Chennai Projects Update thread - II

[Anniyan]

Cabinet nod for Chennai greenfield airport sought

The new greenfield airport in Chennai could take shape soon with the Ministry of Civil Aviation set to move a note seeking the Cabinet approval for the project.

Official sources told Business Line that the issue was being placed before the Union Cabinet as its nod was required for any new airport to come up.

The modernisation and expansion of the existing airport will also be reviewed on June 15 when the Prime Ministers Committee on Infrastructure meets here.

"Work on developing the existing airport can start after the Airports Authority of India (AAI) receives clearance from the Public Investment Board (PIB), that looks at investments proposal involving expenditure over a fixed amount," officials said.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...1203481000.htm

[yaduruli]

CHENNAI: The High Court-appointed Monitoring Committee has rejected a State Government proposal to extend the width of the IT corridor by a kilometre on either side along Old Mamallapuram Road (OMR) up to Mamallapuram.

The proposal, calling for amendments to Development Control Rules, was rejected at the 12th meeting of the Committee at the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority office on Friday, according to sources.

The rules envisage the corridor having a width of 500 metres on either side of the road. The second draft Master Plan limits the IT corridor on the north by Kottivakkam, the south by Semmancheri village, the east by Buckingham Canal and the west by the prescribed 500-metre limit.

A press release on the meeting said the Committee was briefed about the letter received from AIADMK party headquarters secretary K.A. Sengottaiyan in response to the notice served on the party's headquarters.

Members of the committee said the panel would not discuss individual cases and directed the CMDA to proceed as per the prescribed guidelines.

It reviewed action taken on the High Court's orders of August 23, 2006 and was apprised of the Government decision to file a review petition in the Supreme Court. The Government would be seeking to constitute a committee to review the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 and the High Court's observations on strict enforcement of regularisation

[wcgokul]

Originally Posted by Anniyan

i hope it's TATA

dont they have some agreement with Changi...???

[cure]

The state government has rejected the ambitious project of the Southern Railway to link the Chennai Central and Egmore railway stations. A letter from chief secretary L.K. Tripathy to Southern Railway said the project was “not feasible” because of the proposed elevated express highway between Chennai Port and Madhuravoyal and the two underground metro rail projects. One project is between Toll Gate and City Airport and the other is between Fort and Guindy.

The state government's decision has come as a “surprise and shock” to the southern railway and minister of state for railways R. Velu, who has taken a personal interest in implementing the project linking the Central and Egmore railway stations. The foundation stone for the Rs 92 crore project was laid in 2003 by former railway minister Nitish Kumar in the presence of Union minister T.R. Baalu and minister of state for railways A.K. Moorthy of the PMK. Both the DMK and PMK were part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre.Even at that time the “feasible report” prepared by the Railway Board went against the linking project.

The railway board had argued that the distance between Egmore and Central was not adequate to construct an elevated structure. The then AIADMK government was also not in favour of the project and it was shelved. However, after becoming the minister of state for railways in the UPA regime, Mr Velu approached the Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) to prepare a report. When the report turned out to be “positive”, the minister made every effort to get the nod from the state government for the project, which required land acquisition along the Coovum. Southern railway sources, however, said Mr Velu would once against take up the issue with the state government to get a green signal for the project.

http://www.deccan.com/chennaichronic...y/CityNews.asp

[ranga]

Originally Posted by Sunny78

MK is an old fox!

When Jaya came up with knowledge township project in Sholinganallur and distributed land to Satyam, Wipro, HCL, CTS, Megasoft and two small IT companies, he made lot of hue and cry about corruption. He withdrew allotment to CTS, Megasoft and the two small companies after coming to power. I wondered why he did such a stupid thing, when on one hand, he visited Infosys and Wipro campuses in Bangalore to convince them to invest in Chennai.

However, I realized later that for all the companies land allotment was cancelled, the allotted land was less than 25 acres. The SEZ policy states clearly that minimum land requirement for setting up IT SEZ was 25 acres. Hence these companies on their own couldn't set up SEZs. Also with termination of fiscal benefits, STPI parks have a very bleak future!

But ELCOT silently applied for SEZ status and got notification for the entire 380 acres, including 85 acres assigned to wipro, 50 acres to HCL and another 50 acres to Satyam.

It was a brilliant master stroke!

If MK is an old fox what do u call PMK's Ramadoss. However i have to add that the same Ramadoss a couple of years back when he came to Hyderabad to attend a public meeting organized by TRS for separate Telengana (Incidentally PMK was supporting TRS for separate Telengana) was all praise for YSR for IT growth and greenfield airport development being given to private company.He expressed regret that Chennai was lagging behind in respect of airport expansion/ modernization and that no decisive steps are being taken by the Govt of TN in this regard.

[calculus_ask]

Originally Posted by goram_vlad

dont they have some agreement with Changi...???

Even i thought their alliance is for bidding Chennai Airport.. but they're in race for some airports in north karnataka..

[cure]

Originally Posted by calculus_ask

Even i thought their alliance is for bidding Chennai Airport.. but they're in race for some airports in north karnataka..

yday there was an interview with the CEO of Tata Changi on CNBC. He said that they wul bid for chennai new airport if it is open for private bidding..

[Subra]

Originally Posted by cure

yday there was an interview with the CEO of Tata Changi on CNBC. He said that they wul bid for chennai new airport if it is open for private bidding..

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/...=frontpagenews

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Monday expressed the need for second airports for Bangalore and Hyderabad.
Speaking to Deccan Herald on the sidelines of a conference organised by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation here, Mr Patel said: “We have to respect the concession agreements entered into with airport builders consortia like in Bangalore because the governments are involved in it. However, we also have to see how best we can ensure that the second airport is taken up within the metropolitan region. Ultimately, what is important is the interest and requirement of people.”

Pact with BIAL
A second airport for the IT city is not possible at present as the State and Union governments have entered into an agreement with the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) which states that no other airport, new or existing, would operate within 150 km of the new aerodrome.
The minister said that while the second domestic airports would be set up at Mumbai and Chennai, the ministry would shortly take up the issue of multiple airports in other major metros.
He clarified that the second Chennai airport would be constructed as a greenfield airport and not by the Airports Authority of India.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chennai should be very careful when entering into agreement with private players. We should have the option to construct a third airport if required.

[Anniyan]

New arrival terminal at Chennai airport getting ready

A new international passenger arrival terminal at the Chennai's Anna International Airport is in the final stages of completion and trials are going on. The Rs 30-crore terminal is likely to be commissioned soon, according to the Chennai Airport Director, Mr Dinesh Kumar.

Minor changes are being made to the terminal, he told Business Line. For incoming international travellers there would be a new `slope type' baggage conveyor system instead of the present `flat type', making it easier for passengers to pick up their baggage, he said.

Mr Kumar earlier told Business Line that the existing infrastructure would be sufficient for the next five years.

Passenger Traffic

However, with carriers planning to expand their fleet and the likely surge in passenger traffic, there is a need for start working on expansion for future needs.

Currently, 20 international carriers and nine domestic airlines offer flights from/to Chennai. The most recent addition was Qatar Airways starting its Chennai-Doha flight.

In 2006-07, international passenger traffic through the Chennai airport was 2.80 million compared with 2.60 million in the previous year.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...1301420700.htm

[cure]

todays ET had an article that the PM infrastructure committee is meeting on Friday to finalise some proposals including that of the new airport in Chennai. Apparently karunanidhi is coming to Delhi today evening for this. The article however said that as per the TN gov this airport wld be done by AAI

[Sathyam]

hello all, i have been following this thread for couple of weeks now, you guyz are doing a brilliant job by tracking chennai's growth....after reading through, i am equally excited & proud of being an chennaite....

btw, not sure if i can ask this question in this forum, i am thinking of going for a land purchase near vandalur, would like to seek your thoughts on how fast this place will turn out to be a good residential zone for building a home sometime by this year...

i am sorry if I have asked a wrong question at a wrong forum...pls advice.

[Leo_r]

Life Cell Chennai - Stem Cells stored at -196° Centigrade under liquid nitrogen.

[Leo_r]

VGP MD has expressed the opinion that East Coast Road may evolve to become another "I-Drive" like the one in Orlando, USA. Can someone who has seen I-Drive throw more light?

[satsukhoi]

Originally Posted by Leo_r

VGP MD has expressed the opinion that East Coast Road may evolve to become another "I-Drive" like the one in Orlando, USA. Can someone who has seen I-Drive throw more light?

If you visit these links, it will show more details abt I-Drive. It is really superb. Hope VGP MD's words should come to real.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Drive

http://www.iridetrolley.com/visitorI...ageGallery.asp

[PlaneMad]

Originally Posted by Anniyan

New arrival terminal at Chennai airport getting ready

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...1301420700.htm

What they should have done is build a new intl terminal from scratch, then blow the present intl terminal to bits, build a new domestic terminal in that spot and then blown the present one to smithereens

AAI seems to have this fetish for expanding/extending/remodelling/restructuring/upgrading/overhauling and the terminals eventually end up being mutated with different parts having different styles

Btw the work at the arrival terminal was looking nice last month with a alumin/glass facade. will get pics in a few days

[metalfan]

Originally Posted by PlaneMad

What they should have done is build a new intl terminal from scratch, then blow the present intl terminal to bits, build a new domestic terminal in that spot and then blown the present one to smithereens

Btw the work at the arrival terminal was looking nice last month with a alumin/glass facade. will get pics in a few days

Definitely !! Looking forward to the pictures !

- KC

[PlaneMad]

inside the vestibule bus. source:Tamil Murasu

[yaduruli]

Chennai June 13 Real estate developers in Tamil Nadu are now faced with a new levy, an infrastructure and basic amenities charge, that is estimated to cost them several hundred crore rupees. This is expected to hit every major developer countrywide with projects in Tamil Nadu.

Through an order dated June 1, 2007, the Director of Town and Country Planning has fixed for Chennai metropolitan area a charge of up to Rs 100 a sq ft depending on the type of building. The charges are to be collected from the date of the order.

Industry estimates show that over 40 million sq ft of residential space, commercial buildings and IT space are in the pipeline over next 15-18 months. This means the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is set to rake in around Rs 500 crore in the first year.

For other areas, the Director of Town and Country Planning has been given the power to fix the infrastructure and amenities charge up to a maximum indicated in the order.

According to the order, the objective of the infrastructure and basic amenities charge is to create a infrastructure and amenities fund for the sustainable development of urban areas, growth centres, provision of alternative and additional source for water supply, drainage and road connectivity.

The order says that the revenue from the charge would be credited to the infrastructure and amenities fund to be operated and maintained by the Director of Town and Country Planning. Till the fund is operational, for which separate orders are needed, the charges collected are to be deposited in a separate account.


http://www.blonnet.com/2007/06/14/st...1401862100.htm

[yaduruli]

Chennai June 13 Real estate developers with projects in Tamil Nadu are concerned over the new infrastructure and amenities charge levied from June.

They estimate that the new levy would cast an additional burden of around Rs 400 crore on them, while leaving them no leeway to collect it from those who buy/rent the property.

Through an order dated June 1, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has levied an infrastructure and basic amenities charge that is to be collected for a range of categories of constructions. This includes commercial and IT buildings (Rs 500 per sq m), multi-storeyed buildings (Rs 1,000 per sq m), institutions (Rs 200 per sq m) and industrial (Rs 300 per sq m). These would be the rates for the Chennai Metropolitan Area.

The Director of Town and Country Planning is empowered to fix a rate for constructions in other areas in the State but up to a maximum applicable for Chennai under the order. The order is effective from June and the money collected through the charge is to be used for creating an infrastructure and amenities fund.

Upcoming projects


According to industry sources, about 40-million sq ft space is coming up for completion in the next 15-18 months. This would mean that at a charge of about Rs 50-100 a sq ft, the developers in Chennai alone would pay Rs 200-400 crore within one year.

The builders with committed space and finalised lease rents are caught in a fix. Lease rates have been stagnant in the last few months, as multinational companies have been resisting any hike. Builders are getting squeezed between the increasing land and construction costs and the stagnant rentals, say industry sources.

According to Mr V. Kalyanaraman, President, IT Parks and Infrastructure Development Association, at least 10 million sq ft of IT space would be completed over the next year or so. Another 30 million sq ft of residential and commercial space is also in the pipeline. Such a pace of development is expected to sustain over the next five years.

The association is not against creation of a fund for infrastructure. But just that the decision has to be based on "dialogue and reasonableness". There is need for transparency and accountability in the process, with a clear plan outlined for the funds collected under the charge.

Cost add-on


Also, such charges add to the operating costs. The competitiveness of the State is affected as multinational companies come here for the low-cost of operations.

Over the last year and a half, construction costs have gone up by more than 50 per cent. Builders of IT space are spending around Rs 2,200 a sq ft against Rs 1,200 earlier.

Also, more than one agency collects such charges. The State Industries Promotion Corporation, which promotes industrial estates, levies Rs 60 a sq metre. Metrowater is also looking at hiking charges for water supply.

IT space developers in industrial estates in Guindy and Ambattur are also paying infrastructure development charge under other programmes.

Another leading developer of IT space and commercial buildings pointed out that US companies are concerned over cost of operations in Chennai. This charge adds to the service tax on lease levied in the Union Budget. Other States are fast becoming a more attractive option.



http://www.blonnet.com/2007/06/14/st...1401852100.htm

[yaduruli]

Originally Posted by yaduruli

Chennai June 13 Real estate developers in Tamil Nadu are now faced with a new levy, an infrastructure and basic amenities charge, that is estimated to cost them several hundred crore rupees. This is expected to hit every major developer countrywide with projects in Tamil Nadu.

Industry estimates show that over 40 million sq ft of residential space, commercial buildings and IT space are in the pipeline over next 15-18 months. This means the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is set to rake in around Rs 500 crore in the first year.
http://www.blonnet.com/2007/06/14/st...1401862100.htm

I think the builder would blindly pass on these charges to buyers. Only result in cost escalation. bad for new buyers