four SEZs to receive new investments of Rs 140 cr

Ten companies will start their units in four SEZs of the state following a nod by the zonal director of SEZs. Together, these companies will invest Rs 140 crore in the first phase in technology, textile and pharma sectors.

The SEZs that will receive the new clients are Aqualine SEZ (Gandhinagar), GIDC Electronics Park (Gandhinagar), GIDC Apparel Park (Ahmedabad) and JB Pharma SEZ in Bharuch.

The Aqualine SEZ for Information Technology (IT) and IT enabled Services (ITeS), had received applications from Ahmedabad-based Third Eye Enterprise, Gandhingar-based Roving Radiology, Mumbai-based Annet Technologies, Ahmedabad-based Infosense Services, Ahmedabad-based Raegan International and Ahmedabad-based Plenar solutions.

Third Eye will set up an online and offline Software Development Services centre, while Annet and Plenear Soutions will set up an IT-ITeS centre. Similarly, Infosense will start a Web Services and Project Management Centre; Raegan International will set up a BPO-KPO centre, while Roving Technologies will set up a Knowledge Process Outsourcing centre for Tele-Radiology. Togather, these companies will invest Rs 8 crore initially and employ around 400 persons.

Ghaziabad-based Compark E-Services Private Limited will invest close to Rs 60 lakh and employ around 150 people at Gandhinagar-based GIDC Electronics Park, a SEZ for IT-ITeS sector.

Ahmedabad-based GIDC Apparel Park will see investments from Ahmedabad-based Mahavir Tex Fab, who will manufacture shirts, trousers and other textile products. Ahmedabad-based Utkarsh Exim Private Limited will manufacture aprons and gloves for medical use in the SEZ. Together, the companies will invest Rs 1 crore initially and employ close to 300 people.

Pune-based Biodeal Laboratories Private Limited has received a nod to set up facilty for making nasal spray, drops, inhalers, dry powders and tablets at J B Pharma SEZ in Bharuch district. The company will pump in over Rs 130 crore and is expected to employ close to 700 persons at the SEZ.

"We have given nod to 10 companies to set up units in SEZs. We expect that they will soon start their operations," said Pravir Kumar, zonal development commissioner for SEZ.

[GJ10]

GMDC to decide on JV with Nalco for Aluminium project

State-owned Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) today said its board will take a decision next month on setting up an alumina plant and aluminium smelter project in joint venture (JV) with the Navratna PSU Nalco.

Nalco, a leading aluminium producer, recently had qualified as the sole bidder for the over Rs 10,000-15,000 crore alumina and smelter plant project, proposed in Kutch district of Gujarat. "Nalco, the sole qualified bidder, for our alumina plant and aluminium smelter project, has deposited the upfront fees of Rs 150 crore. We shall now take it to our board by middle of next month, which will take the final decision on JV," a top GMDC official told PTI.

The other companies who had evinced interest through EOI's included Hindalco, JSW Aluminium and Adani group. The bids for project were technically examined by the Nagpur-based Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre, a GMDC official said. "Once our board approves it, the next step would be to take it to the Gujarat government for final approval, which is likely by mid-April," he said.

The project is for one million tonne alumina and 0.5 million tonne aluminium smelter. GMDC will supply bauxite for the project from its group of mines in Kutch. The estimated Rs 10,000-15,000 crore alumina and smelter is expected to be set up in Gujarat on the lines of such units installed by the UK based Vedanta group in Odhisa, but will deploy more advance technology, a GMDC official said.

With decent Bauxite reserves in the state, I hope to see more Aluminium refining/smelting projects in Gujarat.

[NitinPatel]

China Steel Corporation (Taiwan) to invest US$ 178 Million in Gujarat


The Industrial Extension Bureau, the investment promotion company of the Government of Gujarat, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Steel Corporation, a leading Taiwanese steel manufacturer with integrated production capabilities. The MoU was signed in the presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Narendra Modi. China Steel Corporation has incorporated a subsidiary company named China Steel Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. to set up an electrical steel plant in approx. 145 acres at Dahej GIDC estate. The company would be investing to the tune of US$ 178 million (approx INR 900 Crore) in the first phase and totaling up to US$ 1.2 billion (INR 6000 Crore) by the second phase.

China Steel Corporation has incorporated a subsidiary company named China Steel Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. to set up an electrical steel plant in approx. 145 acres at Dahej GIDC estate. The company would be investing to the tune of US$ 178 million (approx INR 900 Crore) in the first phase and totaling up to US$ 1.2 billion (INR 6000 Crore) by the second phase.

The China Steel Corporation informed that the work for the first phase will start from June 2012 and the manufacturing process is expected to initiate from the beginning of year 2014 and investment for second phase will be completed by the year 2016.

China Steel Corporation first visited Gujarat on 12 May, 2011 for exploring investment possibilities in here. Later on, multiple visits were made by their technical team to gather information like electricity, gas supply, water availability etc. in GIDC land shown to them.

The dignitaries present at the MoU signing ceremony were Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi, His Excellency ONG WEN-CHYI, Ambassador, Taiwan R.O.C., T. R. Jeng, VP Operations of CSC group,Mr. J.D. Lin, Chairman, China Steel Corporation India (P) Ltd (CSCI) and Mr. S K Tzeng, M.D, CSC India Pvt. Ltd. CSC has incorporated a subsidiary company named China Steel Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. to set up an electrical steel plant in Dahej, GIDC estate. The investment has been approved by Investment Commission, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan, R.O.C.

China Steel Corporation’s products are highly in demand for production of motors, generators, transformers, compressors, voltage regulators and so on. The economy of India is entering a rapid growth stage. Presently, the steel consumption per capita of India is less than 50 kg. In this situation, it is estimated that demand for steel is likely to jump in the near future. With a great increasing usage of motor, transformer, generator and household appliance, the total demand for ES in 2011 which was above 500,000 tons is estimated to be up to 670,000 tons by 2015. A 6% of average growth rate is expected in the coming five years.

[GJ10]

Another industrial milestone for Gujarat, we are now home to Indias largest and the worlds 4th largest steel works at Hazira.

Essar Hazira now 10million tonnes per annum, 4th largest in world.

Essar Projects (EPL) today formally handed over 5 million tonne per annum plant here to Essar Steel, making it the world's fourth largest single location flat steel complex with 10 million tonne capacity.

"To support the plant, Essar Projects has built associated facilities in Hazira that include a 30 million tonne tonne annum all- weather port, two power plants with an annual capacity of 1,015 MW, oxygen and lime plants, a fabrication facility and a self-contained township," EPL Chief Executive Officer Alwyn Bowden said.

Essar Steel has now become the fourth largest flat steel maker at a single location in the world after Baosteel, Posco and Riva. EPL is engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) arm of the multi-billion Essar Group.

"I am proud to be part of the company that created 10 million tonne integrated steel project, the single largest in India and fourth largest in the world, with a total investment of Rs 37,500 crore," Bowden said.

"Essar Projects has handed over the plant to us after completing the expansion project to 10 million tonne steel," Essar Steel CEO & MD Dilip Oommen said.

"The next step would be consolidation. The thrust will now be to ramp up the steel production capacity to 80% by 2013, and thereafter reach cent per cent," he said.

On the outlook for steel demand in the country, Oommen said, "demand in India per say will be healthy."

According to the Steel Ministry, the country production capacity is expected to reach 200 million tonne by 2020, with per capita consumption projected to reach 150 kg.

With 10-12mmtpa "megaprojects" of Posco, Arcelor Mittal and JSW languishing in Eastern India, doesnt look like anything will challenge Essar Hazira or JSW Vijayanagar (karnataka) anytime soon.

[aks_sky]

Works for Dahej-Ghogha ro-ro ferry to kick start this month

Gu Dahej-Ghogjarat Maritime Board(GMB) will kick start the work forha ro-ro ferry from January 25th. The project when ready will cut size the distance between south Gujarat and Saurashtra by 300 km. As per the detail available, Gujarat Chief Minister will perform ground breaking of the project at Ghogha in Bhavnagar district on 25th of this month.

Essar infrastructure has been awarded a contract to construct the terminals for ro-ro ferry through bid. The contract is about engineering, procurement and construction(epc). All construction related works of this Roll on-Roll of(ro-ro) service are targeted to end in 15 months.

The project would be an important one considering the challenge to implement it, due to intense tidal condition factor.

As per a study by London based consultant carried out in 2008, daily 1059 cars, 777 buses, 367 light commercial vehicles, 2018 trucks and 444 mulch-excel vehicles travel 340 km distance between Ghogha and Dhahej. The distance across the sea is just 31 km(22 nautical mile) between the two places. Around seven and half hour journey through road will be shortened to one and half hour through sea.

A vessel with 40-km speed will carry 500 passengers. In first phase Ghodha-Dahej service will be started at a cost of Rs 296 crore. In second phase, Mundra-Okha-Porbandar-Pipavav-Haziera-Suvali and Mumbai can also witness starting of such service.

While sea journey between Ghogha and Dahej will take 90 minute, the loading and uploading will take another 40 minute and passenger boarding and deboarding will take 10 minutes. Daily four trips will be conducted.

[aks_sky]

Good explanation here by DG on the above and more updates!

Ahmedabad, 25 January 2012

Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi will today perform ground breaking of Rs 296-crore Dahej-Ghogha roll on-roll off (ro-ro) ferry project terminal at Bhavnagar district’s Ghogha coast. The project that would connect south Gujarat and Saurasthra regions of the state through the Gulf of Cambay is being developed by the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB).

The project is expected to be implemented in 15 months. After construction of the two terminals at Dahej and Ghogha, GMB plans to run two or three ferry vessels daily, to begin with, for which it would invite bids from ferry operators.Special vessels will carry loaded road vehicles, including buses and trucks, through the sea route.

The much awaited project has been awarded to Essar which was the lowest bidder. The EPC(engineering, procurement & construction) contract to Essar involves construction of both terminals.

Gujarat Maritime Board has 16 hectares of land at Ghogha( and 14 hectares of land at Jageshwar-Dahej) over which construction of security gate – checkin/checkout control, vehicle checking gate, future marshalling area, paved marshalling area, sewage treatment plant, workshop/engineering, water tank, terminal building, car parking, access trestle, administration building, roofed space(arrival), bus terminal, future extension area, land reclamation, access bund, link span, passenger amenities, pontoon, existing bund, approach trestle will be witnessed over next one year by Essar infrastructure. About 1 cum dredging in Ghogha and 3 cum dredging at Dahej is expected and dredge material is proposed to be filled in low lying area. No cargo will be handled at both the terminals.

The ferry distance between Dahej and Ghogha two terminals will be 17 nautical miles or 32 km. Total distance by road between Bharuch and Bhavnagar via Vadodara, Borsad, Tarapur and Vataman is 340 km which takes 7 hours and 10 minutes. Compare to this the journey between Bharuch and Bhavangar through Dahej-Ghogha ferry service will take 2 hours and 30 minutes in ideal condition. This includes 43 km/45 minutes journey from Bharuch to Dahej, 30 km/1 hour and 30 minutes journey from Dahej to Ghogha by sea, and 25 km/25 minutes journey from Ghogha to Bhavnagar.

Relevant traffic moving eastbound via Bagodara relevant to Ghogha terminal was 1350 vehicles/day while non Bagodara traffic was 936 vehicles.day as per the Beckett Rankine survey. Relevant traffic moving westbound via Vataman relevant to Dahej terminal was 2379 vehicles per day as per the same survey. Relevant traffic for Ro-Ro project as per this survey which was done in November 2008 was 1059 cars, 122 government buses, 655 private buses, 367 light commercial vehicles, 2018 trucks and 444 multi- exl vehicles per day. Potential traffic volume at Ghogha and Dahej each terminal was figured out at 600 vehicles per day. Of them 60% trucks, 10% buses and 30% cars.

Ropax ferry type vessel with carrying capacity of 500 passengers and 100-150 vehicles needs maximum draft of 4.50 m while service speed would be 22 knots(40 km/hour). Total sailing time would be 90 minutes, while birthing and unberthing would take 10 minutes. Loading/uploading time would be 40 minutes. Turnaround time would be 280 minutes. Making this simple, suppose you are at Ghogha, then deberthing of passengers from Dahej would take 5 minutes, loading/unloading of vehicles would take 40 minutes, and berthing would take 5 minutes. Then the ferry would take 90 minutes to reach Dahej, where again your deberthing would take 5 minutes, loading/unloading 40 minutes, and berthing of new passengers from Dahej would take another 5 minutes.

If there’s a volume of 600 vehicles per day, and vehicle carrying capacity is 100 vehicles, the vessel can have 6 departures per day. Similarly for 120 vehicles, 5 departures and for 150 vehicles there can be 4 departures per day. GMB has decided to opt for 150 vehicles per trip and four departures per day.

Gujarat Maritime Board has planned few other ro-ro ferry projects for future. The list includes Mumbai-Porbandar, Mumbai-Ghogha, Mumbai-Dahej, Mumbai Hazira, Mumbai-Pipavav, Hazira-Pipavav, Pipavav-Porbandar, Porbandar-Okha and Okha-Mundra.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of state Saurabh Patel and Parshottam Solanki at Dahej-Ghogha ro-ro ferry project’s ground breaking ceremony. Construction of Ghogha terminal kicked off today morning. The work is targeted to complete in next year. Chief Minister Modi on this occasion said that till now Ahmedabad and Vadodara were the centre of development in Gujarat, but now Saurasthra will led the state in development, and Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Jamnagar will become major centres. Modi reiterated state government’s commitment on implementation of Kalpsar project. “We have performed ground breaking ceremony, and we only will inaugurate the project,” Modi said. The state government is also planning to construct approximately 6.5 km four-lane rigid pavement connecting Ghogha ferry terminal from the state highway.(photo by Mukesh Pandit in Bhavnagar).

Source

[vadodra007]

Originally Posted by aks_sky

Works for Dahej-Ghogha ro-ro ferry to kick start this month

This has been talked for so long that it has almost been forgotten!

This is fantastic for NH8 through vadodra, nandesari and beyond if few hundred trucks in each direction are removed from the road. There are too many traffic related deaths.

Ultimately, Hazira to Pipavav will be needed. Havent been there in a long time, but have heard that Surat-Ankleshwar-Bharuch stretch is a nightmare.

The others, mainly out of Bombay are too ambitious. With the current set of clowns governing Maharashtra, that doesn't seem very likely to happen anytime soon.

[gandhi.rushabh1992]

Originally Posted by vadodra007

This has been talked for so long that it has almost been forgotten!

This is fantastic for NH8 through vadodra, nandesari and beyond if few hundred trucks in each direction are removed from the road. There are too many traffic related deaths.

Ultimately, Hazira to Pipavav will be needed. Havent been there in a long time, but have heard that Surat-Ankleshwar-Bharuch stretch is a nightmare.

The others, mainly out of Bombay are too ambitious. With the current set of clowns governing Maharashtra, that doesn't seem very likely to happen anytime soon.

so true

[GJ10]

Originally Posted by vadodra007

This has been talked for so long that it has almost been forgotten!

This is fantastic for NH8 through vadodra, nandesari and beyond if few hundred trucks in each direction are removed from the road. There are too many traffic related deaths.

Ultimately, Hazira to Pipavav will be needed. Havent been there in a long time, but have heard that Surat-Ankleshwar-Bharuch stretch is a nightmare.

The others, mainly out of Bombay are too ambitious. With the current set of clowns governing Maharashtra, that doesn't seem very likely to happen anytime soon.

AFAIK, the NH8 is 6 laned for the whole of that stretch now, apart from at the bridge over Narmada river, but fingers crossed that the planned Expressway comes along smoothly!

Vadodara - Mumbai Expressway work gathers steam

The much-awaited expressway work between Vadodara and Mumbai is likely to begin by May 2012.

The 379-km expressway is expected to be completed in four years and the work begins immediately after the construction of 93-km stretch of Ahmedabad- Vadodara expressway under Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) project that connects Delhi-Mumbai-Chennai-Kolkata-Delhi.

"The Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project is also underway. This stretch of expressway would lead to big time growth and development for the adjoining areas," said Union minister of state for road development Tushar Chaudhary.

"This expressway will run parallel to the National Highway No 8," said an official of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) project director's office.

The proposed road is marked to the west of the NH-8 from Vadodara and will run west till Kim in Surat district. Thereafter, it will turn east to the NH-8 till Gujarat border in Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Navsari and Valsad.

From there the road will turn towards west into the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and then to east at Vasai near Mumbai before entering Raigad district bypassing Mumbai.

"There will be about 12 major interchanges in Gujarat and eight in Maharashtra," said NHAI official.

"The road will be eight-lane except Vadodara-Bharuch stretch which will be six-lane pavement quality concrete (PQC) road," he added.

The Union minister said, "Work to acquire over 6,000 hectares of land is going on. NHAI is carrying out tendering and documentation process for the Rs 17,000 crore project."

This part of the expressway would begin from Vadodara and end at Dahisar on the outskirts of Mumbai near Fountain Hotel but will have a spur line from Vasai to Kalyan and beyond for the bypass to Mumbai city.

[vadodra007]

Interesting alignment.

I still like the idea of ferries because the shape of Gujarat is such that the shortest and fastest distance from Saurashtra to Bombay is thru sea. Historically, this has always been true and that is the origin of all the Gujjus in Bombay.

All this was screwed up by the short-sighted socialist policies. Time to bring back economic and environmental efficiencies.

BTW, this mode has proven to work very well in Medeteranian, Baltic and across the English channel.

[aks_sky]

Gujarat planning to bring home US-style 911 soon

GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat government is all set to tie up with a high-profile consortium consisting of ESI911- the world leader in developing web-based crisis incident management technology and solutions- for setting up an emergency response communication infrastructure.

"It will be employed to fight both natural and manmade disasters, as and when they take place in the state," a senior government official said. The code 911 is America's national emergency number, and a theory about the September 11 attacks holds that Osama chose that day to attack the country because it would symbolize a horrifying emergency.

As for Gujarat, the consortium it is collaborating with comprises ESI911, American Signal Corporation, Delhi-based Tulip, and Ahmedabad-based Sai Infosystem. It won an aggressive international bid against IBM and Wipro, and will soon take complete control the State Emergency Operating Centre (SEOC) on build-operate-own and transfer (BOOT) model for five years. "It will take five months to set up the new system once a formal agreement is signed," the official said.

"The bid was floated by Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) for creating a new communication infrastructure facility in the just completed building of SEOC, next to Gandhinagar Sachivalaya, which can withstand a quake of 9.1 magnitude," a senior official said.

ESI911's involvement is considered particularly important. It had set up a web-emergency operation centre (WebEOC) for surveillance and security of the US presidential inauguration. Its clients include the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and several US departments, including for defence and energy.

"While ESI911 and American Signal Corporation will provide software solutions to fight disasters, the other two in the consortium will take care of the hardware part," the official said. "The consortium will not just look into communication infrastructure issues of natural disasters like earthquakes, floods and tsunamis, but also manmade chemical disasters in top industrial hotspots in Gujarat like Vapi, Ankaleshwar, Hazira and Vadodara." Already, the GSDMA is in the process of carrying out complete mapping of the type of chemical and other industrial disasters that can take place in the state, the official said.

"The other US company, American Signal Corporation, is the global leader in automated alerts and warning systems," the official pointed out, adding, "Already, every district has emergency operating centres, and plans are underway to set up 400 localized emergency operating centres in as many vulnerable villages."

The official said that a major reason for the establishment of the new centre and the deployment of a world-class consortium to run it on the BOOT model was to set up new satellite-based information channels for real-time communication on disasters. "The channels will come into play when existing communication channels like telephones, mobiles, and internet connectivity stop working," the official said.

[CivilEngineer079]

What are the current updates of Statue of Unity on Narmada river? Has construction already started?

[aks_sky]

Soon, a 10-lane ‘Super Expressway’ for Vadodara

The present National Highway 8 (NH8) between Ahmedabad and Vadodara is set to become 10-lane affair in next three years. With the name of ‘Super Express Tollway’, it will have six-lane of highway and two service lanes on each side. However, driving on these lanes will get costlier by 40% to 60 % compared to the present rates.
The toll on present 93-km long, four-lane Expressway is around Rs90 for one way trip between Ahmedabad and Vadodara. A 40% to 60% higher toll will mean a toll of anywhere between Rs125 and Rs145 for one way trip after the completion of the project.
Right now, one can travel between these two cities without paying toll as NH8 does not take any charges. But once the new ‘Super Express Tollway’ is ready in next three years, toll will be charged on both the highways. While traveling on the toll-free service lanes of ‘Super Express Tollway’ would be chaotic to say the least.
The cost of developing Super Express Tollway is around Rs2,800 crore. IRB Infrastructure Developers Limited (IRB) has won the contract from National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for developing the highway, and announced on bourses that the company has achieved financial closure for Ahmedabad — Vadodara Project. The total cost of Ahmedabad-Vadodara project stands around Rs4,880 crore including Rs2,800 for developing six-lane highway, Rs500 crore for maintenance, Rs900 crore will be paid as premium to NHAI and Rs680 crore is estimated to be escalation cost.
“The total cost of developing six lane highway on NH8 is around Rs2,800 crore and maintaining Expressway will cost around Rs500 crore. IRB Ahmedabad Vadodara Super Express Tollway Pvt. Ltd, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for Ahmedabad Vadodara Project has tied up project finance of Rs3,300 crore,” said Virendra D Mhaiskar, chairman & managing director of IRB. He said that this is the largest debt tie-up in the highway infrastructure sector till date in a pure play toll-based BOT project.
Talking about the toll on the new highway, Mhaiskar said that 'Super Express Tollway' is estimated to be operational by May 2016. "Compared to the present Expressway, it is estimated that the toll on new highway would be 40% to 60% higher. Compared to Expressway, reaching to destination will be faster on Super Express Tollway but it will a bit expensive," he said.
Mhaiskar said that total cost of this project is Rs4,880 crore, out of which equity contribution by the company will be approximate Rs1,580 crore and remaining will be funded through project finance of Rs3,300 crore. "Out of this project finance, approximately Rs1,100 crore can be drawn as ECB and remaining Rs2,200 crore as rupee term loan," said Mhaiskar.

Source: Dna epaper

[aks_sky]

Gujarat tops with `16.28 lakh crore in live investments

Gujarat has once again emerged as the most lucrative investment destination attracting the highest number of live investment proposals worth a whopping Rs16.28 lakh crore at the end of 2011, apex industry body Assocham stated.
Gujarat has a share of about 13.52% in the total live investments worth Rs120.34 lakh crore at the end of the year, according to the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham). "Of the total proposals, Gujarat attracted 39.2 % in electricity, 24.2 % in manufacturing, 16.2 % in services, 14.3 % in real estate, 5.2 % in irrigation and 0.9 % in mining," said chairperson of Assocham Gujarat Council, Bhagyesh Soneji.
"Out of the 20 industrial states, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka have clearly emerged as the preferred investment destinations by attracting 53.56% of the total live investments," said DS Rawat, national secretary general of Assocham.
Apart from Gujarat, Maharashtra attracted investments worth Rs14.14 lakh crore followed by Andhra Pradesh Rs2.09 lakh crore, Odisha Rs12.09 lakh crore, Karnataka Rs9.85 lakh crore and the remaining 15 states attracted total investment proposals worth Rs. 55.89 lakh crore.
The study observed that Tamil Nadu was at sixth position by attracting investment proposals worth Rs9.13 lakh crore followed by Jharkhand Rs7.16 lakh crore investment proposals.
The remaining 13 states were West Bengal (Rs6.23 lakh crore), Madhya Pradesh (Rs5.65 lakh crore), Uttar Pradesh (Rs5.38 lakh crore), Haryana (Rs4.98 lakh crore), Chhattisgarh (Rs4.56 lakh crore), Rajasthan (Rs2.54 lakh crore), Bihar (Rs2.38 lakh crore), Punjab (Rs2.16 lakh crore), Kerala (Rs2.12 lakh crore), Jammu & Kashmir (Rs1.11 lakh crore), Uttarakhand (Rs1.07 lakh crore), Himachal Pradesh (Rs84,062 crore) and Assam (Rs58,179 crore).
"Investment in the primary sector represented by irrigation has the highest share in Andhra Pradesh," said Rawat. "Next are Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. As against these states, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Assam gave the least priority to investing in irrigation development."
As regards the share of electricity, the sector has got the highest share of investments in the states of Gujarat, Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The bottom five states to focus on electricity are Assam, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.
Manufacturing is expected to achieve relatively higher growth than other sectors in the states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Karnataka, and West Bengal.
Conversely, manufacturing got lower shares in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Assam. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh emphasise more on the development of the services sector.
The states of Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Assam have lesser focus on this sector, reveals the report.

Source: Dna epaper

[gandhi.rushabh1992]

Originally Posted by CivilEngineer079

What are the current updates of Statue of Unity on Narmada river? Has construction already started?

New reservoir to come up near Narmada dam

' The proposed 182-metre high statue of Sardar Patel, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore, will be part of the reservoir. '

Article

[gandhi.rushabh1992]

Originally Posted by aks_sky

Soon, a 10-lane ‘Super Expressway’ for Vadodara
Source: Dna epaper

It is good that they are building a second expressway, but IMO an Ahmedabad-Rajkot Expressway is also badly needed. The present Highway is very busy with all the cargo trucks which come from the numerous ports of Kachchh and Saurashtra.

[CivilEngineer079]

Originally Posted by gandhi.rushabh1992

New reservoir to come up near Narmada dam

' The proposed 182-metre high statue of Sardar Patel, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore, will be part of the reservoir. '

Article

But Statue was going to build on upstream of the dam and tender has already been floated and work is going to start before 2012 but still no sign of development.

http://www.bhaskar.com/article/GUJ-i...t-2319023.html

[GJ10]

Reliance will expand Jamnagar Refinery Petrochemicals output

Reliance Industries Ltd. will expand petrochemicals production at its Jamnagar refinery in India to profit from selling products used in consumer goods that are more valuable than exported fuels.

Reliance plans to integrate refining units with additional petrochemicals operations at Jamnagar to produce more chemicals, including ethylene, polypropylene and propylene, for sale in India, K.K. Sreeramachandran, a general manager in the company’s refining business, said at a conference in Dubai.

The expansion will cost about $10 billion to $12 billion and take three to four years, he said. The company is still awarding contracts to build some segments of the plant, while construction of others have started, Sreeramachandran said.

Reliance, India’s biggest company by market value, operates two adjacent plants at Jamnagar in India’s western state of Gujarat that together make up the world’s biggest refining complex. The plants can process 1.24 million barrels of oil a day and can turn cheaper heavy grades of crude into high-value products.

The Jamnagar facility already produces 1.9 million tons of polypropylene a year, Sreeramachandran said. The refinery and chemical integration will enable the company to divert some gasoline that would normally be sold to produce the chemical paraxylene, he said. The refinery byproduct petroleum coke will be turned into synthetic gas to produce other chemicals, he said. High-value petrochemicals can be used to make consumer products like the plastics used in car dashboards or bumpers, mobile phones and computers.

Hopefully this will lead to new manufacturing industries being attracted to the Jamnagar region.