HYDERABAD Projects and Updates - II

[sriece19]

Chief Minister reviews metro rail works

Agencies told to expedite works without causing traffic chaos

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has directed L&T and Hyderabad Metro Rail Project authorities to ensure that the prestigious project is completed at the earliest and with least inconvenience to road users.

Mr. Reddy who reviewed the progress of the project here on Tuesday emphasised that the project officials ensure that there were no traffic bottlenecks in the city while the Metro Rail works were in progress.

The Metro Rail, said to be the world's largest project in PPP mode, would have three high density traffic corridors of 71 km, to be taken up in Phase I -- Miyapur to L.B.Nagar, Jubilee Bus Station to Falaknuma and Nagole to Shilparamam.

Explaining the progress of the work, the project officials said 22 pillar foundations, five pillars and 20 segments had already been cast in Nagole-Mettuguda stretch.

Pillar construction would also start in Stage II of Miyapur-SR Nagar stretch very soon.

Gadgil, MD, L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Ltd., appreciated the proactive measures taken by HMR and various wings of government and highlighted the financial and commercial risks being taken by the L&T in implementing the rail project in PPP. He sought further cooperation from all government wings.

N.V.S. Reddy, HMDR Managing Director, made a detailed presentation on the progress of various project facilitation works, including acquisition and dismantling of properties in congested areas, road widening works, improvement of National Highway carriageway, replacement of open nalas etc.

The Chief Minister advised Mr. Gadgil and Mr. Reddy to further reduce the cycle time of pillar construction and minimise the barricade areas.

He appreciated the plantation drive undertaken by HMR and the survival of all the 365 trees which were translocated.

He released a DVD on the HMR explaining the metro rail routes, station designs, features of construction. The film showcased the way Hyderabad city would look like after the Metro Rail was in place, apart from showing the skywalks, pedestrian facilities etc.

The officials informed Mr. Reddy that the religious structures would be relocated wherever feasible and slip roads would be formed to skirt them.

[sriece19]

UK consulate opens in Hyderabad today

HYDERABAD: The United Kingdom is all set to announce its consulate in Hyderabad on Thursday making it the only country to have a consulate in all southern states except Kerala. This would be the third consulate office coming up in Hyderabad, the first being that of Iran, then the US consulate that opened in October 2008.

For now, the consulate - to be headed by a deputy high commissioner - is expected to work out of a city hotel before it moves to a permanent address. The UK consulate would bring the city closer to realizing its London dream which has to otherwise route its visa applications through the consulate office in Chennai.

Getting UK visa to become easier

Until now, the city had an application collection centre for UK visas that were sent to Chennai. The process took about a week to ten days, a period that is expected to be shortened now. Andhra Pradesh sends a large number of students and professionals to UK every year.

The consulate is set to place Hyderabad firmly on the global travel map, which the city has been figuring in over the last few years particularly after the international airport at Shamshabad came up. The city already has direct connectivity to UK with a daily British Airways flight to London.

The flight reports more than 80% occupancy on most days, say official sources. Frequent flyers in the city hope that the consulate's presence in Hyderabad would connect city airport to more destinations in UK.

Consulate offices often act as confidence boosters among travelers from their home nations, who feel comfortable visiting a city that has their consulate office. The consulate presence would also better people to people contact and an increased opportunity for state residents to avail of the various fellowships and scholarships of the UK government.

[sriece19]

IL&FS Transportation To Develop Automatic Car Parking Facility AT Hyderabad

IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd. said the company and its subsidiary Futurcage Infrastructure India Ltd. had been mandated with the project for undertaking the development of an Integrated multi level automatic car parking facility at Khilwat, Hyderabad, by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation or GHMC, Hyderabad.

The concession period for the project is 30 years, which includes a construction period of 2 years. The project involves construction and development of an automated car parking along with real estate portion. The revenue to the project shall accrue from parking fee and leasing of retail space during the concession period.

The company further stated that the concession agreement for the project had been signed on May 25 between GHMC and Charminar RoboPark Ltd., the special purpose vehicle incorporated by the Company for undertaking the Project.

At the BSE, IL&FS Transportation Networks shares are currently trading at Rs.173.15, up 1.58 percent from the previous close.

[World8115]

Finally This parking near Chowmahalla Palace has been in news for quite long

[Gudavalli]

A new drive to harvest rain water

HYDERABAD: In a bid to encourage rain water harvesting and improve the depleting groundwater levels in the city, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will begin a new initiative from June 1. It plans to build rain water harvesting structures or pits in more than 23,000 houses across the twin cities in one year.
However, the pits will be built in buildings/houses constructed after 2005 and which have got water connections thereafter. Besides, buildings built on 200 sq yards or more will only be covered under this programme. The cost of these works has already been paid for by the owners of the buildings at the time of taking water connections. The pit size will be about six cubic meters in an area of 100 meters in each house. Rain water harvesting is mandatory for houses built on more than 200 sq yards and owners of such buildings will have to pay a penalty if they do not have rain water harvesting structures or pits.
Currently, in Hyderabad, only 10-15 per cent of houses have rain water harvesting pits. Due to less amount of rainfall last year, the groundwater levels depleted rapidly this year and the GHMC’s new drive is expected to recharge the groundwater table. Rain water harvesting is nothing but depositing rain water in the ground, so that groundwater levels remain high. This helps when borewells are dug. But since these days, cement is used extensively in constructions, rain water can no longer seep into the ground.
In areas like Maredpally, underground water level is the deepest at 26 metres. Ameerpet comes next with 19.6 metres and Nampally third at 13.3 metres. These are the latest stats provided by the HMWS&SB. As per records, since 2006, groundwater levels have gone down across the city causing water shortage. However, there has been an increase in water levels in areas like Bahadurpura, Shaikpet and Musheerabad mandals.
“It is best to build rain water harvesting pits during construction of buildings, as it will cost much less and will also be very helpful to everyone. The decision to launch a campaign was taken by our Managing Director Adhar Sinha,” said� J Satyanarayana, rain water harvesting cell, HMWS&SB. Construction of rain water harvesting pits during pre-monsoon season on rooftops and also by way of removal of top sand layer during pre-monsoon are ways to ensure that groundwater is recharged during the monsoon period.

[Hyd_Nipper]

Cinemax opens 2nd multiplex in Inorbit Mall

Cinemax has launched its second multiplex in Hyderabad with the release of Rowdy Rathod.

With the launch, Cinemax now has 40 properties in India and 141screens.

The new multiplex in Inorbit Mall is situated at Cyberabad, an upcoming township with an increasing urban and corporate populace.

The six-screen plex has a total seating capacity of 947 seats and is equipped with its benchmarked technology, lighting and acoustic sound system. In addition, the property offers luxurious seats, variety in gourmet food, personalised café service along with computerised ticketing.

[kailash9999]

Just came across this document on the APIIC website, Financial Towers, Errr, now what are these people upto ?

http://www.apiic.in/portal/APIICPort...=opportunities

[Gudavalli]

Originally Posted by kailash9999

Just came across this document on the APIIC website, Financial Towers, Errr, now what are these people upto ?

http://www.apiic.in/portal/APIICPort...=opportunities

Came across this a week ago...

[Prodigist]

Gr8 news!! Cant wait to see the renders.

[Gudavalli]

Originally Posted by Prodigist

Gr8 news!! Cant wait to see the renders.

I am thinking this is part of the APIIC tower projects which also consisted of 12 multi-storeyed buildings.

Guess we will have to wait and see...

[Prodigist]

Originally Posted by Gudavalli

I am thinking this is part of the APIIC tower projects which also consisted of 12 multi-storeyed buildings.

Guess we will have to wait and see...

But that one is at Machirevula.. They cleary mentioned Nanakramguda where the IT SEZ is. Even my first instinct was that they were talking about APIIC Trade Towers.

I really don't believe that Reliance Infra can pull this one off.. All ADAG companies are in debts and also under investigation for all kinds of shady deals. APIIC should just scrap the deal with Rel Infra

[kailash9999]

Originally Posted by Prodigist

But that one is at Machirevula.. They cleary mentioned Nanakramguda where the IT SEZ is. Even my first instinct was that they were talking about APIIC Trade Towers.

I really don't believe that Reliance Infra can pull this one off.. All ADAG companies are in debts and also under investigation for all kinds of shady deals. APIIC should just scrap the deal with Rel Infra

Agreed, They should scrap the deal with immediate effect, Reliance is least bothered or is not in a position to execute it, and if the Govt. is serious about getting the Tower built and bringing hyd back to its top spot, it should allot fresh bids asap and get over with it, Period !

But with the present scenario of Jagan-Telangana Issue and the ruling govt. trying to grapple with corruption and other issues, and as much as I am an optimist, I highly foresee that happening for atleast 4-5years now, if at all a lasting solution to these problems have been met by then and hyderabad is back on track, well atleast a decade behind than other metros, has a lot of catching up to do and the tower will be sort of a shot in the arm for the City.

The clock is ticking, every passing day is precious, but none of the politicians are bothered about it.

[Gudavalli]

GHMC likely to takeover libraries

HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is considering a proposal to takeover libraries under its limits as it’s unhappy with the way the Hyderabad Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha is maintaining them.
At the recent general body meeting, a majority of the corporators voiced concern over the poor quality of service at the various libraries in the twin cities.
The GHMC gives eight per cent of the property tax collected to the Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha for the development and maintenance of libraries. The library cess, as it is called, amounts to about Rs 40-45 crore.
The Hyderabad Grandhalaya Samstha maintains 85-90 libraries and most of these libraries are housed in buildings belonging to the GHMC.
Officials of the civic body claim that though they have been in touch with all the three chairpersons of the Grandhalaya Samsthas (Hyderabad, Medak and Ranga Reddy) the response has been lukewarm.
GHMC Commissioner M T Krishna said that GHMC is likely to hold a meeting with the three chairpersons soon and come up with concrete measures for improving library services in GHMC limits.
“Our intention is to provide better facilities to the people coming to libraries as they are the knowledge centres for people,” he said.
The GHMC is also planning� to establish reading rooms in the Community Halls which are under the control of GHMC. Necessary infrastructure will be created in the identified community halls by holding meetings with the local corporators and ward committees.
GHMC TDP floor leader Singireddy Srinivas Reddy pointed out that the GHMC had been imposing heavy fines and collecting property taxes, including 8 percent towards library cess, for maintenance and� development of libraries. “But the money is going only towards payment of salaries.
Instead, they should be taken over by the GHMC and library rooms should be established in the community centres,” he demanded.
The Zilla Grandhalaya Samastha was established as per the APPL Act 1960 under which, the local body should collect library cess and pay it to the Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha.
After the formation of the GHMC in 2007, the library cess is being paid to the Zilla Grandhalaya Samsthas of Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medak districts.

[Gudavalli]

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to conduct mega job mela in Old City

HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will conduct a job mela for the benefit of unemployed youth of the Old City at Owaisi School in Riyasat Nagar on June 5.

Briefing the media here on Saturday, mayor Mohd Majid Hussain said about 3,000 unemployed youth might benefit from the mega job mela. Candidates with a minimum qualification of SSC to graduation or any other professional qualification could register for the job mela, which starts at 9am on the day. The candidates have to bring five copies of their educational qualifications and bio-data along with them, the mayor said.

The corporation would also provide free transport to the venue from Chandrayangutta. The mayor said similar job melas would be conducted in all circles in a phased manner.

[Gudavalli]

Underground cables to strengthen OH lines

After much delay, the underground cabling project proposed under the scheme to strengthen the power distribution network in Hyderabad Urban Agglomeration (HUA), is likely to hit a start. A few stretches in the city have been identified for cabling and funds sanctioned thereof to the Master Plan wing of APCPDCL to carry out the works.

In all, 10 stretches have been identified for the initial sanction of about Rs.26-crore, where the existing 33 KV overhead lines will be strengthened through underground cabling.

Announced amid pomp nearly two years ago by the then CMD M.T.Krishna Babu, the project was not grounded for reasons known to the officials. Initially, it was proposed to lay 630 kilometres of 33 KV lines and 240 kilometres of 11 KV lines under ground. Upon successful completion of the project, all the 33 KV lines in the city will have been sent sub-terrain, it was told.

However, the officials are non-committal now about underground cabling of 33 KV lines in the entire city. Efforts are on to prioritise the works based on urgency of the situation. Overloaded lines will be given preference over others, as getting road cutting permissions from GHMC is proving to be a major task, they say.

“We have chosen stretches for UG cabling with due attention paid to the embargo on road cutting permissions in view of the international meet on biodiversity. Once the tenders are finalised, we will see that the works are finished in four months' time,” assures T.Srinivas, the Chief General Manager (Master Plan).

The HUA scheme, which includes construction of 64 substations, derives its funding of over Rs.800 crore through a loan from Power Finance Corporation, of which 25 per cent is given as central grant. Another 25 per cent will be converted into grant if the company reduces its losses to below 15 per cent. The project was to be implemented between 2010-11 and 2013-14.

[Gudavalli]

Green agenda on the anvil for Hyderabad

Plans to create tree banks to store species that suit local requirements

HYDERABAD, JUNE 3:
The CII-Godrej Green Business Centre plans to develop a green agenda for Hyderabad, while creating tree banks for people to use.

These banks will be ready by early next year and store species that suit local requirements.

The Executive Director of CII-Godrej Green Business Centre, Mr S. Raghupathy, said t the green agenda would include promoting tree banks, water management measures in parks, documentation of native species of trees in Andhra Pradesh.

At an event hosted by the CII-Godrej Green Business Centre here today to celebrate the birth centenary of late Mr Shorabji Godrej, speakers highlighted the importance of developing green spaces and buildings in busy city concrete jungles. The CII Green Centre here is the first platinum rated green building and it has played a significant role in providing impetus to the growth and spread of green buildings movement in the country. India is one of the global leaders in green buildings with over 1.16 billion sq.ft of green building cover. It stands second in the world with such a larger cover after the US.

Mr Vijay Crishna, Executive Director of Lawkim Motors Group, Godrej & Boyce, along with Ms Smita Godrej Crishna, shared some of the activities of various Godrej foundations and trusts, and the passion with which late Mr Godrej focussed on conservation, among other things.

Mr Navin Mittal, Special Commissioner of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, said it was the right time to aggressively promote green buildings for a sustainable tomorrow.

He said green buildings not only conserve resources, but are cost-effective and deliver value for money.

The GHMC has launched ‘fund your park' and ‘adopt your park,' both innovative programmes aimed at sustaining the maintenance of parks.

Mr Hitesh Malhotra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Andhra Pradesh, advocated that installation of solar panels should be made compulsory, as water harvesting has already been made mandatory in new buildings.

[Gudavalli]

Replantation of trees to be a reality soon

CII, GHMC plan to start tree bank where axed trees can be stored and sold to individuals, corporates

Imagine a place like tree bank, where you can buy a full grown tree and replant it at your house or office premises. Well, this is going to be a reality soon in the city.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is planning to set up a tree bank in the city to store trees that are otherwise axed during road widening works.

The tree bank likely to be established next year is being planned so that trees can be stored, maintained and sold to corporate companies and individuals, said S. Raghupathy, Executive Director CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business centre.

He was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting “Promoting green and biodiversity in Hyderabad” organised as part of birth centenary of Sohrabji Godrej. Other aspects of the proposed tree bank pertaining to identification of land, legal formalities, equipment, etc., were being finalised, he said.

GHMC Special Commissioner Navin Mittal, who delivered special address at the session, said it was essential to adopt effective methods to save greenery in the city.

He said all advertisement boards on the road medians would be removed and the place would be dedicated only for planting trees and maintaining greenery.

Further, GHMC was promoting “Adopt and fund your park” among residential colony associations. Already 500 municipal parks were being maintained by different colony associations and GHMC was contributing the initial capital for such activities. It was also extending support to the associations in maintaining parks, he added.

SOLAR PANELS

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Hitesh Malhotra advocated the need to make installation of solar panels mandatory for obtaining building plans approval. He said the move would aid in reducing the use of electric power besides regenerating solar energy.

Lawkim Motors Group Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited, Executive Director, Vijay M Crishna and others also spoke on the occasion.

[sriece19]

HMR officials yet to acquire 188 properties




Hyderabad Metro Rail authorities are to still acquire 188 properties – 155 government and 33 private properties falling in the line of alignment of the elevated metro rail across the three corridors where the project is being built.

These properties fall in the line of the viaduct, on which the trains will run, when it turns at various places in all the three routes stretching to 71.16 km.

While the metro project needs 100 ft wide roads, it was decided to increase road width to 150 ft to facilitate traffic movement during the construction stage and as per the master plan.

Accordingly, 1,244 properties were identified of which 160 are government owned, 369 belong to the government vested municipal properties category where private properties have come up on government lands and many other properties which have come up on sites under urban land ceiling.

More than half of them have been acquired through generous financial packages sanctioned by the government and negotiations were at an advanced stage in several other cases, explained HMR Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy.

“We see no problem with the right of way. We will tackle each stretch as the construction progresses. We have two-three years before coming into the core city,” he pointed out.

Pier (pillar work) is apace by the L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad between Nagole and Mettuguda, the 8-km stretch which is stage one of the project on the Nagole to Shilparamam route of Line three with eight of them up and standing.

Foundations were completed for 25 piers too so as to complete as many as possible before “vigorous monsoon” sets in, said Mr. Reddy. Piers will support the viaduct formed by segments, each 30 ft by 10 ft and weighing about 35 tonnes, being cast at its own yard adjacent to Nagole depot.

About 10 segments will be fixed usually between two piers separated by a distance of about 31 metres or 100 ft.

A total of 28,000 segments are to be used for the project upheld by 2,500 piers.

[sriece19]

Hyderabad Metro: Work begins on Stage 2 of Corridor I




HYDERABAD, JUNE 6:
L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Ltd has commenced construction work on Stage II of Corridor I at Miyapur a terminal point of one of the three corridors, today.

This is a part of the six-stage construction schedule for the Hyderabad metro rail project.

Mr V B Gadgil, Chief Executive and Managing Director of L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Ltd and Mr J Ganguli, Executive Vice-President (Retd) L&T Construction, inaugurated the construction works.

The Miyapur–LB Nagar corridor will cover a 28.87 km stretch with 438 central piers (pillars) and will be served by 27 stations and a depot at Miyapur. The alignment proceeds from Miyapur and continues on National Highway-9 while passing through JNTU and will terminate at LB Nagar. It will pass through one of the densest corridors of the city.

This Stage–II Miyapur–S R Nagar stretch on Corridor-I is expected to be operational by December 2014.

L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Ltd is a special purpose vehicle of construction major Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T). This project, which entails a Rs 16,375 crore outlay, is being executed as a public-private partnership initiative with the Government. The three corridors of elevated rail will cover a total stretch of 72 km.

[sriece19]

Delay drives up metro rail cost to 20K crore

HYDERABAD: Plagued by delays, the cost of the Hyderabad metro rail project has escalated to Rs 20,000 crore and is increasing by Rs 5 crore for each day lost. The present estimate is over three times the original outlay of Rs 6,200 crore, drawn up when the project was conceived in 2006.

And, sources believe that the Rs 20,000 crore figure, too, is bound to rise sharply as there is no indication as to when the project would be taken up in right earnest. Needless to say, the burden of the increased cost will be recovered - indirectly - from the exchequer or through high fares for the passengers.

The project can properly kick off only from what is known in technical parlance as the 'Appointed Date'. This date can be declared only after the government is able to give Right of Way to contractor Larsen & Toubro.

For those who came in late, Right of Way means that L&T can work unhindered on the project. However, for that to happen, the government first needs to complete the process of land acquisition for the project, which has been caught up in legal hurdles.

As per the agreement with L&T, the contractor has to complete the project within five years of the Appointed Date.

Sources say that the government wants to fix an Appointed Date even though the process of land acquisition is incomplete. However, L&T is unwilling to proceed unless it gets Right of Way. Delay in the declaration of the Appointed Date, or the official commencement of the Metro Rail project, has forced L&T to revise its plans for incurring loans from banks.

In a letter to the Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd on Tuesday, L&T said that if the Appointed Date is declared this month, then the first stage of the project - the 8km stretch between Nagole and Mettiguda on Corridor 3 - will be operational by April 2015.

As per the concession agreement signed between the state government, L&T and the Hyderabad Metro Rail Ld (HMRL) on September 4, 2010, the work had to start on March 3, 2011, with the banks supposed to have disbursed loans in accordance with the withdrawal plan and the progress of the work. Now, with the original plan mired in problems, L&T has to submit a revised blueprint, which the authorities are presently working on.

"The banks want us to submit a revised plan for loan withdrawal given the delay in commencement of works due to which we were not able to take on the loan

. We will submit the revised plan in a week's time and, thereafter, the project will be fast-tracked," Vivek Gadgil, chief executive and managing director of L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad), told TOI.

However, without the declaration first of an 'Appointed Date', the revised plan will be of little help as the banks are bound to insist on a fixed starting point which would allow them to calculate the deadline for the project.

"Some factors are in our hands and some are in the hands of the government. You have to ask them why there is a delay in the declaration of the Appointed Date," Gadgil said. He added that depot construction work was on in full swing at Miyapur and Nagole while recasting jobs for viaducts and the erection of piers, too, were underway.

Gadgil said that L&T had spent over Rs 500 crore on the project since the signing of the concession agreement on September 4, 2010.