The KochiNow Blog

Yesterday’s Mathrubhumi report confirms the new int’l
cricket stadium at Kochi by Kerala Cricket Assn (KCA). The
annual general body meeting of KCA approved Kochi as
the venue of the new cricket stadium. The project
will have about Rs.100 cr. investment on a 40 acre land
at Kochi. KCA has not revealed the location yet. BCCI will
contribute Rs. 50 cr. out of this.

Phoenix group looks to build luxury portfolio

Dinkar Farwaha - Goa

After opening its first Country Inns & Suites resort in the country in Goa recently, Phoenix group is betting high on the luxury market.

The group, which also owns Radisson Plaza Resort & Spa, Kumarakom (Kerala) and Radisson White Sands Resort, Goa, is eyeing acquisitions in cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Kochi to develop luxury and premium hotels. It is also developing a residential project in Goa. The group plans to inject close to Rs 1,800 crore by 2011 for these expansions. Full story

Langham Hotels looks for partners in India

Sanjeev Bhar - New Delhi

Helmut Knipp

Langham Hotels International, the operating and asset management arm of Hong Kong-based Great Eagle Holdings, has identified India as a strong market for development. Helmut Knipp, its senior VP (development) reveals, “Our focus has been on China of late. But India is as large and showing similar growth. The opportunity cannot be missed and we wish to take measured steps to establish the brand in India.”

According to the company, there is a strong interest to build the brands in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kochi and Goa. Full story

The Metropolitan: Expanding its horizons
Plans to develop several luxury hotels in the major gateway cities of India

…is currently scouting for suitable locations in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi and New Delhi or the National Capital Region (NCR) region. Full story

Jones Lang Lasalle Meghraj lists Kochi as a top destination
for retail

… recently released a report on the retail industry in the country that named seven cities—Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kochi, Surat and Vadodra—as high growth destinations for retail. Full story

Smart City business plan ready

Smart City director board approves marketing plan
Staff Reporter

First meeting appoints vice-chairman, forms group

KOCHI: The first director board meeting of Smart City Kochi, a self-sustained industry township for knowledge-based industries, was held here on Thursday.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan laid the foundation stone for the multi-crore project, promoted jointly by Dubai-based Tecom and the State government, at Kakkanad on November 16.

The budget and marketing plan for 2008 and formation of a group to take care of the initial operations for the smooth rollout of the project were approved.
Full story

Ad industry wakes up to Kochi.

The growing business of advertising real estate

Estimates suggest the real estate advertising as a Rs.1,500-crore business.

A decade back, the role of ‘middlemen’ in traditional Indian marriages was of utmost importance.

In a free-wheeling interaction with The Hindu, Mr. Verma also pointed out that Hyderabad and Kochi have become the fast-emerging markets in the sector.

“In South, after the real-estate boom in Bangalore, it is Hyderabad and Kochi which are in huge demand. Full story

Today’s news reports in all leading dailies state that
land acquisition for Kochi Metro Rail (KMR) will be
notified withn 5 days. This was announced after DMRC
the executing agency, handed over the detailed project
report and alignment to the revenue authorities.
Another order freezing all transaction and construction
activities on the notified land will follow soon.

Kerala Govt plans Oceanarium in Kochi
Project on PPP model to be completed by 2010
with investment of Rs 300 crore
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 (17:00 IST)
By Anish V Punnackattu | Kochi

The Government of Kerala is planning to develop an Oceanarium spread
over 44 acres at New Vypeen in Kochi on a Public Private Partnership
(PPP) model with an investment of Rs 300 crore. The proposed Oceanarium
which will be launched by 2010 is expected to be the largest in South
East Asia. According to sources the Government of Kerala, Ministry of
Earth Science and Government of India will hold 49 per cent stake and
the remaining 51 per cent will be allocated to private parties. Full story

Kinfra Hi-tech park takes off in a big way. The bio-tech, Electronics hardware
and jewellery SEZs and the trade-cum-exhibition centre together will create
100,000 new job opportunities. The trade centre by Zoom developers has
already hit headlines for being the the tallest tower in SouthIndia with over
a 100 floors.

Host of projects coming up at Kinfra Hitech
Park
R. Ramabhadran Pillai

It has tied up with TCG Urban Infrastructure Holdings

KOCHI: A host of projects are at various stages of execution at the
Kinfra Hitech Park, Kalamasserry. These include a biotech park, an international
exhibition and trade centre, a gem and jewellery park and an electronics
(hardware) industries unit.
The developers of the projects were selected
through an open competitive-bidding process following approved eligibility
criteria, Kinfra officials say.

For the biotech park on 20 hectares of land, Kinfra has tied up with
TCG Urban Infrastructure Holdings Private Ltd., Mumbai. The two have signed a
lease agreement for the land.
The company proposes to develop a special
economic zone for biotech industries on 10 hectares. The Ministry of Commerce
has accorded sanction for it.
The company has submitted a detailed master
plan. It will invest Rs. 200 crore for infrastructure development.

The exhibition and trade centre will be developed on 16 hectares of
land. Zoom Developers Private Ltd., Mumbai, is the developer. The lease
agreement has been signed. The company has submitted a detailed master plan and
sought clearance for the project through a single-window clearance
system.
The company will invest Rs. 150 crore for infrastructure development.
It is expected that 15,000 people will get employment at the unit.

The industrial park for gem and jewellery will be developed on 13
hectares of land. Aerens Gold Souk International Ltd., Gurgaon, is the
developer. The project will be completed by April 2009.
The company will
make an investment of Rs. 488 crore. It expects to generate over 40,000
jobs.
The Ministry of Commerce has given final approval for developing the
Special Economic Zone for Electronics (Hardware) Industries on 12 hectares of
land. SFO Technologies Private Ltd., Kochi, is the co-developer.
The company
will make an investment of Rs. 350 crore. As many as 25,000 jobs are expected to
be generated. The project will be completed by April 2009, officials associated
with the project say. Full Story

Thai team visits Kochi
Tuesday December 18 2007 09:00 IST

ENS

KOCHI: After Smart City, now it is the turn of Electronic City. Representatives comprising high officials of AmerAsia Ventures Corporation visited a few locations in Kochi to set up the endeavour.

The seven-member Thai team, led by Michael Chan, held talks with government officials at Infopark on Monday.

IT Secretary AjayaKumar, Industrial Secretary T.Balakrihnan, District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, KSEB Chief Engineer Girija Devi, Pollution Control Board Chief Engineer Maithili and Infopark officials attended the meeting.

Sources said that the team was looking for a place having airport within 25 to 35-km diameter.

Thai team planning to establish hardware industries, including semi-conductor and allied industries, is known to have expressed their positive approach for setting up the project in Kochi.

The team will hold discussions with the government officials in Thiruvananthapuram and New Delhi later.

The Rs 3,000 crore Electronic City is being planned to be set up in 2,000 acres. IT Secretary told this website’s newspaper that it is nothing but a primary meeting. “The government is yet to take a decision in this regard,” he said. Full story NIE

Work awaiting govt nod
Sunday December 16 2007 09:33 IST

ENS http://www.newindpress.com/

KOCHI: “The construction work of Marina project will be started as soon as the State Government gives administrative sanction for it,” KTDC chairman Cherian Philip said in a statement here on Saturday.

The queries raised by the Finance Department regarding the project were addressed in the beginning of November itself. The ultimate decision lies with the ministry.

He said that the Central Government had allotted Rs 4 crore for the project.

The project will be the first of its kind in India. It is proposed to be built in the backwaters between Marine Drive and Bolgatty Palace and it will have the facility to anchor 50 yachts.

The project includes a modernised marina house, recreation centre and a convention centre. There is also a plan to develop the existing golf course.

He said that the first phase of the project with a facility for anchoring 30 yachts will be completed within one-and- a-half years.