Visit KochiNow

This blog compliments the new initiative KochiNow. We look forward to more activities.

City Traffic scenario

does a commendable analysis of the
traffic scenario in the metropolis. As this blog has
been emphasizing, its Kochi that attracts most of the
investments in Kerala, hence this only metro of
the state must get maximum support infrastructure.
Otherwise, it will choke the growth of tax revenue
for Kerala govt - over 60% of the tax revenue is
generated from Kochi.

Massive investments in projects needed
K. A. Martin

Lack of urgency holds up implementation of a number of projects

Photo: H. Vibhu

ALMOST COMPLETE: The Pulleppady overbridge.

KOCHI: Kochi’s urgent requirement for massive infrastructure development stands in sharp contrast with the snail pace of project implementation in the city. From the 12-year delay in developing Sahodaran Ayappan Road to taking steps suggested by Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) way back in April 1991, the city looks unable to catch up with its future.

Investments needed

Massive investments in a slew of projects, including the international container transshipment terminal, are knocking at Kochi’s doors and the crying need is for infrastructure like flyovers, rail overbridges and broader roads.

The Pulleppady rail overbridge, the key to linking the east and west halves of the city, awaits commissioning, three years after the completion of a major portion of the overbridge.

Twenty-five metres of the bridge remain to be completed by the Railways. Several other projects have not even been taken up despite their importance to the growth of the city.

This include the flyovers on National Highways at the Kundannoor, Vyttila and Palarivattam junctions.

Rail overbridges at Ponnurunny, Atlantis and Vaduthala-Pacchalam too need to be taken up in a time-bound manner. Full story

Infrastructure fails to keep pace with growing city

R. Ramabhadran Pillai

Rail, road connectivity to Vallarpadam faces hurdles; Metro in a limbo

Photo: H. Vibhu

CHOCK-A-BLOCK: The city streets are scenes of constant traffic jams these days.

KOCHI: Kochi’s image as a city of high growth potential has helped the real estate to grow, but the implementation of several infrastructure projects in the city has been on a slow pace. While some of the international projects initiated in the city have a time-frame for completion, the uncertainty over the infrastructure projects remains a matter of concern.

The work on the rail connectivity to the Vallarpadam container terminal has suffered major setbacks with the acquisition of land running into trouble. The issue pertaining to evictees at Moolampilly, one of the localities situated along the proposed route, had snowballed into a controversy. Though a scheme was drawn up to settle the issue, discontent has not totally died down.

The road project to connect the container terminal too has met with major roadblocks. The residents of Vaduthala, a place along the planned road, had opposed the route right from the beginning. Full story

Traffic snarls a regular feature

G. Krishnakumar

---

Unscientific planning remains the bane of the city. Road widening projects have come to a halt in many areas, thanks to red-tapism and lack of funds.

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KOCHI: It is 9.30 a.m. Decibel levels at Sahodaran Ayyappan Road have long exceeded the acceptable ranges. The entire stretch is teeming with persistently honking vehicles.

A screaming ambulance tries desperately to steer its way through this route locked in both directions. Inside the ambulance, Ramesh, the driver, is sweating and stretching out to the drivers seeking help. After a painful wait, he somehow manages to squeeze his way out from the bottleneck.

“It has become a regular thing to get trapped in this congestion. It takes at least 20-25 minutes for an ambulance to reach Pallimukku junction from Vyttila on a busy day. The toughest part is to clear the Kadavanthara-Panampilly Nagar-South Railway over bridge stretch,” says Mr. Ramesh. Full story

Elamkulam bridge to be widened soon

K.S. Sudhi

Many more infrastructure projects to be taken up

KOCHI: The widening of the bridge near Elamkulam along the Sahodaran Ayyappan road, the first road infrastructure project to be implemented for Kochi, will begin within a fortnight.

Kochi is banking heavily on the projects that are implemented with the support of the Asian Development Bank and the ones sanctioned by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission for materialising its infrastructure dreams. Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP) is the nodal agency for the projects sanctioned by the two agencies.

The Rs. 3.5 crore-bridge widening project at Elamkulam will be completed within 18 months. The project is expected to ease the traffic along the road by widening the road and bridge in the area, according to authorities.

Other than the bridge widening project, projects for widening some of the important roads connecting major roads and those between MG road and Chittoor roads have also been planned. These projects will be implemented without acquiring any land. The improvement of the inter-connecting roads will be taken up by the KSUDP. The following are the roads that would be benefited from the scheme:

Karshaka Road (first 150 metres from South Road overbridge), Palarivattom-Vyttila road, Chittoor road, road between MG road and Chittoor road from Padma junction, road between MG road and Chittoor road from Ground Junction, road between MG road and Chittoor road from KSRTC junction, road between MG road and Chittoor road from Jose junction, Thoppumpady-Paravana-Fort Kochi road, Paravana-Mattanchery, TD road, Church landing road, Durbar Hall road and Mullassery canal road. Full story

Parallel roads are the key

Shyama Rajagopal

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Several entry points to the city suggested

Urban master plan yet to be completed

---

KOCHI: Town planning experts suggest that several entry points into a city area are a must for a bustling commercial place that is growing. However, Kochi city has grown over the last decade with only a few entry points into the main commercial area.

The North and South overbridges were the only two entry points though Thevara became another one because of the Kundanoor bridges. But, the traffic mostly travel across the first two bridges.

Development of a few parallel roads to the North-South corridor and the East-West corridors will decongest the arterial roads of the city considerably, said a town planner. Thammanam-Pulleppady Road is one such that was started with a big fanfare. However, this very important infrastructure remains unfinished as the rail overbridge is not completed. Full story

Update

India would soon have a 100-storeyed building

The New Delhi-based Zoom Developers has planned to build
a 100-storey office complex in Kochi, Kerala. At Rs 1 crore
per acre, the 40-acre tract has been purchased by the Zoom
Developers from the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure
development (Kinfra) to build an international trade and
convention centre at Kochi. The 100-storey building
developed as a part of the project will be around 1,640 ft
(500 metres) in height. As per the mandate from the state
government of Kerala the project should have convention
halls and exhibition halls on an area of 2.5 lakh sq ft. The
mandatory requirements need to be completed by the end
of this year. “The work is on full swing and we are confident
of meeting the mandatory requirements by December 2008,”
says Rumneek Bawa, managing director Zoom Infraestates.
The total cost outlay of the project would be Rs 1,000 crore,
which the company plans to fund through a mix of internal
accruals and bank loans. Zoom Developers has also roped
in the Singapore-based CPG consultants for the architectural
design of the project. The project will also include a five-star
hotel comprising 31 floors and a total of 400 rooms. The
unique 100-storey tower apart from offices would also have
a shopping mall spread over six floors.
The other structures in the convention centre would include
a trade centre, service apartments, restaurants, a post office,
and a multilevel car parking. The project will be completed
in three phases. The first phase would involve the building
of convention and exhibition halls, which will be completed
by the end of this year. The second phase would involve the
of a five-star hotel and shopping mall, while the third would
involve completion of the office tower. The development is
located at a distance of 25 km from the Cochin airport and
26 km from the sea port.

With CPG Singapore as consultants for the project, Kochi is poised
to see it's mother-of-all projects. With a 100 storey building in the
scene, nothing can stop Cochin from being the next big thing in India.

Positive signs

TIE - Infopark interaction

‘Tier 1 Indian cites to lose IT jobs to tier 2 cities’

May 29th, 2008 - 5:15 pm ICT by admin -

Kochi, May 29 (IANS) In five years, 1.7 million jobs in Information Technology (IT) sector in India
will move out of tier 1 cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad, to tier 2 cities, Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Infopark’s chief executive officer, said here. Bhattacharya was speaking Wednesday at a discussion organised by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), a global not-for-profit organisation promoting entrepreneurship. Infopark at Kochi is a state government-owned IT Park.

“The data transmission cost from Kochi is low. Seventy-five percent of the country’s data traffic goes out from Kochi. VSNL has a 15 gigabyte gateway here. The electricity and water tariffs are one of the lowest among all the states. Compared to Bangalore, house rent is low in Kochi. The attrition rates in IT companies are below 10 percent.”

At present around 40 companies in the Infopark employ around 7,000 people. “In next four years we expect the number of companies to go up seven to eight times.”

Infopark is in the process of coming out with a dedicated incubator to help start up companies. “This is an early life support system for start ups. We will help them with issues like government clearance, finance and also help them expand,” he added. Full story

Vallarpadam : final few land to be acquired

Vallarpadam: more owners agree to give up land

Staff Reporter

Consent from 14 landowners at Mulavukad

---

75 landowners yet to give up land

Cheranalloor landowners waiting for HC verdict

---

KOCHI: Giving a fillip to the efforts to complete the land acquisition process for the rail connectivity for the proposed Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal project, the remaining landowners at Mulavukad village agreed to surrender their land.

Fourteen landowners, who are yet to handover the land, have agreed to submit the consent letters to the district administration by Thursday. Full story

Solid waste management system ready

Finally actions set to bear fruit. Solid waste
management is being implemented scientifically
in Kochi. It is one of the first South Indian city
of its size to have such a facility.

Waste management law from June 1

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Come June 1, Kochi city will have a legal framework to govern the entire gamut of the solid waste management process.

The bylaw, while defining the role of the civic authorities as well as residents, has also provided penal provisions for violations.

Kochi is the first city in the State to enact such a bylaw for governing the management of municipal solid waste.

Kochi has moved to the sophisticated way of treatment of the solid waste, leaving behind the crude practice of dumping it at landfills. The process of collection, transport and treatment needs to be systemised for the effective treatment of waste and the bylaw will provide the necessary legal guideline for the process, said civic authorities. Full story

Finally some positive moves

...still one has to keep fingers crossed

8 SEZs and some mega projects like Sobha Hitech
City may be cleared soon.

Kerala likely to get eight new SEZs

Thiruvananthapuram, May 27 : The Kerala government is planning to forward eight applications for the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) to the centre, an official said here Tuesday.

The state already has one SEZ at Kochi, and 11 approved and two approved in principle zones.

Speaking to reporters here, State Industries Minister Elamram Kareem denied reports that there had been a difference of opinion between Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and himself over the delay in clearing 17 pending applications.

"Of the pending applications, we found that only eight have acquired the land and the rest are in the process of buying land. So we have more or less decided that we will forward the applications of the eight who have land to the centre," said Kareem.

"The SEZs whose applications are likely to be forwarded include those for IT, bio-technology and electronics," he added.

In the past month, opposition leader Oommen Chandy had lashed out at the government for holding back the applications for SEZs. Full story

LDF Govt wooing private investments in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): CPI-M led LDF government in Kerala is in the process of wooing private investments to the tune of Rs.10,000 crore and also plans a mega joint venture project with Russian based company Roseboron to set up a 10,000 tonne capacity titanium sponge unit, State Industries Minister Elamram Kareem said on Tuesday.

As part of encouraging private investments, government had already signed a MOU with Shoba Groups to set up Shoba Hightech City at Kochi with an investment of Rs.5000 crores, the Minister told a press conference held in connection with the second anniversary of LDF rule.

The single window clearance committee headed by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan would meet soon to consider the projects of Shoba group, he said. Full story

Updates

Big time for manufacturing in Kochi

Close on the heels of big investments at CSEZ
by Magnum aviation big initiatives have come
forth in manufacturing by CII. They have correctly
zeroed in on Kochi to promote the industrial clusters.

CII plans to launch six steel clusters in Vizag

BS Reporter / Chennai/ Hyderabad May 26, 2008, 3:26 IST

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) plans to launch six new small and medium enterprises clusters in Visakhapatnam for steel companies. It would also set up a steel task force to drive the steel cluster, according to BVR Mohan Reddy, chairman of CII Southern Region.

This apart, five more clusters would come up at Trichy (wielding and allied branches) , Bangalore (heavy engineering), Chennai (automotives), Hosur (automotives) and Kochi (agri-based) during the current year. Full story

And this certainly has resulted in manpower
shortages in a state otherwise known for
unemployment ! State govt needs to remove
tax impediments to the growth of manufacturing.

Manpower shortage hits engineering workshops

Staff Reporter

Many units close down because of high tax rate

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Tax rate in Kerala is 12.5 per cent

Only 15 per cent of installed capacity is being utilised

---

KOCHI: Industrial engineering workshops are facing a stiff shortage in manpower at a time when the construction sector is booming in the State. The engineering units that make scaffoldings, grills, grates, piling equipment, garden furniture, shutters and props are also burdened with a tax structure that has forced big buyers to opt for supplies from outside the State. Full story

Kochi needs new railway hub

It would be better to develop Kalamassery or
Edappally as the new hub where there is ample
space for development. Moreover, these stations
are crossed by all trains that ply through Kochi.
Kalamassery is ideal since it will have Metro link
close by.

Demand to develop suburban rail stations

John L. Paul

KOCHI: There is an increasing demand to develop the railway stations at Thripunithura and Kalamassery, considering the eastward growth of Kochi city.

The demand has gained strength in the context of numerous residential areas coming up on the city’s east. Shops and business establishments too have been shifting to places such as the NH bypass, Kalamassery, Kakkanad and Thripunithura. This has resulted in thousands of people residing and working in these places being forced to endure maddening traffic snarls in the city and unnecessarily spending time and money to reach the two major railway stations – the Ernakulam Town and Junction stations. Full story

Coastal Highway taking shape

This four-laner will create additional road
connectivity to Kochi and Vallarpadam ICTT
in particular.


‘Alignment to be a connection to Vallarpadom terminal’
Saturday May 24 2008 09:53 IST

Express News Service

KOCHI: The alignment drafted by the Goshree Island Development Authority for the proposed Coastal Highway will be a connection to the Vallarpadom International Container Transshipment Terminal, said Fisheries Minister S Sarma.

He was addressing a meeting of panchayat presidents on Friday held to discuss the rehabilitation of residents who will be displaced for the project.

Kochi software exports zooms

മാതൃഭൂമി ധനകാര്യം 26-05-2008
Infopark achieved 90% frowth in software exports
during 2007-2008 posting a Rs.368 cr ($87 million).
Less than 4 years old, this is a stupendous growth
by any IT park in the state.
Combined with the software exports from Muthoot
Technopolis in CSEZ (Rs.120 cr.), total exports from
Kochi is Rs. 488 cr which is more than 40% of state's
IT exports in 2008 pegged at Rs.1200 cr (click). Muthoot
Technopolis is barely two year old into its functioning.
In total Kochi's existing IT parks have outperformed
the growth rate of the state It exports (60%)


മനോരമ

CIAL projects back on track

After the temporary slowdown in implementation
for a few months starting from last year, CIAL
projects are moving forward. MRO-Hangar works are
back on track and CIAL is starting an aircraft
maintainence engineering diploma program this year
using this facility.
RADAR is being set up and the equipment will reach
CIAL by June end. Aerotropolis is gaining momentum
by identifying priority of projects to be implemented.
Revenue and employment generating projects are
getting priority. Obviously, IT park project will kick off
soon.


മനോരമ 24/05/2008

Updates

Finally, action on important road projects

Collector orders speeding up of work on Edappally overbridge
Staff Reporter

The work is 45 days behind schedule

KOCHI: District Collector M. Beena has directed the officials to step up the construction work of the Edappally railway overbridge.

Talking at a review meeting held on Friday, Dr. Beena directed the public works department officials and the contractor concerned to avoid the delay and to complete the work as per the original schedule.

The work on the Edappally railway overbridge is 45 days behind the original schedule.

As per the contract, the overbridge with 30 spans is to be completed within a 15-month period by installing two spans in a month. The contractor had originally agreed to complete the work by March 2009.

He has reportedly agreed to make up for the delay in August and to stick to the original schedule. The contractor has asked for an enhancement in the rate considering the cost escalation on account of the increase in prices of construction materials as also the labour cost. The Collector agreed to bring the demand to the notice of the government. Reviewing the progress of the work of the Pullepady railway overbridge, Dr. Beena directed the Kochi Corporation and the Roads and Bridges Corporation to hasten the land acquisition measures. Full story

Respite for Smart City

Government to do away with PWD road
Saturday May 24 2008 09:54 IST

Sajimon PS

KOCHI: The State Government has decided to do away with the PWD road which goes through the Smart City project to enable its promoters, Tecom, to apply for SEZ status.

The ministerial-level meeting in Thiruvananthapuram attended by Fisheries Minister S Sarma who is also the Chairman of the Smart City project, and Works Minister Mons Joseph, also decided to lay an alternative road.

The existing PWD road connects Brahmapuram and Karimugal. Earlier, the Union Government has given SEZ status to 136 acres handed over to the Tecom.

For Tecom to apply for SEZ status for the remaining 100 acres, this PWD road is the main hindrance.

Mons Joseph has already directed the PWD officials to prepare a plan for the alternative road. Full story

new deals...

EcommIT Signs a Deal to Develop Order Management Application for Supply Co

May 22, 2008 -- EcommIT(http://www.ecommit.com), a leading Software Development firm, today announced that they have signed a contract with Supplyco Kerala, a fully owned Government Company with more than 2000 employees, to implement a software which will enable a consolidation of the individual medical store requirements at the whole sales depot level and the purchase order to the pharma vendors will be issued by the wholesale depots ensuring the benefit of scale.

About EcommIT
EcommIT Inc, USA was founded in 1999 by Satish C. Dutt with a vision to create e-business enabling software products and services. In 2001, EcommIT USA was acquired by Silverline Technologies, a New Jersey based corporation. In 2002 , the company was bought back by Mr. Dutt. In 2004 it expanded its operation to Ottawa, Canada.

EcommIT Labs, Infopark, Cochin, India (EL), is the off-shore development center for EcommIT Inc. in New Jersey, USA and Ottawa, Canada (EU). EcommIT Labs is an 100 % Export Only Unit registered under Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and commenced its operations in February 2000. It supports high- quality, cost effective application development and delivery processes. Full story

The RISE of Rises

In spite of a manipulatory chief minister,
big investment continues to flow to Kochi.
Latest is a 1000 acre tech township by
the giant ETL Infrastructures, with a
mind boggling investment of Rs. 10221 crore
($2.5 bn).

ETL Infra to invest Rs 14,262 cr.

Lalitha Rao

ETL Infrastructure Services Ltd, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is developing several projects in the south at an estimated cost of Rs 14,262 crore.
"We have plans to execute nearly nine projects in Chennai, Erode, Chengalpet, Madurai and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, Cochin in Kerala, and Bangalore in Karnataka," says K. Sriram, Head - Finance, ETL.
According to Sriram, the two major projects, one in Cochin and the other in Bangalore, entail an investment of Rs 10,221 crore and Rs 1,670 crore respectively.
The Cochin project will be a leisure township comprising residential, educational, health and hospitality developments spanning 1,000 acres with a waterfront. Full story

Also see ETL weblink to this project.

Original post by KMC & PLUS @ Skyscraperpage

Updates

Industrial front brightens

7,163 industrial units launched in Ernakulam
Staff Reporter

53,578 persons got employment in these units

KOCHI: Ernakulam District Industries Centre (DIC) has started 7,163 new industrial units and thereby generated employment for 53,578 persons during the last one year, Sebastian Pothampilly, general manager, DIC, said.

The rate of growth was higher than that registered during the previous year, he said. Among the new entrepreneurs, 626 were women, while 75 entrepreneurs were from the Scheduled Caste community.

The units attracted investments to the tune of Rs.1,427 crore, while the productivity from these units was pegged at Rs.2,870 crore. Eighteen units had been registered under the women’s industrial scheme for assistance from the government. Full story

more investments...

Agappe Diagnostics eyeing 300 per cent growth
17 May, 2008,
1834 hrs IST, PTI

KOCHI: A leading name in the Indian Diagnostics Industry, Agappe Diagnostics Ltd, on Saturday said it expecting a turnover of Rs 80 crore this year. The Thane based company has moved its entire production facilities to the newly constructed state-of-the-art factory at Pattimattom in Kerala's Ernakulam district. Full story

Updates

Cruise Terminal gets nod

Govt lines up Rs 5,000 crore port expansion projects this fiscal
20 May, 2008, 0139 hrs IST,Gunjan Pradhan Sinha, TNN

NEW DELHI: The ministry of shipping is launching 10 major expansion projects in 2008-09 at an estimated investment of Rs 5,000 crore.

The slew of projects planned for the current fiscal is in contrast with the previous years. Earlier, only one or two projects were commissioned every year. All projects in the pipeline will now be commissioned on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis and will have both public and private participation.

Expansion projects are being taken up at eight major ports — Paradip, Vizag, Chennai, Tuticorn, Cochin, New Mangalore, Goa and Kandla — in 2008-09.

Two separate cargo terminals are to be developed at Vizag for liquid and bulk cargo. An international cruise terminal at Kochi, a multi-purpose cargo berth at Kandla and a bulk cargo berth at Goa are also on the cards. At Tuticorn, berth number 8 will be converted into a container terminal. Full story

Dredging for Vallarpadam gets nod

CPT is buying a dredger to carry out the capital
dredging for Vallarpadam. This will enable
Vallarpadam to receive the biggest of the
container vessels present today. As the phase I
is commissioned the draft will be increased to
17 metres. The maintainence dredging costs at
Kochi is not big and keeps decreasing year on year
helping Vallarapadam and its future expansions
to be an all weather all generation transhipment
port.

Possible solace for Port Trust’s dredging worries

Staff Reporter

PIB recommends Rs.297-crore grant

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Cabinet committee has to approve recommendation

Bids were cancelled after allegation of cartel formation

---

KOCHI: The Public Investment Board, which considers proposals of Union Ministries for public sector undertakings, has recommended a grant of Rs.297 crore and a loan of Rs.83 crore for the Cochin Port Trust’s dredging operations linked to the establishment of the international container transhipment terminal (ICTT) on the Vallarpadam island. The recommendation has to be approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs before the Port Trust gets the money for meeting one of its key commitments to establishing India’s first greenfield container transhipment facility. According to Port Trust sources, the recommendation was made after the Port Trust approached the Union government with an appeal for help for establishing a draft of 14.5 metres. Full story

More initiatives

Kochi already has a cricket academy funded by
Muthoot group. Now this one, underlines Kochi's
growth through private initiatives without
gobbling up govt's money. In fact govt must try
to support these. Govt must immediately hand
over the land for the int'l cricket stadium that
BCCI has identified.

Sports academy for girls in Kerala

May 20

Kerala, home of renowned sports stars like sprint queen P T Usha and fast bowler S Sreesanth, is all set to have an exclusive sports academy for girls at the sleepy town of Kumbalam near Kochi, to train sportswomen to attain Olympic standards.
Promoted by an NRI businessman working in Russia, the 'Anjali Sports Academy', planned to be launched in June this year, would begin by training handball players from the state, B Rajan, Vice President, All India Handball Association, who is behind the project, said in Kochi.
Former Russian Olympian and Ukraine national handball team coach Alexi Poppavich will be the coach of the academy. The duration of the coaching will be four years.
Full story

Make this fellow answer

Projects worth 8500 cr blocked by CM
Achuthanandan - the bane of the state.

Following the case of 13 SEZs blocked by him
it has been revealed that there are 2 big
non-SEZs also affected. This fellow is out
to display his identity as political fraud
managed to reach the top post

This rotten politician wears the mask of
ideology to illegitimately favour a private
firm's investment. This fellow must be made
to answer to the public for denying them
precious jobs and depriving govt of billions
of rupees of tax revenue.

ജനവന്ച്ചകരെ വെറുതെ വിടരുത്


മനോരമ 19/05/2008

Logistics boom

In a matter of few days after this blog reported
a boom in invetments in logistics FACT has signed
a deal with CFS for a Rs.100 cr warehousing facility.

FACT inks pact with Central Warehousing for CFS

The public sector FACT has reached an understanding with other public sector companies aimed at putting to effective and productive use of the assets of fertilizer company.

The FACT management and Central Warehousing Corporation have exchanged a MoU in the presence of Mr Ram Vilas Paswan union chemical & fertilizers minister to form a JV to set up a container freight station facility at Udyogamandal. The project will require about 50 acres of land and an investment of around INR 100 crore.

The project will offer a return of 20% to 25% and land for the project is proposed to be given on lease basis, with FACT retaining ownership. To increase the revenue generation, FACT proposes to diversify into profitable areas and utilize its land resources.

Container Corporation of India Limited has also expressed interest in setting up a container freight station facility on FACT’s land. CONCOR is planning for about 20 to 30 acres of land for their proposed container freight station operations at Kochi. It is also interested in establishing rail connectivity to Udyogamandal, for its joint venture, which will also be of benefit to FACT for movement of its raw material and finished projects. The project requires an investment of INR 50 crore. Full story

Vallarpadam's giant strides

And of course, the key reason for all this boom
being India's one and only transhipment giant
under construction at Vallarpadam, Kochi.
Ms.Simplex Infrastructures is executing the
construction contract, which will be completed
within 17 months - by Oct 2009. It will initially
handle 1 million TEU container traffic which
will be expanded in a matter of 3 years to above
3 million TEU. The scope of expansion is unlimited
even beyond figure.

DP World terminals in India report major growth in 2007

India continues to be one of the fastest growing markets for container traffic for DP World. In 2007, the Indian terminals operated by DP World grew between 18% and 22%, and increasing consolidated volumes to 19%.

Both DP World Chennai and DP World Nhava Sheva reported volumes in excess of 1 million TEUs in 2007. Nhava Sheva achieved the highest throughput by a container terminal in India as crane moves per hour and berth productivity both increased during the year.

DP World’s revenue from operations for the Asia Pacific and Indian subcontinent region for 2007 was USD 461 million as compared with USD 392 million for 2006, an increase of 18% YoY against a volume increase of 19% YoY.

CAPEX in the region was USD 94 million, reflecting investment in the port in Manila following the renewed concession agreement, and at Ho Chi Minh, the terminal under development.

In India, DP World runs 5 container terminals in Chennai, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Kochi and Visakhapatnam. The new terminal at Vallarpadam, which will replace Kochi, will be the largest terminal in India. This terminal is expected to have a gross capacity of 1 million TEUs during the commencement of operations in 2009 and increase it to 3 million on completion. The Kulpi terminal is expected to start operations in 2009 with an initial capacity of 600,000 TEUs and increase it to 1.4 million TEUs on completion. Full story

A peep at what's in store

An important place to locate massive
development projects are the environmental
clearance (EC) applications listed at the Ministry
of Env, Govt of India. The list of mega consruction
projects in Kerala awaiting EC demonstrates the
well known fact - over 76% of all such projects in
Kerala are in Kochi. Have a look...

Pending decision

Kerala
1		2008	Project No:21-254/2008-IA.III Project Name: EC for proposed biotech SEZ at cochin, Kerala District:xx Village:xx Company:TCG Real Estate	01/05/2008	To be considered by EAC
2		2008	Project No:21-221/2008-IA.III Project Name: EC for dream hotel, at silversand island, ennakulam district District:xx Village:xx Company:Backwater Hotel and resort Pvt. Ltd.	16/04/2008	To be considered by EAC
3		2008	Project No:21-203/2008-IA.III Project Name: EC for construction of Residential Apartments Block-10, Menmkulum village District:Kerala Village:Kadinamklum Company:M/s Confident Group	10/04/2008	To be considered by EAC.
4		2008	Project No:21-198/2008-IA.III Project Name: EC for housing project apple ice proposed at kochi, kerala District:xx Village:xx Company:Apple-A-Day Properties (P) Ltd., Kochi	01/04/2008	To be considered by EAC
5		2008	Project No:21-170/2008-IA.III Project Name: EC for Sobha HI tech city township project at village Maradu, cochin District:xx Village:xx Company:Sobha Developers Ltd.	20/03/2008	To be considered by EAC
6		2008	Project No:21-167/2008-IA.III Project Name: EC for proposed Software Development Complex at Infopark, Kochi, Kerala District:Kochi Village:Kochi Company:M/s Tata Consultancy Service.	19/03/2008	To be considered by EAC.
7		2008	Project No:21-162/2008-IA.III Project Name: EC for proposed IT/ ITeS SEZ at Nedumbassery village Chengamanadu Alwa Taluka, Enakulam distt, Kerala District:Enakulam Village:Chengamanadu Company:M/s Parsvnath Developers Ltd.	18/03/2008	To be considered by EAC.
8		2008	Project No:21-14/2008-IA.III Project Name: EC for proposed software development complex at Techno Park Campus, Kariyavattam post trivandrum taluk District:xx Village:xx Company:TATA Consultancy services	14/01/2008	To be considered by EAC
9		2008	Project No:21-18/2008-IA.III Project Name: EC for residential apartment , santhi lotus, sreekrishna temple road, aluva District:xx Village:xx Company:Almark Housing co. (P) Ltd.	14/01/2008	To be considered by EAC
10		2007	Project No:21-1154/2007-IA.III Project Name: EC for riverside housing project , poomithura village, cochin corporation , ernakulam district District:xx Village:xx Company:Addie Builders and Developers Pvt. Ltd.	29/11/2007	To be considered by EAC
11		2007	Project No:21-1116/2007-IA.III Project Name: EC for proposed HDIL cyber city at resurvey at thrikkakara north village, kanayannur taluk ernakulam district District:xx Village:xx Company:Blue Star realtors Pvt. Ltd.	15/11/2007	To be considered by EAC
12		2007	Project No:21-1104/2007-IA.III Project Name: EC for international convention centre and hotel project at Akkulam sy no. 165, 524, and 571/43 village cheruvaikkai, attipra, thiruvanathapuram, kerala District:xx Village:xx Company:Chalet Hotels and properties (Kerala) Pvt. Ltd.	13/11/2007	To be considered by EAC
13		2007	Project No:21-705/2007-IA.III Project Name: EC for International exhibition and trade centre at Kinfra Hi-tech Park, Kochi, kerala, District:xx Village: Company:Zoom Developers (P) Ltd. Mumbai	29/06/2007	To be considered by EAC
14		2007	Project No:21-567/2007-IA.III Project Name: EC for SDB at declared IT SEZ at Attipara, Trivandrum district District:xx Village: Company:Infosys Technologies Ltd., Bangalore	11/06/2007	To be considered by EAC
15		2007	Project No:21-368/2007-IA.III Project Name: Environmental clearance for "Prestige Forum Mall" at Maradhi Village Kanayanvar Taluk Cochin , Ernakulam District, Kerala state District:Ernakulam Village: Company:Thomsu Realtors Pvt. Ltd.	10/04/2007	To be considered by EAC
16		2007	Project No:21-311/2007-IA.III Project Name: Environmental clearance for Yasoram skycity project at Kochi, Kerala District:xx Village: Company:Yasoraminfra Developers Pvt. Ltd.	02/04/2007	To be considered by EAC
17		2006	Project No:21-705/2006-IA.III Project Name: Kshiti Mall at CTS No. 641/4, 633/2, - 629/6 M.G. Road, Cochin District:Cochin. Village:629/6 M.G. RoadEranakulam South Company:Peeves Project (Pvt) Ltd.	12/12/2006	To be considered by the EAC.

In the list of approved projects there are 4 from
Kochi and 1 from Trissur.

Important infrastruture initiative

Finally Brahmapuram is set to start operation.
Corporation will have to supply solid waste to
the plant - a task which may require private
sector initiative. Its time Corporation hands over
bulk of waste collection to the private sector.

All set for commissioning of Brahmapuram plant
Wednesday May 14 2008 08:34 IST

Express News Service

KOCHI: The Kochi Corporation has started preliminary steps to begin the functioning of the Brahmapuram Solid Waste Treatment, which will be commissioned on May 18.

As part of ensuring effective functioning of the plant and segregation of waste, the Corporation on Monday convened a meeting of various agencies such as Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Railway, Kerala Builders Forum, Confederation of Indian Industries(CII), Police and other PSUs.

Only segregated waste will be sent to Brahamapuram to be processed at the plant. It has been decided to launch intense campaign to create awareness among the people about segregation.

"Biodegradable and nonbiodegradable waste generated by the merchants and traders will be collected in association with the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry," Mayor Mercy Williams said. Full story

More facts on SEZs

Apart from the deliberate delay by CM, there are
also bureaucratic red-tapes winding on the SEZ
applications. Finally, its the IT dept under the
CM that deliberately drags on this to unduly
facilitate TECOM's project.


മനോരമ 13/05/2008

SEZ issue gets its due

Finally Opposition leader has come out strongly
against the foul play by Chief Minister
VS Achuthanandan in denying nod to 12 IT-SEZs .

Chandy: CM sidelining IT sector
Monday May 12 2008 01:13 IST

ENS

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: "The policies adopted by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan has thwarted the chances of the development of the IT sector in the state. His office has directed not to give sanction for special economic zone status for the 18 companies that has been recommended by the Industry Department," said Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy.

The Chief Minister has taken this decision to help the Smart City project in Kochi. It has been decided to give more prominence to the marketing of the Smart City project than any other projects in the state.

Even after the Industry Department gave the green signal for the 18 new projects, the Chief Minister’s office scuttled it, said Chandy in a press release issued here on Sunday. Full story

SEZ application of 18 IT firms blocked: Chandy
Special Correspondent

‘To help Smart City project promoters’

---

Says Industries Department has given green signal

‘Chief Minister giving priority to market Smart City’

---

Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy has accused the Chief Minister’s office of blocking the proposals of 18 information technology (IT) companies for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status to help the promoters of Smart City project.

In a statement here on Sunday, Mr. Chandy said the applications of these companies had been pending clearance for the past several months. He said the Industries Department had given the green signal for the proposals and the Chief Minister’s stand was to give priority to the marketing of Smart City before these companies got the SEZ status. He wanted to know the reasons for blocking the proposals and whether such a stand would be beneficial for the development of IT sector. Full story

Updates

Land Acquisition back on track

Administration has to finish the process by May 31, 2008.
The work on 4-lane project is fast progressing. Work on
a flyover to be built near the Apollo tyres jun at Kalamassery
is progressing.

Rail link works are also going apace in the land already
acquired. About 25% of land is still to be acquired for this.

While the work on the International Container Transhipment
Terminal is in full steam as reported here earlier . Within
17 months India's one and only mother port will be ready.

Vallarpadom project: Land acquisition resumes
Wednesday May 7 2008 02:06 IST

Express News Service

KOCHI: The district administration after a gap of two months on Tuesday resumed land acquisition programme for the rail connectivity project to the Vallarpadom container terminal.

A team led by special tahasildar E V Babychan acquired 22 cents of vacant land of four land owners from Cheranelloor village.

Sources told this website's newspaper that that the vacant land of Samarasamithi leader of Cheranelloor village was also acquired.

Now the vacant land of only 12 owners in the Mulavukadu village remain to be acquired.

"Land owners of Mulavukadu can give their consent this week for acquiring their land under the DLPC. Otherwise land will be acquired under the LA Act on Monday and if there is any resistance, police protection will be sought," sources said.

After the land acquisition, 21 houses from Cheranelloor and 13 houses from Mulavukadu will be acquired for the Vallarpadom project. Full story

Infopark to emerge Smarter

Infopark has about 1 million sq ft space ready and
another 2.5 million under construction. Including
the upcoming TCS, IBS campuses it will have about
5.5 million sq ft on 100 acres. As part of expansion
Infopark will add another 6 million sq ft space in
phase II. That translates into a cool 110,000
professionals employed there. All this is in addition
to Smart City which on its own will have over a
100,000 employed.

Add to this the projects on stream like Sobha
Hitech City and the 10 SEZs awaiting final clearance,
Kochi is set to be home for about 1.2 million in
software/ITES alone. The mega electronic SEZs in
discussion are in addition to this.

Land acquisition work to be quickened
Wednesday May 7 2008 02:08 IST

Express News Service

KOCHI: District Collector M Beena said that the district administration will speed up all activities for the acquisition of 167-acre land for the comprehensive second phase development of the Infopark, Kochi.

As part of the move, the Collector paid a visit to the Infopark and held discussions with its CEO Siddardh Bhattacharya at his office on Tuesday. "Beena, also a general body member of the Infopark, promised all
help for the speedy acquisition of the land," said senior Infopark technical advisor Kuriyan.

...

The 4(1) notification for the land acquisition was issued in 2007 and survey works have also been completed. Now the Infopark has 101 acres of land in its possession where it has a 20-lakh sq-ft building. It will soon set up another 20-lakh sq ft building in the rest of 101 acres of land.

"We are planning to construct 60- lakh sq ft building in 167 acres of land which is going to be acquired," said Kuriyan. Full story

FACT plans it big

Opening for the floodgate of investments FACT
is set to open up its vast land reserves in Kochi
of the order of 3000 acres for a Petrochem complex
a Tech township and a plethora of other investments.


മാതൃഭൂമി 06/05/2008

Metro a must !

With all due respect, let us say that Justice Krishna Iyer
and Justice Narayana Kurup are totaly wrong in opposing
Metro. It is out of sheer lack of information that such a
weird stance was taken by these eminent citizen. This
article from The hindu brings out clearly the sweeping
effect of Delhi Metro ushered into NCR's socio-economic
scenario.
Same DMRC has studied a detailed study running over
years in the planning of Kochi Metro Rail - KMR. The
eminent citizens above seems completely out of touch
with reality. Anycase, the meeting with Chief Minister
has clearly spelt out that there no change in the plans
for Metro. giving hope that Kerala's only and South
India's fastest growing metropolis will leap ahead with
its transport plans.

Kochi can take a cue from Delhi Metro

Staff Reporter

A more efficient, pollution-free mode of transport

KOCHI: Despite those opposing the proposed elevated metro-rail system in Kochi listing some demerits of the project, regular commuters of the Delhi metro rail are all praise for the metro-rail network in Delhi.

The Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) had recently released data on how the metro-rail project had a positive influence on the socio-economic fronts in Delhi and the reduction in automobile-induced pollution in the city. At a recent meeting here, detractors of the project said that the metro-coaches would create sound pollution. They also spoke of the high cost of travel, damage to Kochi’s aesthetics (despite the city already being notorious for ill-maintained and dangerous roads, footpaths, medians and drains, apart from encroachments), regular traffic being thrown haywire when the construction of rails is on etc... Full story

Traffic nightmare quantified

Heavy traffic volume slows the pace of Kochi city

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: How it feels to be in the heart of Kochi city during peak time traffic? Ask anyone who has experienced it and one would have a rather resigned look on one’s face. And it tells the tale.

That vehicles and traffic in the city have grown beyond what the city can accommodate has long been known. The final draft of the City Mobility Plan (CMP) placed before the Kochi Corporation puts that into numbers.

As per a traffic analysis , intra-city trips (within Kochi) on any day were not less than 2,27,844; whereas total trips to and from the city were 2,82,377. Of the intra-city trips, 1,35,682 trips were by buses, 56,396 by two-wheelers, 46,523 on foot and 16,393 trips by cars. While 91,137 trips were for work, 13,901 were social trips and 11,014 trips were for recreation. Trips related to education purposes came to 9,291. According to the CMP, to accommodate this mammoth traffic, the Kochi Corporation has a road network of 614 km — 17 km of arterial roads, 53 km of sub-arterial roads and 393 km of local streets. Full story

Updates

Big plans to unfold soon

Plan for Rs.5,000-crore urea plant in Kochi

Staff Reporter

Efforts on to link Kochi to national gas grid: Paswan

Scrutinising: Union Fertilizers Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan take a look at the house built from gypsum wall panels at the Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore complex in Kochi on Saturday.

KOCHI: The Union Fertilizer Ministry will consider setting up a million-tonne urea plant in Kochi at an investment of about Rs.5,000 crore once liquefied natural gas (LNG) is available here, said Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Saturday.

The Minister was speaking after laying the foundation for a joint venture between Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF) for making reinforced wall panels from phosphogypsum. Full story

More investment in logistics

Ambuja Cements Cochin terminal to be ready by December

Exim News Service reported that Ambuja Cements is constructing a dedicated terminal at Cochin Port at a cost of INR 85 crore. This is expected to be ready for operations in December 2008. The terminal may have the capacity to handle about 1 million tonne a year and may be used for domestic distribution.
Full story

...and warehousing

EXPLORING new business possibilities relating to the upcoming Vallarpadam Container Terminal, Mini Muthoottu group plans to set up a comprehensive warehousing facility in Kochi.

First of its kind in Kerala, the Logistics Park will have the state-of-the-art warehousing system that would offer adequate storage facility for all kinds trans-shipment goods.

The project, to be at an investment of Rs 300 crore, is expected to be completed in two years. Full story

Updates

Cruise terminal project report ready

BOT model for cruise terminal
Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The feasibility report and business plan for the proposed international cruise terminal and public plaza on Willingdon Island has suggested setting up the world-class facilities on the tested Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) structure.

The study, submitted to Cochin Port Trust a fortnight ago, has set a debt-equity ratio of 68:32 for the project, establishing which will cost an estimated Rs. 375 crore.

The report has been prepared by Mir Projects and Consultants Pvt. Ltd, Kochi and TranSystems, Virginia of the USA.

The cruise terminal project is one with a long gestation period, the study said, as it suggested the PPP-BOT route for implementing it. Full story

FACT resurgent

After the debilitating delay in starting LNG terminal
and the sudden jump in sulphur prices FACT went into
deep crisis. Now it is on a comeback trail - this one
company has contributed to the state treasury
thousands of crores of rupees as taxes and dividents.

FACT charts out ambitious growth plan

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) will tap its vast land bank and human resource base for a more robust future through an array of new joint ventures with several public sector companies, including one between Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and FACT Design and Engineering Organisation (FEDO). Full story

മനോരമ 02-05-2008

Brownfield investments too

Spencer’s will float arms for global alliances
Madhumita Mookerji/ DNA MONEY
Friday, 02 May , 2008, 09:00

PCBL will add an aggregate capacity of 140,000 mt at its fourth location in Mundra (Gujarat) and a brownfield project at Kochi. Both these locations will also have co-generation power plants with aggregate capacity of 32 mw.

PCBL will invest Rs 250 crore in its Vietnam plant and another Rs 350 crore in the Kochi and Mundra units (The Kochi plant will have an investment of Rs 140 crore). Full story

Updates

Vallarpadam : remaining land to be acquired this month

With the ICTT works going full steam at Vallarpadam
(See previous post) state govt must take over the
remaining smaller - but crucial - bit of land. There is
only one way out - provide all the evictees with
Moolampilly package.

Vallarpadam: deadline set for land acquisition

Staff Reporter

Union Secretary reviews progress of the container project

---

Collector promises to complete acquisition of the required land by May 31

November 2009 tentatively fixed as date for finishing the proejct

---

KOCHI: Union Shipping Secretary A.P.V.N. Sharma on Monday directed the district revenue authorities to acquire the entire land required for the rail and road connectivity for the proposed Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) within a month.

He gave the direction at a meeting held at the Cochin Port Trust to review the progress of the ICTT project on Monday. District Collector M. Beena, who was present at the meeting, agreed to comply with the direction and to complete the acquisition process by May 31. Full story

KTM time, again !

Kerala Tourism getting ready for KTM 2008

Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) 2008 will be held from September 20-23, 2008 at Kochi. This is the fifth Travel Mart that is taking place in the series in Kerala. The first KTM was held in September 2000. KTM is a perfect example of the synergy between the public and private sector, joining hands for the promotion of tourism in the state.

KTM today is the largest gathering that has been designed, planned and scheduled to facilitate meetings involving buyers, sellers, media, government Agencies and other relevant stakeholders. Besides seminars, pre/post Mart FAM tours and cultural evenings, the Mart provides the participants with a first hand experience of the destination - Kerala. Full story

Cochin Shipyard continues to build records

Delivery of newbuilding

We are pleased to inform that Deep Sea Supply todayhas taken delivery of "Sea Pollock", a newbuilding PSVfrom Cochin Shipyard, India. The vessel is a UT 755L Platform Supply Vessel,and the vessel was delivered on time and budget The vessel is the 6th delivery in a series of 8 newbuildingPSVs delivered to Deep Sea Supply from Cochin. 30 April 2008 Full story

New Era of civic amenities for Kochi

Trial work to begin at Brahmapuram plant

Staff Reporter

Collector directs officials to complete works before May 7

KOCHI: Treatment of waste on a trial basis will begin at the Brahmapuram solid waste treatment plant from May 7, District Collector M. Beena said on Monday. Ten truckloads of garbage would be treated during the trial period.

Dr. Beena visited the plant on Monday for the first time after taking charge as Collector. She urged the officials to take up and complete all pending works including land filling before May 7.

Works are being carried out with the aim of commissioning the plant on May 18, she said. Full story