Cochin highrises, pictures and projects - II

[PLUS]

Kochi is an education hub

City turning into an education hub

G. Krishnakumar

A wide variety of educational institutions have come up in Kochi

Photo: H. Vibhu

EDUCATIONAL VISTAS OPEN UP: Students at Bharata Mata College, Kakkanad. —

KOCHI: The commercial heartland of the State is fast turning into an education hub. More and more youngsters from within and outside Kerala have made the city their ‘home-away-from-home’ for pursuing their higher education programmes.

Better connectivity, wide variety of institutions, and the growing opportunities in the job market here seem to be the major attractions for the young talents to land up in Kochi. Braving all odds, they want to make the city their favourite education destination.

Agrees Shyam P. Nair, a management student: “I did my schooling in Bangalore. I was a bit apprehensive when my father, who was working with a multinational company, decided to settle in Kochi after retirement. But I am happy today, thanks to the educational opportunities available here. It is truly far ahead of what is available in the rest of the State”.

The records point towards the growing educational credentials of the city. From a very few higher educational institutions a decade back, the place now boasts of some of the popular colleges in South India.

The list is not just confined to engineering and medical programmes but has expanded to several other courses like pharmacy, nursing and biotechnology both in government and private sectors.

Arun Mohan, whose parents are working in Dubai, chose Kochi when his father asked him to select a place of higher study in Kerala. Presently pursuing his mechanical engineering programme in a private engineering college here, the youngster now feels that his selection was never wrong.

“Compared to Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi has many advantages. The city is fast developing into a metro. The academic facilities here match national standards. Moreover, I got the opportunity to meet several students from the country and abroad. This interaction helped in broadening my views,” he said.

Many educational institutions have students coming in from various parts of the country. Records say that Cochin University of Science and Technology attracts at least 500 students from Bihar every year for its B. Tech programmes. Foreign students have also landed here to pursue their goals.

Elizabeth Marie Chatelain, a student from the U. S., who landed here as part of a cultural exchange programme, said that she got an opportunity to live for one year in a culture and society that is completely different from her own.

“The friendships I have formed here are ones that will surely impact the rest of my life. Meaningful conversations over society, culture, politics, and everyday life have transformed my perceptions of the world and its citizens,” she said.

The city is also opening up windows of opportunities to the student community thanks to its popularity among recruitment companies as a growing talent pool. The who-is-who of the Indian IT industry lapped up fresh talents from campuses here in 2007.

Hundreds of students in engineering colleges in Ernakulam district have already found placements in leading companies. Many fortune 100 companies have shown their eagerness to hire freshers from campuses here.

Stating that companies scout for talents here, as they are hard-working and bright, Remya Ann Jose, an engineering student, said that coming to Kochi is all the more economic. “There are several engineering colleges here. It also saves a lot of their (company officials) time,” she said. Students pointed out that companies were now looking at quality-specific students. They also recruit candidates having good communication and technological skills. Companies also gauge the confidence level of the students in the interview besides rating the performance in the written interview.

Varun Mohan, a student of Electronics engineering, said that Kochi offers a lot of opportunities for students to improve their personal and professional skills. The growing repute of the city, as an IT and industrial hub, also comes in handy on several occasions,” he said.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/18/stories/2008101860940600.htm

[abhilash]

Corporation gets offers for beautifying city

Panel to meet on Monday to consider several schemes

Subhas park is likely to be beautified.

KOCHI: With the Volvo Ocean Race all set to give Kochi city a never-before hype at global tourism circuit, several entrepreneurs are queuing up before the Kochi Corporation with their proposals to give a facelift to the city.

The Town Planning Standing Committee of the Kochi Corporation alone has received several offers for beautifying the city that run into several crores. Most of the entrepreneurs have also offered to spruce up the city at their own expense and later handover the projects to the city administrators.

The Town Planning Committee meeting scheduled to be held at the Corporation office on Monday will consider several city facility improvement and beautification schemes that are to be implemented on Build-Operate-Transfer mode.

A business house from Thiruvananthapuram has submitted proposals for beautifying and maintaining the parks in the city including the Subhas Bose Park. The private firm has offered to clean up and beautify the park and also carryout the landscaping at their own expense. They have also offered to beautify the other city parks at an expense of Rs. 50 lakh. For any amount exceeding their investment, the support of sponsors will have to be sought, they have told the civic body.

According to the officials of the Corporation, the agency has also agreed to implement the works under the supervision and control of the civic body.

Each year, the Kochi Corporation spends around Rs. 25 lakh from its various funds for the maintenance of the parks. Even after spending the amount, the Corporation and the general public are not getting its full benefits. If the park beautification and maintenance are implemented with the support of these agencies, the civic body would be saving a considerable amount that is annually spent on these heads, said E.M. Sunilkumar, chairman of the Town Planning Standing Committee of the Corporation.

The civic body has not been able meet the demand for constructing foot overbridges and public comfort stations in the city due to its financial constraints. If any private entrepreneur is coming forward to invest in such facilities in the city, it would help the Corporation in saving huge amounts and providing such amenities to the general public, he said.

Cable removal


The officials of the Town Planning committee removed unauthorised cables of several telephone and television companies that were drawn along the roads at Vyttila on Saturday. The removal of such cables comes after the repeated warning of the civic body to get them regularised. The companies that laid the cables were also repeatedly asked by the civic body to pay the fee due to the Corporation, he said.

The officials have also started serving notices to the agencies that have set up hoardings in the city violating the guidelines issued by the Corporation. The Corporation council had earlier decided to take act tough on such violations.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/20/stories/2008102058350300.htm

[abhilash]

Order book full for Cochin Shipyard Limited

Kochi: Naming ceremony of the two Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs) that the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) is building for Hellespont, a deep-sea shipping company in Greece, will take place at the Shipyard on November 21. The Shipyard has so far delivered seven PSVs and its hands are full with orders for another 21 offshore vessels—including the two being built for Hellespont—constructed mainly for European and American companies.

CSL’s small ships division is likely to be completed by mid-2009 when the building bay would be partitioned into two, allowing for concurrent construction of small commercial ships and bigger vessels. Union Minister for Shipping T.R. Baalu is slated to visit the Shipyard later this month to take stock of the progress of work, but the visit stands postponed, if not cancelled, as of now.

Meanwhile, with the offshore industry moving to deeper waters, there is a rise in demand for smaller vessels.

According to a CSL spokesperson, the yard has been getting numerous enquiries for construction of smaller, experimental vessels. The biggest contract, however, remains that of the country’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC). The keel-laying of IAC is tentatively scheduled for December 31 and efforts are underway to get the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the ceremony.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/20/stories/2008102058520300.htm

[abhilash]

Virtual university to link engineering colleges

Cusat gets nod from Education Ministry

Kochi: The Centre for Information Resource Management (CIRM) under Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) has initiated steps to cobble up a virtual university linking the State’s technical institutions, primarily engineering colleges. CIRM Director Ignatius Kunjumon will present a detailed project report in this regard early next week and once it is approved by the University Syndicate, a formal proposal will be put up before the Ministry for clearance.

Currently, 80 colleges and 500 schools in the State have been linked through Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)-aided Edusat, but the efficacy of the project has been suspect. While the current system allows for a satellite downlink speed of 36 mbps (megabytes per second), which is pretty strong, its uplink speed is a meagre 1 mbps.

Integrated classrooms


The project proposes to make use of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) plan Non-ISP 1:4 for greater file uplink speed along with Edusat downlink to create integrated virtual classrooms that only require an administrator to monitor student attendance even as actual technical sessions are made available to them in the virtual space thus created.

“The concept has been successfully introduced on a smaller scale in three schools in Alappuzha. If this kind of an integrated virtual classroom is created, all those who apply for courses like Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) or M.Sc. Computer Science can be admitted as they can attend classes handled physically taking place elsewhere,” said Ignatius Kunjumon.

The Hindu has learnt that the plan has in-principle approval from the Education Minister’s office, which has expressed its readiness to shell out Rs.4 crore for the project. This apart, four proposals are already in the pipeline to convert CIRM into a knowledge hub of the State.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/18/stories/2008101861410300.htm

[abhilash]

Museum to house tribal art

A tribal art museum is to be set up at Tripunithura by the Lalithakala Akademi. K. Pradeep learns that it may well be a reality by next year

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/10/20/stories/2008102050260100.htm

[bhasidali]

More on dlf new town heights, kakkanad

It says, 21 towers...4-5 km jogging track...4000 car parks...etc...

http://www.mathrubhumi.com/2008_customimages/news/PF121837_11bis8.pdf

[vivekcochin]

Hi all:cool:
Today's Trivandrum edition of Metro Manorama has an article on Dileep's Restaurant at Oberon Mall..Is it there in Kochi edition??
It was interesting to read..He will have great Chinese and Arabic flavor restaurants.

Regards,
Vivek

[abhilash]

More on dlf new town heights, kakkanad

It says, 21 towers...4-5 km jogging track...4000 car parks...etc...

http://www.mathrubhumi.com/2008_customimages/news/PF121837_11bis8.pdf

Can anybody deliver on their Hotel Projects?
2 at Kakkanad
1 at Fort Kochi
1 at Marine drive

[abhilash]

Master plan stresses infrastructure reforms

Envisages an integrated transport system

KOCHI: A draft master plan for Kochi city that will focus on sectors such as transport and identify the growth trends of the city was presented at Kochi Corporation the other day.

The master plan aims to “increase the liveability of the city” by considering the various dimensions of the city with an attempt to retain all its characteristics, said M.S. Jaya, Senior Town Planner of the Town and Country Planning Department, who coordinated the master plan preparation.

Kochi needs an integrated system of transport. The master plan has suggested that by developing a Mass Public Transport System, promoting inland water transport system, a commuting railway system and promoting dedicated bus lanes along developing corridor this can be achieved.

Ring roads


The draft plan has envisaged four ring roads, a 100 metre-wide fast track ring road and 11 radial roads for the city.

The need for developing transport interchange hub at intersection of major corridors, ring roads and railway lines to decentralise bus and railway stations by moving them out of the city centre is one of the highlights of the draft proposal.

The draft plan stresses on the need for a road network for the city to ensure proper connectivity of the underdeveloped areas in the outskirts of the city.

To complete the ring radial road network for the city, inner ring road must be strengthened and new outer ring roads must be built, it was suggested.

Area traffic management schemes for the market area, Town hall and North and South railway stations, pedestrian crossings, Kacheripady, Menaka, Kaloor, Edapally, Vyttila, Pallimukku has also been proposed.

The draft proposal has also suggested 20 junction improvement schemes for city covering Pallimukku, Jose Junction, Maharaja College Junction, Padma, Madhava Pharmacy, Kacheripady and Ravipuram Junctions.

The 100 metre-wide fast track road has been proposed through Pachalam, Cheranallur, Kadamakudi, Alanghad, Chengamanad, Keezhmad, Edathala, Puthencruz, Thiruvankulam, Chottanikara and Kumbalam.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/23/stories/2008102359670300.htm

[abhilash]

Trade festival planned at Race Village

KOCHI: Ocean Race Trade Fest, an exhibition of Indian brands, will be organised from December 2 to 13 at Willingdon Island as part of Volvo Ocean Race India Stopover.

The stopover has been considered as an ideal platform for launching of products and services, considering the international visibility of the event, according to the organisers.

International brands that promote Volvo Ocean Race and the teams participating in the race like the Volvo group will set up their pavilions in the Race Village. While these pavilions will be partly open to the general public, certain areas will be earmarked for business networking, the organisers said.

The local business community will also be given opportunities to showcase their products and services at the festival. Participants from sectors like manufacturing, real estate, builders, lifestyle, fashion accessories, home appliances, financial institutions, food processing and export will get an opportunity to participate.

Inaugurated


N. Ramachandran, chairman of the Cochin Port Trust, inaugurated the sale of space for pavilions and stalls by handing over the allotment letters to Jose Dominic, managing director, CGH Earth and Philip K. Joseph of Harrison Malayalam on Wednesday. The entry to the race village and exhibition will be free, according to a communication from the organisers.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/23/stories/2008102359340300.htm

[abhilash]

SmartCity to launch magazine

KOCHI: SmartCity, a joint venture between TECOM Investments and Sama Dubai, is set to launch a magazine, Connect, to increase the interface between the knowledge-based industry and SmartCity stakeholders.

The magazine will be launched at the forthcoming GITEX, the technology exhibition featuring Information Technology players in Dubai.

It forms part of SmartCity’s strategic move to augment its marketing activities to attract international, regional and local businesses to its strategically located destinations such as SmartCity Malta, SmartCity Kochi and TECOM Business Parks in Dubai.

“We are very excited about the introduction of Connect – which aims to provide cutting edge insights from today’s thought leaders and promoting industry excellence. Connect is in line with SmartCity’s vision to create a global network of self-sustained business townships to foster the knowledge economy by Connecting SmartCity locations,” Fareed Abdulrahman, the chief executive officer of SmartCity, said in a statement issued from Dubai announcing the launch.

He said the first edition of the magazine would feature insights and opinions from Symantec and the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Communication in Malta, along with many other key individuals within the knowledge-economy industry.

The magazine targets CEOs, CFOs and key decision-makers in IT, media, and the knowledge economy. It would cover a wide-range of topics including business and technology trends, interviews and opinion articles from influential people.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/23/stories/2008102360480500.htm

[prameshr]

which is the best mall of all the three?
i have not been to focus mall
and

when is the completion of the summit mall[MG road],metro one mall[kaloor] and the imperial trade center[mg road[near whiteplanet]]???????????

[JMen]

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/3392/silverstoneoq8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Source: www.desaihomes.com

[PLUS]

India's one only container transhipment terminal - the super port
at Vallarpadam

Phase I will have more than 1.5 million TEU capacity

Any ship on the planet can be handled

Vallarpadam ICTT: Set to make Kochi a key hub

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/10/27/images/2008102750370601.jpg
Phase 1 work progressing on schedule at the Vallarpadam terminal. — K. K. Mustafah

V. Sajeev Kumar

The emergence of Kochi port as a transhipment hub for India will become a reality within a year as the construction work for the first phase of the international container transhipment terminal (ICTT) project is progressing rapidly at Vallarpadam.

Vallarpadam, once developed, will make Kochi a key centre in the shipping world, thereby reducing India’s dependence on foreign ports for transshipment. The ICTT project will be the largest single player among the container terminals planned in India and the first to operate in a SEZ. One of the essential requirements of a hub port is that it should be adjacent to the trunk sea trade route for the minimum diversion of mother vessels, so as to reduce unproductive voyage and port time.

Kochi, being adjacent to the trunk sea trade route and linked to the hinterland through a well-developed system of national highways and rail connections, is an ideal location for the development of hub trade.

A visit to the project site revealed that the area is bustling with construction activity. which included piling, soil improvement, sand piling, sheet piling, building work, fabrication of piling gauges, casting of prefab panels, manufacture of paver blocks, and so on. If the present pace pf work is sustained, the first phase of the project is expected to be commissioned on schedule.
Steady pace

Speaking to Business Line at the construction site, Mr Suresh Joseph, General Manager, DP World, Kochi, said that the construction activities that had commenced in January are progressing at the right speed, without any hurdles. “So far we have completed 28 per cent of the work and by December, we expect to reach 45 per cent”, he said. With this pace, he hoped that the first phase of the project would be ready by November 2009.

Simplex Infrastructures Ltd, Kolkata, is the civil contractor engaged by DP World for the work. The project will use close of 9,000 tonnes of steel and 11,000 tonnes of cement. Mr Joseph said that 80 per cent of the steel had arrived at the site.

The ICTT project, which will be set up on 115 hectares of unencumbered land, is proposed to be developed in three phases. Phase IA will be developed with 600 metres of quay and is designed to handle one million TEUs. This phase is expected to cost Rs 1,300 crore and there has been a considerable increase in project costs due to cost escalations, said Mr Joseph.

Later, Phase I B will developed by adding another 300 metres of quay with the capacity to handle additional half a million TEUs. The second phase will have 900 metres of quay and total quay length for the ICTT project would be 1,800 metres, with the capacity to handle 3 million TEUs.

Phase IA of the project will be supported by six Super post-Panamax cranes, 3,500 ground slots (including 450 reefer points), 15 eco RTGs, 5 reach-stackers, etc. The terminal facilities and processes have been designed to accept and service the largest container ships afloat today, such as the Emma Maersk.

Road, rail connectivity

It will also have two rail handling sidings capable of handling 12 trains per day and five km of road. Provisions have also been made to locate a security scanner to screen containers inside the terminal.

A new 8-km electrified rail link with a capacity to carry 15 trains each way will connect Vallarpadam ICTT to the main lines of Southern Railway at Edappally. Likewise, the new 18-km four-lane National Highway provides surface connectivity to NH17 and NH47.

While the first connects to the Konkan region, the latter connects to the growing hinterland in the South, Central and the East.

Apart from this, the development of the coastal highway will provide additional access to the two national highways, thus ensuring 100 per cent road connectivity.

Asked about the exact date on the commissioning of the project, Mr Joseph said that the authorities expect to shift the activities from Willingdon Island from November 1, 2009 provided the infrastructure support, including road and rail connectivity and dredging requirements to berth mother vessels at the terminal, are ready by that time.

“We will be ready by November next year as the Port Chairman has given an assurance that all these facilities will be ready by the time. We are going ahead as per this schedule”, he said.

He referred to the proximity to East-West trade routes as the greatest advantage for the Vallarpadam ICTT. It has the shortest deviation from both the Suez and the Middle East routes, compared to any other port in India. Besides saving on steaming time and costs, the proximity saves considerable time and cost for cargoes originating or terminating in the sub-continent.

The containers landed at the terminal will have a multi-modal option to transit to the hinterland. The terminal will have the facility to berth a mainline vessel and a feeder, together with the possibility of hot-seat exchange of boxes. From a feeder, a container could be directly put on to the mainline vessel, or vice-versa. This will result in better transit times for the shipper.

The existing container terminal at Kochi, operated by DP World, has excellent connectivity to the ports on the West coast. Tuticorin provides support on the East coast. Plans are on to connect Haldia, Visakapatnam and Chennai, thereby ensuring holistic coastal support to the India hinterland, he said.

Moreover the development of ICTT at Vallarpadam has seen a flurry of activity in commissioning container freight stations, empty container parks, logistics parks, warehousing and the like, that have never been seen in Kochi till now, Mr Suresh added.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/10/27/stories/2008102750370600.htm

[vivekcochin]

:notacrook: :tup: NEW INTERNATIONAL STADIUM IN KOCHI

Last day Kerala Cricket Association has invited Expression of Interest from interested land owners/Real Estate Groups for 30 to 40 acres of land within a radius of 15-20 kms from MG road, Ernakulam with good road access for the purpose of constructing an INTERNATIONAL STADIUM with attached club house and allied facilities for sporting and related activities:previous: . KCA has also solicits expression of interest from real estate group for a tie-up to implement this mega project :cheers: on a Built, Operate, Transfer basis.
Interested parties may send their enquiries to:
The Secretary,
Kerala Cricket Association
KCA Complex,
TC 24/131,
Sastan Kovil Road,
Thycaud PO
Trivandum – 695014.
Ph No 0471-2326522
E-Mail: keralacricket1@gmail.com:yes:

[vivekcochin]

Kochi has always been a place for entertainment and exciting activity. Now Kochi has moved ahead towards becoming most modern. Kochi has started to imbibe, the so called MALL CULTURE. Kochi’s first super Mega mall is right there at the suburbs of Kochi located at NH Bypass Edappally – The Oberon Mall from Oberon Edifices and Estates Group. Kochi gets to be the way gateway where entertainment is concerned. The shopping culture is redefined by this.

[bhasidali]

A disappointing News... :(

He said the group was also on the verge of dropping the second phase of Veegaland, at 60 acres adjacent to its existing park at Kakkanad near Kochi.

According to the current policy of the Left-led Kerala government, land filling cannot be done at the adjacent land, which is owned by Veegaland. The expansion requires more land, but the local authorities have not sanctioned the land acquisition for the past one-and-a-half year. "We are still talking to the local authorities, but they are adamant," he added.

The project, named as Veegaland Amucity, involves Rs 800-1000 crore investment. Plans are afoot to set up a large convention centre, a star hotel with 500 rooms and apartments for ordinary visitors to attract visitors who wish to spend time in the park for two to three days, instead of the current one day trips.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=338492

[abhilash]

Middle East IT firms looking to invest in Kerala

Dubai: Around 20 IT companies with operations in the Middle East are in an advanced stage of discussions with the Kerala government to invest in that south Indian state.

During the course of the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) 2008, the Middle East's largest technology show held here last week, the companies evoked keen interest in investing in Kerala.

'Around 20 IT companies with operations in the Middle East approached us with plans to either migrate or expand their operations to Kerala,' Ajay Kumar, Kerala's information technology secretary, told IANS over phone from Thiruvananthapuram Monday.

'This involves an IT industrial space of around 100,000 square feet in our technoparks in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi,' he said.

Kerala's IT department showcased the state as a premier investment destination for the first time ever through its participation in GITEX.

The state, which had till now focused on the Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram and Infopark in Kochi, is now actively expanding the IT industry to other parts of the state and has thrown open the sector for private sector investment in a major way.

According to Kumar, the state is offering three types of investment opportunities in the IT sector.

'One is investment in IT townships and SEZs (special economic zones). Second is investment in standalone IT parks and the third is investment by IT companies and carrying out their operations from Kerala,' he said.

During the course of GITEX, a couple of investors have evoked keen interest in Kerala's IT infrastructure.

'We are in an advanced stage of discussions with a couple of Middle East-based investors who are keen to invest in IT infrastructure in the state,' he said.

Apart from this, Bangladesh IT authorities have also evoked interest in Kerala.

'The Bangladesh consul general (in Dubai) visited our stall during GITEX. We had very fruitful discussions as Bangladesh is very interested in collaborating with Kerala in IT and e-governance,' Kumar said.

Earlier, during the course of GITEX, Kumar had said the state was scaling up its IT operations with the aim of generating over 200,000 jobs within the next five years.

'Today we have two IT parks - Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram and Infopark in Kochi. We are scaling up (the number of parks in the state) from two to 10 over the next 10 years,' he said.

He said as these parks take shape, employment opportunities in the state's IT sector would grow immensely.

'Today we have 40,000-45,000 employees in the IT sector. Our plan is to multiply this several fold, at least fivefold in the next five years or so,' he said.
IANS

http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news.php?id=5788&cat=1&sub=14&subit=0

[kaleekan]

Master plan stresses infrastructure reforms

Envisages an integrated transport system :) :) :) :)

KOCHI: A draft master plan for Kochi city that will focus on sectors such as transport and identify the growth trends of the city was presented at Kochi Corporation the other day.

The master plan aims to “increase the liveability of the city” by considering the various dimensions of the city with an attempt to retain all its characteristics, said M.S. Jaya, Senior Town Planner of the Town and Country Planning Department, who coordinated the master plan preparation.

Kochi needs an integrated system of transport. The master plan has suggested that by developing a Mass Public Transport System, promoting inland water transport system, a commuting railway system and promoting dedicated bus lanes along developing corridor this can be achieved.

Ring roads


The draft plan has envisaged four ring roads, a 100 metre-wide fast track ring road and 11 radial roads for the city.

The need for developing transport interchange hub at intersection of major corridors, ring roads and railway lines to decentralise bus and railway stations by moving them out of the city centre is one of the highlights of the draft proposal.

The draft plan stresses on the need for a road network for the city to ensure proper connectivity of the underdeveloped areas in the outskirts of the city.

To complete the ring radial road network for the city, inner ring road must be strengthened and new outer ring roads must be built, it was suggested.

Area traffic management schemes for the market area, Town hall and North and South railway stations, pedestrian crossings, Kacheripady, Menaka, Kaloor, Edapally, Vyttila, Pallimukku has also been proposed.

The draft proposal has also suggested 20 junction improvement schemes for city covering Pallimukku, Jose Junction, Maharaja College Junction, Padma, Madhava Pharmacy, Kacheripady and Ravipuram Junctions.

The 100 metre-wide fast track road has been proposed through Pachalam, Cheranallur, Kadamakudi, Alanghad, Chengamanad, Keezhmad, Edathala, Puthencruz, Thiruvankulam, Chottanikara and Kumbalam.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/23/stories/2008102359670300.htm

I cant believe , is this going to happen , or is it a Utopian project

[prameshr]

100% sure that this will not happen because of some political suppression

are there any flyovers going to bo built in any parts of the city?

[PLUS]

100% sure that this will not happen because of some political suppression

are there any flyovers going to bo built in any parts of the city?

Land for ring road has already been frozen. But I dont know whether they had 100 mtrs
width in mind as the masterplan was not ready at that time.

Re: flyovers, there are two under construction at Aluva and Kalamassery. These are
by NHAI and not by state govt.

This lopsided funding by state govt happens because Kochiites generally do not protest.
Even though 65% of state govts tax revenue is being generated from Kochi, state govts
neglect Kochi always as there is none to protest.
This is partly due to the fact that Kochi has a mix of population and people dont bother
to air their views and go about with their work. This is quite different from many parts of Kerala
where protest - just or unjust - is the only "work".

We have extensive discussion on these topics at
Kochi Now forum (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/). Hope to see you guys too.

[abhilash]

Elamaram Kareem and team left for America



Thiruvananthapurm: A high level team led by Elamaram Kareem left for America.Industries Department principal secretary, T Balakrishnan, Investement promotion secretary P H Kurian and KSFDC managing director Manoj Joshi are accompaniying the minister.

The team will visit G E Laral Company in Washigton to sign an MoU with them to manufacture latest medical equipments forSEZ.They will also sign MoU for setting up Semi Conducter Fibre Optics Factory with the help of IBM in Kochi by spending 500 million dollors.

http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news.php?id=5935&cat=1&sub=14&subit=0

[abhilash]

Kochi the first child friendly school city

The initiative has been conceived by paediatricians

A set of 10 conditions laid down for schools to follow

KOCHI: Come November 8 and Kochi will become the country’s first child friendly school city.

Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will make this declaration at a function to be held at the Ernakulam Town Hall on that day, Mayor Mercy Williams said at press conference held at the Corporation Council hall on Friday.

Dr. Kalam will hand over the specially designed plaque embossed with “child friendly school city” declaration and citation to the Mayor. Education Minister M.A. Baby will preside.

In the first phase, about 120 primary schools within the city limits have been covered under the Child Friendly School Initiative (CFSI) programme. Conceived by the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), the programme is being implemented in association with the Kochi Corporation under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

The IAP has set 10 conditions, fulfilling which schools would be recognised under the CFSI programme. No physical punishment, no excess baggage, safe and proper transportation, clean kitchen and dining space, at least four game periods in a week, safe drinking water, well ventilated and illuminated class rooms, periodic health checkups and health awareness programmes, provision for first aid and adequate number of toilets proportionate to the number of students are the cardinal conditions being put in place.

Under the CFSI programme that was launched in August this year, conditions in the schools were evaluated based on the inputs supplied by the school authorities. This was further cross checked with the help of an external agency to identify the schools that required intervention to meet the conditions, said K.V. Beena, district manager, NRHM.

In the assessment, 59 schools were found wanting in complying with the conditions, she said.

While 39 schools were without safe drinking water, 34 schools failed to conduct periodic health checkups and 30 schools were either without adequate toilets or were ill-maintained. To remedy the situation, Rotary International has donated two water purifiers each to the affected schools, and Hindustan Prefab has promised to maintain and renovate toilets.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/01/stories/2008110157120100.htm

[abhilash]

Taking a long view of Kochi’s development needs

A new master plan for Kochi city, looking much ahead into the future, is in the offing. K.S. SUDHI outlines some of the key elements in the first draft of the plan.

A new master plan for Kochi has taken preliminary shape, taking into account the city’s fast-expanding frontiers and the need to redefine the central city area.

The rules relating to this area, the hub of the city, need to be rewritten considering the development trends, planners say.

The idea of charting a development route with a futuristic approach through a master plan is at least a few years old. It was the City Corporation Council headed by the former Mayor C.M. Dinesh Mani that took a significant step in that direction. The then council had decided to use the corporation’s own resources and expertise to prepare the plan.

The city is growing faster than it used to at the time the idea of formulating the master plan was conceived. This has prompted urban planners to rework many development strategies and the deadline. Now, it is for the Kochi of 2026 that the urban planners shape their blueprint.

A team of urban planners and other experts, coordinated by Senior Town Planner S. Jaya of the Town and Country Planning Department, recently finalised the first draft of the plan. The draft document declares that the aim of the plan is to improve ‘liveability’ in the city, taking into account its various dimensions and retaining the inherent characteristics.

The master plan will cover, besides the city, Thripunithura and Kalamassery municipal areas and Eloor, Njarakkal, Elamkunnapuzha, Cheranalloor, Mulavukaad, Varapuzha, Kadamakudy, Thrikkakara, Thiruvankulam, Maradu, Vadaukode-Puthencruz, Chellanam, Kumbalanghi and Kumbalam panchayat limits.

The planners have accorded urban status to Kottuvally, Ezhikara, Mulavukad, Kadamakkudy, Varapuzha, Eloor, Cheranallur, Chengamanad, Choornikara, Thiruvankulam, Maradu and Edathala panchayats.

The draft plan will be presented before various stakeholders, including councillors and legislators, for eliciting their views. The public will be given opportunities to comment on the suggestions.

Population growth
The urban planners have estimated that the population in the master plan area will be 44,22,822 in 2026, taking into account the population trends. The population growth rate of 1991-2001 was taken for making the projection. The highest population density of 148 people a hectare will be in the Kochi Corporation area followed by Thrikkakara, Mulavukad, Maradu, Elamkunnapuzha and Kalamassery.

The population growth rate has been showing a declining trend in the Corporation area during the past three decades. However, in the case of the suburban areas included in the master plan, the rate has been higher, the report says.

Considering the growth rate of the city, the central business district (CBD) will extend towards the east up to Chittoor, besides the existing district that includes Mahatma Gandhi Road and Chittoor Road. The CBD will have the Kaloor-Kadavanthra road as a border and will extend up to Chittoor to form the hub of the core city area.

The area consisting of old settlements in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry will have to be retained as a heritage zone in the city. The planners have suggested the formation of planning divisions in the city by grouping together contiguous areas having homogeneous characteristics. Each planning division will have sub-centres to accommodate all facilities needed for its population.

One of the significant suggestions made by the urban planners is that all water bodies in the master plan area will have to be preserved by setting up green-lined walkways along their sides.

The road width has been made the basic criterion for fixing the floor-area ratio (FAR) in the Kochi master plan area. FAR will determine the vertical growth of the city and the number of floors that can be constructed on a plot.

For residential and commercial uses, a FAR of 2.5 has been proposed on either side of National Highways 47 and 17 and the Seaport-Airport road, Vaikom Road, Refinery Road and the Palarivattom-Kizhakkambalam road to an extent of 250 metres on each side. For other areas where the access width is 12 metres or more, FAR suggested is 2. For roads with a width of 7 metres to 12 metres, FAR proposed is 1.5. The ratio for roads with widths between 5 metres and 7 metres will be 1.25 and for areas where the access width is less that 5 metres, the proposed FAR is 1, the draft says.

Land use
The draft has suggested some changes in the land use, considering the developments that have taken place in the master plan area over the years. Thrikkakara, earlier considered an agricultural area, is proposed to be reclassified as a residential area. At the same time, it is envisaged that the remaining agricultural segments in the area will continue to be dedicated for agricultural purposes. The former industrial belt of Eda Kochi cannot be considered a dedicated space for industrial units any longer as a revival of the industrial units or the establishment of new ones may not be feasible there. At the same time, there are proposals for setting up hotels and tourism-related establishments there, planners say.

The development of land will have to be achieved in phases by giving due weightage to thresholds for development, such as water and power supply and transportation. The waterfronts are to be developed with tree-lined walkways and roads.

The conversion of fallow or uncultivated paddy land for increasing recreational open space or for housing projects for the urban poor in the city will be permitted only by following strict environment-related guidelines.

The planners have suggested that the information technology corridor in the master plan area be designated as the “software valley of the district,” considering the concentration of science and technology units there.

To satisfy the future demands of the industrial sector, the planners have identified Puthuvype, Vallarpadam, Kalamassery, Kakkanad Vadavukode-Puthen cruz, Eloor and Thripunithura to permit industries. Industrialisation, says the draft, should lay stress on industries that use local resources. Priority should be given for establishing electronics and software units, considering the high employment potential and the importance of these industries in future. The draft document has identified 13 industries for the master plan area, such as IT, electronics, biotechnology and marine fisheries, spices, rubber and food-processing units.

http://www.hindu.com/pp/2008/11/01/stories/2008110160280100.htm

[AbrahamVCherry]

KOCHI: The Infopark in Kochi will complete its five years of existence on November 1. The IT park, established on November 1, 2003, will celebrate the occasion with a week-long programme from November 1 to 7.


The Infopark was started with four companies and less than 50 employees on 80 acres of land taken over from the KINFRA Export Promotional Industrial Park.

At present, the Infopark has 50 IT companies, including those from the US, Europe and Australia and 8,000 IT professionals. Its present turnover is Rs 500 crore. It was Rs 66 crore in 2004- 05. The Infopark also possesses 106 acres of land.
http://www.forum.kochinow.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&p=1180&sid=bda1d9ddd34c3b7d190b1ea2676922bd#p1180

[vivekcochin]

Kochi will be declared as the First Children Friendly City in India. It will be declared by Dr.A.PJ Abdul Kalam.:)

[vivekcochin]

Did u knw the vehicle registration inTrichur has started at KL-08 AO.
In Trivandrum they have now begun KL-01 AU.
IN KOCHI IT HAS REACHED KL-07 BK!!!

any comments??

[PLUS]

Did u knw the vehicle registration inTrichur has started at KL-08 AO.
In Trivandrum they have now begun KL-01 AU.
IN KOCHI IT HAS REACHED KL-07 BK!!!

any comments??

Vivek,

There is no number called "AO" - It has to be AN, AP,...
I and O are never used in vehicle regn numbers to avoid confusing with 1 and 0

Kochi will overtake any other town in Kerala is not surprising. It has the maximum
number of regn series alloted among the districts of Kerala - KL7, KL17, KL 39 - 44

Yet, KL 7 is far far ahead of any other series in the state. It happens only in Kochi

[AbrahamVCherry]

The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), in association with the International Airport Council (IAC) and Airport Authority of India (AAI), will organise an international seminar on ‘airport as a commercial hub’ in May, next year. “The idea is to raise the airport’s non-aeronautical revenues along with the aeronautical revenues. We will ensure the representation of international airports, including the other green field airports across the globe, so that we can formulate the most viable option out of the various expert opinions on the subject,” said Dr. C.G. Krishnadas Nair, MD, CIAL.

Dr. Nair observed that the seminar would also give an opportunity to display the airport’s potential advantages to the outside world. The company had already made arrangements to issue a notification on the seminar in ‘Airport International’, an exclusive magazine for the aviation industry, he added.
Read Full Story (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3&p=1206#p1206)

[vivekcochin]

Vivek,

There is no number called "AO" - It has to be AN, AP,...
I and O are never used in vehicle regn numbers to avoid confusing with 1 and 0

Kochi will overtake any other town in Kerala is not surprising. It has the maximum
number of regn series alloted among the districts of Kerala - KL7, KL17, KL 39 - 44

Yet, KL 7 is far far ahead of any other series in the state. It happens only in Kochi

Dear User,

Sorry for the error and thanks for correcting me..:worship:

[sanjupalayat]

Can anyone from Calicut give me details about the Focus Mall at Calicut. Does it have rea mall structure and facilities.Which all branded showrooms are there..any multiplex etc etc...:notacrook:

focus mall is indeed a true mall and first of its kind in kerala,it has become a big hit after its inaugration last year i mean october 2007...the area is 2.5 lackh sq ft and the mall host a lot of brands like,


Spencer hyper
Bossini
Spykar
Kappa
Odyssey
Max
Trends
Venfield
Scullers
Indigo nation
Pizza corner
Citizen
Baby care
Lilliput
Shoe factory
Provogue
Crocodile

There are many more, to be added to the list....

Sad thing is that there is no multiplex, there is a very good food court and roof top parking area......for pictures navigate through calicut city scapes in SSP india section....

[vivekcochin]

focus mall is indeed a true mall and first of its kind in kerala,it has become a big hit after its inaugration last year i mean october 2007...the area is 2.5 lackh sq ft and the mall host a lot of brands like,


Spencer hyper
Bossini
Spykar
Kappa
Odyssey
Max
Trends
Venfield
Scullers
Indigo nation
Pizza corner
Citizen
Baby care
Lilliput
Shoe factory
Provogue
Crocodile

There are many more, to be added to the list....

Sad thing is that there is no multiplex, there is a very good food court and roof top parking area......for pictures navigate through calicut city scapes in SSP india section....


Thanks for your information Mr.Sanju.

[bhasidali]

More info about Amrapali Cosmos, Kochi

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5283/mainimage17a8c78945d008hq1.jpg

http://atoneplace.com/project/344

http://www.accosoftindia.com/ebrochure.html

[sanjupalayat]

Thanks for your information Mr.Sanju.

Vivek...for focus mall pictures see the link.....

calicut cityscapes, page-14 (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=123452&page=14)

[prameshr]

Vivek...for focus mall pictures see the link.....

calicut cityscapes, page-14 (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=123452&page=14)
is focus mall ass good as oberon in kochi?

[Nhoj]

Extract from the Infopark NewsLetter (Newsletter was issued on the ocassion of Infopark's 5th birthday.....)

...
At Infopark now there are 50 companies employing around 8000 IT professionals. The third building of Infopark of 5.5
lakhs sq.ft. will be completed by Dec 2009. Infopark has provided two incubators called Smart Business Centers having a
total area of 25,000 sq.ft. with plug and play facility at very reasonable rent for Small IT entrepreneurs. The new building
under construction also will be provided with space for incubators, training centers, food courts, etc.An extent of 20 lakhs sq.ft. built up area has been completed at Infopark by Infopark and its co-developers such as Leela
Soft, L&T Tech Park Ltd. and Wipro Technologies. Construction of the 22 lakhs sq.ft. building are in various stages of
progress. It is expected by around 2011-12, Infopark will have 42 lakhs sq.ft. built up area having a potential to employ
40,000 IT professionals.Considering the large scale demand for land and built up space, Infopark is acquiring an additional 160 acres around 2 km
away from the present campus. Development of this campus is expected to commence early next year.
Government of Kerala has entrusted the infrastructure development and management of 3 more parks to Infopark, 2 in
Alappuzha district and one in Thrissur district ie. Infopark Cherthala (66 acres), Infopark Ambalapuzha (100 acres) and
Infopark Thrissur (42 acres.). SEZ approval has been obtained for the first two parks. Developmental activities have already
begun.
Presently, amount of Rs.600 Crs has been invested in the existing campus. Export during 2007-08 is Rs.370 apprx.
Construction of a Guest House of around 20 rooms for the benefit of the clients will commence shortly. Future plans
include construction of a health centre, club house etc. in the campus and this will commence by early 2009.......
.............

[vivekcochin]

Vivek...for focus mall pictures see the link.....

calicut cityscapes, page-14 (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=123452&page=14)

Thanks a lot for the information.Pics are good..

Regards,
Vivek Shenoy P

[AbrahamVCherry]

MEGA PROJECT: The LNG terminal coming up in Kochi. —

KOCHI: Petronet LNG Limited (PLL), setting up a 2.5 Million metric tonne per annum (MMTPA) LNG receiving and re-gasification terminal here expects to conclude the tendering process for the second and third components of the project — marine and re-gasification facilities, within a short time to enable work on these components to begin early next year.

Work on the LNG terminal, initially aimed to handle the equivalent of 10 Million Metric Standard Cubic Meter Per Day (MMSCMD) of natural gas, has progressed fast. IHI Corporation of Japan was awarded the EPC contract for the project. Test piling works for the two storage tanks has been completed and the main piling works are expected to start in a fortnight, it is learnt.

The tanks will have 1.5 lakh cubic metre capacity each and would together require more than 1,000 piles. Given good weather conditions, the piling work is expected to be completed in about six months.
READ FULL STORY (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3&p=1242#p1242)

[AbrahamVCherry]

KOCHI: The city’s prestigious landmark, the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor, is yet to gain the adoration it deserves. The stadium, which has hosted several national and international sports events, is being renovated.

READ FULL STORY (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34&start=260)

[sanjupalayat]

is focus mall ass good as oberon in kochi?

The pictures speaks it out.....wat do u think about this....but oberon mall is bigger than focus mall....and its open before oberon mall, on last october 2007 and calicutites hav made it a big hit......:tup:

[prameshr]

can anyone update on how kallor stadium would look after the renovation is doe [never]?

[PLUS]

can anyone update on how kallor stadium would look after the renovation is doe [never]?

Have you seen the post at Kochi Now (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/viewtopic.php?p=1247#p1247) forum on this. Have a look. A complete renovation work
is on. After the ongoing roofing works the resurfacing of the ground and renovation of the shops in the stadium complex will be taken up.
All the works have already been awarded to a chennai based company through bidding.


http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/07/images/2008110760510701.jpg

[vivekcochin]

KSRTC to start city service in Kochi city soon after Sabarimala season. Any idea or details regarding this..This will be a great achievement for Kochi as transport system will improve..

Waiting for details!!!!:previous:

[KMC]

Wait for this one

PROJECTS

New Cochin Real Estate Developers is coordinating the purchase and development of 206 Acres of land for M/s. Unitech Ltd. at Cochin.

New Cochin Real Estate Developers is entered into the Joint Venture Agreement with M/s. Unitech Ltd. for Development of Golf Coarse and Villas at 500 Acres of Land Near Cochin International Airport, Cochin.

New Cochin Real Estate Developers is entered into the Joint Venture Agreement with M/s. Unitech Ltd. for the Development of IT Park and related Housing Project at 80 Acres of Land Near KINFRA, Kakkanad, Cochin.

We are constructing a shopping mall in palarivattam,cochin under the name called rainbow Mall.



http://www.newcochindevelopers.com/projects.html

[AbrahamVCherry]

KOCHI: Cochin Port Trust said on Sunday that it will develop a truck-parking terminal at Vathuruthy area in Willingdon Island for providing better facilities to the employees of cargo handling trucks.
READ FULL STORY (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3&p=1263#p1263)

[vivekcochin]

To All,

I am really fed up by hearing about hyped real estate projects..Let us understand that real estate do not mark a city as developed. We need to implement projects which are useful...Right now it is fact that most of flats in Kochi and suburbs are vacant.

Really I am frustrated by hearing more and more flats, villas etc

Vivek Shenoy P

[PLUS]

KSRTC to start city service in Kochi city soon after Sabarimala season. Any idea or details regarding this..This will be a great achievement for Kochi as transport system will improve..

Waiting for details!!!!:previous:

This is a good news. Can you confirm it ?



BTW, flats in Kochi have not witnessed any downturn due to the pent up
demand. There is a need for over 100,000 units by 2009-2010 when Vallarpadam will
be fully up and many of the IT SEZs will be operational.

Vivek, there is also one misunderstanding that "Kochi does not give importance to
infrastructure" but only to IT parks, flats and mega industries.

This is utter nonsense. The fact is that Cochin corporation, GCDA or any local body
does not have the administrative power to initiate Infrastructure projects.

The power is solely with state government which is at Thiruvananthapuram.
Even though over 65% of that state govts tax revenue is generated in Kochi
Kochi does not get any financial support.

I will give you a stark instance - the revenue from the sale of Goshree land
was supposed to be used for Vypin islands develoment. But state govt
tried to divert this for other places in state. But High Court intervened
and stopped this.

Another, the state govt has taken loan from agencies like HUDCO for useless purposes
on worthless projects with no takers. Now state govt want to sell of land in Kochi to
pay back the debt !!

That is state govt's "contribution" to Kochi !!


So the story so far is that Kochi earns bread - state govt feeds white elephants with that !!


Is it not just to demand that the infrastructure spending be proportional to the
tax revenue earned from a city/district ?

This is partly because of the lack of interest shown by people of Kochi.
Unlike any other places in Kerala, Kochi is uniquely cosmopolitan - which also
has its downside that no one considers Kochi as "my city". They are all here
to earn and go back. This has resulted in state govt taking it for granted.


Actually we discuss these things more at our forum Kochi Now Forum (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/).

[KMC]

To All,

I am really fed up by hearing about hyped real estate projects..Let us understand that real estate do not mark a city as developed. We need to implement projects which are useful...Right now it is fact that most of flats in Kochi and suburbs are vacant.

Really I am frustrated by hearing more and more flats, villas etc

Vivek Shenoy P

Let us see the positive side of this , why people invest in Kochi , why builders are coming up with new projects , why customers spend crores of rupees for buying flat in Kochi when many flats are available dead cheap elsewhwere? is it just bcoz builders have lot of money or they follow the so called hypes as the critics say , ( dont the builders use their brains or dont thwey conduct Market survey ) . Why DLF started their second
Mega Township project in Kochi in one of the most turbulent times ?
Why 8 out of 10 Private SEZ applications came from Only Kochi, when Govt is going all about developing IT SEZ on its own by , its Kochi where private players qued up. Why?


Why somany Five star hotel u/c only in Kochi , Holiday Inn , Crowne Plaza , Marriott and Jomers project which are actually u/c.

Why the Big Malls are u/c only in Kochi Like Lulu, Summit , Gold Souk , Oberon

Reason is Kochi is the new face of Kerala , the cosmopplitan face, and many wants to be part of it. Its the Govt is blocking many developments here by keeping the SEZ at bay , playing hopelessly with Metro project .
Anothere reason why kochi development is getting blocked is , it doesnt ihv its own Minister . Though it generate 60% tax revenue , just see how much govt spend on Kochi's Infrastructure . Its patetic . They are just milking it out.

[PLUS]

Yes. Vivek is totally correct in his concern for infrastructure.

But as KMC has tried to explain one can sum up the facts as follows -

Kochi doing best in what it is empowered to do - attracting investments
be it IT, industries, industrial infrastructure or realty.

Is State govt doing what it is empowered and duty bound to do - that is,
providing infrastructure ? Answer is a big NO !

[prameshr]

could sm1 tel me ven sumit mall vil open

also cud u tel me ven the imperial trade centre will open?

[abhilash]

Kerala ministers woo US private companies

Thiruvananthapuram: A two -member ministerial delegation from the Left Front-ruled state visited the US and met several leading private companies, the state government said in a release Sunday.

The team consisting of Home and Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Minister for Industry Elamaram Kareem, besides senior officials from the two departments, visited the US since early this month.

The release issued here Sunday by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation said that the delegation visited the GE Healthcare's manufacturing plant of incubators and other devices for infant care.

Nest Group of Kerala is a supplier and assembler for GE Healthcare, from its facility in Kochi.

SFO Technologies, a part of Nest Group and GE Healthcare, signed a cooperation agreement in the presence of the delegation. GE Healthcare is contemplating expansion in India.

The delegation visited the headquarters of Marriott Corporation, located in Bethesda, Maryland, and held discussions with senior officials of the company about their plans for India and especially Kerala.

'The company (Marriott) said that they are in the process of opening a large number of hotels in different categories across India, and that Kerala is high on their priority list,' the release said.

M/s.Opterna, a high tech company based in Washington DC, signed an MOU with Kerala government for setting up a manufacturing facility in Kerala.

The delegation also visited the manufacturing plant of EPV Solar in New Jersey.

EPV Solar is a manufacturer of photovoltaic panels. It is in the process of setting up a manufacturing plant at a special economic zone in Kalamassery near Kochi with an investment of Rs.40 billion.

The delegation also met leading Malayalee professionals, who expressed their desire to start a network of Malayalee professionals working in the US in modern technology areas such a nanotechnology and biotechnology so as to bring projects in these sectors to Kerala.

The team held a meeting with the Indian American Malayalee Chamber of Commerce in New York.

The opposition in the state, however, lashed out at the visiting Kerala delegation.

'We do not know why they are there at a time when the economic slowdown has hit the US the worst,' said P.P. Thankachen, convenor of the Congress-led United Democratic Front. IANS

http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news.php?id=6760&cat=1&sub=14&subit=0

[abhilash]

'Marina' for yacht, boat owners fast nearing completion

Kochi: Yacht and small boat owners - rejoice. The 'Marina', claimed to be the first facility in the country where such vessels can be berthed is fast nearing completion at Bolgatty islands near here and is expected to be ready in another two months.

Being constructed in the backwaters between Marine Drive and Bolgatty island, the facility is similar in design to St. Katherine's Marina on the banks of the Thames river in the United Kingdom, Cherian Philip, Chairman of the Kerala Tourism
Development Corporation (KTDC) told PTI.

The Marina, coming up on five acres of land owned by KTDC near Bolgatty Palace hotel would attract foreign yachts, thereby increase the flow of foreign tourists to the state, particularly to Ernakulam, he said.

The amenities includes berthing facilities for 50 yachts, fuel stations, a recreation centre, restaurant, health club, a golf course and car-parking area. The existing golf course at Bolgatty would be developed into one of international standards, Philip said.

'In the first phase of construction, berthing facility will be provided for around 30 yachts, which will be increased at a later stage,' Philip said.In the second phase of construction, facilities for berthing 20 more yachts would be made available, Philip said.

The project, which was actually planned a couple of years back, was initially proposed to be built on 15 acres of land. Tourism Resource Kerala Ltd., a state government firm, was to have undertaken the construction jointly with a Malaysian firm.

However, the project failed to take off, he said. After that only the KTDC came forward to take up the project. The construction work is being undertaken by the engineering wing of KTDC and KITCO, he said.

Philip attributed the reduction in inflow of foreign tourists to the global financial crisis and the exorbitant flight charges levied by airlines. PTI

http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news.php?id=6773&cat=1&sub=14&subit=0

[AbrahamVCherry]

KOCHI: The preparations are going on in full swing at the Cochin Port for the India Stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race, world’s premier offshore yachting race. The supporting staff of the participants in the race will reach Kochi along with their equipment by the third week of November. The construction of the race office building has been completed and the interior design work will start soon.

READ FULL STORY (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3&p=1276#p1276)

[vivekcochin]

Yes. Vivek is totally correct in his concern for infrastructure.

But as KMC has tried to explain one can sum up the facts as follows -

Kochi doing best in what it is empowered to do - attracting investments
be it IT, industries, industrial infrastructure or realty.

Is State govt doing what it is empowered and duty bound to do - that is,
providing infrastructure ? Answer is a big NO !

Dear Friends,

First of all let me say that my frustartion or doubts were because I have not seen any major projects been completed or initiated. If you vivit my blog vivekcochin.blogspot.com, you will be evident how much I have passion towards the city. I have explained about various events and mega projects. Now when I look back it is a big disappoinment for me. None of those mega project has worked out or let me say that govt has just kicked off or named many projects and it has lead to skyrocketting of prices. But als, nothing fruitful has happened.

I mean to say about Oceanarium, A national Marine institute near it, Sabari rail work, much hyped Metro rail of Kochi, 100 floored trade centre, building of fly overs, kaloor kadavantra road, SA road development, canal cleaning, IT parks like parsvanath, sobha hitech city, HDIL cyber city, Aeroteropolis at Nedumbassery, Opening of already completed food courts at FortKochi, Cleaning and beautifying Kochi beach, development of Ernakulam junction railway station, building a rail museum at Old Ernakulam station behind high court, waste problem resolution, proposed electronics city at Kochi, Marina project (I think it is progressing), smart city Kochi(it will happen, but when??) and many other projects which I may have missed.:hell:

We must not forget that Kochi has been rated as one of the 10 Best Fun Cities in India by 'The week' on October 25, 2003.

But we must have focus and not forget the importance of this lovely city.

[vivekcochin]

Today I saw a VOLVO bus with a logo of Volvo Ocean Race at Thoppumpady coming from FortKochi.

[PLUS]

Dear Friends,

First of all let me say that my frustartion or doubts were because I have not seen any major projects been completed or initiated. If you vivit my blog vivekcochin.blogspot.com, you will be evident how much I have passion towards the city. I have explained about various events and mega projects. Now when I look back it is a big disappoinment for me. None of those mega project has worked out or let me say that govt has just kicked off or named many projects and it has lead to skyrocketting of prices. But als, nothing fruitful has happened.

I mean to say about Oceanarium, A national Marine institute near it, Sabari rail work, much hyped Metro rail of Kochi, 100 floored trade centre, building of fly overs, kaloor kadavantra road, SA road development, canal cleaning, IT parks like parsvanath, sobha hitech city, HDIL cyber city, Aeroteropolis at Nedumbassery, Opening of already completed food courts at FortKochi, Cleaning and beautifying Kochi beach, development of Ernakulam junction railway station, building a rail museum at Old Ernakulam station behind high court, waste problem resolution, proposed electronics city at Kochi, Marina project (I think it is progressing), smart city Kochi(it will happen, but when??) and many other projects which I may have missed.:hell:

We must not forget that Kochi has been rated as one of the 10 Best Fun Cities in India by 'The week' on October 25, 2003.

But we must have focus and not forget the importance of this lovely city.


Vivek,

We know about your blog already and the good work there showcasing Kochi.


About the projects, i guess you have not been updated. Actually most of
the projects you have listed are moving ahead - like parsvanath, sobha hitech city, HDIL cyber city, SA road development, proposed electronics city at Kochi, Marina project.

Please be regular at Kochi Now forum (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/) so that you have the latest news
on these projects

On Metro rail, there is a policy decision to be made by state govt to choose
an alternative funding pattern. Aerotropolis is also on but but the IT related
things have been removed and more aviation related industries have been included.

However building of fly overs, kaloor kadavantra road, development of Ernakulam junction railway station need government intervention. And Kochi a everyone mentioned above
is only a milching cow for Kerala govt. Without Kochi, Kerala's revenue will dry up.
But Kerala govt has never paid back what is due to Kochi.

You can see, the development expenditure of state govt you will see that one particular
district which generates next to nothing in terms of tax revenue gets most allocations
only due to political cronyism. Interestingly when it came to investments such districts
have a zero balance sheet to show - take for example SEZ investments - 8/10 are in
Kochi, the remaining two are at Trissur and Kottayam, next door. But none of these 3
districts get any development fund allocations.

This need ACTION - plain political action - to cut parasites to size and foster
those who power the growth.

So these things require a change of govt. LDF govt has some anti-Kochi ministers
unfortunately, who don't mind feeding on tax generated from Kochi but bites
back at the hands that feed them. UDF is slightly better, but not much. Also
generally LDF has regressive people like Achutanandan who generally has corrupt
and meddle in everything to make gains for himself or his factions. This had delayed
SEZs, for example.

[elm07]

Dear Friends,

I mean to say about Oceanarium, A national Marine institute near it, Sabari rail work, much hyped Metro rail of Kochi, 100 floored trade centre, building of fly overs, kaloor kadavantra road, SA road development, canal cleaning, IT parks like parsvanath, sobha hitech city, HDIL cyber city, Aeroteropolis at Nedumbassery, Opening of already completed food courts at FortKochi, Cleaning and beautifying Kochi beach, development of Ernakulam junction railway station, building a rail museum at Old Ernakulam station behind high court, waste problem resolution, proposed electronics city at Kochi, Marina project (I think it is progressing), smart city Kochi(it will happen, but when??) and many other projects which I may have missed.:hell:



vivekcochin, you have hit the nail on its head. Those are my exact same sentiments too. The global recession has hit and progress henceforth is going to be at snail's pace, if any. If we turn back and look, there is nothing much to show for Kochi's progress. All we got to show is a seaport-airport road - that too only half-way, a LNG terminal and a bunch of residential high rises and malls. There are no IT companies yet that would really entice people to move to Kochi from other places. Its been really disappointing.

I wish I was wrong in this assessment, but this is reality as of now - hopefully the future will be different.

[PLUS]

vivekcochin, you have hit the nail on its head. Those are my exact same sentiments too. The global recession has hit and progress henceforth is going to be at snail's pace, if any. If we turn back and look, there is nothing much to show for Kochi's progress. All we got to show is a seaport-airport road - that too only half-way, a LNG terminal and a bunch of residential high rises and malls. There are no IT companies yet that would really entice people to move to Kochi from other places. Its been really disappointing.

I wish I was wrong in this assessment, but this is reality as of now - hopefully the future will be different.

"Sentiments" are one thing while reality is another thing altogether.

On infrastructure front Kochi needs everything its way, but so far state govt has
not initiated a single project. How do we put the blame into Kochi's account ?
We are not a government run city, its the other way - we are the city that runs the
state govt by feeding it with 70% of its tax revenue. It is true that when govt run cities get
many state govt funded project, in Kochi even a Seaport-Airport road is incomplete.
Notice that even when state govt funds lavishly on infrastructure at many towns
they do not attract investments. That is where Kochi shines. Even without
state govt backing of infrastructure Kochi is the best destination for investments.
One can guess what would happen if there was backing too !

The highrises and malls do not come up when there is no surety on investment scenarios.
The very fact that in Kochi even biggies like DLF is announcing mega projects says that
Kochi is fairing better than national trends. Anywhere else in Kerala only speculation is
driving realty market, but in Kochi the housing units reach end user faster - except in
posh areas like Marinedrive.

There may be IT park projects that have slowed down. But compared to the amount of IT
space under construction in Kochi, nothing is happening anywhere in Kerala. Even
across India this has been affected, so there is nothing "lost" so far.

What is more important is that those projects which are stuck have already taken off,
albeit delays, and their promoters are firm on their plans - like HDIL, Parsvnath, Unitech,
ETL. Notice, not even a single private investor has bought land or applied for SEZs
anywhere else in the state.
So by the time recession eases this will be in a position to cash in on the boom.

Not only that LNG terminal is certainly on schedule so is Vallarpadam ICTT
which will open exactly 11 months from now. These projects are more than 50%
towards completion. This alone have attracted about Rs.6000 cr investments.



Certainly Kochi needs infrastructure investments on roads, metro rail etc
but on everything else you are "sentiments" are plain wrong.

[PLUS]

Actually Vivek's and elm07's sentiment may have to do with the fact that this forum
is not well updated. As Kochi Now forum (click) (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/) has become active there was a lull here.

Here is something interesting to you. Electronic SEZ at Kalamassery gets a big
investment...


Rs.4000 cr solar panel manufacturing facility at Kinfra-NeST SEZ Kalamassery

Add to this the Rs.2500 cr semiconductor fibre optics facility posted earlier (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/viewtopic.php?p=1173#p1173)
- it will be an unmatched boom in Sunrise hitech industries in Kochi.


Kerala to see new US investment in energy, biotech
Sanjeev Ramachandran / Thiruvananthapuram November 10, 2008, 0:18 IST

A handful of small, but promising, industrial projects are likely to make a beeline to the state in the coming years, thanks to the investment friendly measures currently being undertaken by the state’s various industry departments.

Among the sectors that stand to benefit from the new-found investment friendliness of the state industrial department, headed by the Minister for Industry Elamaram Kareem, are those in the non-conventional energy, biotechnology and healthcare space.

A senior official with the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) said that the high-level ministerial delegation, comprising Kerala Industry Minister Elamaram Kareem, Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, and top level officials who are currently in the US, have been exploring possible suitors in the American scene who are keen on investing in the state.

Among the companies that are likely to invest in plants that will come up in Kerala are biotech players Solazyme and Agility Bio, photovoltaic panel manufacturer EPV Solar, and others. The official added that the New Jersey-based photovoltaic panels manufacturer EPV Solar is likely to invest close to Rs 4,000 crore in a manufacturing facility in the state, going by the keenness the company has expressed in Kerala’s industrial scene.

“The decision is said to have come about following the ministerial team’s visit to EPV Solar in New Jersey this week. The team had held deliberations with the company top brass, including the CEO, in its bid to seek added investments from the US to Kerala,” the official added.


EPV Solar is said to be in the process of setting up a manufacturing plant at the Kinfra - Nest Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kalamassery, near Kochi. It is being foreseen that the cost of solar panels would go down substantially with EPV Solar setting up its new Kochi manufacturing plant.

It is also being foreseen that healthcare major GE Healthcare is contemplating further expansion of its activities in India, through a tie-up with the home-grown NeST Group, based in Kochi. The official said that SFO Technologies, a NeST Group company, and GE Healthcare signed a cooperation agreement in the presence of the delegation.

“The ministerial team, which had a number of meetings with GE officials, also held talks with the officials behind the manufacturing plant incubators and other devices for infant care of GE Healthcare. Kerala-based technology player Nest Group is a supplier and assembler for GE Healthcare, from its facility in Kochi,” the KSIDC official said.

In the pipeline are projects expected to be launched by US-based biotech companies such as Solazyme and Agility Bio. “The delegation visited Solazyme this week for a first hand experience of the company’s operations in California. The company produces oil out of algae through the biotechnology process, and the oil could be used for various purposes including fuel,” he added.

He added that Solazyme has expressed its desire to set up a pilot plant for algae-based fuel in any of the various developing countries where feed stock for growth of algae could be available in adequate quantity. “Kerala stands a chance to tap the opportunity. It is expected that Solazyme is likely to build a plant in Kerala,” he said.

Agility Bio, another biotechnology company, has also expressed keenness on investing in India in various life sciences projects. The delegation has explained to the US biotech players on the presence of institutions such as the Thiruvananthapuram-based Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, ready availability of quality manpower, initiatives of the state government to develop a Biotechnology Park by Kinfra near Kochi and the proposed KSIDC Life Sciences Park that is to come up soon in Thiruvananthapuram.

Opterna, a high-tech company based in Washington DC also signed a MoU with the Kerala government as part of the visit of the ministerial delegation, in its bid to take forward its plans to set up a manufacturing facility in Kerala.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=339683

[elm07]

PLUS, infrastructure probably is the biggest bottleneck not only for Kochi but for the entire state, but I would like to see some industries with high paying jobs coming to Kochi, not just on paper but would like to see them up and running. There have been an inordinate number of delays on most projects that makes one wonder if they will ever happen. Not to mention the centre-state politics. Imagine the number of expatriates who would flock to the city if it is really attractive in terms of jobs.

I do not what the solution is but maybe the city should levy taxes for road/infrastructure improvement, that way they are not strictly dependent on state government. The more local the govt that collect taxes, the better the chances that it will directly benefit the community.

[elm07]

In terms of infrastructure, we need something more than local roads if we want to truly leverage Vallarpadam (that has to come from either Central and/or state govts) ... we would need something like a six lane road in the Kanyakumari-Trivandrum(bypass via airport)-Kollam (bypass needed)-Alappuzha(bypass needed)-Kochi-CIAL-Trichur-Palakkad-Coimabtore stretch. Then a Vallarpadam-Kalamassery-Aluva-Kothamangalam-Madurai highway is also a must.

[PLUS]

PLUS,

I do not what the solution is but maybe the city should levy taxes for road/infrastructure improvement, that way they are not strictly dependent on state government. The more local the govt that collect taxes, the better the chances that it will directly benefit the community.


Elm

Just read what is written below first.

Criticism unjustified: Corporation
K.S. Sudhi

Corporation says that it does not have enough cash funding for a growing city like Kochi

http://www.forum.kochinow.com/download/file.php?id=310

Mission: Workers engaged by the Corporation clearing garbage from city roads. —
KOCHI: Rising responsibilities, poor resources, cash crunch and mounting criticisms from all quarters…

Faced with such a situation, the Corporation of Kochi is struggling to move ahead at a time when it is expected to deliver better service to the residents of the city.


“The Kochi Corporation needs a minimum of Rs. 150 crore for maintaining all the roads in its possession. But it has to manage the road repairs with just Rs. 20 crore allotted to it as maintenance grant. Tell us how we can properly maintain the roads with this meagre resource,” asks Kochi Mayor Mercy Williams, who had to withstand the worst of the criticisms levelled against the civic body.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/14/stories/2008111461691000.htm



If your suggestion is to impose extra taxes on Kochi citizens, then tell me one thing.
Shall the same apply to other towns too ? There are many dead "cities" which get lavish road development programs, they remain dead nevertheless. Why should Kochi pay taxes
for feeding corpses ?


It is exactly like centre state politics. State goes to centre and says it must decent
proportiong of tax revenue. The same applies to state vis a vis Kochi corporation.


The fact is that if Kochi boycott taxes crowns and thrones will fall down and buried
forever. It needs political action ! May be bloody political action.



There have been an inordinate number of delays on most projects that makes one wonder if they will ever happen. Not to mention the centre-state politics. Imagine the number of expatriates who would flock to the city if it is really attractive in terms of jobs.

On delays in projects, there are many delays caused by govt of Kerala mostly.
But the projects are very much on. Compare this with the many crown towns
were nothing happens unless govt initiates IT parks, govt initiates exhibition centers
why, even star hotels !!
Compared to such depressing economic situation in such places, things are moving
with private investments,albeit slow, in Kochi .

[PLUS]

What I just stated has appeared in the news. Kochi which contributes most
of state's taxes must get proportional funding. If Rs.1000 crore is spent for urban infra
by state govt at least Rs.600 crore must come to Kochi as Kochi contributes at least
Rs.650 crore in that.

Traitors - parochial regionalist traitors in state govt - this is the key reason why Kochi
has less developd infrastructure even when having far better investment.
It needs political action to destroy these traitor rodents that eat into states resources but
gives nothing back.


From Abe's post in Kochi Now forum (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/)
Kochi
Lack of funds and staff shortage hampering work

KOCHI: Insufficient funds and lack of efficient and adequate staff are the main factors hindering the repair of roads under the Kochi Corporation, said the Corporation authorities on Friday.


Speaking at a press conference which seemed like a dress rehearsal for the meeting with the CPM state leadership to be held at Alappuzha on Saturday, Mayor Mercy Williams said that the Kerala High Court and the Ombudsman hadn’t made any observation regarding the inefficiency of the Kochi Corporation authorities.

The general perception that the infrastructure in Kochi was inferior was due to the public’s high expectation, the Mayor said. While the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation gets special grants, the Kochi Corporation, which collects a significant amount as tax, gets only lesser amount as grant.

"We will request the state government to allot special grant to us,’’ the Mayor said. While the Corporation can allot only Rs 6 lakh for a km for road repair, the rate for repairing the same length of road under the PWD is Rs 15 lakh. `` Around Rs 80 crore is needed to repair the roads under the Corporation. Given the financial capacity of the Corporation, it can spend only a maximum of Rs 20 crore for road works,’’ the Mayor said.

There are around 3,000 employees at various offices under the Corporation and controlling all of them was a difficult task. Once the e-governance process is completed, the proper coordination and boosting the efficiency of the employees would be easy, the Mayor said.

During the recent reshuffle of staff, the efficient employees were transferred to other Corporations, a Corporation standing committee member said. In the past three years, it is the sixth town planning officer who is in the office. Three engineers were transferred during the period.

Though an environmental engineer is needed for the Corporation, the government has posted only a health inspector. In the case of the Brahmapuram Solid Waste Treatment Plant, Andhra Pradesh Technology Development Centre (APTDC), the company which had undertaken the work, had been given Rs 15 crore. Out of the total cost of Rs 19 crore, 10 percent charge was for running the plant for one year. The Corporation owes only Rs 4 crore to the APTDC.

As per the agreement, the money has to be given only after the completion of the work. But the APTDC is yet to complete the work of the effluent plant and the green belt.

The APTDC cannot stop the functioning of the plant unilaterally, the Mayor said. `` For everything there needs some time for taking off. But unfortunately we have not been given the time to take off yet,’’ the Mayor said.
http://expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Lack+of+funds+and+staff+shortage+hampering+work&artid=miuWviVAvfI=&SectionID=9R67TMeNb/w=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=gUhH3Holuas=&SEO=

[PLUS]

A Lay out of phase I of Sobha Hitech City

This is the phase I of the Sobha Hitech City at Maradu on 255 acres. It has about
25 million sq ft built up space.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/3024925992_fb6413bbf7_o.jpg
Menon and Jeffrey architects, Bangalore is executing the planning and design of the Sobha Hitech city, Cochin.
http://mjarchitects.net/fiftystorey.html

Click here to see the Satellite pic of the area (http://wikimapia.org/#lat=9.9184217&lon=76.3307762&z=15&l=0&m=a&v=1)


Thanks are due to Pramod who posted this at Kochi Now Forum (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/)

[vivekcochin]

vivekcochin, you have hit the nail on its head. Those are my exact same sentiments too. The global recession has hit and progress henceforth is going to be at snail's pace, if any. If we turn back and look, there is nothing much to show for Kochi's progress. All we got to show is a seaport-airport road - that too only half-way, a LNG terminal and a bunch of residential high rises and malls. There are no IT companies yet that would really entice people to move to Kochi from other places. Its been really disappointing.

I wish I was wrong in this assessment, but this is reality as of now - hopefully the future will be different.

Today it was clearly shown in Nattuvartha at manorama news about the pathetic condition of Kaloor-kadavantra road. It clearly explained about the contractors who really became rich by getting contracts from GCDA. It is very sad to see this. The road which was supposed to be Model Road is in limbo!!

last day I saw volvo bus with logo of Volvo Ocean Race at Thoppumpady which was coming from FortKochi. The roads at Wellington Island is undergoing repairs and they have used modern rollers to build the road faster.
Vivek

[vivekcochin]

A Lay out of phase I of Sobha Hitech City

This is the phase I of the Sobha Hitech City at Maradu on 255 acres. It has about
25 million sq ft built up space.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/3024925992_fb6413bbf7_o.jpg
Menon and Jeffrey architects, Bangalore is executing the planning and design of the Sobha Hitech city, Cochin.
http://mjarchitects.net/fiftystorey.html

Click here to see the Satellite pic of the area (http://wikimapia.org/#lat=9.9184217&lon=76.3307762&z=15&l=0&m=a&v=1)


Thanks are due to Pramod who posted this at Kochi Now Forum (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/)

When is it starting..any latest news with regard to sobha hi tech city.

[PLUS]

When is it starting..any latest news with regard to sobha hi tech city.

Dear Vivek

Probably you are not updated on the status of many of these projects.

All the projects you know Sobha hitech city, HDIL, 100 floor trade centre,
Parsvnath SEZ, Emaar-MGF SEZ, TCG SEZ are all in front of Environment ministry.
All these projects, being mega projects will take many sittings to get clearance.
Sobha Hitech city also needs clearance from High power committee for mega projects
headed by Chief Minister Achutanandan. Obviously, like in the case of SEZ
he is trying to delay to favor TECOM. But media has already brought up this
issue of delaying - see The Hindu article (http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/12/stories/2008091250010100.htm). So the reason these projects get delayed is back stabbers in state govt.

Just see, the project promoters have done every ground work without govt assitance.
You can see that in the case of IT parks elsewhere govt of Kerala is acquiring land
forcibly from land owners and inviting bids but getting cold response. In Kochi
investors are buying land at market rates and announcing projects -
some people including Achu in Govt of Kerala are trying to block it even though
it costs nothing and even provides the govt a lot of tax revenue !!

Here is the suggestion of Enviro ministry's last meeting.






Sobha Hitech city - asked to resubmit

Construction of Sobha HI-tech City at village Maradu, Cochin by M/s. Sobha Developers Ltd (No:21-170/2008-IA.III)



The project involves construction of a township on a plot area of 10,35,995 Sq.m. The total builtup area is 22,65,672.8 Sq.m. The total water requirement is 9236 KLD (fresh water requirement is 6031 KLD). Treated waste water to be used for flushing of toilets 2585 KLD, horticulture 512 KLD, AC cooling 108 KLD and irrigation ? 3000 KLD. Total solid waste generation will be 45 Tons/day. The power requirement is 100 MW. The total parking spaces proposed are for residential 15,000 cars and 3000 two wheelers and for commercial ? 4814 ECS. Total cost of the project is Rs. 5000 Crores.



During discussions, the following points emerged:



(i) The project falls under category ?B1? under item 8(b) ? Township and Area Development projects and requires an Environmental Impact Assessment Study. It is suggested that the following studies should also be made in addition to the other studies already done and submit the total revised proposal.

(ii) The project falls under CRZ-III. Submit a map demarcating LTL and HTL lines. A separate permission shall be obtained after the recommendations of the CZMA of Kerala.


http://www.forum.kochinow.com/viewtopic.php?p=132#p132

[PLUS]

Kochi among only four cities that chugs on among recession.


The following news is interesting. All over Kerala and India realty is facing a downturn
due to death of excessive speculation.

But Kochi sustains the growth because realty in Kochi is reflecting real demand on the
ground !!




Now realty gloom trickles down to smaller cities
16 Nov 2008, 0300 hrs IST, Neha Dewan, ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: They were billed as investment destinations of the future till six months ago. But it appears that the fast spreading recession has
not spared even the Tier II and Tier III cities.

A slowdown of ongoing projects, lower returns and shying away of foreign investors has put a halt on these ‘future cities.’ Experts say that the Tier II/III story is currently not living up to previous expectations and only Pune, Chennai, Kochi and Hyderabad continue to show some of the previous effervescence.
Full story (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/Realty_gloom_trickles_to_small_cities/articleshow/3718154.cms)

[PLUS]

Aerens Rs.600 crore Gem and Jewellery park at Kinfra Hitech Park SEZ, Kalamassery

http://i37.tinypic.com/bdth5z.jpg
Source: Mathrubhumi

Aerens Gold Souk mall at Vytila is having about Rs.125 crore investment.

Their total investment in Kerala will be about Rs.1000 crore. This include small Souks at
Kannur, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palghat, Thiruvananthapuram,
Thrissur.

http://www.goldsoukindia.com/Future.asp



Original post by scorpiogenius at Kochi Now forum (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/viewtopic.php?p=1346#p1346)

[vivekcochin]

Kochi among only four cities that chugs on among recession.


The following news is interesting. All over Kerala and India realty is facing a downturn
due to death of excessive speculation.

But Kochi sustains the growth because realty in Kochi is reflecting real demand on the
ground !!


GOOD TO READ THAT REAL ESTATE IN KOCHI IS NOT A BLOWN UP BALOON..IT IS EVIDENT FROM SUNDAY ECONOMIC TIMES NEWS.

[Nhoj]

Infopark has invited sealed tenders for the construction of the 4 lane road connecting Infopark and Airport-Seaport Road.
The estimated project cost is 10.3 crores.
And period of completion is 5 months.
:tup:
This road once materialized will solve the current commute problems to Infopark to a greater extent.

[bhasidali]

More on The Souk...

Will open on Feb 2009...
150 show rooms including the super markets of spencers and pantaloon..
4 screen multiplex from Fun cinemas of Zee Group..

http://www.mathrubhumi.com/php/newsFrm.php?news_id=1264749&n_type=NE&category_id=7&Farc=T
http://www.mathrubhumi.org/flashpaper/2008/Nov/17/2008-Nov-17_1_Dha_103.swf

[PLUS]

First Public sector investment at Kinfra Hitech park by BEL


Already Kinfra Hitech park SEZ is a sell out with private investors.

Work on all the projects here will start after getting the Environmental Clearance
says state govt. This include 7 million sq ft TCG Biotech park, 4 million sq ft Trade and
convention centre with a 100 storey office tower, NeST electronics SEZ, Gem/Jewellery SEZ,
and Sutherland IT SEZ.



'ബെല്' കളമശ്ശേരി കിന്ഫ്രയില് യൂണിറ്റ് തുടങ്ങുന്നു

കൊച്ചി: മിനി നവരത്നയില്പ്പെടുന്ന രാജ്യത്തെ പ്രമുഖ പൊതുമേഖലാ സ്ഥാപനം ഭാരത് ഇലക്ട്രോണിക്സ് ലിമിറ്റഡ് (ബെല്) കളമശ്ശേരി കിന്ഫ്ര പാര്ക്കില് യൂണിറ്റ് തുടങ്ങുന്നു.

4500 കോടിയോളം വാര്ഷികവരുമാനമുള്ള ബെല്ലിന്റെ 12-ാമത് യൂണിറ്റാണ് കിന്ഫ്രയില് തുടങ്ങാനൊരുങ്ങുന്നത്. ബാംഗ്ലൂര് ആസ്ഥാനമായ ബെല്ലിന്റെ കേരളത്തിലെ പ്രഥമ യൂണിറ്റിനായി കിന്ഫ്രയില് ഏഴ് ഏക്കര് ഭൂമി ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടിട്ടുണ്ട്. നവംബര് 26ന് സ്ഥലം കൈമാറ്റത്തിന്റെ കരാര് ഒപ്പിട്ട് യൂണിറ്റിന്റെ ശിലാസ്ഥാപനം നടത്താനുള്ള നടപടികള് പുരോഗമിക്കുകയാണ്. ഇതിന് അനുമതി തേടി തിങ്കളാഴ്ച ബെല് ചെയര്മാന്, കേന്ദ്ര പ്രതിരോധമന്ത്രി ഏ.കെ.ആന്റണിയെ സമീപിച്ചതായി കിന്ഫ്രാ വൃത്തങ്ങള് പറഞ്ഞു.

രാജ്യരക്ഷാവകുപ്പിന് ആവശ്യമുള്ള ഉത്പ്പന്നങ്ങളാണ് പ്രധാനമായും ബെല്ലില് ഉദ്പ്പാദിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്. കളമശ്ശേരിയില് നിര്ദ്ദിഷ്ട യൂണിറ്റ് പ്രവര്ത്തനമാരംഭിച്ചാല് നിരവധി തൊഴിലവസരങ്ങള് സൃഷ്ടിക്കപ്പെടും.

എച്ച്എംടിയില് നിന്ന് സംസ്ഥാന സര്ക്കാര് ഏറ്റെടുത്ത് കിന്ഫ്രാപാര്ക്കിന് കൈമാറിയ 240 ഏക്കര് ഭൂമിയില് ഇലക്ട്രോണിക്സ് ആന്ഡ് ഹാര്ഡ് വെയറിന് 30 ഏക്കര്, ബയോടെക്നോളജി പാര്ക്കിന് 50, ജെം ആന്ഡ് ജ്വല്ലറിക്ക് 33, എക്സിബിഷന് ആന്ഡ് കണ്വെന്ഷന് ട്രേഡ് സെന്ററിനു 40, ഉന്നതവിദ്യാഭ്യാസത്തിന് 10, ഐടി 25 ഏക്കര് എന്നിങ്ങനെയാണ് ഭൂമി അനുവദിച്ചിട്ടുള്ളത്. ഈ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങള്ക്ക് അടിസ്ഥാനസൗകര്യങ്ങള് ഒരുക്കുന്നതിനും കിന്ഫ്ര സ്ഥലം കണ്ടെത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. പരിസ്ഥിതി മന്ത്രാലയത്തിന്റെ ക്ലിയറന്സ് സര്ട്ടിഫിക്കറ്റ് ലഭിച്ചാലുടന് ഈ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുടെ നിര്മ്മാണ പ്രവര്ത്തനം ആരംഭിക്കും.
mathrubhumi

[vineeta]

More on The Souk...

Will open on Feb 2009...
150 show rooms including the super markets of spencers and pantaloon..
4 screen multiplex from Fun cinemas of Zee Group..

http://www.mathrubhumi.com/php/newsFrm.php?news_id=1264749&n_type=NE&category_id=7&Farc=T
http://www.mathrubhumi.org/flashpaper/2008/Nov/17/2008-Nov-17_1_Dha_103.swf

gold souk, structural work and external plastering is just about getting over.
the interiors have not yet begun.
there is no chance of it opening before april/may.
and i dont think parsvanth , unitech and HDIL will be too gungho about their projects right now..its recession time here too, despite what the reports say..
builders who used to sell 25/30 units per month pre august are finding it hard to sell even 5/10 units per month..(across the board)
so this is real..
but i guess by q4, fy09, things will start looking up and then maybe the boom will be unprecedented.
V

[bhasidali]

A must read...
Kochi - India’s Rising Urban Star

http://www.jllm.co.in/India/EN-GB/Pages/ResearchDetails.aspx?TopicName=&ItemID=1194&ResearchTitle=Kochi

http://www.jllm.co.in/ResearchLevel1/research_Kochi_Indias_Rising_Urban_Star.pdf

[pramodusnair]

gold souk, structural work and external plastering is just about getting over.
the interiors have not yet begun.
there is no chance of it opening before april/may.
and i dont think parsvanth , unitech and HDIL will be too gungho about their projects right now..its recession time here too, despite what the reports say..
builders who used to sell 25/30 units per month pre august are finding it hard to sell even 5/10 units per month..(across the board)
so this is real..
but i guess by q4, fy09, things will start looking up and then maybe the boom will be unprecedented.
V

The slowdown will be mitigated once govt tones down the interest rates. The slowdown is only temporary esp in the case of Kochi (which is like a juggernaut in real estate). The prospect of Cochin will be much better if Kerala govt drops it step motherly attitude towards it, and invest in building better roads, bus terminals and public transport system. For a city which contributes so much to the Kerala economy it receives very little in return. HDIL and Parsvnath are very much on. Parvnath project will start in the third quarter of 2009 and HDIL will commence its construction as soon as the land issue is solved.

[prameshr]

the construction works at chennai silks and imperial trade centre are at full swing.but the only problem is - if chennain silks come up quickly they will oppose the coming metro rail because of various reasons[u kno].

well for now the huge area of summit mall has been turned into a huge foundation and the construction works are a bit slow . probably it will open 4-5 monts before lulu opens

[PLUS]

gold souk, structural work and external plastering is just about getting over.
the interiors have not yet begun.
there is no chance of it opening before april/may.
and i dont think parsvanth , unitech and HDIL will be too gungho about their projects right now..its recession time here too, despite what the reports say..
builders who used to sell 25/30 units per month pre august are finding it hard to sell even 5/10 units per month..(across the board)
so this is real..
but i guess by q4, fy09, things will start looking up and then maybe the boom will be unprecedented.
V

Those getting SEZ status has to build a certain basic amount of construction to retain
it within the first 18 to 24 months. For this one reason Parsvnath and Unitech will
start construction. TCG, Sutherland are bound by contracts with Kinfra to start
construction. Otherwise they will lose crores of rupees paid as lease amount to
Kinfra and also lose land holding.

For HDIL, Cybercity has become a prestige issue now that it has almost successfully
defended its rights in High Court.

According to the ET story (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/Realty_gloom_trickles_to_small_cities/articleshow/3718154.cms) below Kochi is one of the four cities that have weathered the recession. That is due to the fundamental growth it has. There is real demand
on housing due to mammoth projects under construction.

[PLUS]

the construction works at chennai silks and imperial trade centre are at full swing.but the only problem is - if chennain silks come up quickly they will oppose the coming metro rail because of various reasons[u kno].

well for now the huge area of summit mall has been turned into a huge foundation and the construction works are a bit slow . probably it will open 4-5 monts before lulu opens

I feel Chennai silks can't do anything against Metro once the land acquisition is done.

Now the project has got intervention from Prime Minister's Office it is unstoppable
once it gets Central cabinet nod.

Prime Minister appoints High level committee to speed up Kochi Metro.
Kochi Metro tender may appear in 10 days once the difference of opinion
with planning commission is resolved.
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/9785/20081118aa001102018co0.jpg
manorama 18/11/2008

Kochi Now Forum (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/)

[prameshr]

I feel Chennai silks can't do anything against Metro once the land acquisition is done.

Now the project has got intervention from Prime Minister's Office it is unstoppable
once it gets Central cabinet nod.

but will it ever happen?

[KMC]

but will it ever happen?

good q?

this has significance since the people who are supposed to augment this are playing double tricks ....
they just dont want things to happen in Kochi ,
this is where we miss a minister from Kochi . other ministers are going hell bend for getting things done for other cities , but in kochi ???

[vivekcochin]

good q?

this has significance since the people who are supposed to augment this are playing double tricks ....
they just dont want things to happen in Kochi ,
this is where we miss a minister from Kochi . other ministers are going hell bend for getting things done for other cities , but in kochi ???

We must really give an insight on what will relly happen in Kochi and as you all said Kochi's major concern in unknown backstabbing.

Can anyone please upload photos of NEW MARINE DRIVE BEEN SET UP IN WELLINGTON ISLAND. The news regarding it has come on Metro Manorama dated 18 Nov, 2008. It would be great if anyone can scan it and put it here. I was unable to read it fully. Please do it

Regards,

Vivek Shenoy P
RCC, TVM :cool:

[PLUS]

Hello Vivek, KMC

It will be good if you could make a copy of your post at Kochi Now forum (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/). Such discussions
are best done in the most active forums. That will get you fast response too !

Here is the update on the tallest building so far

40 storey Choice Paradise is on its 18th floor now

Target according to Choice group Chairman is 25 floors by December and
completion by June 2009. Seems on schedule !

It is nearly sold out already !

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/767/05314803715311bd4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6460/elevationue3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[sowmya]

How many 'Reliance Super'(not reliance fresh) are there in Kerala?I have seen two one in Oberon mall and other in Vazhakkala Kakkanad road. Are these shops only in Kochi?

[thunderboltz]

How many 'Reliance Super'(not reliance fresh) are there in Kerala?I have seen two one in Oberon mall and other in Vazhakkala Kakkanad road. Are these shops only in Kochi?

Yes, those are the only two reliance Super outlets in Kochi as of now.
there are two others in Kerala as well : See http://www.forum.kochinow.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=58

[bhasidali]

Piramal fund buys Rs 300 cr stake in realty co Neptune

MUMBAI: Ajay Piramal-promoted real estate fund Indiareit has acquired about 15% stake in Mumbai-based developer Neptune group for around Rs 300
crore. The deal assumes significance as the fund has chosen to invest in the company, rather than the usual practice of investing in individual projects.

Neptune group chairman Nayan Bheda confirmed the deal, but refused to share the details, including the amount involved. “We have expanded our operations across India and the money will be invested in upcoming projects,” he added.

Neptune’s presence in multiple areas of realty business and its association with companies of global repute — Foster+Partners are project architects for Neptune’s corporate park at Kurla — might have prompted Indiareit to strike an equity deal with it, said sources close to the deal.

“It is heartening to note that even in troubled times, investors
are reposing faith in the realty industry by making enterprise-level equity investments
,” said Shashi Kumar, CEO of the real estate advisory division of Birla Sun Life Asset Management. “This is also an indication of the potential of the domestic property market.”

In the past few years, Neptune has grown into a pan-India player with projects in Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, Kochi and Nagpur, among others.

“It is for the first time that we are investing in the entity-level. The deal will help us get a pan-India presence as Neptune is expanding operations across India,“ said Indiareit Fund Advisors CEO Ramesh Jogani. Set up in March 2006, Indiareit initially came out with a $200-million offshore fund, wherein private equity major 3i had invested $40 million.

Indiareit is looking at investments in excess of Rs 200 crore in properties in Mumbai and Hyderabad. It had invested Rs 225 crore in Bangalore-based Skyline Constructions & Housing last year.

Neptune’s projects in an around Mumbai include a business park in Kurla, a one million sq ft IT park in Thane and a 5 million sq ft residential complex for low and middle-income groups in Kalyan. The company is also developing a residential complex admeasuring one-and-a-half million sq ft in Hyderabad, a 4 million sq ft residential project in Kochi and another 3 million sq ft residential project in Chennai.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Market_News/Piramal_invests_Rs_300_cr_in_Neptune/articleshow/3757775.cms

[vivekcochin]

Piramal fund buys Rs 300 cr stake in realty co Neptune



http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Market_News/Piramal_invests_Rs_300_cr_in_Neptune/articleshow/3757775.cms

:shrug: OOh yet another residential project in Cochin!!!

Vivek

[PLUS]

:shrug: OOh yet another residential project in Cochin!!!

Vivek

But that is the same in Bangalore or Chennai or Hyd or Mumbai.
There will always be many many more residential project than Tech park projects
or SEZs. Does that mean that Bangalore or Chennai or Hyd or Mumbai do not develop ?

So what's your point, I'm missing it .

[jobbymathew]

Good Moring friends,

This is Jobby, a new user. U people are doing great.
Anyway Kochi is developing fastly.

[sowmya]

There is no matter in the link which you posted. Could you please mention in which place are the other superstores in Kerala

Yes, those are the only two reliance Super outlets in Kochi as of now.
there are two others in Kerala as well : See http://www.forum.kochinow.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=58

[PLUS]

There is no matter in the link which you posted. Could you please mention in which place are the other superstores in Kerala

This is the link you are searching probably Kochi Now Forum (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/viewtopic.php?p=1424#p1424)

[PLUS]

NRI money props up Kochi realty


Huge NRI remittances have helped arrest the erosion of real-estate prices in Kochi.

C. J. Punnathara


While the global economic slowdown gripping most parts of the developed world has had a cascading impact on the economy and real-estate prices across major Indian cities, reports suggest that the southern port city of Kochi has been less affected by the crisis.

This is partly due to the huge dollar remittances flowing into the State, which have helped to arrest the erosion in realty prices significantly. Also, the rich and varied commercial crops being cultivated in the State continues to fetch a good price in the global markets, keeping the land prices attractive.

A report on World Winning Cities by Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj (JLLM), one of the largest real estate money management and services firm in the country, “Kochi offers shining possibilities across all sectors due to a favourable combination of wealth, connectivity, infrastructure, labour skills, low operating costs and tourist appeal.”

World Winning Cities programme is a multi-year global research initiative designed to assess future city competitiveness and predict the rising urban stars among the world’s emerging markets in India, China, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Latin America.
Effect of remittances

But what stands out in the Kochi context has been the unabated stream of remittances into the State. In value terms, the flow has been further accentuated by the sharp erosion in the value of the rupee against the Gulf currencies as well as against the dollar, which have enhanced the clout and purchasing power in the hands of the huge NRI population that the State boasts of.

This has ensured that the value of the real estate in Kochi has not been as significantly dented as in some other important cities in India.

“Kochi would be unique among all other cities in the country since over 30 per cent of the demand for real estate emanates from the overseas NRI population. With the spurt in interest rates for NRI deposits and surge in value of the dollar, we expect the remittances into the State to increase by over 50 per cent this year. This huge inflow has helped to buttress any sharp fall in the value of real estate in the city,” says Mr Mohammed Saleem, Managing Director, Asset Homes.

This stands in sharp contrast to the national and international situation.

Demand for Kochi realty continues to come from the spurt in remittances from an estimated 2.5 million people from the State settled abroad. Almost 90 per cent of them work in West Asia.

There are other positives as far as the city is concerned: An enviable mix of highly educated population, low labour and operating costs, attractive real estate options and solid infrastructure. Based on real estate market transparency and overall volume of office, retail and hotel market activities, Kochi has been adjudged well ahead of other Indian tier III cities such as Jaipur, Nashik, Mangalore and is on a par with Chandigarh.

Potential being tapped

The economic potential of the city is beginning to be tapped. One of the largest malls in the country is being constructed by the Lulu Group. According to the JLLM report, India’s largest builder, DLF, has announced plans to invest Rs 4,000 crore in Kerala in the next five years.

The Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority is constructing a Smart City in Kochi, which would offer thousands of jobs in the IT industry. DP World has commenced building operations for the Vallarpadam Container Transhipment Terminal, which is expected to transform the connectivity to Kochi.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/iw/2008/11/30/stories/2008113050701700.htm



Latest updates at Kochi Now Forum (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/)

[PLUS]

HDIL Cybercity applies for SEZ

To be forwarded to centre after High court judgement

Totally 9 private SEZs in Kochi out of 11 approved

സൈബര് സിറ്റി നടപ്പാക്കുന്നത് സര്ക്കാര് ഭൂമിയിലല്ല: മന്ത്രി

തിരുവനന്തപുരം:കളമശ്ശേരിയിലെ സൈബര് സിറ്റി പദ്ധതി നടപ്പാക്കുന്നത് സര്ക്കര് ഭൂമിയിലല്ലെന്ന് മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയ്ക്കു വേണ്ടി നിയമന്ത്രി എം.വിജയകുമാര് നിയമസഭയില് അറിയിച്ചു. ചോദ്യോത്തരവേളയില് അംഗങ്ങളുടെ ചോദ്യങ്ങള്ക്ക് മറുപടി പറയുകയായിരുന്നു അദ്ദേഹം.

ബ്ലൂസ്റ്റാര് റിയല് എസ്റ്റേറ്റിന്റെ ഭൂമിയിലാണ് പദ്ധതി ഇത് മിച്ചഭൂമി ഇനത്തില് സര്ക്കാര് നേരത്തെ തന്നെ എച്ച്.എം.ടിയ്ക്ക് നല്കിയതാണിതെന്നും മന്ത്രി പറഞ്ഞു. സൈബര് സിറ്റിയ്ക്ക് സെസ്സ് പദവിക്കുള്ള അപേക്ഷ ലഭിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടന്നും ഹൈക്കോടതിയിലെ കേസിന് ശേഷം ഇത് കേന്ദ്രസര്ക്കാരിന് നല്കുമെന്നും മന്ത്രി വ്യക്തമാക്കി. ഭൂപരിഷ്കരണ നിയമത്തിലെ ഇളവുകള് ബ്ല്യൂസ്റ്റാര് കമ്പനിക്ക് നല്കിയിട്ടില്ലെ ഇക്കാര്യത്തില് ഹൈക്കോടതിയില് കേസ് നിലനിര്ക്കുന്നതിനാല് സര്ക്കാര് അന്തിമ തീരുമാനം എടുത്തിട്ടില്ലെന്നും വിജയകുമാര് പറഞ്ഞു.
mathrubhumi


Latest updates at Kochi Now Forum (http://www.forum.kochinow.com/)

[bhasidali]

Here is an interesting new..:)

http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentType=EDITORIAL&programId=1073753761&articleType=Malayalam%20News&contentId=4848313&BV_ID=@@@

The first sitting of High power committe for sanctioning big projects which have investment above 100 Cr. is on Dec 15. And the projects infront of are Sobha Hitech City and 3000 Cr Elbit - Salarpuria Knowledge Park... :banana:

[Santhosh]

Anyone has any update on the SEZ?

[jobbymathew]

Hi Friends,
Have any news of Grand mall in Edapally, construction started?
Please give me replay.

[SREEKUMAR]

Today's manorama reports : 7 out of 10 are rejected .. Only Govt SEZ are approved . Nothing will happen in Kerala.........
We have to suffer for 2 1/2 more years like this.....

Anyone has any update on the SEZ?

[vivekcochin]

Today's manorama reports : 7 out of 10 are rejected .. Only Govt SEZ are approved . Nothing will happen in Kerala.........
We have to suffer for 2 1/2 more years like this.....

Ya ....3 SEZ's approved. One for Newssprint in Kottayam and two associated with technopark in tvm...so dear friends what about the announcements made in this forum about the SEZ's in Kochi...All gone as of now..

Regards,

Vivek Shenoy P
RCC, TVM

[thunderboltz]

Hi Friends,
Have any news of Grand mall in Edapally, construction started?
Please give me replay.

Yes, construction was progressing the last time I went that way. Foundation works are over, I think...

[PLUS]

Ya ....3 SEZ's approved. One for Newssprint in Kottayam and two associated with technopark in tvm...so dear friends what about the announcements made in this forum about the SEZ's in Kochi...All gone as of now..

Regards,

Vivek Shenoy P
RCC, TVM

Rejection does not mean the projects are gone - it will be delayed
as they will have to come up with documents at the future meetings.
many SEZs which were rejected due to the same reason have come up later.

Notice also that possession certificate is not compulsory but it is the Kerala
govt's reluctance to guarantee possession rights that caused this temporary rejection.
This can be overcome either by possession certificate or by state govt's guarantee.

In fact the govt owned SEZ at Trivandrum was not among the 10 sent to centre.
And two private SEZs - Emaar MGF at Kochi, Trissur technoparks at Putukkad - are
to be considered at next meeting.

Further Parsvnath, TCG, Unitech, Sutherland have already got approval
and need only notification. Moreover TCG and Sutherland are coming
on leased land from Kinfra - so possession certificate should not be a problem.

However SEZs will ETL, MM tech towers, Cochin technoparks will have to wait for state
govt to sent them back with all documents in future.
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9739/20081211af006102018ws0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
manorama