Trivandrum Projects & Infrastructure :News

[Sathyalal]

Please post news items related to Trivandrum projects in this thread

[Sathyalal]

Thiruvananthapuram, March 5: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Kerala government Monday said it would soon set up a Technocity here, a project it had opposed when in the opposition.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan informed the Kerala Assembly that the Technocity would come up near the Technopark campus.

An attempt of the previous Oommen Chandy government to give a push to the project failed at the outset when the youth wing of the CPI-M, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), went on a rampage during a meeting called to discuss the Rs.50 billion Technocity campus. The project was shelved thereafter.

Achuthanandan Monday told the assembly that the master plan for Technocity was ready and the project would come up in an area of 507 acres.
"This has been taken up in the fast-track project and when completed it would provide 100,000 jobs directly and 300,000 jobs indirectly," said Achuthanandan.

In the proposed Technocity, IT, bio-technology companies, residential complexes and schools are planned.

[sudheeshnairs]

This is a tentative layout of the Technocity project being developed by Technopark with private participation. This layout is part of a presentation available on the TP site.

[sudheeshnairs]

22 floors
NH Bypass
Masterplanner: M/s Surbana, Singapore
Local Architect: M/s Sony Mathai Lalichan
Developer: Skyline SFS.





A slightly modified view, from the front

[sudheeshnairs]

Thiruvananthapuram Central to be made a world-class station

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

New complex to have a built-up area of 10-lakh square feet

Thiruvananthapuram:

Steps are being taken to convert the Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station into a world-class one.The expression of interest (EOI), invited to identify those interested in the project, will be opened on March 17 by the divisional railway authorities. Later, tenders would be invited for carrying out feasibility studies for the proposed project, a top railway official told The Hindu .

The new complex of the railway station will have a built-up area of 10-lakh square feet. It will have all modern facilities including an office and commercial complex. A one-km long strip of land is needed for laying the track for the proposed station complex that would have platforms at different levels.

The proposal under consideration of the Railways is to shift the intermediate over hauling (IOH) facility located near the second entry on the Power House road, five pit lines and three stabling lines on the Central station premises and use the land for setting up the new complex.

The IOH facility, along with five lines and a goods shed, would be set up on the land owned by the Railways at Nemom. The Railways own 10.52 hectares of land in Nemom. An equal area of land will have to be acquired.

Since the Railways have already cleared the Mainline Electric Multiple Units (MEMU), the divisional authorities will also have to find out land for a suburban terminal in the capital. According to the official, the proposal is to set up the suburban terminal at Nemom or Putharikandam maidan.Since the expansion project of Thiruvananthapuram Central is a massive one, only a consortium would be able to take up the project.

Thiruvananthapuram Central is the largest railway station in the State and one of the busiest railway hubs in South India. The station is among the 16 major railway stations in the country selected to be converted into world-class standards. Union Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad had laid the foundation stone for the expansion and modernisation of the station in December last.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/07/stor...0712450500.htm

A one million sq ft. terminal with multi-level platforms and commercial facilities will be truely world class.

[sudheeshnairs]

These are the shots of Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) Central Railway Station. The new terminal building of 1 million sft would be coming up on the opposite side. At present there is a second entry and station building on that side too.

photo copyright rikkiandmatt



pic courtesy: Jimmy Jose, IRFCA.



Park infront of Central Railway Station and Bus Station at Thampanoor















SECOND ENTRY



Old Photo, taken before 'Electrification of the lines'

[Sathyalal]

Sudheesh, Nice coverage of Trivandrum central; Largest and Busiest station under southern railway after Chennai.

[Sathyalal]

IISER, India's first space university,AIIMS, will join RGBIT,C-DAC, SCIMST,CET, ISRO,VSSC,RRL etc to make the city unique in India in the area of Science & Research

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 5: The Union government has agreed in principle to set up an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Kerala, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan informed the assembly today.

The IISER would come up here in Thiruvananthapuram and the district Collector and higher education secretary have been asked to identify suitable land for the purpose, he said, while replying to a calling attention motion on establishing IISER, IIT and in upgrading the status of Medical College here to that of AIIMS.

The Centre has sanctioned Rs 100 crore for developing Thiruvananthapuram medical college and the state government was in the process of preparing development projects, he said, adding that efforts would continue to upgrade the status of the medical college.

[Subin]

To add to what Sudheesh posted

1. Copyright : Unni.K - Flickr



2. Copyright : Unni.K - Flickr



3. Reservation Counter Copyright : Miran Rijavec - Flickr

[rajkrish]

Animation School in KINFRA video and Film park @ Kazhakkoottam

The central govt has agreed to provide assistance for setting up an Animation School @ the renowned KINFRA Film & Video park, Trivandrum. The park which is a notified SEZ lies along the IT corridor hosts well known studios like Prasad, Vismaya and has churned out many projects for Hollywood majors like Time Warner, Disney and Columbia Tristar. It is thought that the setting up of Animation School would give impetus to the growth of digital film making in India and the park coupled with the animation giant TOONZ which is based in Technopark, Asia's biggest IT park, has all the potential to be the digital movie making hub of South Asia.

[Subin]

Vizhinjam International Transhipment Terminal Project to be retendered

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday decided to invite fresh tenders for the Vizhinjam International Transhipment Terminal Project. Earlier bid for the project had been cancelled on account of objection from the Union Government on security grounds about the presence of two Chinese companies in the consortium that successfully bid for the project.

Source : Hindu: March 8th

Vizhinjam is a natural port located 16 km south of Thiruvananthapuram on the West coast of India. As you can see in the 2nd picture the cruise ship is comfortably anchored in the harbour without the need for any dredging.

To add to that, some advantages that Vizhinjam port would have over other ports :
* Proximity to international shipping route and East-West shipping axis
* Availability of 20m contour within a nautical mile off the coast. Minimal littoral drift along the coast and therefore hardly any maintenance dredging
* Immediacy to national/regional road, rail network
* Flexibility in design and expansion being a Greenfield project close to Thiruvananthapuram city that has an International airport, human resource and social infrastructure
Source: Wikipedia

1. Vizhinjam Port Site :::: Copyright :Ajay

2.Cruise ship at Vizhinjam :::: Copyright :Ajay

[Subin]

Presenting the budget in the Assembly on Friday Mr. Isaac said the Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO) would commence preliminary activities for setting up a Telecom city this year. The proposed city would be set up in association with the Indian Telephone Industries (ITI)

Read More : Hindu March 10th

News from Manorama Online




Report says that 25 acres has been identified in the Capital city for the project. This 300 crore project is expected to generate around 6000 jobs.

[Subin]

• Telecom city to be set up in Trivandrum

• Rs.13 crore for third phase expansion of Technopark

• A permanent festival centre for the Thiruvananthapuram International Film Festival

• Attukal Development Scheme

• Rs.196 crore has been provided in the budget for the development of Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram cities under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

• Rs.250 crore would be made available from Sustainable Urban Development projects to implement another scheme for the development of urban infrastructure facilities. It will be implemented in five Municipal corporations, including Thiruvananthapuram

• Fresh tenders would be invited for the development of Vizhinjam port. Rs.5 crore has been earmarked in the budget for strengthening the share capital of Vizhinjam International Seaports Limited that provides infrastructure facility

• The State Government would provide Rs.20 crore matching grant for the Rs.100 crore development of the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College

• The Regional Cancer Centre here would get Rs.9.5 crore.

• The Thiruvananthapuram International Film Festival, which has already received international acclaim, would be provided Rs.50 lakh for setting up a permanent festival centre

• Rs.2 crore for the conservation of four colleges that has heritage buildings. This includes the landmark University College

• N. Krishna Pillai Foundation and The Institute of Journalism, Press Club, Trivandrum would get Rs.10 lakh each

Source: Hindu March 10th

[Subin]

The Government has decided to renew the agreement with Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Company Limited (TRDCL) to resume work on the stalled City Roads Improvement Project, Minister for Public Works T.U. Kuruvilla said on Saturday.

"Work has already resumed at Bakery Junction to resurface the roads dug up for the construction of a flyover." the Minister said. He adds that a detailed schedule had been worked out to hand over all the land before June 30.

Read more : Hindu Online March 11th

42 kms of city road is being developed as part of this program.

[Subin]

The Railways have initiated steps for the second phase development of the Kochuveli railway terminal by handing over to the revenue authorities the notification for acquiring land for the project.

A sum of Rs.22 crore was sanctioned in the supplementary budget of 2006-07 for the second phase development. Union Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad had allocated Rs.1 crore in the 2007-08 budget for the purpose.

Funds are available with the Railways to commence work on the project. We can even divert funds from the Rs.39 crore earmarked in the 2007-08 Railway Budget for traffic facilities," the official said.

Source : Hindu March 11th

The project is due to be commissioned in March 2009. Along with proposed upgradation of Trivandrum Central Station and the commissioning of suburban services the Kollam-Nagercoil stretch is going to see immense developement

[Subin]

Report from Mathrubhumi Dhanakaryam(Financial Supplement)

Report says that Infosys COO, Kris Gopalakrishnan has informed that work on first phase of the Infosys campus at Trivandrum would commence shortly and that it would be over in 12 months. The first phase is expected to generate around 5000 jobs. This number would triple to 15000 once the work on entire campus is completed.

Recently 50 acres of land was handed over to Infosys by GOK. Infosys's current headcount in Trivandrum is around 1100

[rajkrish]

Beggruen hotels is in TVM. They have acquired land near housing board Junction.

Photo courtesy : Vinodtnt

[rajkrish]

Kerala govt to partner K Raheja, Chalet in $35-m biz hub plan

Source:http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_f...tent_id=157830

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 14 : K Raheja Corp's $35-million business hub plan near Technopark is set to wear the public private partnership (PPP) garb. The Kerala government has insisted on 26% equity on the project, including a convention centre, exhibition and retailing centre and a four-star resort.

An special purpose vehicle (SPV) to this effect will soon take shape, sources told FE. The realty majors have not been adverse to the change of equity structure.

Chalet Hotels, alongwith K Raheja Corp had secured the mandate for the IT-related business tourism project, as early as two years ago. Chalet Hotels is a joint venture between K Rahejas Corp and IDFC Private Equity. However, following the change of guard in Kerala, the project had hit rough weather.

The PPP outfit now alters things. The tourism arm of the government has already bought 46 acres from the State-run Technopark for this at a price of Rs 5.55 crore.

One caveat, that Technopark has dug its heels on, as part of the land deed, is that the private developers should not be allowed to develop the land as an IT/ITES facility, in competition with Technopark or its upcoming expansion facility Technocity.

Curiously enough, the land for the K Raheja plan is to be transferred on a 90-year lease, a sensitive issue with the LDF government. To extend the 25-year lease with Dubai Tecom for $300-million SmartCity project in Kochi, the State had to wreke out a difficult nod from the LDF's top political bosses. In contrast, in the case of the Mumbai-based realty giant, the thumbs up for 90-year lease came, escaping the media glare.

[Sathyalal]

Breggruen Hotels - backed by the US-based Breggruen Holdings - has decided to set up the first of its 38 boutique budget hotels in Trivandrum

The bhoomi pooja of the first Keys Hotel in the country was performed by Breggruen Hotels CEO Sanjay Seth at a site near the Housing Board Junction on Thursday.

In fact, Thiruvananthapuram was chosen after much care. “We have been actively pursuing sites in south India like Pondicherry and Chennai. But with Thiruvananthapuram growing as an industrial and IT centre as well as a hub for medical tourism in the recent years, this is an opportune time for Keys to mark its foray into the burgeoning hospitality industry in the region,” chief marketing officer Partha Chatterjee said.

[Sathyalal]

Chennai to emulate Trivandrum and Delhi on parallel corridor concept

The parallel corridor concept, introduced in cities such as Thiruvananthapuram and New Delhi, which helps in thinning traffic on arterial roads, is a possible solution, points out Dr. Srinivasan. For instance, Thiruvananthapuram now has four alternative corridors to reach the city airport. Similarly, in Pune, traffic signals are synchronised in five corridors for faster vehicle movement

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/13/stor...1316990400.htm