Cochin highrises, pictures and projects - II

[pramodusnair]

Announcement on Kerala Smart City project soon

http://www.rxpgnews.com/business/Announcement-on-Kerala-Smart-City-project-soon_17054.shtml

ICTT: DPW submits plan to Cochin Port

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEX20070225225905&Page=X&Title=Kochi&Topic=0&

[roshan]

<---scroll if needed--->
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/7899/cochinsarosepanoyw7fn0.jpg
photos copyright suncity

[ReNik]

Announcement on Kerala Smart City project soon

http://www.rxpgnews.com/business/Announcement-on-Kerala-Smart-City-project-soon_17054.shtml

ICTT: DPW submits plan to Cochin Port

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEX20070225225905&Page=X&Title=Kochi&Topic=0&

Okay, finally CM Achu announced that Smart City is through. :cheers:

Only minor differences on the ownership rights of the land etc exists, which will be
ironed out by tomorrow.

[ReNik]

Le Meridian tower suites
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/7510/11702227334252270176112nu5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Le Meridian and KRL office
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/5813/11702222615219102993380li7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

construction works is that of H2O (see Cochin gallery)

[Deepak]

Tharangini and Ashoka apartments. View from Highcourt Jetty.

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/9346/hcjettyxz1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Deepak]

Marinedrive(Shanmugham Road).This shot is from GCDA shopping complex.

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5843/shenoychamerbc6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[suncity]

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/7899/cochinsarosepanoyw7fn0.jpg
photos copyright suncity

Not my copyright. I just made a pano from the pics you posted earlier.

:)

[ReNik]

Why Kochi has an exciting future

February 03, 2007
This small town on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula was the site of the first European colonial settlement in India by the Portuguese, way back in 1503. Kochi (Cochin) was occupied by the Dutch as well as the British. Some of that colonial heritage still lives on in its buildings.

Lately, however, this sleepy trading town has woken up. Dubai Port International, in a joint venture with the Cochin Port Trust, is handling the Container Transshipment Terminal at Vallarpadam.

There is an international bunkering terminal, a ship repair facility, a CNG terminal as well as an international cruise ship terminal at Kochi port. Kochi was also the first city in India to have an international airport built under public-private partnership.

Today, Kochi is a growing centre for information technology, tourism and international trade. All of these factors have fuelled the demand for more accommodation, office space, retail space as well as hospitality services.

According to Knight Frank Research, there is a demand for 50,000 apartments, which should be met in the next 2-3 years. There are various residential projects, some under construction and others at planning stage. Most major national players are already in Kochi.

This includes the likes of Puravankara Projects, Sobha Developers, Prestige Group, Emaar-MGF and Brigade Group, apart from several local players like Abad, Skyline Builders, Mather, JCB Estates, Great India Estates. Sahara Infrastructure & Housing and Unitech have both acquired land in the city but have revealed no fixed plans.

The city is seeing many new developments. A new ring road, a coastal highway and the new airport-seaport road are some of the developments that Srinivas Anikipatti, regional director, Colliers International talked about.

The poshest area in Kochi is its Marine Drive, some parts of MG Road, which is also the retail and hospitality hub of the city, Chittoor Road and Shanmugham Road.

The off-prime locations are Thevara Junction, Panampally Nagar, Edapally Junction and Palarivattam Junction. A lot of new residential activity is happening in the emerging areas of Kakkanad, Kelamassery Road, the NH-47 bypass, Thirupunithura and Mardu Junction.

Some of the very high-end properties are coming up on Marine Drive. Puravankara Projects has the Grand Bay at Marine Drive where the rates are already Rs 4,000-4,500 per sq ft and apartments cost Rs 80 lakh upwards.

"These are large units with marble flooring, a suspended pool on the fifth floor, a triple height lobby and huge balconies to enjoy the sea," says Naina Cariappa, VP, sales and marketing, Puravankara Projects.

They have another project planned at Marine Drive called Oceania. Other areas where they have residential projects are Kakkanad and Edapally. "At Kakkanad, the cost is about Rs 1,800-1,900 per sq ft," she says.

Others on Marine Drive include the Bangalore-based Prestige Group, which has a project called Neptune Courtyard, and the Abad Group.

Local player Skyline Builders too is in the high-end game. Their project at Kaloor called the Imperial Garden has 300 apartments, which cost between Rs 1,700-2,600 per sq ft (roughly Rs 40-60 lakh for 3-4 bedroom apartments).

Great India Estates is also planning 4-bedroom apartments of over 3,000 sq ft space at Kakkanad. "These will be priced at over Rs 3,000 per sq ft," informs managing director E M Najeeb.

There is rising demand for new houses from NRIs. Malayalee NRIs from across the globe are starting to invest in Kochi. Abdul Azeez, MD Skyline Builders, informs that about 60 per cent of all their projects has been booked by NRIs.

At Puravankara, the figure is even higher. "Eighty per cent of our bookings are coming from NRI clients who are either looking at investing here or getting their second home," informs Cariappa.

Kochi currently has no malls; however, by 2009, the city is expected to have six malls covering a built-up area of 1.60 million sq ft, according to Cushman & Wakefield. Malls like Forum (expected to have 1 million+ sq ft of space), Lulu Mall, Aerens Gold Souk, Abad Mall, Metro One, Mall O, The Summit (to be spread over 12 floors) and Kalyan Mall are being planned. There have been reports that DLF too is looking at a mall-cum-hotel project in the city, near Marine Drive.

One can only hope that developers will not turn parts of Kochi into replicas of Gurgaon, what with all these malls and apartment complexes being developed in the city.


Man, Emaar-MGF already have projects in Kochi !!!

Bhasid, where are you. Update us !! We are missing many many projects here

[roshan]

BANGALORE: U.S. computer services company Perot Systems Corp. will set up two more development facilities in India this year, an official said on Monday, taking its total in the country to six.

The new facilities will be in Cochin and Pune, Padma Ravichander, president and managing director of Perot Systems' consulting and application solutions business in India, told Reuters.

She said India was currently one of the fastest growing countries for Perot Systems worldwide.

"It is definitely going to continue to create major growth as a delivery platform for our services going forward," said Ravichander, who led Hewlett-Packard Co.'s and Oracle Corp.'s India outsourcing business before joining Perot Systems in 2005.

Ravichander said Perot Systems expected employee numbers in India to grow 20 to 25 percent this year. The company has some 6,500 of its 22,000 worldwide staff in India.

Perot Systems, founded by former U.S. presidential candidate Ross Perot, first invested in India in 1996 in a joint venture with software services firm HCL Technologies Ltd. It bought out its partner in 2003

http://www.ciol.com/content/search/s...sp?artid=94783

[roshan]

As part of its efforts aimed at expansion, insurance player HDFC Standard Life Insurance has opened its regional office in Kochi. With its regional office starting operations, HDFC Standard Life will now have its presence at two locations in Kochi .

Suresh Mahalingam, general manager (sales and marketing) HDFC Standard Life, inaugurated the new office.

According to a company statement, HDFC Standard Life has recorded strong growth in South India and is looking at bettering its show during the current financial year.

[Deepak]

MMTech towers- view from Kaloor Bus station.

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/2/mmtowers2xj6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[ReNik]

Good take Deepak !!

Today, Govt of Kerala formally approved Kochi Metro project and appointed
special officer Gopinathan Nair, a former railway official.

[ReNik]

Navodaya in new form

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Navodaya film studio at Kakkanad has been renovated. Work on the production of two films has already started there, according to its chief, Appachan. He told presspersons here that he had derived strength from the Government's initiative to curb the distribution of pirated CDs. Vinayan, filmmaker, who was also present, said he would be associated with the production of films at the studio.

Navodaya is a new sunrise when Kochi has emerged as next movie making hub
of South India.:cheers:

[ReNik]

A mother vessel at Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/530/hometrip050eq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Work on India's premier Transshipment Terminal has taken off at Vallarpadam island on the northern side of this terminal.



Vallarpadam terminal: DP World submits project proposals to CPT

K. Venkiteswaran - The Hindu

First phase is expected to be completed by 2009

# DP World to invest $200 million during first phase
# Land development work to begin shortly

Kochi: The first phase of the Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal is likely to be completed by 2009 if the present plans go on as envisaged. The terminal will have a capacity to handle one million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) during the first phase, for which the Dubai-based operator is to invest roughly $200 million.

According to official sources here, DP World, the container terminal operator of the Cochin Port Trust, has already submitted to the port authorities for approval the plan and drawings for the proposed international container transhipment terminal. The construction of the first phase of the terminal will be subject to the approval of the plan by the port authorities. Senior port officials said the land development work is expected to begin shortly after the examination of the plan and drawings by an expert committee comprising engineers and technicians of the port. There may not be any changes in the plan as the DP World officials were in constant touch with the port during the preparation of the drawing.

Royal Haskoning, the Netherlands-based design and supervision consultants, has prepared the drawing of the terminal for DP World. The drawings include the design of the container terminal, wharves and container handling yards.

Connectivity

The port officials said the work on rail connectivity from Edappally and road connectivity from Kalamassery to the project site would begin in a month. All related works are in full swing and the first phase of the project is expected to be commissioned in April 2009. DP World will invest around $200 million in the first phase of the project, which has a capacity to handle one million TEUs.

Shipping circles said the commissioning of the Vallarpadam project would alleviate the congestion here and importantly open up the market by ensuring that shipping lines have a choice through the common user facilities of the company.

The project is destined to become a premier gateway to southern India whilst offering an alternative to Sri Lanka and Singapore for container transhipment.

[ReNik]

One more Intercontinental Hotel in Cochin
http://www.newindpress.com/

KOCHI: Kuwait-based KGA group of companies, founded by Kerala- born KG Abraham, Thursday announced a massive investment of Rs.6 billion ($ 136 million) for setting up three luxury hotels in the state.

"In the first phase of investment, we plan to set up a Rs.2.2 billion five star hotel project in Kochi in collaboration with international hotel chain Crowne Plaza of the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG)," Abraham said at the project's foundation stone laying ceremony here.

"It would have 210 rooms and amenities like conference facility for 600 people, three restaurants and meeting rooms," he added.

Michael Herrmann, IHG's director of operations (Southwest Asia), said the partnership was a reflection of their commitment towards further portfolio expansion in India. He added that the project was in line with the group's focus on developing strong hotel brands.

"Crowne Plaza Cochin will showcase and support the brand's development in the country and assist in the establishment of a brand compliant Crowne Plaza in southwest Asia," Herrmann stated.

The KGA group, which takes on construction contracts, has its presence in Kuwait's oil industry as well.

"Work on the two projects would begin in two years," Abraham said.

The KGA group has also been involved in social projects in Kerala. They were reportedly the first company to complete construction of 26 houses in Ernakulam district when a tsunami struck the Kerala coast in December 2004.

The Crowne Plaza Cochin will be IHG's 23rd hotel in India and the 4th Crowne Plaza hotel in India.


Already ICH Holiday Inn is under construction at Palarivattom. That makes it the second ICH hotel

[bhasidali]

Already ICH Holiday Inn is under construction at Palarivattom. That makes it the second ICH hotel

Thats Great..Nik,:tup:
I saw the renderings of both...and i've been searching for posting here...

[ReNik]

Thats Great..Nik,:tup:
I saw the renderings of both...and i've been searching for posting here...

Bhasid
It is tough to dig it out from the net, good luck anyway !!
Do you know any other means ?

[viperpaul22]

the foundation stone fr Crowne Plaza was laid a few days back..will get more details of it as Mr. Abraham is a personal friend of my father..

Regards,
Paul

[viperpaul22]

the foundation stone fr Crowne Plaza was laid a few days back..will get more details of it as Mr. Abraham is dad's friend..

Regards,
Paul

[viperpaul22]

srry fr the double post..

[ReNik]

srry fr the double post..
the foundation stone fr Crowne Plaza was laid a few days back..will get more details of it as Mr. Abraham is dad's friend..
You will be forgiven the moment you post the Crowne Plaza renderings here ;)


And by the way, Paul, your signature may attract protest in course of time :D

[ani07]

MIcrosoft considers kochi as IT HUB of kerala.A marketing centre will be started in kochi.
Source manorama (http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?articleType=Malayalam%20News&contentId=2111559&contentType=EDITORIAL&BV_ID=@@@)

[ReNik]

MIcrosoft considers kochi as IT HUB of kerala.A marketing centre will be started in kochi.
Source manorama (http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?articleType=Malayalam%20News&contentId=2111559&contentType=EDITORIAL&BV_ID=@@@)

Yes, this news was posted a few days back. Probably in the lost thread.
Oracle is also beefing up its Kochi operations to a large scale.

http://www.cochin-airport.com/images/airsahara.gif now have one direct
up and down flight from Kochi. This is in addition to the service which flies down directly and returns via Hyderabad.
http://www.cochin-airport.com/images/indianairlines.gif new direct Delhi service have competition right from
the launch :)

[ReNik]

Recent projects from the lost thread
Santhi Hill view, Kakkanad - 20 floors
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/3593/kakkanadhillviewfn5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Royal Constructions Periyar Waves, Aluva-15 floors
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/332/periyaarwavesmainai7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

We will post only projects > 13 floors

[ReNik]

Dreams Hotel, Vyttila (17 floors)
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/4343/dreamshotelsxr5.jpg

courtesy : Ajit Associates homepage
M/s. Back Waters Hotels and Resorts Pvt. Ltd, has signed an agreement with Ajit Associates and Veritas to design the 200-room, five-star Resort Hotel, Cochin opening in 2009. The first luxury hotel its own kind to open in the city for more than a decade.Dreams hotel will set a new benchmark for hotel services in Kochi.
The hotel is strategically positioned in the ethnic Silver Sand Islands, near Vyittila Junction and is 30 minutes by car from Nedumbassery(cochin) International Airport. It boasts sweeping views of the inland back waters and the river Kaniampuzha from its riverside location .The elegant landscaped gardens (dreams pool) provide an urban oasis for guests’ comfort and pleasure.
200 luxurious guest rooms and suites offer guests the ultimate in deluxe service and hospitality. Guests can choose between the Themed Café, Cocktail Lounge and Lobby Lounge, with restaurants all offering lush garden views. Additional food and beverage options include Themed Café, Pool Bar, Thai and ill Forno offering Thai and Italian cuisine respectively.
The hotel will occupy 17 floors of the building complex. Its guestrooms will be among the most spacious in the city and be decorated in a contemporary style with Asian highlights. Luxury condominium suites will be located on the upper levels of the tower.
Guests entering the hotel through an elegant vaulted forecourt will be welcomed into a spacious three-storey glass atrium lobby offering waterscape views. The heart of the hotel will be its lobby lounge – an “urban living room” with a sidewalk café nestled in the shadow of the boulevard trees overlooking the back waters. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea will be followed by evening entertainment in the relaxed, yet refined lounge.
The street-level columnade walk way, cocktail deck will lead to a mezzanine level themed restaurant overlooking the encircled natural creeks and backwaters. It will be open for lunch and dinner, pre- and post-theatre.

The Thai Spa signature spa brand – will offer treatments to in-house guests, condominium owners and local residents. Inspired by the origins of the Shangri-La legend, the CHI concept is based on Chinese and Himalayan healing therapies. Each of the 10 private CHI treatment rooms and one double treatment suite will provide a “spa within a spa” atmosphere, offering guests the luxury of time and space.
The hotel’s speciality restaurant, on the ground floor, will open onto a landscaped terrace, as well as overlook the back waters.
The ballroom will seat 400 and three smaller rooms will seat 50 to 100 people. All function rooms will offer floor-to-ceiling windows and an elegant pre-function foyer. An audio visual room will provide a venue for screenings or executive presentations that require dramatic special effects.

Equipped with the most modern systems of Air Conditioning, Fire Protection & Safety, security systems, Dreams ensures the effectiveness of the state of art services at its peek. Maintaining the serene balance of the nature, the whole system is eco friendly, pollution free and leaves no damage to the ethnic atmosphere. The services are subjected to random check & vigilance by an effective process of B.M.S [building management system].

[KMC]

40 Floor Apartment Complex at Tripunithura
I was in cochin last week , one of my collegue workinng for a big construction company and closely associated with Builders forum gave me this news . This project is by Choice group. They already mentioned this at the building site , "site for 40 storyed Building".
Can some body validate this.
ALSO THE ABAD MALL IS under construction at Kundanoor Junction . Already the pilings are over . Its a Mall cumm apartment project . How come you guys missed this. This is coming right at Kundanoor Junction adjacent to petrol Bunk. There is also a Big construction going on opposite to Muthoot Tower in MG road , Huge cranes are under operation , and Land under sonstruction is so huge . Is that "Summit Mall". I firmly beleive so. You cant see the site fully from MG road as they have not dismantled the old buildings facing the entrance . Can some one find out which is this project . I was literaly surprised such vast land in MG road !!!!! Surely not less than 2 acre plot.
Please find out what is coming up there .

[bhasidali]

There is also a Big construction going on opposite to Muthoot Tower in MG road , Huge cranes are under operation , and Land under sonstruction is so huge . Is that "Summit Mall". I firmly beleive so. You cant see the site fully from MG road as they have not dismantled the old buildings facing the entrance . Can some one find out which is this project . I was literaly surprised such vast land in MG road !!!!! Surely not less than 2 acre plot.
Please find out what is coming up there .

Yes KMC, Its that Summit Mall..very next to Abad Plaza..Also works of Abad's mall in maradu is going on....

[bhasidali]

Check this link..

http://anzeraproperties.com/index/projects-for-finest-flats-villas-plots-cochin.html

[ReNik]

Actually my previous post about Air Sahara was not correct.

http://www.cochin-airport.com/images/airsahara.gif has 3 daily service to Delhi.
One is a direct to and fro flight, other two with a stoppage at Bangalore or Hyd.


Here is one more service to Lakshadweep
Kingfisher flight to Lakshadweep
Saturday March 3 2007 11:44 IST

NEDUMBASSERY: Kingfisher Airlines will become the first airlines in the private sector to launch new flight service to Lakshadweep.

The first flight of Kingfisher will land in Agathi at 2 p.m. on Saturday, with Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Kingfisher Chairman and Managing Director Vijay Mallya on board.

Kingfisher will operate 42-seater ATR type aircraft. The Flight IT 2453 from Bangalore to Agathi via Kochi will be operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The flight will reach Kochi from Bangalore at 12.35 pm and leave for Agathi at 1 pm. The flight IT 2454 will reach in Kochi airport from Agathi at 4.05 pm and leave for Bangalore at 4.30 pm.

http://www.newindpress.com/newimages/indpress.gif

[ReNik]

40 Floor Apartment Complex at Tripunithura
I was in cochin last week , one of my collegue workinng for a big construction company and closely associated with Builders forum gave me this news . This project is by Choice group. They already mentioned this at the building site , "site for 40 storyed Building".
Can some body validate this.
ALSO THE ABAD MALL IS under construction at Kundanoor Junction . Already the pilings are over . Its a Mall cumm apartment project . How come you guys missed this. This is coming right at Kundanoor Junction adjacent to petrol Bunk.

KMC, Bhasid

Great updates from you.

Where exactly in Tripunithra is the 40 storey coming up ? I visit Tripunithra once in a
while.

Abad Mall was in the news for a while. That it is under
construction at Kundannoor is a great update. In fact there are many more developers
coming up with mega plans at Kundannoor and Maradu. See for example,

A Five Star hotel project along with an apartment complex housing 200 apartments spread over a 3 acre land at Kundanoor near the NH 47 Bye Pass. and NH 49 junction, with water frontage.– over 3 Lakh sq ft. Hyper super market, Convention center, Food Court, Games Complex and Multi level Parking Vijaya Group (http://www.vijayacorporate.com/kundanoor.htm)



There is also a Big construction going on opposite to Muthoot Tower in MG road , Huge cranes are under operation , and Land under sonstruction is so huge . Is that "Summit Mall". I firmly beleive so. You cant see the site fully from MG road as they have not dismantled the old buildings facing the entrance . Can some one find out which is this project . I was literaly surprised such vast land in MG road !!!!! Surely not less than 2 acre plot.
Please find out what is coming up there .

Summit Mall is already under construction. But their webpage has changed. I dont have
their new webpage. Bhasid, do you now Summit webpage ? Also there is a
big hoarding near MG road north end saying - "Imperial Trade Centre". You have some
news on this ?

[ReNik]

KMC,

I have posted The Summit renderings in Cochin gallery. Meanwhile here is news on ICH Crowne Plaza.

IHG to manage KGA group's Crowne Plaza in Cochin
Pioneer News Service | Kochi

Kuwait-based construction company KGA Group and IHG, reportedly world's largest hotel concern by number of rooms, announced on Thursday the launch of their new hotel project Crowne Plaza, Cochin by laying the foundation stone for the proposed five-star hotel. The hotel is expected to start operation in the second quarter of 2009.

Crowne Plaza, Cochin would be the brand's first foray into the South Indian market and the group's third Crown Plaza hotel in India, a KGA release said here.

With 220 rooms and more than 1,500 sq mts of meeting space, the purpose to built meeting hotel will come up on NH 47 at Kundannur here, adjacent to backwater. The release promised to offer an innovative experience to both its leisure as well as corporate customers.

KGA Group managing director KG Abraham said that that his company was pleased to work with the international hotel giant IHG for Crowne Plaza, Cochin. IHG's South-West Asia operations director Michael Herrmann said that the partnership with KGA was a clear reflection of their commitment towards further portfolio expansion in India and was in line with his company's focus on developing strong hotel brands.

The foundation stone for the project was laid by State Public Works Minister TU Kuruvila at a function presided over and blessed by Geevarghese Mar Athanasius in the presence of Transports Minister Mathew T Thomas, Ernakulam district collector Muhammad Hanish and others.The Pioneer story (http://www.dailypioneer.com/displayit1.asp?pathit=/archives2/mar207/kochi/kochi12.txt)


http://www.dailypioneer.com/images/home/mast.gif

[ReNik]

http://choiceconstructions.in/images/00log.jpg
Tripunithra
42 storey
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/1565/choiceviewfinalbigey1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Choice Constructions Homepage (http://choiceconstructions.in/)

Cheers KMC for providing info !! :cheers:

[ReNik]

Here is the location of Choice Prestige.
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/9813/choicelocdv5.th.jpg (http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/9813/choicelocdv5.jpg)
source : wikimapia
Within an hour of my posting the Choice Prestige renderings here it has appeared
elsewhere. It is a basic decency that is eminently followed by many (like Suncity) to
acknowledge the source. But for KMC here nobody would have seen that rendering.

[Deepak]

Great news and updates buddies....:cheers:

THX...:)

choice prestige......Unbelievable....!! cochin is really growing beyond our imaginations...

[Deepak]

Heres the link of Microsoft news..



Microsoft to open office at Kovai
As part of its plans to strengthen its presence in India, software major Microsoft Corporation is opening offices in six cities of the country: Coimbatore, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Indore, Nagpur and Chandigarh.

With the expansion, Microsoft will have a presence in 13 cities in the country, a company release in Coimbatore.


http://www.chennaionline.com/science/Technology/2007/02microsoft.asp

[Deepak]

Vyttila Jn and BCG Citygate..

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/7446/vytila1al8.jpg

[ReNik]

Construction workers to strike work today

Staff Reporter

60,000 workers in the sector to join the stir

KOCHI: Construction activities in the city will come to a standstill on Monday. The joint action council of various organisations in the construction sector will strike work to press their demands for immediate steps to solve the crisis in the sector.

As many as 60,000 construction workers in Kochi Corporation, Thripunithura and Kalamassery municipalities and neighbouring panchayats will join the stir being organised by key organisations in the segment, including the Kerala Builders' Form, Builders' Association of India, Kerala Builders' Association (KBA), Graduate Engineers Association, Kerala, Association of Piling Specialists, and other related organisations such as the Cement Dealers' Association and Kerala Vyapari Vyvasayi Ekopana Samithi.

Rally

The KBA would take out a rally from Marine Drive, in the morning, and stage a dharna near the Revenue Tower at Boat Jetty, according to its State president M.D. Jairaj. The dharna would be inaugurated by Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi State president T. Nazaruddin.

The builders said the Government should give the sector a fair deal .

The issue of reduced floor area ratio (FAR) was the focal point of the agitations. The builders said the construction segment should be accorded industry status and also sought comprehensive master plans for all the 14 districts in the State. This, they said, should be announced in a time-bound manner. The master plans for Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram should be finalised within six months on the basis of the commercial importance of the cities, they added.

A massive escalation in cement prices following the proposals in the Budget -2007 had hit the construction segment. The builders sought corrective measures in the procedure of collection Building Tax.

I suppose this will deal a death blow to the bureaucratic oligarchy trying to scuttle Kochi's progress. These rodents
that gnaw into tax income generated on the sweat and blood of common man should be finished. More than 100,000
people are coming out on the streets, which no minister can ignore.

[KMC]

One more info , There is a Mega Project coming at Elamkulam Backwaters , I.e near to Ponneth Temple . Project is either 21 Towers of 18 Storeyed Buildings or 18 Towers of 21 Storeyed Buildings . (Either way it could go)
This was told by a vegetable vendor who sold his 3 cents Land for 20 Lacs . This 3 cent was acquired to get the plot complete. He doesnt know who the builder is , bcoz all transactions are routed through middle men.
Is it Emaaar , Is it Saihathi ,......
Upto you guys to find out the details , I know this info is very vague to catch, but am afraid only this much i Know.

[ReNik]

One more info , There is a Mega Project coming at Elamkulam Backwaters , I.e near to Ponneth Temple . Project is either 21 Towers of 18 Storeyed Buildings or 18 Towers of 21 Storeyed Buildings . (Either way it could go)
This was told by a vegetable vendor who sold his 3 cents Land for 20 Lacs . This 3 cent was acquired to get the plot complete. He doesnt know who the builder is , bcoz all transactions are routed through middle men.
Is it Emaaar , Is it Saihathi ,......
Upto you guys to find out the details , I know this info is very vague to catch, but am afraid only this much i Know.

KMCeeeee :worship: :worship: :worship:


http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9600/ponnethpp4.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ponnethpp4.jpg)
Now here is Ponneth temple on wikimapia. Can you mark out the piece of land. Probably
someone may have named the project already. Click for Ponneth temple on wikimapia (http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=9963282&x=76306427&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2)

[KMC]

Now here is Ponneth temple on wikimapia. Can you mark out the piece of land. Probably
someone may have named the project already. Click for Ponneth temple on wikimapia (http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=9963282&x=76306427&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2)[/QUOTE]

I dont have much details on location ,as I heard about this project at the last minute when i was just packing off to Mumbai.
Please confirm where this Crown Plaza Hotel is coming up. I was told by my friend in Kundanoor that there is 5 Star Hotel coming up exactly opposite to Le- meridian . Le- Merdiian is on Right Side of Highway . This one is coming on Left side .(Exactly Opposite) I have seen the place .its a Huge site along side river.I knew something big is coming there . Is it Crown Plaza , or another 5 Star Hotel!!!!!.
Its great going Kochi !! I am sure Choice Prestige will loose its Numero One position very soon if Kochi is going like this.

[sanjupalayat]

wow choice prestige is going to be an architectural marvel in kerala..there wont be any other structure in kerala to compete it in the near future.....

[ReNik]

I dont have much details on location ,as I heard about this project at the last minute when i was just packing off to Mumbai.
Please confirm where this Crown Plaza Hotel is coming up. I was told by my friend in Kundanoor that there is 5 Star Hotel coming up exactly opposite to Le- meridian . Le- Merdiian is on Right Side of Highway . This one is coming on Left side .(Exactly Opposite) I have seen the place .its a Huge site along side river.I knew something big is coming there . Is it Crown Plaza , or another 5 Star Hotel!!!!!.
Its great going Kochi !! I am sure Choice Prestige will loose its Numero One position very soon if Kochi is going like this.

KMC

That is Crowne Plaza. It has been marked out clearly in wikimapia
by local enthusiasts. I'm sure Bhasid can give a confirmation.


wow choice prestige is going to be an architectural marvel in kerala..there wont be any other structure in kerala to compete it in the near future.....

Choice has done this earlier too. In late 1980s when there not many skyscrapers
in Kochi, they came up with Choice towers - a 17 storeyed, which caught the
every eye passing through Panampilly nagar or Ernakulam south railway stn.
They have repeated it after a decade and a half.

In two years time, Choice Prestige will welcome as you approach Kochi from Kottayam by rail. It will stand magnificent next to Tripunithra railway station

[bhasidali]

KMC

That is Crowne Plaza. It has been marked out clearly in wikimapia
by local enthusiasts. I'm sure Bhasid can give a confirmation.



Yes Guys..Its Crown Plaza 5 Star Delux Hotel...You can confirm here...

http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=9933883&x=76317344&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2

[bhasidali]

Guys here is the site for Sobha Hitech City...

http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=9920588&x=76326571&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2

[bhasidali]

SEZ status for Unitech IT park...Check these links...

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/404200703051351.htm

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=358068&ssid=50&sid=BUS

[KMC]

Choice Prestige Looks awesome. What a Building that is. The advantage of Kochi is that the vertical growth is balanced by Horizontal spread . Else can we imagine a 42 Storeyed building at Tripunithura. Now Kerala has a city which can proudly say ,
“A Cosmopolitan City” and truly so.
Now Lets wait for 18 Towers of 21 Storyed Buildings!!!!!!!!. I was shocked when I heard that. But when he told he sold his land , I had no option but to believe. But is there that much land Near Ponneth Temple , any one knows? Already Chilavanoor Lake is getting crowded with High-rises.

Also there is something Big coming near Nair’s Hospital in Highway (after Bund stop when we go from Kundanoor), a few mtrs forward from Nairs Hospital, ( near to new bridge u/c) . I have seen many individual houses getting dismantled there and a Big Entrance getting built.

[ReNik]

SEZ status for Unitech IT park...Check these links...

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/404200703051351.htm

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=358068&ssid=50&sid=BUS
Cochin Port Trust, Vallarpadom (multiproducts), Kinfra, Kakkancherry (food processing), Kinfra, Kazhakkoottam (IT), Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram (IT), Smartcity, Kochi(IT), Sutherland Global Services, Kalamassery (IT),Kinfra, Kochi (electronics) and Unitech Realestate, Kunnathunadu (IT).

Great, Bhasid !!

The list names only 8. The other 3 must be Infopark, Parsvnath and CSEZ .
We know that Infopark, Parsvnath has got SEZ status long ago. Thats a total
of 8 SEZs in Kochi. Sobha in all likelihood get SEZ status as the whole land has been
purchased at market rates and no "idealogical" issues need to be sorted out !!

Interesting but not surprising that Unitech bought the land at Kunnathunadu near CIAL.
Is it linked to their property at Parakkadavu ??

[ReNik]

Choice Prestige Looks awesome. What a Building that is. The advantage of Kochi is that the vertical growth is balanced by Horizontal spread . Else can we imagine a 42 Storeyed building at Tripunithura. Now Kerala has a city which can proudly say , “A Cosmopolitan City” and truly so.


Yes KMC

That's important. Choice Prestige and Mir Metropolis are coming 15-20 kms away from
downtown Ernakulam. That's also because the Kochi boom of late 1980s and 90s
had filled up Ernakulam area.

To actually see the future growth of a city one important
indicator is the growth of established real estate players. These guys get the input
ahead and are ready with hundreds of acres purchased at market rates to have the bite
of the pie. This is why you see all the biggies like Sobha, Parsvnath, Puravankara,
DLF, Unitech etc only in Kochi. And invariably all these terra-projects are 20-30 kms away from downtown Ernakulam. It is a strong indicator to the future growth of
the state - that Kochi is leading the state into its future and is emerging as
next giant of South Asia.



Now Lets wait for 18 Towers of 21 Storyed Buildings!!!!!!!!. I was shocked when I heard that. But when he told he sold his land , I had no option but to believe. But is there that much land Near Ponneth Temple , any one knows? Already Chilavanoor Lake is getting crowded with High-rises.


This is a massive project, so it will be a biggie behind it. Also the mode of purchasing
the land implies that there may be an Indian player in it - at least a tie up !!

If Dubai Internet City had followed this wise route, it could have been ready with Smart
City by end 2007 and asked the govt to f*** off. Clearly it did not have the input on
Indian real estate scenario which an Indian player would have.

Also there is something Big coming near Nair’s Hospital in Highway (after Bund stop when we go from Kundanoor), a few mtrs forward from Nairs Hospital, ( near to new bridge u/c) . I have seen many individual houses getting dismantled there and a Big Entrance getting built.

I'm unable to get anything from wikimapia.
Anyway here is Nair's hospital (http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=9950200&x=76317596&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2). Are you able to see it here ?

[ReNik]

Here is stupidly marked map of DLF's properties in India. It says, Vyttila, Kochin and
Kokkanan [sic]. The last beast Kokkanan must be Kakkanad. What else could
it be in this era :)

http://www.dlf-group.com/corporates/aboutus/dlf_presence.asp

[Deepak]

KOCHI : Queen Mary, said to be the largest and most expensive cruise vessel in the world, will call at Kochi port on Wednesday as part of her world cruise.

This is the first time that the luxury liner is berthing at Kochi. On board will be 2,800 passengers. Kochi is the only port of call in India for the ship.

Queen Elizabeth II, said to be the second largest cruise liner, will arrive here on March 25 with 2,500 passengers.

Yet another ship that is expected to arrive on March 25 is Raddison Voyagers, with 1,500 passengers. Silver Whisper, carrying 412 passengers, will arrive here on Saturday.

Sources in the Cochin Port Trust (CPT) said that by the month end, 37 cruise liners would call at Kochi since April last.

"Twenty two had come here in 2005-'06. Aimed at attracting tourists who come in such massive vessels, the port offered 33 per cent discount on berthing-related charges," they said.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/03/stories/2007030322060300.htm

[SREEKUMAR]

Achu is showing more interest in other cities than Kochi. Smart city is held up while Technocity is on fast track as per today’s news papers.. No plan to upgrade CUSAT but trying hard to get IISER & AIIMS for some low grade MCH. This is very sad … :hell:

[KMC]

Achu is showing more interest in other cities than Kochi. Smart city is held up while Technocity is on fast track as per today’s news papers.. No plan to upgrade CUSAT but trying hard to get IISER & AIIMS for some low grade MCH. This is very sad … :hell:

Please restrict discussion just to Kochi. We cant say no other project should happen in kerala . Let us avoid discusiion on topic whic is not relevant to Kochi. Every 5 years govt keep changing so do Fate of Kochi. So we will have to wait for next govt to come. It is evident that all these DLF, Unitech , Parsvnath, Sobha etc will not risk investing in kerala under LDF rule.

[bhasidali]

Here is from seawood developers...Check out this link..

http://www.seawooddeveloper.com/sseawood_anchor.html

[ReNik]

Please restrict discussion just to Kochi. We cant say no other project should happen in kerala . Let us avoid discusiion on topic whic is not relevant to Kochi. Every 5 years govt keep changing so do Fate of Kochi. So we will have to wait for next govt to come. It is evident that all these DLF, Unitech , Parsvnath, Sobha etc will not risk investing in kerala under LDF rule.

Okay...
regarding Smart City things are looking up now. I read from media, many in the govt
think that it is okay to give ownership as insisted by TECOM as (1) they are giving market price
(2) the owner is going to be Smart City which is a joint venture company of govt and TECOM.
Only a political decision from CPM is required. And that will not be tough given that others in
CPM are largely supporting the project. Still we will keep fingers crossed :)

[ReNik]

'Full House' at Cochin duty-free a big success

Pioneer News Service | Kochi

The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), which is running one of the best airport duty-free shopping facilities in India, has launched a promotional programme 'Full House'. In association with Diageo, one of the leading premium drinks businesses in the world with brands like Johnnie Walker, J&B, Vat 69, Black & White, Smirnoff and Baileys.

The programme offers an opportunity for passengers, who buy Diageo products worth $ 20 at the duty-free shopping facilities, at the arrival area of the international terminal of the Kochi international airport to win, a 1115-sq ft two-bedroom flat in Kochi worth over Rs 20 lakh from Holy Faith Builders. CIAL claimed the programme a big success.

The promo also offers scratch cards with which passengers can win discounts on their purchases. A CIAL release claimed that this is happening first time as immovable property of this value has being offered as prize in any duty-free promotion in India.

CIAL managing director S Bharath said that the airport company, which runs Cochin duty-free jointly with Alpha Kreol India Ltd, a subsidiary of the multinational Alpha UK and UAE-based Kreol Group, to position it as a strong retail outlet for inbound and outbound passengers, intends to make it the most vibrant duty-free shop in the region. He says that 'Full House' is one of the schemes under which the airport company has embarked upon to develop Cochin duty-free, which contributes 25 per cent of the total revenue of the CIAL, into the cynosure of all air passengers who visit the Kochi Airport.

Explaining the objective of establishing 'Full House', Alpha Kreol general manager Gopi Menon says that they want to make every NRI's dream of having their own house in his or her homeland come true. "Never before have we received such an overwhelming response," he added.

Cochin Airport is India's fourth busiest Airport, with domestic and international passenger traffic through the Nedumbassery Airport growing phenomenally on account of the 13 international and 7 domestic airlines that presently operate from here.

"The growth in passenger traffic demands a corresponding increase in passenger amenities at the airport. The expansion of Cochin duty-free and the addition of the latest consumer products was a natural corollary to it," Bharath said. "The increasing number of low cost airlines preferring Cochin International Airport has also enhanced duty-free sales," he mentioned in the release.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/images/home/mast.gif

[ReNik]

Sahodaran Ayyappan Road as seen at Panampilly Nagar
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/142/41148868205b8211e71ofn7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
thatmanwithacamera gallery

[ReNik]

Trinity Groups array of 16-17 storeys at Edappally
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/8325/116963250569img1582jm2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[ReNik]

Smart City hinges on a political decision

Atul Aneja

TECOM insists on 100 per cent ownership of land

# Detailed statement on TECOM's position likely today
# TECOM decision conveyed to State Government

DUBAI: Fresh doubts have been raised about the proposed Smart City deal between the Dubai Internet and Media Free Zone Authority (TECOM) and the Kerala Government.

Sources in TECOM told The Hindu on Monday that the Dubai-based developers of the project would insist on 100 per cent ownership of land. This decision, taken during a TECOM board meeting on Sunday, has already been conveyed to the Kerala Government. TECOM has given one month's time for the State Government to respond to its decision. The sources said a detailed statement on TECOM's position on this project was expected on Tuesday.
...

Party policy

This is an issue concerning party policy for the CPI(M), especially since the Smart City is envisaged as a special economic zone project.

The CPI(M)'s Central leadership is understood to have told the party's State unit to take an appropriate decision on TECOM's request.

The signals are that the other LDF constituents will stand by a positive decision on the Dubai company's request, not only because of the investment that will flow into the State generating thousands of high-paying jobs, but also due to the political message Smart City will send to the people of the State.
The Hindu full story (http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/06/stories/2007030610300100.htm)

Here are some positive pointers for Smart City - the best bet for Kerala's IT future.

[JMen]

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8110/esperanzaka7.png (http://imageshack.us)

[ani07]

One more company has evinced interest in smart city-
Source (http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?articleType=Malayalam News&contentId=2130633&contentType=EDITORIAL&BV_ID=@@@)

So far following companies have come forward- Honk kong based JB group,singapore based Ascentas ,Dubai based Emaar,L&T,Rahejas,Embassy,Kuwait based PWC logistics firm ...

[Deepak]

View from EKM North. High court is seen here.

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6531/north2editedzg1.jpg

[pramodusnair]

Embassy has an excellent track record in developing world class tech parks.Embassy golf links in Bangalore hosts Microsoft GTSC,IBM,Dell etc.Ascendas ,Rahejas and Emaar.....wow,this firmly puts Kochi in the big league.Port trusts has invited EOI for developing a world class cruise terminal(arrival of queenmary at kochi is a testament to tht ).
The Realtor a realty mag published in Kochi says that Sobha group has bought 6000 acres of land near CIAL.Wipro has started constructing its 6 lakh square feet campus,Kinfra is constructing an additional 3 lakh sq feet of space.They have also put photos of wipro's underconstruction building and lnt's Tejomaya.
Chk them out @
www.therealtor.co.in (www.therealtor.co.in)

Only Kochi can help Kerala get out of steep recession and unemployment crisis(commies are realising that slowly).The builder's hartal has send a strong message to the visionless dogmatic town planners who are plotting the destruction of Kochi.
To sreekumar............After BHU Cusat is the best institute among the 5 univ selected for upgradation to IIESTs.Cusat is definitely going to be developed into an IIEST else central govt wouldnt have allocated 10 crores in 2007 budget for it.

[Deepak]

more about cruise terminal....:)


Kochi is the first port in the country to initiate development of a world-class cruise service facility. Realising Kochi's potential, the port authorities had set about establishing a dedicated facility for cruise liners, number of which calling at the port has increased substantially over the last three years.

The port has constituted a dedicated cruise cell available round-the-clock to service the vessels. The port has also offered a single window solution for customs, immigration and port health clearances, besides offering concessional tariff. Walk-in berthing and bunkering services are the other attractions in Kochi.

The port is also working on a proposal for establishing a world-class golf course within the port premises as part of efforts to develop leisure facilities associated with cruise travel.

news from hindu.. (http://http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/05/stories/2007030507221700.htm)

:cheers:

[ReNik]

Embassy has an excellent track record in developing world class tech parks.Embassy golf links in Bangalore hosts Microsoft GTSC,IBM,Dell etc.Ascendas ,Rahejas and Emaar.....wow,this firmly puts Kochi in the big league.Port trusts has invited EOI for developing a world class cruise terminal(arrival of queenmary at kochi is a testament to tht ).
The Realtor a realty mag published in Kochi says that Sobha group has bought 6000 acres of land near CIAL.Wipro has started constructing its 6 lakh square feet campus,Kinfra is constructing an additional 3 lakh sq feet of space.They have also put photos of wipro's underconstruction building and lnt's Tejomaya.
Chk them out @
www.therealtor.co.in (www.therealtor.co.in)


Pramod

I'm not able to read/view any articles/photos. Where exactly in the site should I look ?

After BHU Cusat is the best institute among the 5 univ selected for upgradation to IIESTs.Cusat is definitely going to be developed into an IIEST else central govt wouldnt have allocated 10 crores in 2007 budget for it.

Yes, this was confirmed by Union Minister Jairam Ramesh on his visit to CUSAT. Actually it looks like CUSAT
will probably be the first such institute to be set up in Kerala, as budget allocation has also been given already to CUSAT.

[KMC]

Is Rolls Royce coming to Kochi .
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Chennai/ET_Auto/BOOM_BOOM_BEAMER_/articleshow/msid-1712649,curpg-1.cms

They want to be present in Top 10 Metros in India - So in Kochi

[ReNik]

Marine Drive from Queen Mary II
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/6417/413635027d77cd00865oic2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Queen Mary II
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/4430/4136352490448d19711oxt1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
andrewtoddphillips gallery


see Cochin gallery (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=125909&page=3) for more photos

[ReNik]

Is Rolls Royce coming to Kochi .
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Chennai/ET_Auto/BOOM_BOOM_BEAMER_/articleshow/msid-1712649,curpg-1.cms

They want to be present in Top 10 Metros in India - So in Kochi

Okay, such things are normal. Delears testify that that 70% of luxury cars selling in Kerala run in
Kochi. Same is the case with everysector. You may recall, for eg in banking, that only Citibank branch in Kerala
is in Kochi which opened 5 years back.

[Deepak]

Nice pics of Queen Mary....:cheers:

[Deepak]

Pioneer towers, Marinedrive...


http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/6112/pioneerbo3.jpg

[ReNik]

Confident Avior, Maradu relaunched - 28 floors
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/796/aviormainimgtf4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

After selling out the project Capella at Kakkanad in three weeks Confident group
relaunches its Maradu project making it a mega 28 storeyed complex !!

[roshan]

Symega Savoury to be inaugurated today
Our Bureau

Source: The Hindu-Business Line

Kochi March 8 The Austrian Ambassador to India, Dr Jutta Stefan Bastl, will inaugurate the new factory of Symega Savoury Technology Pvt Ltd, a joint initiative of Synthite Industrial Chemicals Ltd and Omega Flavours Technology Pvt Ltd, an Austrian initiative, at Kolenchery near Kochi on Friday.

Addressing a press meet, Mr Christoph Langwallner, Managing Director of Symega, said that the enormity of the growth of food business in India was one of the reasons for the Indian launch. The local partner Synthite offered the platform for the Indian operations. He said Omega was on the look out to pan out operations to India after the successful launch of its operations in Russia.........

.....These core competencies are applied on a range of products for almost all conceivable applications such as culinary snack foods, processed cheese, instant dishes, convenience food, mayonnaise, ketchup and other sauces as well as processed meat and fish products. Speaking on the occasion, Mr George Paul, Director of Synthite, said that the factory built at an investment of Rs 22 crore is spread over 12,500 sq ft to handle a capacity of 8,000 tonnes per annum.

There are plans to have a throughput of 20,000 tonnes per annum in the next five years. The company has set a target of achieving 500 tonnes per annum in the first year of operations both from the domestic and export market, he said.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/09/stories/2007030903282100.htm

[roshan]

Cochin Port from Queen Mary II
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3024/414480586cd95b9adcaoap1.jpg
photos copyright andrewtoddphillips

[ReNik]

Kochi Metro gets Rs. 4 cr

Towards initial operations of Kochi Metro project Rs. 4 cr has been allocated
in the state budget. This will be to meet expenses of forthcoming construction tender.
A special officer has been appointed and the successful bidder will be chosen
soon out of the 3 shortlisted ones.

According to Fin Min. "Kochi is booming at an unparalleled pace due to investments
like ICTT, Vallarpadam, LNG Terminal, Smart City and a slew of many other mega projects.
The state is witnessing such a phenomenon for the first time. To leverage the advantage from
this it must invest to provide infrastructure".

But more than this there are no budgetary allocation for infrastructure. Fin Min
then mentions that "the main chunk of funding for Kochi's infrastructure is expected
from JNNURM this year".

Its interesting to see that budget is already talking about smart City even before the
final deal is signed. Good omen :)
Lets wait and see...

[KMC]

After the selling out project Capella, Kakkanad in three weeks Confident group
relaunches its Maradu project making it a mega 28 storeyed complex !![/QUOTE]

Waaww 28 Floor Building at Maradu - I Guess maradu will give Kakkanad a tough time in future . Am sure Choice Prestige will loose its No. 1 Status pretty soon .
Wish some one could find renderings of Holiday INN & Crown Plaza .
What about the 30 storeyed commercial complex at kaloor by GCDA / Saihathi, any news.

[KMC]

Can some one specify the No. of 5 star Hotels already and coming in Kochi . here is a list , is anything missed here
1. Taj Malabar -
2. Le- Meridian
3. Taj Residency
4. Holiday INN
5. Crown Plaza
6. Dreams Hotel
7. City Lagoon Project - This also has a 5 star deluxe hotel. (is this and Dream same project)
8. Five Star Hotel by Vijaya Group - Can some one say who the partner is.

There are some more by DLF , Muthoot Group & CIAL .
It is unbeleivable no. of 5 star Hotels in a City like Kochi !!!! - This shows the Future potential. If Smart City is signed am sure there will be a 5 star Hotel project along with it.
Also there is rumours about Kochi coming on Marriott's Radar.

[sowmya]

Any news about CIAL IT park. This is the only project which can take off at a faster rate since no land acquisition is required and there is government support too. It can also be a milestone in the development of Kochi. When will the work start. Does anyone have any idea?

[Deepak]

Hi friends,

There are reports that the District administration has handed over 106 acres of land to State IT mission, out of total 136 acres that is required for Smartcity's first phase.Acquasition of remaining 20 acres is expected to complete within one month. Since land is ready , we can surely expect an IT CITY project there, even if TEACOM fails to strike a deal with Govt Kerala.

The second phase is 167 acres starting from east side of Brahmapuram Bridge (Kadambrayaar) upto Veegaland.

[pramodusnair]

But smart city project in its last phase would require around 1000acres!!!
Renik!!
Their website is underconstruction(sorry abt tht) but i have a got a copy of the mag.I'll try to scan those pages and post it here.

[ReNik]

Can some one specify the No. of 5 star Hotels already and coming in Kochi . here is a list , is anything missed here
1. Taj Malabar -
2. Le- Meridian
3. Taj Residency
4. Holiday INN
5. Crown Plaza
6. Dreams Hotel
7. City Lagoon Project - This also has a 5 star deluxe hotel. (is this and Dream same project)
8. Five Star Hotel by Vijaya Group - Can some one say who the partner is.

There are some more by DLF , Muthoot Group & CIAL .
It is unbeleivable no. of 5 star Hotels in a City like Kochi !!!! - This shows the Future potential. If Smart City is signed am sure there will be a 5 star Hotel project along with it.
Also there is rumours about Kochi coming on Marriott's Radar.

Parsvnath has also announced one. Marriot will be in collaboration with Puravankara, according to some news posted here.

[ReNik]

Hi friends,

There are reports that the District administration has handed over 106 acres of land to State IT mission, out of total 136 acres that is required for Smartcity's first phase.Acquasition of remaining 20 acres is expected to complete within one month. Since land is ready , we can surely expect an IT CITY project there, even if TECOM fails to strike a deal with Govt Kerala.

The second phase is 167 acres starting from east side of Brahmapuram Bridge (Kadambrayaar) upto Veegaland.

I guess phase I itself involves 246 acres, as almost all the land is already with state govt.
100+ acres of this is with KSEB. Another 106 was handed over. That means about
35 acres more needed. If indications in media are to be believed TECOM will be the
one. There are about 7 other companies also ready.

Their website is underconstruction(sorry abt tht) but i have a got a copy of the mag.I'll try to scan those pages and post it here.

That would be great. Do they have an e-print for the subscribers ?


Any news about CIAL IT park. This is the only project which can take off at a faster rate since no land acquisition is required and there is government support too. It can also be a milestone in the development of Kochi. When will the work start. Does anyone have any idea?

News reports says work will start in a few months time, since there won't be any partner.
A detailed project report is under preparation.

[ReNik]

Fate of metro project hangs in the balance

Staff Reporter

Special Officer unhappy with administrative set-up

# The executing agency was planned to be an independent one
# Special Officer feels new developments will curtail his powers

KOCHI: Even as the State Government set apart Rs.4 crore for carrying out the initial works of the Kochi metro rail project in the budget presented on Friday, R. Gopinathan Nair, who had been appointed as Special Officer for the project, has expressed his disinclination to assume the post.

With this, the fate of the project seems uncertain. Mr. Nair wrote to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan saying that he was unhappy with the new conditions specified by the State Government. This followed the Government passing an order saying that the Special Officer would come under a cell that is under the administrative control of the Principal Secretary (Transport). The net effect would be that the Special Officer's powers would be drastically cut down, affecting the pace and smooth progress of the project. Full Story- The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/10/stories/2007031023240500.htm)

This problem may be overcome, still it shows the mindset of bureaucrats who crave for
power even if they are the least competent to handle it. The special officer has excellent
track record, still Mr. Gopinathan Nair is not given the required control over the project.
In contrast E.Sreedharan showed the way for DMRC by making the project a grand success
in the face of many many bureaucratic and political meddling, as he was given full say
in the case of Delhi Metro.

[Deepak]

View from EKM North. Mtechtowers and Stadium seen...


http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/8520/north4editedfd5.jpg

[ReNik]

Again a great shot, Deepak !! Your photos are well taken always.

I can see Metro One mall closing in on MM Tech Towers. Would be a sight
worth it, once completed.
There are lots of highrises/projects on the Kaloor-Kadavantra stretch. It is beyond
the angle you shot.

[KMC]

I read in a website that Govt is not planning to compromise with Tecom on smart city . So is that all over . Perhaps our politicians doesnt realise the value of 'TIME'.

[JMen]

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7574/dreamshotelsxr5ei8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Sant Chatwal to open 7-star hotel chain in India

New Delhi, Mar 11: Sant Singh Chatwal, a Sikh Indian-American businessman, will invest Rs 4,500 crore by 2009 for setting up a chain of hotels, including 7-star, in India.

All hotels would be state-of-the-art with different food restaurants, discotheques and conference rooms. "We want to create convention centres with a capacity for 2,000-3,000 people in every hotel," Chatwal, president and CEO of Hampshire Hotels And Resorts (HHR), told reporters.

"We are doing the master planning for phase-I, which includes high-end 7-star hotels in major cities like Delhi/Noida, Mumbai and Bangalore and dream hotels in Kochi, Hyderabad and Chennai," he said.

"India is a virgin country in the hospitality sector... I would like to explore the potential here," said Chatwal.

Elaborating on the business plans, he said he has already acquired land in Bangalore, Noida, Kochi and Hyderabad while negotiations are on in Mumbai and Chennai.

HHR owns hotels in the US, UK and Thailand with over 2,500 rooms in Manhattan. Along with this, the 1.5 billion dollar group has set up Bombay palace locations around the world including Montreal, Toronto, New York, Washington, Houston, Budapest and Kuala Lumpur.


Source:

[JMen]

Confident Avior, Maradu relaunched - 28 floors
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/796/aviormainimgtf4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

After selling out the project Capella at Kakkanad in three weeks Confident group
relaunches its Maradu project making it a mega 28 storeyed complex !!

Here is the layout plan....

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/7360/aviorlayoutimgyu8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

There are a couple of Hotel blocks and a Commercial complex along with a multilevel Car Park!!!!

[pramodusnair]

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7574/dreamshotelsxr5ei8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Sant Chatwal to open 7-star hotel chain in India

New Delhi, Mar 11: Sant Singh Chatwal, a Sikh Indian-American businessman, will invest Rs 4,500 crore by 2009 for setting up a chain of hotels, including 7-star, in India.

All hotels would be state-of-the-art with different food restaurants, discotheques and conference rooms. "We want to create convention centres with a capacity for 2,000-3,000 people in every hotel," Chatwal, president and CEO of Hampshire Hotels And Resorts (HHR), told reporters.

"We are doing the master planning for phase-I, which includes high-end 7-star hotels in major cities like Delhi/Noida, Mumbai and Bangalore and dream hotels in Kochi, Hyderabad and Chennai," he said.

"India is a virgin country in the hospitality sector... I would like to explore the potential here," said Chatwal.

Elaborating on the business plans, he said he has already acquired land in Bangalore, Noida, Kochi and Hyderabad while negotiations are on in Mumbai and Chennai.

HHR owns hotels in the US, UK and Thailand with over 2,500 rooms in Manhattan. Along with this, the 1.5 billion dollar group has set up Bombay palace locations around the world including Montreal, Toronto, New York, Washington, Houston, Budapest and Kuala Lumpur.


Source:

The details regarding the dreams hotel project is on the ajit assoc website.I am posting an excerpt of that.


M/s. Back Waters Hotels and Resorts Pvt. Ltd, has signed an agreement with Ajit Associates and Veritas to design the 200-room, five-star Resort Hotel, Cochin opening in 2009. The first luxury hotel its own kind to open in the city for more than a decade.
The hotel is strategically positioned in the ethnic Silver Sand Islands, near Vyittila Junction and is 30 minutes by car from Nedumbassery(cochin) International Airport.

200 luxurious guest rooms and suites offer guests the ultimate in deluxe service and hospitality. Guests can choose between the Themed Café, Cocktail Lounge and Lobby Lounge, with restaurants all offering lush garden views. Additional food and beverage options include Themed Café, Pool Bar, Thai and ill Forno offering Thai and Italian cuisine respectively.
The hotel will occupy 17 floors of the building complex. Its guestrooms will be among the most spacious in the city and be decorated in a contemporary style with Asian highlights. Luxury condominium suites will be located on the upper levels of the tower.
Guests entering the hotel through an elegant vaulted forecourt will be welcomed into a spacious three-storey glass atrium lobby offering waterscape views. The heart of the hotel will be its lobby lounge – an “urban living room” with a sidewalk café nestled in the shadow of the boulevard trees overlooking the back waters. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea will be followed by evening entertainment in the relaxed, yet refined lounge.
The street-level columnade walk way, cocktail deck will lead to a mezzanine level themed restaurant overlooking the encircled natural creeks and backwaters. It will be open for lunch and dinner, pre- and post-theatre.

The Thai Spa signature spa brand – will offer treatments to in-house guests, condominium owners and local residents. Inspired by the origins of the Shangri-La legend, the CHI concept is based on Chinese and Himalayan healing therapies. Each of the 10 private CHI treatment rooms and one double treatment suite will provide a “spa within a spa” atmosphere, offering guests the luxury of time and space.
The hotel’s speciality restaurant, on the ground floor, will open onto a landscaped terrace, as well as overlook the back waters.
The ballroom will seat 400 and three smaller rooms will seat 50 to 100 people. All function rooms will offer floor-to-ceiling windows and an elegant pre-function foyer. An audio visual room will provide a venue for screenings or executive presentations that require dramatic special effects.

Equipped with the most modern systems of Air Conditioning, Fire Protection & Safety, security systems, Dreams ensures the effectiveness of the state of art services at its peek. Maintaining the serene balance of the nature, the whole system is eco friendly, pollution free and leaves no damage to the ethnic atmosphere.

[suncity]

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/796/aviormainimgtf4.jpg



Cochin is shooting for the skies.

Can someone create a map with the various project locations?

[Deepak]

Thx Renik....

[ReNik]

Cochin is shooting for the skies.

Can someone create a map with the various project locations?

There are enterprising locals who have marked out these in http://www.wikimapia.org. Not many are
members of/aware of SSP and similar forums.


I read in a website that Govt is not planning to compromise with Tecom on smart city . So is that all over . Perhaps our politicians doesnt realise the value of 'TIME'.

Now comes the petty politics. I had guessed this.

With this decision, the standstill over the Smart City project will become more complicated. The irony is that the standstill continues even after the negotiators representing the Government also realised the genuineness of the TECOM demand. It's learnt that even Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan is supportive of giving the freehold to TECOM as they have approved all the other demands raised by him.

But he couldn't take a decision of his own as he feared that a lapse on his part would trigger a controversy in the party. Achuthanandan referred the TECOM demand to the five-member co-ordination committee of the CPM chaired by state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.

The issue, which could have been easily resolved by the committee, was sent to the party state committee for opinion as Pinarayi didn't want an easy solution to the crisis. Read details from New Ind Xpress (http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070311120029&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0)

Pinarayi does not want VS to hog the limelight and he is putting the deal back to
square one. Only way out is if VS can boldly put his foot down and strike the deal.
See the levels people stoop to, till the other day Pinarayi was accusing VS of
anti-developmental stand, now that he is just a step away from striking the deal,
"development man" wants to block him, just to pull him down. But it will not go far.
The decision on this will have far reaching effect, not a single pie of investment
will flow to anywhere in Kerala if there is a negative decision.
Still we can keep fingers crossed

[Deepak]

Yesterday's Manorama reported that Hongkong based JB group meeting kerala CM today for IT CITY Project at Kakkanad....

[Deepak]

Here s a great news buddies...:)

Rs 500 cr push for city

KOCHI: As the final formality regarding the execution of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) schemes, i.e, the tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) in which the Corporation, the State Government and the Union Ministry for Urban Development are parties, was inked on Saturday, decks have been cleared for the Central grant for the city’s infrastructure development.
More than Rs 500 crore will flow into the Kochi Corporation’s exchequer this year by way of the World Bank-aided JNNURM. Half of this is the Central grant, 30 percent is the State Government’s contribution and 20 percent is own fund.
The Union Government’s 50 percent share of Rs 300 crore for the three projects viz. first phase of Cochin water supply scheme, solid waste management project and basic services to urban poor (BSUP), which are already approved by the Union Ministry of Urban Development, will be disbursed in a week.
The urban agglomeration of Kochi including the city corporation, Kalamassery and Tripunithura municipalities and 13 adjacent panchayats with a million plus population will get 50 percent of the estimate of the approved projects.


:notacrook:

[ReNik]

I read in a website that Govt is not planning to compromise with Tecom on smart city . So is that all over . Perhaps our politicians doesnt realise the value of 'TIME'.

Okay, today's newspapers report CPM decision. They propose 99 year lease to
TECOM instead of ownership. But CPM also decides that just due to this one issue
Kerala should not lose the project. What a dumb decision - how will they ever
get TECOM to agree to this, given that the director board has made final decision.
And their second statement effectively annuls the first - its a phoney statement, just
"ideological" pretension. Who are they competing with - some fringe naxals ?
If they are, be reminded, they will be reduced to the level of naxal parties, with only leaders and no workers :)
At best it can serve to delay the deal by couple of weeks - thats the time CPM needs to
overcome such phoney "ideological" pretensions. Anyway, looks like CPM is coming round and the deal will be made.

[pramodusnair]

Is JB group going to develop a separate IT city or are they planning to take over the smart city project.I read some where that Leela group has started constructing the second phase of leela infopark.

[pramodusnair]

I found the website of sant singh chatwal's group.
http://www.hampshirehotels.com/home.html
They have got 3 brands of hotels
Dream,Time and Night. And a restaurant chain called Bombay palace.

[ReNik]

Is JB group going to develop a separate IT city or are they planning to take over the smart city project.I read some where that Leela group has started constructing the second phase of leela infopark.

Actually this is the umpteenth group approaching Kerala govt to start IT park in Kochi.
A good guess would be that many of them will collaborate with groups lke Puravankara
who have acres of land. Some others will buy about 100 acres of land confidently and start their activities. The rest will wait for govt allotment.

[ReNik]

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/6718/budgetwv6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Thanx Deepak for sourcing this.
Excerpts from budget speech (page 42, para 105). Lots of good words, no match
in terms of deeds.


Kochi Metro gets Rs. 4 cr

Towards initial operations of Kochi Metro project Rs. 4 cr has been allocated
in the state budget. This will be to meet expenses of forthcoming construction tender.
A special officer has been appointed and the successful bidder will be chosen
soon out of the 3 shortlisted ones.

According to Fin Min. "Kochi is booming at an unparalleled pace due to investments
like ICTT, Vallarpadam, LNG Terminal, Smart City, petrochems and a slew of many other mega projects.
The state is witnessing such a phenomenon for the first time. To leverage the advantage from
this it must invest to provide infrastructure".

But more than this there are no budgetary allocation for infrastructure. Fin Min
then mentions that "the main chunk of funding for Kochi's infrastructure is expected
from JNNURM this year".

[pramodusnair]

Don't lose Smart City, LDF tells Achuthanandan



With the Kerala Left Democratic Front (LDF) asking the V.S. Achuthanandan government Monday to save the Smart City project, the project appears to be on the verge of being clinched.
With the LDF so hopeful, it is now only a formality for the Rs.15 billion ($340 million) Smart City project to go through.

Reports indicate that the next round of discussion would be just a formality wherein the Achuthanandan government would agree to a 99-year lease as demanded by the DIC.

http://www.indiaenews.com/politics/20070312/42759.htm


Atlast the commies have decided to thrown in the towel.

[ReNik]

Don't lose Smart City, LDF tells Achuthanandan
Tuesday March 13 2007 00:32 IST

IANS

T’PURAM: With the Kerala Left Democratic Front (LDF) asking the V S Achuthanandan government Monday to save the Smart City project, the project appears to be on the verge of being clinched.
....

With the LDF so hopeful, it is now only a formality for the Rs.15 billion ($340 million) Smart City project to go through.
Reports indicate that the next round of discussion would be just a formality wherein the Achuthanandan government would agree to a 99-year lease as demanded by the DIC.
New Ind Xpress (http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070312141113&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0&)

********************************************************************************************************


LDF wants Smart City deal clinched

Special Correspondent

Front feels Government will take a favourable decision

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has asked its Government in the State to clinch the Smart City project through a final round of negotiation.

"The LDF feels that the Government should be able to take a favourable decision on this subject," LDF convener Vaikom Viswan said, briefing the media after a meeting of the front here on Monday.

Mr. Viswan, despite being asked, did not specify whether the LDF had given the Government permission to show flexibility in the matter of the only remaining factor that stood in the way of the project — whether the joint sector company to be floated for the project could be given full rights over the Smart City land after the agreed-to lease period of 25 years. The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/13/stories/2007031319390100.htm)

Looks like Smart City deal has been clinched.
Interestingly, CPM-LDF decision came so soon given that there was one month
period given by TECOM also points a sooner signing of deal.

[pramodusnair]

One more IT park in Kochi.........
JB group is holding discussions with LDf for establishing an IT park in Kochi.The IT park will come up in 3 years.
Manoramanews
http://manoramanews.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/mmtvContentView.do?BV_ID=@@@&contentId=2156489&contentType=EDITORIAL&programId=1186580:banana:

Mathrubhumi

http://mathrubhumi.com/php/newsFrm.php?news_id=1212938&n_type=HO&category_id=1