Megaproject: Marg Swarnabhoomi -- 230m+ Landmark Tower and 1000 acre SEZ city

[dis.agree]

Originally Posted by ranga

During my six years stay in chennai during the eighties my experience is that the people there do not relish to dwell in highrise buildings.Now due to increasing land costs they are forced to occupy the so called highrise apts where most of them average three to four floors.I am hearing this radar problem for the past fifteen years which is being pointed out as the stumbling block for constructing skyscrapers in chennai.If the authorities in chennai/TN are serious of really permitting highrise buildings they would have resolved this issue long time back.Chennaites excuses for this by quoting London,Paris and Muscat looks absurd.Chennai has got a good length of fairly wide roads supported with a good suburban railway network and the construction of highrises along this routes would have increased the look of the city.It is a tragedy that the local people there do not comprehend the strength of their city.

you are wrong ranga. chennai always had that 3-4 floor flats that bangalore/hyderabad never had. and that is the reason why chennai is far more denser than them. infrastructure in chennai might be better than bangalore, but that cannot be the reason for skyscrapers in chennai. you cannot quote poor decisions by bangalore/hyderabad planners and say chennai should follow. chennai is already one of the densest cities in the world with the the kind of buildings that exist today in chennai. and btw, that 2 ground (4800 sq ft) house that my parents own in anna nagar has far more number of trees than that 20 acre high rise apartment in bangalore that has ZERO. why? because high rises are always concrete. they need all that basements and more, some 5-10 times, for u/g concrete basement car parks. you can have those lawns and shrubs but not trees.

this has been debated many times before on this forum and thankfully the people who plan the city of chennai seem to understand this well and have said no to FSI higher than current levels. build skyscrapers but within FSI limits specified by cmda. it is in master plan 2. they are even considering a no to FSI transfers within city. clearly they are thinking & debating.

[Leo_r]

Yes.Premium FSI proposal within the City, proposed by the Govt has been blocked by CMDA committee. Thank God, some officers are resisting Govt move. I love it.

[Kewl Batty]

yup, I've seen tat CMDA returning back the premium FSI!! But the govt. again insisting CMDA for premium FSI... Hope CMDA dont give in..
One of the good moves my CMDA!

[nsantha2]

Originally Posted by Kewl Batty

yup, I've seen tat CMDA returning back the premium FSI!! But the govt. again insisting CMDA for premium FSI... Hope CMDA dont give in..
One of the good moves my CMDA!

I'm confused by this - why is this a good move? I don't think I have a particularly good grasp of how FSI works and what the implications of higher/lower FSI are.

[catick]

Nod for premium floor space index in city & suburbs


Jayaraj Sivan | TNN


Chennai: Overruling the objections raised by an expert committee, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has given its nod for introducing premium floor space index (FSI is the ratio of built-up area to land area) in the Chennai metropolitan area. This covers 1,189 sq km falling under one corporation, 16 municipalities, 20 town panchayats and 214 villages in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts.
The 23-member authority, which met on January 22, chose to accept the government’s view that extra FSI was needed more within the city, where there is an acute shortage of developable space, than in the outlying areas. The decision brings to an end the standoff between the regulatory agency and the government on the premium FSI issue.
A highly placed source said, “Once we get a formal recommendation from the CMDA, we will pass a Government Order introducing premium FSI.”
The premium FSI was introduced in the recently unveiled second master plan, and was meant only for specific areas. The master plan said a premium FSI of 0.5 — over and above the normally permitted FSI —would be given to special buildings (ground-plus-three floors or stilt-plus-four floors). For multi-storeyed buildings, the premium FSI was fixed at 1.
As per CMDA norms, the builders will have to pay guideline value of the virtual land to enjoy premium FSI. In simpler terms, if a builder gets normal FSI of 1.5 on a 100 sq ft piece of land and if he wants to enjoy premium FSI of 0.5, he will have to pay the guideline value (fixed by the registration department) of 33.33 sq ft of virtual land to construct the additional built-up area of 50 sq ft.

Expert panel was told to review objection to premium FSI in city


Chennai: As per new norms of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, builders have to pay guideline value of virtual land to enjoy premium floor space index (FSI is the ratio of built-up area to land area). The amount thus collected will be kept in an escrow account and be utilized for infrastructure development.
Premium FSI became a bone of contention when the CMDA, while framing rules, chose to subscribe to the views expressed by the expert committee and suggested that it be introduced only in outlying areas of the city — Chennai metropolitan area limits excluding Chennai corporation area. The reason cited was that the corporation limits were already choked and any further relaxation of norms would throw traffic and civic amenities out of gear. But the government sent the proposal back to the CMDA asking it to reconsider its stand.
The matter was placed before the expert committee comprising various stakeholders like builders, city planners, architects and environmentalists, which again reiterated its stand. Following this, it was placed before a meeting of all CMDA members, chaired by Parithi Ellamvazhuthi, minister for urban development.
A source in the government said, “The authority decided to accept the government’s argument that builders will apply for extra FSI only within the city where there is basic infrastructure and also the land value is very high. It will be a good source of revenue for the government. Just because the CMDA permits extra FSI, nobody is going to construct skyscrapers in far-flung areas.” If the premium FSI is given retrospective effect, it could come as a breather for more than 1.7 lakh violations, mostly commercial buildings, within the city.
The president of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (Tamil Nadu chapter), Prakash Challa, said, “It can bring down the cost of apartments within the city, where land price is prohibitive. But it should be introduced only for new buildings. It should not be given retrospective effect. If so, it will be a ploy for regularising earlier violations.”
MG Devasahayam, managing trustee of Sustain, an NGO, said, “When premium FSI was introduced in the second master plan, its objective was to encourage development in outlying areas. But what the CMDA has done now will lead to congestion within the city.”


MORE ROOM

Premium FSI of 0.5 will be given for ground-plus-3 floors

It will also be given to multistoreyed buildings

Premium FSI could help clear 1.7 lakh building violations

Government will use revenue for developing infrastructure



http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily...&login=default

[kvijayasundaram]

Originally Posted by Kewl Batty

yup, I've seen tat CMDA returning back the premium FSI!! But the govt. again insisting CMDA for premium FSI... Hope CMDA dont give in..
One of the good moves my CMDA!

not really pal....
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Defau...Mode=HTML&GZ=T

Nod for premium floor space index in city & suburbs
Jayaraj Sivan | TNN

Chennai: Overruling the objections raised by an expert committee, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has given its nod for introducing premium floor space index (FSI is the ratio of built-up area to land area) in the Chennai metropolitan area. This covers 1,189 sq km falling under one corporation, 16 municipalities, 20 town panchayats and 214 villages in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts.
The 23-member authority, which met on January 22, chose to accept the government’s view that extra FSI was needed more within the city, where there is an acute shortage of developable space, than in the outlying areas. The decision brings to an end the standoff between the regulatory agency and the government on the premium FSI issue.
A highly placed source said, “Once we get a formal recommendation from the CMDA, we will pass a Government Order introducing premium FSI.”
The premium FSI was introduced in the recently unveiled second master plan, and was meant only for specific areas. The master plan said a premium FSI of 0.5 — over and above the normally permitted FSI —would be given to special buildings (ground-plus-three floors or stilt-plus-four floors). For multi-storeyed buildings, the premium FSI was fixed at 1.
As per CMDA norms, the builders will have to pay guideline value of the virtual land to enjoy premium FSI. In simpler terms, if a builder gets normal FSI of 1.5 on a 100 sq ft piece of land and if he wants to enjoy premium FSI of 0.5, he will have to pay the guideline value (fixed by the registration department) of 33.33 sq ft of virtual land to construct the additional built-up area of 50 sq ft. Expert panel was told to review objection to premium FSI in city
Chennai: As per new norms of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, builders have to pay guideline value of virtual land to enjoy premium floor space index (FSI is the ratio of built-up area to land area). The amount thus collected will be kept in an escrow account and be utilized for infrastructure development.
Premium FSI became a bone of contention when the CMDA, while framing rules, chose to subscribe to the views expressed by the expert committee and suggested that it be introduced only in outlying areas of the city — Chennai metropolitan area limits excluding Chennai corporation area. The reason cited was that the corporation limits were already choked and any further relaxation of norms would throw traffic and civic amenities out of gear. But the government sent the proposal back to the CMDA asking it to reconsider its stand.
The matter was placed before the expert committee comprising various stakeholders like builders, city planners, architects and environmentalists, which again reiterated its stand. Following this, it was placed before a meeting of all CMDA members, chaired by Parithi Ellamvazhuthi, minister for urban development.
A source in the government said, “The authority decided to accept the government’s argument that builders will apply for extra FSI only within the city where there is basic infrastructure and also the land value is very high. It will be a good source of revenue for the government. Just because the CMDA permits extra FSI, nobody is going to construct skyscrapers in far-flung areas.” If the premium FSI is given retrospective effect, it could come as a breather for more than 1.7 lakh violations, mostly commercial buildings, within the city.
The president of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (Tamil Nadu chapter), Prakash Challa, said, “It can bring down the cost of apartments within the city, where land price is prohibitive. But it should be introduced only for new buildings. It should not be given retrospective effect. If so, it will be a ploy for regularising earlier violations.”
MG Devasahayam, managing trustee of Sustain, an NGO, said, “When premium FSI was introduced in the second master plan, its objective was to encourage development in outlying areas. But what the CMDA has done now will lead to congestion within the city.”

I expected this to happen and happy to see this development. Chennai cannot afford to grow horizontally any more. Thousands of acres of lakes and agricultural lands in chennai's suburban areas have have been concretized.
Vertical growth is the only way to go for this land starved city. All we need is nice roads, mass transit and improved drainage facilities. I hope chennai metro and proposed expressways should take care of the traffic infrastructure to some extent.

[Shriram BR]

I think the discussion here is moving more towards premium FSI rather than what the thread talks about.

[Kewl Batty]

Originally Posted by kvijayasundaram

not really pal....
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Defau...Mode=HTML&GZ=T



I expected this to happen and happy to see this development. Chennai cannot afford to grow horizontally any more. Thousands of acres of lakes and agricultural lands in chennai's suburban areas have have been concretized.
Vertical growth is the only way to go for this land starved city. All we need is nice roads, mass transit and improved drainage facilities. I hope chennai metro and proposed expressways should take care of the traffic infrastructure to some extent.

Thats really really sad!! WTF they're bowin to govt. for premium FSI??
It'll make city more denser than ever. Already chennai is one of the most denser cities in the world!!


Fine.. now we'll stop these here..!! We'll concentrate on MARG Swarnabhoomi! :P Any updates!?!

[Shriram BR]

A School (BVM GLOBAL) is coming up at MARG Swarnabhoomi...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...ow/4133347.cms

http://www.margswarnabhoomi.com/press_view.php?id=8

According to these links, it is expected to start operation in July 2009 itself.

[chennaidesi]

Is apartments getting ready within this community any companies coming up or already booked with this SEZ

[anand9sv]

I am interested to know if the construction of 75 storied hotel complex by Marg swarnabhoomi is dropped or they could not get CMDA approval.
I think 75 story building may be the best land mark for chennai city.

[kannan infratech]

Marg Swarnabhoomi:

This project is near Pondicherry off East Coast Road. They may not go for high rise towers at all. From marketing angle, it is better to plan villas and low rise apartments there.

The school project is mainly to attract people to the site. As the site is very far off from Chennai, it will be very difficult to attract customers.

[nirm]

Originally Posted by Kewl Batty

Thats really really sad!! WTF they're bowin to govt. for premium FSI??
It'll make city more denser than ever. Already chennai is one of the most denser cities in the world!!


Fine.. now we'll stop these here..!! We'll concentrate on MARG Swarnabhoomi! :P Any updates!?!

Chennai may become the densest city in the World. That need not be a problem if it is managed with appropriate technology, proper planning and infrastructure development. India has no choice but learn to do this well to support the huge urbanization wave that is expected to hit its cities in the next few decades.

Tamil Nadu has a population density of over 500/sq Km. The Gangetic plain (from Punjab to Bengal) is projected to exceed an astonishing 1000/sq km. These are THE densest regions on the planet.

[chennaidesi]

I think this looks promising but too far away from chennai so I am not sure how this will be received.

[Into_salem]

In the changing real estate scenario, there are a variety of options for the consumer to choose from. Deepti Sivakumar explores the concept of townships and its offerings


Imagine if your office is only a 15-minute walk from your home, and the supermarket is just down the road. You can drop the kids to school on your way to work and after school they can spend time at the play area. In the evenings, you can lounge at the park and then take the family out for dinner at the club. Sounds like the perfect way to live?
Thankfully, it's not a distant dream anymore. Recently, Marg Ltd announced a strategic partnership with Bala Vidya Mandir, to launch BVM Global, a residential school at Marg Swarnabhoomi. Marg's mega infrastructure project, Swarnabhoomi was launched in February 2008 off the East Coast Road. Spread over 1,000 acres, Marg Swarnabhoomi includes two notified Special Economic Zones for Multi Services and the Engineering Sector including auto ancillaries. The project will also include upto 15,000 residential units, luxury villas, educational institutions, hospitals and other social and support infrastructure.
Marg Swarnabhoomi is only one among the many townships that are mushrooming around Chennai giving the city dweller an option to live away from the humdrum of the city while not missing out on the city's facilities. As the city limits get stretched to accommodate the growing population, townships are an effective way to manage the work-life balance. "Most IT companies and manufacturing companies have their offices outside city limits," says P Suresh, Managing Director, Arun Excello Ltd, "And, hence it becomes imperative for developers to offer residential solutions to the people who work in these areas." Arun Excello Ltd has collaborated with Larsen & Toubro to develop L&T Estancia, a township at Vallancheri, off GST Road.
"Townships are of two kinds - ones with economic activity and the ones with no economic activity," explains GRK Reddy, Chairman, Marg Ltd. Mahindra World City, for instance is a township with economic activity. A completely residential township would be an example for a township with no economic activity. "As a concept, a township with economic activity works better, as the residents don't have to go elsewhere for work. Otherwise it just becomes another large scale housing project," he adds. An example of a completed tonwship, Mahindra World City (MWC) is located on NH 45 right after Maraimalainagar. Spread over 1,500 acres, MWC combines state-ofthe-art facilities for business with world-class facilities for retail, leisure, hospitality and residential housing. On the anvil are two other township projects by Hiranandani near Sriperumbudur.
"Townships offer the facilities of a modern business city,” says Suresh, “packaged with high-end infrastructure enabling investors to set up operations with ease. This coupled with residential solutions, leisure, and lifestyle solutions make the concept very attractive." Townships also offer an alternative to decongesting the city. "Decongestion of the cities is the biggest advantage that these townships offer," says Reddy, "People don't prefer living in far off places because of the travelling time and the quality of life. Plus there’s the feeling of living in a community." As mini-cities away from the main city, townships as a concept are catching on quick. And with real estate in the city reaching saturation levels, the consumers can do with all the options.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Defau...Mode=HTML&GZ=T

[bharani.nitt]

anybody has any idea how this project by lee kim tah holdings is goin ?

i read it way back in 2004 about this ? any idea about this ?

http://www.singaporerealty.net/southlands/

[bharani.nitt]

i dont think the project is scrapped

jus go thru the financial statement of lee kim tah for the year 2008 . it mentions this project out there

"Bank loans of Rs.30 million secured against on a development property in Chennai for the India township project"

I dont knw wat this exactly means ? but y shud it be mentioned if the proj is scrapped ?

[bharani.nitt]

the link for financial statement of lee kim tah for the year 2008

http://www.leekimtah.com/pdfs/FY2008Results.pdf

[Kewl Batty]

Any news on the current status of tat project?

[Arul Murugan]

looks they are starting for the admission in the campus school...

so construction is going on or gonna start??



TOI