[Jai]

Paying tribute - A new landmark in BKC

Post-monsoon, RIL will start building Dhirubhai Ambani International Convention and Exhibition Centre

Smita Deshmukh
DNA India Epaper - 07 May 2007

Culture, commerce and community. That will be the theme of Mumbai’s next-generation global business address. With environment clearance, design approval and site preparation in place, decks are being cleared for the proposed Dhirubhai Ambani International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DAICEC) in the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). Work is scheduled to begin post-monsoon, with officials eyeing an early 2009 deadline for the launch.
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) made a clinching bid of Rs 1,104 crore for the 75,000 square metre plot in January 2006. Personally monitored by RIL Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani, along with his wife Neeta, the project will be the family’s tribute to the late Dhirubhai Ambani.

The DAICEC will have 20,000 square metre commercial area, while the remaining 55,000 square metre has been earmarked as Convention and Exhibition (C&E) area.

The RIL’s global signature headquarters will be shifting to the commercial area, which will house its corporate office and those of its main partners and vendors.

The Rs 2,000-crore project will be an architectural delight— the sprawling 25,000 square metre exhibition area will have five halls offering banquet facilities to 4,000 people, board rooms of varying sizes — fit for contingents of any size between 20 and 450, Congress hall for 1,500 people, VIP lounges, 24-hour multi-cuisine restaurants and shopping area.

The most prominent feature of the hub will be the 2,000-seat performing arts theatre and convention hall designed on the lines of Los Angeles’ Kodak theatre. “The entire area will have a large outdoor public concourse, which will be integrated to create a venue for big international events in Mumbai. The DAICEC will also trigger economic benefits for the city,” said RIL’s Shalin Tandon, the project leader.

RIL is also planning a 150-room boutique hotel, with an exclusive Billionaire’s Club for global business bosses and heads of states to reside and interact. To make the eco-friendly environment complete, there will be musical fountains and water bodies. “We will develop a waterfront along the Mithi river, once its cleanup phases are over. We have told top MMRDA officials that the promenade would be a tourist attraction,” said Tandon.

With an estimated 1,50,000 people expected to throng the area daily, RIL is bidding for plots in BKC for parking. “The main design has parking facility for 6,000 cars. We are in the process of acquiring an RG1 plot next door, which has two-level underground car parks. The integration of the DAICEC with the entire BKC will facilitate traffic management,” said Tandon.


Special features
- RIL made a clinching bid of Rs 1,104 crore for the 75,000 square metre plot in January 2006

- Personally monitored by Neeta and Mukesh Ambani, the project will be a tribute to the late Dhirubhai Ambani

- 20,000 sq mt has been earmarked as commercial area. It will house the RIL corporate office and those of its main partners and vendors The 25,000 sq mt exhibition area will have 5 banquet halls, board rooms, VIP lounges, 24-hour multi-cuisine restaurants and shopping area

- The most prominent feature will be the 2,000-seat performing arts theatre and convention hall resembling Los Angeles' Kodak theatre