[Sathyalal]

TIA is growing at a rapid rate(fastest in India).



Source Airport Authority of India
http://www.airportsindia.org.in/traffic_news/TRDEC2006_1.pdf

2.1.1 TOTAL AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS:
The total aircraft movements (International and Domestic) handled in December 2006 has shown an increase of 27.0 per cent as compared to the aircraft movement handled in December 2005 (referred to Annexure-I).
Major increases are at (Annexure-IIC):
• Chennai
41.7%
• Srinagar
34.2%
• Bangalore
31.9%
• Nagpur
68.4%
• Hyderabad
27.9%
• Pune
35.3%
•Trivandrum
84.2%
• Guwahati
37.3%
• Cochin (CIAL)
37.1%
• Mangalore
81.3%
Higher growth in traffic at above airports is due to increased operation by low cost airlines and increase in frequency of existing airlines. Number of foreign airlines started operations at international airports other than Mumbai and Delhi airports.

2.1.2 INTERNATIONAL AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS:
The international aircraft movement has increased by 6.6 per cent during the period under review. Growth rates of different categories of airports are mentioned in Annexure –I and airport-wise details are given in Annexure-IIA.
Major increases are at (Annexure-IIA):
• Chennai
12.0%
• Cochin (CIAL)
20.8%
• Bangalore
16.3%
• Amritsar
49.6%
• Trivandrum
35.9%
• Jaipur
109.2%
Air Arabia started their operation at Trivandrum Airport from December 2006. Air Arabia started operation at Jaipur Airport from May 2006 and also, Haj flight operations at Jaipur during the reporting month contributed to higher growth. The higher growth in traffic at other airports is due to increase in frequency by existing Airlines / start of operations by new airlines.

2.1.3 DOMESTIC AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS:
The domestic aircraft movements increased remarkably by 33.3 per cent during December 2006. Growth rates of different categories of airports are mentioned in Annexure –I and airport-wise details are given in Annexure –IIB.
Major increases are at (Annexure-IIB):
• Chennai
53.9%
• Cochin (CIAL)
55.4%
• Hyderabad
36.4%
• Guwahati
38.3%
• Trivandrum
198.6%• Pune
36.1%
• Nagpur
70.9%
• Port Blair
251.6%
• Srinagar
44.4%
• Mangalore
72.9%

[rajkrish]

Trivandrum International School (TRINS)

The only International School in Kerala, the Trivandrum International School is set in a serene 15 acre campus on a hilltop on the outskirts of Trivandrum. It is about 20 km north of Trivandrum The curricula offered are ICSE, (University of Cambridge) IGCSE and `A` Levels and International Baccalaureate. The present body of students are of parents currently residing in USA, UK, Switzerland, Singapore, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Thailand, Columbia...... and, of course, Kerala and the rest of India.

Trivandrum's cosmopolitan ambience - international IT corporations, the high profile space research center, national laboratories and centres of excellence, and a legacy of fine-art and culture - offers the perfect backdrop to Kerala's first international school

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/4026/trins23hl.jpg

http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/9180/trins8fu.jpg

http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/6697/trins42lx.jpg

http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/4820/trins37xa.jpg

http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/2674/trins68ju.jpg

http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/4861/trins50xi.jpg

[rajkrish]

Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS). Winner of Kerala Government's Medical Tourism Awards. This is a super specialty hospital providing world class treatment facilities to a large international as well as domestic clientèle

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7731/10006118mq.jpg

[rajkrish]

Now its play time.

Trivandrum has some great clubs. Trivandrum Tennis Club (TTC) is one among
them

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://tinypic.com/97i5gh.jpg

http://img345.imageshack.us/img345/1464/trivandrumtennisclub7om.jpg

http://img345.imageshack.us/img345/5709/tennisclub0jw.jpg

[rajkrish]

The next big outsourcing hotspots will not be from the usual metro cities but from Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mangalore, Nagpur, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram and Visakhapatnam, according to a study conducted by Alsbridge, an outsourcing, offshoring and shared services advisory firm.

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=21955

But I guess TVM attracts more software developments firms in place of BPO comps if you look at the companies in Technopark

[rajkrish]

Hong Kong-based multinational company QI would invest upto $200 million in India in the next five years.It was also looking into the possibility of setting uphotels in tier II and tier III cities in South India like Madurai, Combatore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangalore. Besides these, some towns in AndhraPradesh were being considered for setting up business class hotels.

[rajkrish]

More facilities at airport soon for domestic passengers

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

AAI to commission Rs.45-lakh facilities next week

# One more X-ray machine to be installed
# Two more airline counters to be set up to avoid rush

Thiruvananthapuram : The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will commission next week the Rs.45-lakh passenger facilities in the domestic terminal of the international airport to cater to the heavy movement of travellers in the domestic sector.

An additional 300 square metres of space is being made available by the AAI on the city side and airside in addition to the existing 4,465 square metres in the domestic terminal. Under this project, 240 square metres on the right side of the canopy of the domestic terminal was annexed to the terminal building to make available more space for the domestic passengers.

Air-conditioners have been provided for the comfort of the passengers and tiles have been laid on the floor. The X-ray machine now placed inside the building would be shifted outside so that the domestic passengers can screen their baggage and proceed straight to the terminal.

Two more airline counters would be set up inside the building to avoid rush. With this, the number of airline counters in the domestic terminal would go up to eight. Conveyor belts would be extended to all counters.On the airside, the authorities have extended the security-hold area by 60 square metres to accommodate more passengers....

Airport Director K. Natarajan told The Hindu that the additional facilities being set up by AAI at a cost of Rs.45 lakh would be thrown open by the weekend.

The heavy movement of domestic passengers forced us to provide more facilities in the domestic terminal, he said.The AAI would place more chairs in the security hold area for the benefit of checked-in passengers. One more X-ray machine would soon be installed for screening the baggage in the domestic terminal, he said.

As per the latest traffic figures, Mr. Natarajan said the increase in domestic aircraft movement through the airport was an astounding 225 per cent. The movement of domestic aircraft alone had gone up from 284 in January 2006 to 924 in January this year. "This had prompted us to provide more facilities for the passengers in the domestic terminal," he said.

[rajkrish]

An ambassador for Vizhinjam project
Friday April 6 2007 08:36 IST
T’PURAM: The State Government’s efforts to enlist Russian help for setting up the deepwater container transshipment hub at Vizhinjam received a boost on Thursday with the Russian Ambassador to India Vyacheslav I Trubnikov assuring all help for the project.

Russian officials will participate in the Vizhinjam Project Investors’ Meet that will be organised on April 17 in Thiruvananthapuram, Trubnikov told Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan at a meeting here.

In the city for the Russian Cultural Festival, Trubnikov also promised to take up the state’s request for using part of the ‘Rupee-Rouble’ fund for setting up the Rs 4,350-crore project at Vizhinjam, some 16 km from the city.

Trubnikov was accompanied by Russian Consul General for South India Vladislav Antonyuk and head of the cultural department of the Russian Embassy Fyoder Rozovskiy. Law Minister M Vijayakumar was also present on the occasion.

After the Central Government shot down Chinese participation in the Vizhinjam project, the State Government had chosen to float fresh global bids.

Rosoboronexports Corporation, the Russian agency through which all its defence deals are conducted, had shown interest in the project. Russian officials had also met Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan in New Delhi two months ago.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, during his January visit to New Delhi, had announced his nation’s readiness to use the ‘Rupee-Rouble’ fund for infrastructure projects in India. The State Government, on its part, had requested the help of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister A K Antony for getting Russian aid for the project.

Apart from the Russians, heavyweights who have shown interest in taking up the multi-crore project include BPL patriarch T P G Nambiar and entrepreneur Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

In his meeting with the Chief Minister, the Russian Ambassador also evinced his country’s interest in investing in the tourism sector and collaborative projects with the Travancore Titanium Products. It was also decided at the meeting to hold discussions on the proposed investments shortly.


http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070405221443&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0&

[rajkrish]

Thiruvananthapuram airport gets DGCA licence

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

Third airport in the country to get this licence

# Increase in passenger movement
# Top slot for Thiruvananthapuram airport

Thiruvananthapuram: The premier international airport of the State has become the third airport in the country to obtain Aerodrome licence from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for adherence to safety and security standards.

Thiruvananthapuram airport is the third after the metro airports in Chennai and Kolkatta to get the mandatory licence for landing and departure of aircraft. Under the international aviation standards, individual airports have to get licences on the basis of maintaining safety and security standards.

Effectively from November 2005, the licence from the DGCA is mandatory for all airports in the country to carry out flight operations. "The licence valid for six months had been issued last month by DCGA under Rule 78 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937," Airport Director K. Natarajan told The Hindu

Security audit

The aerodrome licence was issued on the basis of the security and safety audit carried out by a team of officials from the DGCA directorate in New Delhi. The inspection focussed mainly on ground flight safety such as safety of runway, apron and that of the approach lights among other things.

Meanwhile, as per the latest traffic figures, the international airport witnessed a 94.8 per cent increase in aircraft movement in January 2007 compared to the same period last year. In comparison to 954 movements in January 2006, the airport registered 1,858 movements in January this year.

Mr. Natarajan said the increase in domestic aircraft movements through the airport had been an astounding 225 per cent.

The movement of domestic aircraft had gone up from 284 in January 2006 to 924 in January this year.

In the case of passenger movement through the airport, there has been a 46.9 per cent increase in January 2007. Compared to 1,19,849 passenger movement through the airport in January 2006, the airport registered 1,76,053 passenger movement in January this year.

A performance monitored survey carried out for the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has revealed that the premier airport of the State is on the top slot with a percentage of 99 per cent and has got best rating from the passengers and visitors. As per the survey, Thiruvananthapuram airport has overtaken Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Bangalore, Goa and Kolkata airports.

Mr. Natarajan said the survey carried out during January to December last covered attitude of the AAI personnel, general cleanliness of the airport, adequacy of seating arrangements, general comfort, air-conditioning, availability of drinking water and glasses, cleanliness of toilets, availability and quality of trolley for the passengers in the airport.

[rajkrish]

B'Canti Little Queen - A villament @ Jawahar Nagar

Perspective credits : Shafi

http://i16.tinypic.com/34fkxl5.jpg

[rajkrish]

B'Canti Royal Crest

Photo credits : Shafi

http://i14.tinypic.com/47mzqlf.jpg

[rajkrish]

One more Banglore based construction group is right here at kerala. 'Nakshatra Group'

They have projects in Trivandrum.

In Trivandrum they are having 94 villa projects of which 42 is already booked.


Location Map Courtesy : Shafi

http://i12.tinypic.com/3zqiejk.jpg

[rajkrish]

Qatar Airways to start freighter service



First of its kind to operate from Thiruvananthapuram airport

Thiruvananthapuram: Qatar Airways, the national airline of Qatar, would soon commence freighter service from Doha to Thiruvananthapuram international airport.

"The airline is expecting the third freighter to joint the fleet in the last week of July and we hope to commence the service from August," Regional Manager, Cargo, India Sub-continent, Anil Bhagat, told The Hindu here.

As per the proposal worked out by the airline, the freighter service from Doha to Thiruvananthapuram would be on a weekly basis. In the return direction, the freighter will proceed via Colombo to Doha.

On introduction, the freighter service would be the first of its kind to operate to the premier airport of the State.

The freighter service would be able to carry 42 tonnes of cargo at a stretch. The freighter would have a pilot, co-pilot and a loadmaster as the crew.

The airline is eyeing the unaccompanied baggage of Non-Resident Keralites and the export of perishables, especially fruits and vegetables, from Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram to the Middle East.

Qatar Airways has 11 per cent share in the cargo being uplifted from Thiruvananthapuram. At present, the airline uplifts five tonnes of cargo daily in the regular flight that is operated from Doha to Thiruvananthapuram using A-321 aircraft. In the case of Nedumbassery, three tonnes of cargo is being uplifted daily in the regular flight that is operated using A-321 aircraft.

Mr. Bhagat said the introduction of freighter service to Thiruvananthapuram would be subjected to the approval of the landing rights from the Union Government and mandatory clearance of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)............

http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/10/stories/2007041010770400.htm

[rajkrish]

Marriott to start construction on the International Convention Center.


The Marriott Group will be starting a convention center in Trivandrum in July.....

http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/business/keralasanjaykaul/keralatourism06/market/stocks/article/275136

[Sathyalal]

Seaview, US firm ink new pact


Targeting higher volumes in healthcare documentation services and bringing in newer areas of healthcare solutions under its fold, Thiruvananthapuram-based BPO player Seaview Support Systems has entered into new contracts with UK-based outsourcing major DScribe.

Tele-radiology is a new area in the rapidly growing outsourcing domain whereby X-rays and medical imaging reports are sent through digital transmission for analysis and reporting, he said.

The company’s core business is medical research and legal transcription including software development in related areas.

http://www.business-standard.com/iceworld/storypage.php?leftnm=8&subLeft=2&chklogin=N&autono=280793&tab=r

[Sathyalal]

See what the national & Inernational media says
Financial express

The Deepsea trans-shipment facility at Vizhinjam is expected to generate revenue of Rs 1,000-crore per year for Indian exporters. The Vizhinjam port has two advantages. One, it needs no dredging, and two, it falls very close to the international shipping route.
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=161345

The Hindu

Experts said the port will be able to cater to container vessels of up to 8,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in the phase I and 10,000-12,000 TEU in subsequent phases.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200704171322.htm

Portworld, UK

Vizhinjam is close to international shipping routes.Industry sources say up to 50% of the nearly 20,000 ships that pass through the Suez canal per year could anchor at Vizhinjam.
Vizhinjam port project could provide serious competition to Colombo, Singapore and Dubai
http://www.portworld.com/news/2007/04/67526

[rajkrish]

Habitat centre work to begin

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) and the Kerala State Housing Board (KSHB) signed an agreement on Tuesday for construction of a habitat centre in Thiruvananthapuram on the lines of the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.

A new company will be formed for construction of the centre with equal equity participation from HUDCO and the Board. The project, which will include building of an international convention centre, club, hotel and office complex, will cost Rs. 60 crore.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/18/stories/2007041814340400.htm

[rajkrish]

Big players at global investors' meet on Vizhinjam

Ten leading international firms specialising in building ports have arrived for talks that began here on Tuesday to hold pre-tender consultations with the Kerala government on developing a world-class port at Vizhinjam near here.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, leading the state team, told the representatives of the 10 foreign firms - including Maersk - and 37 Indian companies that Vizhinjam has been a long-standing dream for the people of Kerala and the government was committed to making the dream come true.

“We pledge total support, both governmental and political, for this venture which would change the face of the country,” said Achuthanandan while addressing the investors.

A detailed presentation would be made to the representatives of these companies and their response announced later.

Teams have arrived from the US, Britain, Italy, Singapore and France, apart from national companies like Reliance, Gammon India and Mumbai-based Zoom Developers.

The meeting is being held to get suggestions from these firms and incorporate them when they float a global tender for Vizhinjam port, which is to be constructed on a built-operate-and-transfer basis.

Speaking on the occasion, Ports Secretary L Radhakrishnan said that the tender would be floated in May and the technical bid would take place in November. Construction work for the port would begin in December 2008.

This is the second time that an attempt to build the Vizhinjam port is being undertaken.

During the previous Oommen Chandy government (2004-06), after selecting a consortium of two Chinese and a Mumbai firm through a global tender, the central government had at the last moment decided not to give its sanction, citing security reasons for the proposed Rs 43.60 billion Vizhinjam port.

The central government decided against giving security clearance as the Chinese companies had business interests in ports in Pakistan.

A major advantage Vizhinjam has over all other ports in India is that it needs no dredging. The natural depth at Vizhinjam is 24 meters, the best in comparison to all other ports in the world.

Another advantage is that the proposed port lies very close to the international waters, which is a busy route.

It is to be built on an area of 150 acres and there would be no displacement of local fishermen. The port would be able to handle 4.10 million containers annually.


Source : The New Indian Express

Also : http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/18/stories/2007041806340700.htm

[Subin]

Big players at global investors' meet on Vizhinjam

Great News !!! :tup:

Cyber Palms Update (Courtesy: Sudheesh)

Five towers. The fifth one SILVER (left most) is only 21 levels (2+18+terrace). OLIVE, PEACH, CHERRY & IVORY have 22 levels (2+19+terrace).


http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/8169/cyber5blockspt8.jpg

[rajkrish]

Sanskruthi ,Kaudiar
Builders: Yamuna Mansions

Perspective credits : Shafi

http://i17.tinypic.com/47v73gl.jpg

[rajkrish]

Meadows, Perrorkkada
Builders: Cityline Builders

Perspective credits : Shafi

http://i15.tinypic.com/2upg5tx.jpg

[rajkrish]

Thara towers, Vellayambalam, hosts the Spencer's Daily

Photo credits : Shafi

http://i17.tinypic.com/2eygwnm.jpg

[rajkrish]

ParkCentra, Kariavottom, near Techno Park

Perspective credits : Shafi

http://i11.tinypic.com/29q1fkp.jpg

[rajkrish]

IT Productivity Centre (ITPC) proposed for Technopark


The proposal to set up an IT Productivity Centre (ITPC) in Technopark Campus is under the active consideration of the Dept. of IT, Govt. of India. When established, the centre will cater to the productivity enhancement efforts of the companies in the Campus. The ITPC will form part of the Entrepreneurship development activities and Technopark IT/ITES companies can make use of the development platforms and software tools for the purpose of increasing their productivity. ITPC will act as a support facility that can supplement the other Technology Business Enablers in the Campus.

[Sathyalal]

The Vizhinjam terminal was seen as a crucial project for the Indian shipping sector
The proposed seaport has the capability to handle over 6 million twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers shortly
The state capital's city limit was just 7km north of the proposed port and this was an advantage as the city offered good quality human resources and supporting social infrastructure
A container shipment economics study says that Vizhinjam will cut down the cost of operations compared to other ports for containers from and to from hinterland locations as well as main locations
Vizhinjam has caught the fancy of the Ambani brothers
Mukesh Ambani controlled Reliance Industries and Anil's ADA Group sent their senior vice-presidents to attend the investors' meet organised by Kerala government on April 17
Apart from this overseas majors like shipping giant Maersk of Denmark, Alberg Ports of Australia, Japan's Nissin Corporation, UK's Beckett Rankine, Dubai Ports World, Cyan Holdings BV of the Netherlands and Ranhill Group of Companies, Malaysia are interested.
From India, the PSU shipping company Shipping Corporation of India, Mundra Port & SEZ, Ashok Leyland Project Services, Emmar MGF, Essar Constructions, Zoom Developers and JM Baxi were among those who attended the meeting. The meet was attended by a consortium comprising US-based Obocon Inc, Kuwait's KGL Transport, Indonesia's Astra international and Unity Infrastructure of Mumbai as well.
This site had a natural depth of 20 metres as close as one nautical mile from the coastline.
This high natural depth meant minimum capital dredging would be required and thus the project would enjoy lower costs.
For instance, the country's largest container port at present, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), was all set to dredge its shipping channel to 14 metres against current 12.5 metres
Reliance Industries can use Vizhinjam as strong base for its mega retail network. For Anil Ambani, Vizhinjam port would be strong link to evacuate cargo with his container trains. Anil has already secured container train operating licence
National Highway (NH) 47 and the NH-47 Bypass are in close proximity, with the bypass just 3km away and the NH 10km away. The national rail network was less than 12km from the proposed port site
read more..
http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?leftnm=lmnu2&subLeft=1&autono=282039&tab=r
If politicians had acted before some 30 years Kerala would have been a Singapore now. Instead they have spent billions in cleaning the mud of some other part. Even 1/100 th of that would have offered a gateway port to India. Now they are realizing that it is high time to act.

[Sathyalal]

Again one more group from the city show the world that they are not hypers and they believe in reality.

President urges Torque to build an Entrepreneurship Knowledge Platform for the benefit of the student and youth community in India


THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Torque Technology Solutions, a business incubated company formed by a team of Thiruvananthapuram Engineering College students, has received an encouraging pat from President AP J Abdul Kalam for innovative efforts in technology.

The Technopark-based $2.5 million-worth firm run by a 30-member team of young professionals was urged by the President to build an Entrepreneurship Knowledge Platform for the benefit of the student and youth community in India, who can use it to access information and details on how to create startups and become technoprenuers.

“I have seen and interacted with thousands of students but this is a first time a group of students have come up to me and told me that they dreamed to be job creators and not job seekers. This is a very fascinating and happy moment for me to see the changes that students are trying to bring in our country,” Kalam said during his meeting with the Torque team headed by CEO Sanjay Vijayakumar.

According to Vijayakumar, Kalam shared ideas of mobile services for village communities and the vision to create a global cadre for human resource development. The Torque CEO added that the team presented the President with a project report titled Dawn of a Silicon Coast, which aims to promote 100 student startups and act as a catalyst to promote student entrepreneurship in Kerala and the country.

The project aims to create a Mobile Hub at the Technopark here along with support to students incubation would be the first students initiated technology initiative of this scale in the world if taken up by the Kerala government.

Torque had recently stepped into the big league by launching a Kochi-based arm, MobME. The new company caters to the mobile, media and entertainment segment. The arm has the backing of angel investors and NRI investors have pumped in $1 million into the new venture.

Torque, which hosts star portals and has successfully made its m-commerce foray, is now looking at expanding to cities such as like Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai in the next few months.

http://www.ciol.com/content/search/showarticle1.asp?artid=96620

[rajkrish]

New Delhi, Apr 26 : The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval for the setting up of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST).

It also approved initial investment of Rs. 270 crores and annual recurring cost of Rs. 40 crores into the IIST.

"The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been experiencing severe shortage of highly talented graduate and post-graduate scientists and engineers during the last few years to take up the challenges of research and development in the areas of space science and technology," a Cabinet release said.

The IIST being set up on the lines of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs),will provide high quality undergraduate and postgraduate education and research programmes in space science and technology.

It will also offer integrated Masters in space science with customised curriculum to meet the high technology requirements of the ISRO.

The courses are proposed to commence from the academic year 2007-08, at an alternate campus in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.The campus and other infrastructure facilities will be put in place within 24 months, the release said.

The institute will offer 150-200 seats annually. The entire expenses of the course will be supported by ISRO in the form of scholarships and assistantships, and the brighter lot would be directly absorbed by the ISRO.

[Sathyalal]

After IT could it be commercial satellite launch for India? City is getting ready.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/PSLV_launch_proves_Indias_commercial_competence/articleshow/1953621.cms

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The successful launch of the PSLV-C8 carrying Italy's Agile satellite has proved Indian space programme's commercial competitiveness and reliability, a senior official said on Wednesday.


The launch marks a new beginning which will attract prospective clients to India for the commercial launch of satellites, said Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) director B N Suresh.

We feel jubilant as this has made us confident to take up more commercial launches in future. This was the first time that we commercially launched a foreign satellite using our vehicle from our soil, Suresh said on returning from Sriharikota.

The Advanced Avionics Module (AMM), launched with Agile, had functioned as expected and would be used in future PSLVs, GSLVs and MARK-III launches, he said.

Suresh and his colleagues were given a rousing reception at the Thiruvananthapuram airport by VSSC employees

[Sathyalal]

Italian CEOs term Kerala as 'ideal' for tourism investment

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 28: A team of young CEOs and entrepreneurs from Italy, who are here on a study tour, today said Kerala was an ideal destination for investing in tourism, real estate, IT and food processing.

The 30-member-team, which includes experts in real estate, infrastructure companies, e-banking, electronics, IT and food processing, had held discussions with businessmen and government officials yesterday

The delegation would also visit the Technopark here, he added.

[Sathyalal]

JAI HIND TV

'The day-to-day administration of the channel will be run by a board of three non-resident Keralite businessmen, including two Dubai-based businessmen - BBN chief Aniyankutty, JHC chief Vijyan Thomas, Doha-based Kerala businessman C.K. Menon, Kochi-based E.M. Babu, Chennai-based Regi Abraham, and me,' said Hassan.

On May 1, Defence Minister A.K. Antony is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the proposed studio complex at a two-acre plot of land purchased by the channel in the Kinfra Film and Video Park on the outskirts of the capital city.
Kerala Education Minister M.A. Baby is likely to inaugurate the studio complex the same day and ace film director Adoor Gopalakrishnan will officially release the channel's logo.

[rajkrish]

Big Bazaar zooms in.....

Photo credits : Ajay

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5792/picture010rssh0.jpg

[rajkrish]

1. Fabmall planning 10 stores in Trivandrum

2. Lulu has acquired 11 acres of land near NH Byepass for its first Hyper Mall + Multiplex project in TVM.

3. Pantaloon has taken up space in TN Samrudhi chambers, Vazhuthacaud

4. Parthas developing a mall along NH Byepass on 15 acres of land

[rajkrish]

Varkey's Towers


Photo credits : Ajay

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2324/picture012rsrh7.jpg

[Sathyalal]

State's knowledge hub is always the pioneer in installing new technology.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Apr 30, 2007

A virtual stride ahead for CET
Monday April 30 2007 10:49 IST

T’PURAM: Virtual Reality. We all know it now — An artificial environment or system created with computer hardware and software. And this revolutionary technology has now arrived at the College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram (CET).

A virtual reality (VR) lab, a first of its kind in any engineering college in the state, has been installed and commissioned at the CET Department of Computer Science and Engineering by Tata Elxsi Ltd. The Systems Integration Division of the company in the city has set up the lab for advanced 3-D viewing and immersive visualisation effects.

So what exactly does it mean? “For example, today car manufacturers design and make several models digitally and decide on which model to launch after seeing and experiencing the various digital prototypes virtually on a VR lab,” says Jeemon Thomas, area manager, Systems Integration Division, Tata Elxsi, Thiruvananthapuram.

To enter this environment and interact with the system, one makes use of special peripheral devices such as goggles, head-mounted devices, special gloves and force feedback devices.

“Stereographic image projection creates virtual reality with the help of sophisticated hardware and software,” says Jeemon. The application areas of the technology include digital prototyping, CAD/CAM, automobile, 3-D content and game development, aerospace, drug discovery, molecular modelling, training and education, history museums, oil and gas exploration, architecture, defence and medical field.

The college has procured the facility as part of the World Bank-aided Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme of the Government of India, says V Santhakumari, professor and head, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, CET. “The facility was installed recently and our staff will now be trained in dealing with the technology,” she says.

The CET aims at providing cutting-edge technology infrastructure to students and researchers.


Tata Elxsi has commissioned and maintains many VR installations in the country. It delivers outsourced product design and R&D services and solutions to customers worldwide and provides solutions through product design services, design and engineering services, system integration services and visual computing labs.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070430002753&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0

[rajkrish]

India-Italy business incubation centre to come up at Technopark

India-Italy business incubation centre to come up at Technopark
Thiruvananthapuram, 30 April: Following the visit of a 35-member industrial delegation from Italy, which toured the state Technopark campus here Monday, discussions have begun to set up a business incubation centre between the Technopark and Italian companies.

Speaking to IANS, M. Vasudevan, business manager at Technopark, said that Monday's visit was just a curtain raiser meant for familarising the Technopark's activities to the delegation.

"This visit has been a great boost. The state government would work out a plan to set up a business incubation centre to facilitate discussions to see that Italian companies come to the Technopark," said Vasudevan

The Technopark currently houses more than 75 IT and IT-enabled companies that employ more than 12,000 people.

The Italian delegation comprising young CEOs represents various industries such as IT, tourism, real estate, food processing, construction and engineering.

They held discussions with the Technopark authorities and also exchanged ideas with CEOs of various companies in the Technopark.

The Italian delegation is led by Roney Simon, director of FICCI's (Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry's) Italy office and has been in the state capital for the past three days.

The visit has been organised by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corp with help from Kerala's private sector.

--- IANS
http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=24007

[rajkrish]

Kerala to have IIC-like forum for international studies

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Seeking to promote studies and debates on international affairs, a forum on the lines of the India International Centre in New Delhi will soon be set up here.

The Board of Trustees of Kerala International Centre (KIC) includes former diplomats of Indian Foreign Service like K P S Menon, T P Sreenivasan and Thomas Abraham.

It would aim at creating a forum to bring together those interested in foreign affairs and share their interests and insights, Sreenivasan told a press meet here.

The focus of its activities would be international relations as they impact India and would seek to provide a perspective on the regions and issues in which Kerala had a special interest like the Gulf and Sri Lanka.

He said Kerala had been a window to the world since ancient days.By virtue of the presence of Keralites in different parts of the world and Kerala's natural and intellectual resources,the state had much to contribute to making and promoting India's foreign policy, he said.

Besides holding seminars and conferences, the forum would offer guidance for competitive examinations, consultancy services and a modern library service.

Governor R L Bhatia will inaugurate KIC on May 19 here.

[rajkrish]

Noon Info launches T`puram operations


BS Reporter / Chennai/ Thiruvananthapuram May 04, 2007
Noon InfoSolutions, an IT and ITeS joint venture between Bahrain-based Noon Investment Co WLL and Mumbai-based Mastermind Financial Services, will start its operations from the Kerala state capital on Saturday (May 5). The company would be investing Rs 3.5 crore in its Thiruvananthapuram operations.

Announcing the launch of the company’s Thiruvananthapuram operations from Kanakanagar at Kowdiar in the city, company directors said that Noon InfoSolutions would initially be a 100-seater call centre and would cater to servicing inbound and outbound calls originating from the US.

The company has already recruited 50 professionals and more will be picked up to man the new facility in the coming days, the directors said.

Noon InfoSolutions becomes the latest addition to the IT and ITeS scene in Kerala and will offer jobs to graduates after providing them with necessary training, company officials said. It will begin service with 50 seats.

On the expansion plans, the directors said they were looking forward to having Noon InfoSolutions’ own campus at the proposed Technocity in the state capital suburbs.

http://www.businessstandard.com/iceworld/storypage.php?leftnm=8&subLeft=2&chklogin=N&autono=283346&tab=r

[rajkrish]

Shashi Tharoor, Kerala's IT Ambassador

Source : Technopark

Mr. Shashi Tharoor, former Under Secretary at the United Nations visited Technopark and met with CEO's of Technopark Companies and officials of Technopark. Mr. Tharoor also visited Infosys Technologies & US Technology Resources and had discussions with the officials there. Mr. Tharoor said he was completely bowled over by the developments in IT in Technopark and said he would be Kerala's IT Ambassador to the world.

[rajkrish]

It is truly amazing to see the requests for space and land in Technopark which duly confirms the fact that the Trivandrum is the IT hub of Kerala

Please take a look at the following links

Request for land (http://technopark.org/landrequest.htm)

Request for space (http://technopark.org/spacerequest.htm)

[rajkrish]

Kinfra apparel park taking off

DESPITE a slow start, the apparel park run by the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra) at Thumba on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram is slowly "taking off". Dr G.C. Gopala Pillai, Managing Director, Kinfra, told Business Line that two new units would soon come up at the apparel park.

The Lucknow-based All India Handloom House is in the process of setting up a major unit, in collaboration with a Japanese firm, at the apparel park, said Dr Pillai. An Italian-Australian joint venture is also on the cards, and its application for land at the park is being processed, he added. These two new ventures will be in addition to the three units that the Mumbai-based Leela group has committed to establish at the apparel park.

While agreeing that the work on establishing the park had taken a little more time than scheduled, Dr Pillai pointed out that the apparel park is now fully geared to meet the needs of entrepreneurs. All infrastructure required for the park to function effectively were ready, he added.

The apparel park currently has four operational units - three apparel manufacturing units owned by the Leela group and a cleaning services unit owned by a city-based entrepreneur, explained Mr Sasidharan Nair, Managing Director, Kinfra International Apparel Park. In fact, the Leela group has already started exporting apparel produced by its units in the park, he added. The four operational units between them currently provide employment to around 800 people, many of who are from the surrounding villages, he said.

The nearby Kinfra Small Industries Park is also attracting significant interest from entrepreneurs, said Mr Nair. The park, which can accommodate around 25 units, already has nine operational units, he added.

Though there is no restriction on the nature of the activity to be carried out in the small industries park, the authorities are targeting units that will provide ancillary services to the businesses in the neighbouring apparel park, the officials said. According to Mr Nair, the firms that are currently operating in the small industries park cover a range of industries including food processing and light engineering.

Between them the apparel and small industries parks occupy an area of approximately 90 acres and are close to the city's airport. On the infrastructure front both parks offer dedicated power supply and continuous supply of treated water.

The apparel park also offers other facilities such as a common bonded warehouse, canteen, convention and business centre and so on. The small industries park too offers access to several such common facilities including a guesthouse and a healthcare centre.


http://www.blonnet.com/2003/04/19/stories/2003041901041300.htm

[rajkrish]

Kinfra Apparel Park expansion nearly complete

The second phase of development of the Kinfra International Apparel Park near Thiruvananthapuram is almost complete.

According to Mr A.S. Suresh Babu, Managing Director, Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra), almost all the land available in the 90-acre apparel park has now been allotted.

SECOND PHASE


The second phase of the development included the installation of a common effluent treatment plant, enhancement of the park's power distribution system and establishment of a crèche within the park.

This development activity was carried out with assistance from the Union Textile Ministry under its `apparel parks for export' scheme, he added.

A three-storey building has also been constructed under the scheme, he said. With a built-up area of 75,000 square feet, the building can accommodate six units.

Five of these units have been allocated to the New Delhi-based Creative Home Fashions Pvt Ltd, which has commenced operations in this facility.

Leela expansion


Meanwhile, Leela International Ltd, part of the Leela group, which operates three units in the apparel park, is in the midst of expanding its capacity.

The company currently employs around 1,100 people in the park and this figure is expected to rise to 2,500 when the expansion process is completed.

Other companies that are in the process of setting up units in the park include All India Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Society Ltd and the Bangalore-based Texport Syndicate.

http://www.blonnet.com/2006/10/11/stories/2006101100771900.htm

[rajkrish]

India : TTK medical fabric unit coming up at Kinfra Apparel Park
February 14, 2007


TTK Healthcare Services Pvt Ltd is developing a medical fabric unit at Kinfra Apparel Park in Kazhakoottam, with technical guidance for the unit to be given by Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST).

Park has rented 1.6 acres land area for the facility at a cost of Rs23.51 lakhs. Unit will feature a two-storey building, with 14,000 square feet area on ground floor and first floor occupying about 4,500 square feet. Construction of the building is almost over.

TTK Healthcare will start production activities by December this year, with allotment finalized in 2005. But it is waiting for clearance from the Pollution Control Board. Unit should be functional before May 2007.

According to Kinfra Apparel Park’s Managing Director Krishnakumar, fabric unit’s products will comprise cardiac repair path fabric, components of heart-valve, polypropylene mesh for hernia and vascular graft prosthesis. Textile products will be mostly related to medical devices.

[Sathyalal]

BBC grabs UK rights for Toonz’s Wolverine series

ECONOMY BUREAU
Posted online: Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 0000 hours IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MAY 4: BBC has grabbed television rights in the UK for First Serve Toonz’s (JV between Toonz Animation India and First Serve International) new animation series based on the iconic Marvel character Wolverine. The rights are for the first series of 26 half-hour episodes, First Serve Toonz has said, here.
BBC deal confirms Toonz’s standing on the platform of ‘quality programming’, P Jayakumar, CEO, Toonz Animation India said. Toonz Animation in Technopark in Kerala Capital is India’s biggest ink animation studio. The issual of rights was for a huge undivulged fee, Toonz sources said.

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=163193

[sudheeshnairs]

Reliance Retail would be coming up here

Varkey's Towers


Photo credits : Ajay

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2324/picture012rsrh7.jpg

[sudheeshnairs]

PANTALOON Retail Ltd's BIG BAZAAR at MG Road, Pazhavangadi.

Two more BIG BAZAARs are slated to come up at Kesavadasapuram and Vazhuthacaud.

This hyper market has 5 levels of shopping space, from groceries to white goods/electronic items/furniture. All 5 levels are connected by escalators.


http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/1372/dsc03425pv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/1148/dsc03438mk1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/2695/dsc03439ba9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/8325/dsc03426ps7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/4087/dsc03427wg9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/5805/dsc03428gz0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[sudheeshnairs]

BIG BAZAAR contd..

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/3382/dsc03429md9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/1857/dsc03430em1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2515/dsc03432qo3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/539/dsc03433gf2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/9546/dsc03434kv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/4013/dsc03435uy2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/4651/dsc03436mo9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1439/dsc03437fn5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[sudheeshnairs]

SFS PATTOM SQUARE.

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/3326/sfspattomsquareca6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

SFS RICHMOND, Sasthamangalam, tall one with 16 floors

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/104/sfsrichmondni3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

SFS CAPITAL ONE, Vellayambalam, it will have an infinity pool at the top floor.

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/2434/sfscapitolone1aa2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

SFS FAIRMONT, M. P. Appan Road, Vazhuthacaud.

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/7849/sfsfairmontdx8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[rajkrish]

Bangalore based Vineyard Homes has announced their Villa project in 5 acres.


Project layout

http://www.vineyardhomes.in/valley/images/layout_big.jpg

Wait for the pics......

[rajkrish]

Nikunjam Harmony @ Vellayambalam

Picture credits : Chandrurajan

http://i8.tinypic.com/664tzrt.jpg

[ReNik]

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9769/ksrtcfk6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[ReNik]

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/5269/signaturetowerbq5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[ReNik]

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1363/akulam1od5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[ReNik]

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/4195/tataexlsiaz5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[elm07]

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1363/akulam1od5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

wow! This looks nice ....

[Sathyalal]

Infosys campus at Trivandrum.
Courtesy: Ajay Prasad


http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/1986/infy4wy1.jpg

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/8233/infy2di0.jpg

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/765/infy3mv9.jpg


http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/4757/infyng2.jpg

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3008/infy1do7.jpg


This will be their second development center in Trivandrum

[Sathyalal]

Infosys to invest Rs 300cr for campus in Kerala

BS Reporter / Bangalore May 19, 2007



Infosys Technologies on Saturday announced the commencement of work on its first campus in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The company is planning to invest Rs 306 crore in the campus.

Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the development centre. Infosys has been operating out of a leased facility in Thiruvananthapuram since 2004. With the completion of the new facility, Infosys will have two full-fledged operations in the city.

K Dinesh, co-founder and member of the board, Infosys Technologies said: "The campus will include facilities for work and recreation for our employees. We expect to create 8,000 seats at this centre over the next few years."

The existing facility at the Technopark campus in Thiruvananthapuram has a capacity of 1,100 seats, and has seen an investment of Rs 30 crore as of March 31, 2007. Infosys has also leased 40,000 sqft in the Tejaswini Block at Technopark for expansion.

[Sathyalal]

M 2 is inaguarating there campus in technopark today.

http://www.m2india.com/electronics/company.htm

[Sathyalal]

Ethihad Airways, national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will begin operations to the State with the inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi to Thiruvananthapuram on May 30.

[sudheeshnairs]

Cyber Palms

NH Bypass, Near Technopark.

The fifth one SILVER (left most) is only 21 levels (2+18+terrace). OLIVE, PEACH, CHERRY & IVORY have 22 levels (2+19+terrace).

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/8169/cyber5blockspt8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Sathyalal]

Another campus in Technopark.

US Technologies announced their campus. The first phase of 1,60,000 sqft will be completed in Dec 2008. (source: manorama)
This is in addition to the campuses u/c from Infosys, TCS, Tata Elxi, IBS

[Sathyalal]

US Tech plans big
In its efforts to upgrade itself as the largest IT hub in Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram-based US Technology has charted a mega expansion plan by building a 16-lakh sft campus adjacent to the Technopark here.

The campus, to be spread across 36 acres of land, would house 12,000 employees. The company, a provider of end-to-end IT services for Fortune 500 companies, currently employs over 4,000 associates.

With the upcoming campus, the US Technology space would become one among the largest IT hubs for a single company in Kerala, said a company spokesperson.

The final plan for the campus comes more than a year after the agreement for the land was signed by the officials and the then chief minister of Kerala.

The Kerala government under the former UDF chief minister Oommen Chandy had allotted land for the campus in 2006 and an agreement to this effect was inked by company officials with Chandy. The campus will be ready in three phases. The first phase is expected to become operational by Dec 2008, the spokesperson said. The company, however, preferred to keep the planned investment figures under wraps.

The campus would represent our commitment to making Kerala a hub for IT services excellence,・said Sajan Pillai, president and chief operating officer, US Technology.

The campus will feature connected buildings that enable people to work together easily. Informal meeting and reflection spaces will be accommodated by pavilions in the external environment and will be operated round-the-clock.

http://www.business-standard.com/iceworld/storypage.php?leftnm=lmnu9&subLeft=2&autono=285188&tab=r

[Sathyalal]

Celebration time for M-Squared
Wednesday May 23 2007 14:43 IST
Click here to get the latest Kerala news on your BSNL mobile for Re.1 a day.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 50,000-sq ft centre of the MSquared Software and Services was inaugurated on Technopark campus here on Sunday.

The opening of the Indian corporate head office of the company on two acres of land coincided with its 10th anniversary celebrations.

The company, which has its headquarters at Las Vegas in USA, was registered in 1996.

The building was inaugurated by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Law, Sports and Youth Affairs M Vijayakumar.

The 10th anniversary celebrations were inaugurated by Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy. Others who attended the day痴 functions included MLAs M A Vahid and Raju Abraham, IT Secretary K R Jyothilal, SBT general manager R G Gadkari, STPI-Trivandrum irector Ramesh Kumar and CEO of Technopark N Radhakrishnan.

The areas of operation of the company include software development in different industries like healthcare, ITES, access control and security systems and retail management and consumer electronics.

The products developed by M2 Infotek, its sister concern and an SSI unit, include GateGard (to control the operations of a gate using a hand-held remote control), ScanGard (available with fingerprint and barcode scanners) and HomeGard (complete security system for houses).

[sudheeshnairs]

IBS building u/c at Technopark Campus

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/4663/ibs1lo8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/4546/dsc02938po8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6533/dsc02766ex9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/9408/dsc02763dy9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3393/dsc02762ei5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3075/dsc02761ig5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Sathyalal]

Satmetrix Expands R&D Presence With Establishment of New Facilities in India

FOSTER CITY, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Satmetrix, the leading global provider of on-demand software applications and consulting services to measurably improve customer loyalty, today announced it has signed an agreement with India's first and largest technology park, Technopark, to open the company's expanded research and development facility. Satmetrix is a global company with headquarters in Silicon Valley, California and offices in London and New York. This expansion will continue to advance the company's global footprint in the field of customer loyalty solutions.

Technopark is located in Trivandrum, India, the IT hub and knowledge capital of the state of Kerala. Technopark provides world-class, robust, and failsafe facilities for leading global organizations expanding operations to India. "We are pleased to have Satmetrix join a growing list of impressive companies who are part of the Technopark community looking for sustainable, competitive growth and access to top talent," commented Said N. Radhakrishnan Nair, CEO of Technopark.

Satmetrix is recruiting staff for its India Development Center based in Trivandrum. The company is hiring engineers from across India for software product development, quality assurance, professional services and technical support disciplines.

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2007/05/24/2656327.htm

[Sathyalal]

US Tech in long-term deal with US tax major

BS Reporter / Chennai/ Thiruvananthapuram May 30, 2007



Thiruvananthapuram-based IT services company, US Technology, has entered into a multi-year agreement with Kansas-based H&R Block, the world's largest tax services major, to provide software development and testing services.

The deal envisages setting up an offshore development centre (ODC) for H&R Block in the city, in partnership with US Technology.

According to Karen Orosco, vice president (technology), H&R Block, the switch to ODC would yield benefits to H&R Block by having a predictable multi-year sourcing model and a shared pool of resources to be utilised across the IT organisation.

"With access to talented technocrats and a move towards a results-based model, the ODC is a significant step in our ability to deliver to our business needs," he added.

[Sathyalal]

Accel Transmatic setting up motion capturing studio in Trivandrum

In a Board meeting held today, the company has also unveiled its ambitious plans for expansion in the Animation division including setting up of India's first motion capturing studio in the Kinfra Film and Video Park in Thiruvananthapuram by September 2007.

CTO says
"our multi-pronged strategy of working on IP and Service based models in 3D Animation, VFX and Gaming will enable us to become a highly profitable business entity in the Animation Industry"

The embedded software division (Ushus Technologies) doubled its export turnover during the year with 2 new client acquisitions in Japan

http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/pressmarket/accel-transmatic-fy06-07-total-incomers-4178cr/284075

[Sathyalal]

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has specifically assured as much, Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan told reporters after returning from the National Development Council meeting in New Delhi. Land for IISER has been identified and earmarked in Vithura, near Thiruvananthapuram.


"Union human resource minister Arjun Singh also supported expediating the institute," Achuthanandan said.

The IISERs are conceived as national centres of excellence on the model of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. They are envisaged to integrate undergraduate and postgraduate science education as well as higher research under one roof.

In addition, ISRO will set up India's first Institute of Space Technology (IIST) in Thiruvananthapuram this year itself. "The Prime Minister has promised to give me a date on the ceremony of laying the foundation stone for the space institute,'' the chief minister told reporters, after a meeting of the state Cabinet here.

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=165839

[rajkrish]

Suntec to partner Infosys

THIRUVANANTHAPRUAM, MAY 29 : Two global financial software providers from India are readying to put their business heads together for more business. SunTec Solutions in Kerala has announced strategic partnership plans with Infosys' Finacle.

It is SunTec's TBMS-F product suite that will complement Infosys' universal banking solution Finacle. SunTec's TBMS-F, patronised by European bank giants like ING Bank, HSBC Group, Lloyds TSB, is best described as a relationship-based pricing and centralised billing solutions.

"Pricing decision will be the key shaper of the profit margin of financial institutions in the next decade," says K Nandakumar CEO, SunTec, on the price-differentiation deal that the new tie-up can give to the potential client.

SunTec is a SEI CMM Level 5 company, recently picked up by Deloitte as among Asia Pacific's 500 fastest growing companies.

Finacle and the TBMS-F suite, will work together to give product-centric and relationship-based pricing at an enterprise level, says the release. For banks this would mean rolling out of their customised product bundles and gain greater business agility with customer. Briefly, this could help FIs in retaining customers.

"The alliance would address the need to offer differentiated solutions to diverse customer base," says Merwin Fernandes, Vice-president & Business Head- Finacle.

While Infosys Finacle addresses the core banking, e-banking, treasury, wealth management and CRM requirement of retail, corporate and universal banks, worldwide, SunTec TBMS-F is for measuring and monitoring transaction value and controlling profitability in banking, financial and insurance sector.

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=165630

http://www.digitalmediaasia.com/default.asp?ArticleID=24743

[rajkrish]

Low cost Airliner Tiger Airways to start from TVM

Low cost Airliner Tiger Airways obtained permission to fly to Six Indian cities from Singapore including Trivandrum

http://news.indiamart.com/cgi-local/news-link.pl?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Echannelnewsasia%2Ecom%2Fstories%2Fsingaporebusinessnews%2Fview%2F280212%2F1%2F%2Ehtml

The news was also updated in their website

http://www.tigerairways.com/about/news_2007.php

[rajkrish]

Skyline Domain

Near Technopark

Picture credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/2723/domainnk5.jpg

[Sathyalal]

Eventhough some vested local media sings blah blah for last 5 years for places other than Trivandrum, the figures are teasing them. Technopark is responsible for the lions share of Kerala IT. The local media syndicates giving no coverage to technopark should be ashamed with the figures.
Mangalam reports

Technopark continues to be the IT Lion of Kerala

Companies like RM, UST, Tata Elxi,TCS,Infosys,Case,Nest are starting new campuses in addition to their existing development centers.

Actually Suntec is planning one more campus.

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/6443/tpmangalamse2.png

[Sathyalal]

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The hangar unit of Air India would start functioning in the airport here in July, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Vijayakumar said.

In an official press release here today, the minister said steps would be taken to complete the transfer of land for Air India to set up the unit within 30 days.

The high-level committee meeting, in which the decision was taken, was attended by Thiruvananthapuram Airport Development Society Chairman Gyanesh Kumar,District Collector and other officials.

The Minister later visited the airport and reviewed the progress of the construction works there.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Telecom/Air_Indias_hangar_unit_to_begin_in_July/articleshow/2104425.cms

[sudheeshnairs]

Growing IT space.

5 Lakhs sft space of IBS getting ready inside Technopark

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/3002/dsc03791pe0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

2.7 lakhs sft of TATA Elxsi.

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/5627/dsc03792wx7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[sudheeshnairs]

5.5 Lakhs sft of Leela Infopark under construction. It is a 14 floor building

About nine floors over, five more to go.

http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/9025/dsc03773os3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/3999/dsc03774mw4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

View from top, the building on the immediate right of the u/c Leela Info Park (with dark glass facade and red roof) is also taken by them.

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/1600/dsc03785ye7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Sathyalal]

Good article..
http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/06/10/stories/2007061050040300.htm

A visit to Thiruvananthapuram’s Technopark confirmed my impression that the sceptics are behind the curve. CEO after CEO told me in glowing terms of their satisfaction with the work environment in Kerala, the quality of the local engineering graduates, and the beauty of the lush and tranquil surroundings. Indeed, Kerala’s past failures at attracting and retaining heavy industry are now working in the State’s favour.

One Technopark firm, US Technologies, told me of having bid for a contract with a Houston-based company which had drawn up a short-list of Indian service providers and placed the Thiruvananthapuram-based company last. The American executives making the final decision flew down to India to inspect the six short-listed Indian firms. After three harrowing days ploughing through the traffic congestion and pollution of Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi, they arrived in Thiruvananthapuram, checked into the Leela at Kovalam beach, sipped a drink by the seaside at sunset — and voted unanimously to give the contract to US Technologies. “If we have to visit India from time to time to see how our contract is doing,” the chief said, “we’d rather visit Kerala than any other place in India.”

Cheers!

[rajkrish]

A city for film-makers
A city for film-makers
Monday June 11 2007 08:11 IST
T’PURAM: Kerala is en route to becoming a film-maker’s shrine - for it will soon be home to one of the few film cities in the country.

The 70-acre Chitranjali Studio at Thiruvallom, around eight km from the city, is undergoing a rigorous makeover, well on its way to becoming an integrated complex for advanced film production, promotion and tourism.

Once completed, the Filmcity, which will come under the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC), will become a film-maker’s paradise, as it will provide advanced film production facilities, for pre, during and post-production, and marketing.

KSFDC managing director Jacob Thomas said that around 25 movies could be filmed besides post-production work for 10 films simultaneously here. The Filmcity will come equipped with the latest communication and processing facilities, outdoor units, makeup rooms, set construction, costumes, cameras, light and audio technology and infrastructure. It will also be a potential learning ground for amateur film-makers.

The Filmcity could well become the ultimate multi-faceted tourist destination of Kerala, as it will also house venues to hold corporate meetings, conferences, parties, school tours and adventure camps as well as accommodation facilities.

It will be a landmark of spectacular locations, with several attractions like gardens, lakes, fountains, restaurants and of course, movie sets- like temples, a naalukettu and even a railway station!

“It will be a completely environment-friendly construction. We are developing low cost, low emission and ‘green’ buildings. Trees, climbers and plants of several kinds will be planted in stages in the filmcity,” says Jacob Thomas.

This has a dual purpose: It will offer a green and picturesque getaway for tourists, and will also provide several thousand frames and settings for film-makers.

An important feature of Filmcity is that it is being developed indigenously. They also plan to use innovative methods to raise funds, like ‘carbon trading’. The details are in the process of being worked out. The land preparation is already underway, and the planting of the ’base plants’ begins on June 11.

So whose brainchild is this dream project? “I asked the staff members a question: What is your dream? This project is nothing but the consolidation of all their dreams,” says Jacob Thomas, delegating the credit to his officers.

While the Filmcity is expected to begin functioning by December, the entire project will take up to three years for completion

[rajkrish]

Some updates about our retail chains

Subiksha is coming with 14 retail shops in Trivandrum. All the 14 shops will be inagurated within 4 months time.

Reliance has acquired 80% space on the Jos Alukkas Building at eastfort. Other than the 3 shops mentioned in manorama, there will be outlets at eastfort, nadan square(Peroorkada),statue, nedumangad and kazhakootam.

Big bazaar is on their way to open 2 more shops. One at pattom and one at Vazhuthacaud.

Fabmall will be opening around 20Stores in and around trivandrum city.

Lifestyle, Shoppers stop, Pantaloon mall.....etc are on the pipeline....

You can expect a bunch of company outlets, both textiles and utensils soon in our city.

Whatever constructions happening now, are all booked......

We are running short of space ...... In the mean while alll the majors are in the market like purvankara, parswanath, unitech, dlf, confident group, asset homes........

Cheers.........

[Sathyalal]

The authorisation agreement between the Government of Kerala and M/s Chalet Hotels for setting up a Rs.100-crore International Convention Centre Complex (ICCC) near Akkulam Tourist Village in the city will be signed on Wednesday.

A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will be formed to implement the project, which will give a fillip to MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition) tourism in the capital city and southern States.

Chalet Hotels Ltd. (part of the K. Raheja Group) in association with K. Raheja Corp, Mumbai; and DLF Universal Ltd. (Gurgaon) in association with Singex Pte. Ltd, Singapore; were selected through a bidding process.The consortium led by Chalet Hotels emerged as the "preferred bidder" by quoting the highest land value.

The ICCC will have a total built-up area of 16,480.86 sq. m. It will have a convention and exhibition centre, resort, retail, marina and on-site infrastructure in the first phase. The convention and exhibition centre will have a plenary hall, hi-tech hall and VIP room
http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/13/stories/2007061318420300.htm

[Sathyalal]

It is funny that the STPI claims are different from the claims of individual parks.

STPI data says total exports from Kerala is 700 crores

More than 600 crores from Trivandrum and the remaining is from rest of the state

If you take the claims of parks from Individual parks, from different areas of the state, then the Total is around 1200 crores

Out of this 1000 crore is from Trivandrum Technopark and the remaining is from rest of the places.


But the important thing to notice here is, in both the cases TVM is contributing more than 80 % of the IT


Next year, it will be another boom year for TVM because of the u/c / campuses of Infy,Leela,Elxi,IBS,SunTec,TCS,US Tech etc. Also with the help of completed Thejaswini.
With the emergence of Technocity, in 2-3 years IT exports will multiply exponetially

One more interesting thing to notice is that infy will soon become the largest software firm in Kerala considering their growth. Currently city based firm US Tech with around 3200 people is enjoying the status.


It may be noted that the STPI has just finalised the export figures, whereas the Technopark authorities here had already announced the export figures as around Rs 1000 crore from the companies operating from the park alone.

According to sources in Technopark, one of the major companies in the park had bluntly told them that they had decided to fix their export figures from Kerala as Rs 12 crore whereas the original export was somewhere around Rs 50 crore.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070530001228&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0

[rajkrish]

Satyam is here to woo Malayalees
Thursday June 14 2007 09:45 IST

Film lovers in the state could be in for a treat. Satyam Cinemas, the group which is actively involved in developing and operating multiplex cinemas all over India, is all set to enter Kerala.

Yes. The group is planning to set up multiplexes in major cities including Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. Satyam officials are negotiating with representatives of various companies for the availability of malls.


Click here for the complete news (http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEX20070613232428&Title=Kochi&rLink=0)

[rajkrish]

OAKRIDGE plans to set up their self sufficient 50 Acre campus in Technocity

News came on Hindu News paper in Cochin edition about the plan by OAKRIDGE to set up their self sufficient 50 Acre campus in Technocity (4th phase technopark)...

News credit : Shafi

http://i8.tinypic.com/4xqqgif.jpg

[dr_know]

New Delhi, India, May 17, 2007 - The Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to construct a cargo terminal facility adjacent to the Terminal Building at the Trivandrum Airport. This information was given by Shri Praful Patel, Minister for Civil Aviation in the Parliament today.

Presently, air cargo at the Trivandrum Airport is being managed by the Kerala State Industrial Enterprise (KSIE) at custodian appointed by the Customs Department. The AAI has, however, offered to develop and operate its proposed international cargo facility on the available piece of land near the new International Terminal Building in Joint Venture with KSIE.

The AAI is currently constructing a new International Terminal Building at the Trivandrum Airport.

[rajkrish]

CARMEL TOWERS, Vazhuthacaud.

3 B+ G+ 8 storeyed building, top 4 floors for IT/Office space and remaining shops/retail/Mall.

7 escalators, 8 lifts and 4 lakhs sft space is impressive

Picture Credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/7444/carmeltowerslc4.jpg

http://www.carmeltowers.org/features.html

[rajkrish]

IIST to take off from Ponmudi

After checking out a number of spots in the district, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has finally zeroed in on Ponmudi for setting up the main campus of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST). The IIST will come up on 100 acres at Ponmudi - 55 km east of the city - in two years time.

The fully-residential institute will, in reality, be a mini city. State-of-the-art academic facilities apart, the campus will boast a mini shopping arcade, bank and post office, studio, apartments, hostels, libraries, sports complex, open air theatre and a convocation complex.

Supporting infrastructure planned includes a water treatment plant, captive power station and a sub-station. ISRO has already begun the countdown for ‘launching’ the IIST.

It has invited expression of interest from construction firms for setting up an eco-friendly campus. The counselling for admissions will be held in Bangalore on July 20. ISRO plans to source its candidates from the IIT-JEE list.

The undergraduate programme will use curriculums of IITs and top institutions in the area of electronics, communication and mechanical and aerospace engineering, but will keep the specific needs of the ISRO in mind.

The Integrated Masters in Applied Science will stress theoretical science in the first three years. The last two years will focus on topics such as astronomy, astrophysics, atmospheric science, material science and remote sensing and Global Information Systems (GIS) with stress on experimental studies.

ISRO has set a condition that students passing out of the IIST will have to serve the ISRO for five years. ISRO also has plans to offer brilliant students assistantships during their education.

If things go as planned, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the IIST this year itself. The idea is to start classes this year at temporary facilities at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).

Though the faculty has not yet been finalised, the ISRO is planning to invite President A P J Abdul Kalam to hold a key position, once he steps down as President.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070616003732&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0&

[rajkrish]

Laurie Baker institute becoming a reality

Source : newindianexpress.com

T'PURAM: A significant meeting-cum-workshop to chart out the future course of action of the Laurie Baker Training and Research Institute under the Nirmithi Kendra (KESNIK) will be held at Kanakakkunnu Palace on June 25. The institute is touted to become a certifying agency authorised to give accreditation to skilled workers in the sector.

A meeting with leaders of various trade unions in the construction sector has also been planned against the backdrop of the move to make the institute a certifying agency.

According to S Sukumaran, director, Nirmithi Kendra, the workshop would bring together experts in the housing sector. ‘‘Since we have already decided to make the institute a certifying agency, the meeting would discuss about the infrastructure, objectives of the institute and the availability of funds. We will have a brainstorming session in the presence of experts,’’ he said.

It is to be remembered that the draft note of the Kerala Housing and Habitat Policy (KHHP), 2007, had suggested that the workers needed to be trained and certified so as to enhance productivity and efficiency. The primary aim of the institute is the revival of the Cost-Effective and Environment-Friendly (CEEF) technology.

The institute, earlier known as the Nirmithi Gurukulam, also has plans to create a work force specialised in CEEF technology and is also learnt to be thinking of starting artisan training programmes, especially in masonry, carpentry, building material production and bamboo craft.

The meeting will decide upon restarting the diploma course in habitat technology and so it would discuss which university to be approached for affiliation, said KESNIK director.

There are also plans to start post-graduate course in habitat technology. ‘‘While the PG and diploma programmes and artisan programmes are what we have in mind, we hope that the meeting would be a platform to bring up more ideas,’’ said Nirmithi Kendra project coordinator (training) S Radhakrishnan.

[Sathyalal]

Elbit Imaging purchases more Indian land


Elbit Imaging, Indian partner intend to develop complex with commercial, entertainment center, office space, hotel


Elbit Medical Imaging announced Tuesday that its subsidiary Plaza Centers, together with an Indian entrepreneur, has purchased 43,600 square meters (469,300 square feet) of land in Trivandrum, the capital city of the southern Indian state of Kerala, for $26.5 million.

Planning to build 2.1 million sq feet

shopping and entertinement centers, Hotel, apartments

http://www.plazacenters.com/downloads/PLAZA_INDIA_3.pdf

[sudheeshnairs]

More...

AFX News Limited

Plaza Centers agrees JV, buys plot of land for 13.4 mln stg in Kerala, India

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Plaza Centers NV said it has formed a 50:50 joint venture with an Indian property developer and acquired about 10.78 acres of land in the Indian state of Kerala for about 13.4 mln stg.

The UK-based property developer said the joint venture intends to use the plot to develop a project totaling about 2.1 mln square feet comprising a shopping and entertainment centre, an office complex and a hotel.

The acquisition follows the Feb 26 announcement that Plaza had acquired stakes in two joint venture projects in India, through two wholly-owned subsidiaries, for a total investment of 136.2 mln stg.

http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2007/06/19/afx3834381.html

Visit the Plaza Center at

http://www.plazacenters.com/

The salient features

Total area: 2.1 million sft

Shopping Mall & Entertainment centre: 7 20 000 sft.

IT Park: 1 million sft

Hotel/ Service Apartment: 4 00 000 sft.

[Sathyalal]

One more news item on Elbit Medical Imaging. International coverage.
This is there second land purchase in India after Bangalore.

See the following
"After close to two years of thorough study of the Indian market and building the team and infrastructure of our organization in India"
Means these guys do not go with hypes.

Moti Zisser's Elbit Medical makes second land purchase in India

Plaza Centers, a subsidiary of Moti Zisser's Elbit Medical Imaging (47%), has bought land in the southern city of Trivandrum, India, to build an entertainment and shopping center, an office complex, and a hotel and apartment hotel.

Just last week Elbit Medical announced the acquisition of land in Bangalore for development, from which it anticipates that it and its partner may see $3 billion in sales.

The company is paying $26.5 million for the roughly 10.78 acres of land it's buying in Trivandum, which is the capital city of Kerala.


Plaza Centers and its Indian partner will be building 195,000 square meters of space, the company said.

"After close to two years of thorough study of the Indian market and building the team and infrastructure of our organization in India, we are now moving at the pace we have been accustomed to throughout the years of our operations in Central and Eastern Europe,"


The city of Trivandrum has 1.2 million residents, and a hi-tech center splayed over some 400 acres. A second hi-tech area of the same magnitude is under construction.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/872738.html

[Sathyalal]

This article very well explains how IT is spilling in to other areas. The other places should be thankfull to Technopark, Trivandrum.

SunTec Business Solutions, a Thiruvananthapuram-based provider of customer-friendly pricing and billing solutions, has decided that its flagship product suit, Transaction Billing Management Solutions (TBMS-F), will couple its tool with Finacle, the core banking solution created by Infosys.

* Another Kerala-based brand, IBS Software Services, has carved out a niche in the air transportation services business. The latest airline to adopt its `desi' passenger services system solution, AiRES, is Australia-based Virgin Blue Airlines; it follows in the footsteps of WestJet of Canada and VirginAmerica.

* The world's largest tax services provider, Kansas City-based H&R Block, has entrusted US Technology, another leading software and services player in Kerala's capital, with its software development and testing, on a long-term basis.

All three companies are clustered in or around the 300-acre (120-hectare) Technopark, India's first integrated software-hardware park, which is home to around 110 Information Technology (IT) players. They have found in Kerala a mix of professional competence, communication infrastructure and the right ambience to create cutting edge, world-class tools and applications.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has its own site, mainly devoted to training, within Technopark. Infosys, another IT `biggie', has a 1.5-lakh sq ft campus, and has begun work on a separate 50-acre site to house its Special Economic Zone that will eventually employ over 20,000 persons.

When Technopark inaugurated its latest block, the 8.5-lakh sq ft Thejaswini, in February - the space was already sold out - the addition made it (at 3.2 million sq ft) the largest IT park in India. Thejaswini is the largest single built-up space in Kerala.
With Technopark often having to put up `houseful' signs, new companies have branched out to their own campuses around the same area and in the 200-acre Infopark campus in Kochi.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/stories/20070629002410400.htm

[rajkrish]

Stunning :tup:

More...

[rajkrish]

KOWDIAR PALACE LAND PROJECT

DPPL and associates have acquired 185 cents (7485 Sq. M) of land at Kowdiar Palace Compound at the heart of the city in Trivandrum. The location is a prime land amidst posh residential area of Trivandrum City and hence the plan is to build a world class shopping centre.

We have also acquired land for a 300 bedded super specialty hospital in the vicinity. CPG Singapore is our Project Consultant.

http://www.dewaprojects.com/prjtvm.asp

[rajkrish]

Cool article Sathya

[rajkrish]

So that's number two from Berggruen in Trivandrum

Berggruen Hotels acquires 10 new sites
2007-06-20 17:51:47 Source : Moneycontrol.com
Email Print Version

Berggruen Hotels, which launched their brand of boutique budget hotels “Keys” in India in January of this year, has acquired ten new sites in the country and is actively pursuing twenty more. Berggruen Hotels is backed by Berggruen Holdings Inc. with an equity capital of US $ 100 million and will build a minimum of 38 hotels in the next five years.



The holiday paradise of Goa will be the first to enjoy the Keys experience. Keys Resort will launch in Goa in September, 2007 with a 150-room resort and will be located in Candolim in North Goa where travellers can enjoy the facilities of an Ayurveda spa centre, swimming pool and an entertainment area. A spacious conferencing area will cater to the growing MICE segment in the region. Pondicherry is another location that will enjoy a Keys Resort where a a seven-and-a-half acres beach front property is being acquired, which will be developed into a 100 room resort.



Commenting on Berggruen’s growing acquisitions in Kerala, Sanjay Sethi, Managing Director and CEO, Berggruen Hotels said, “A presence in Kerala offers Keys an opportunity to provide travellers the chance to experience the beauty of God’s own country, at a reasonable price. With Thiruvananthapuram growing as an industrial and IT centre as well as a hub for medical tourism in recent years, we have already begun construction on a 100 room hotel in this burgeoning city and have acquired two additional sites in Kovalam and Kochi during the last one month.”

http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/pressnews/berggruen-hotels-acquires-10-new-sites-/20/47/287718

[rajkrish]

Indian Hotels To add 5 new hotels, 600 rooms in FY08
Will have a new hotel in Bangalore ITPL, which is housed in Indian Hotels. Will have a new hotel in Chennai in Mount Road, which is housed in Taj GVK and will have a couple of management contracts that will come into play in Trivandrum and Vizag. Between these three, would expect 500-600 rooms or more to be offered by the Taj in the market in 2007-08.

http://www.indiaearnings.com/sub_india/compnews.php?autono=287587


Taj already has 3 hotels in the district. This would be the 4th one.

[rajkrish]

The railway ministry has approved electrification of rail lines of 3,500-4,000 km under the 11th Plan. The Railway Board has sanctioned Rs 317 crore from Rs 425 crore allotted for 2007-08 for electrification of 500 km.
The sections that cover the 500 km electrification scheme include Villupuram-Tiruchirapalli Junction sector of 170 km entailing Rs 97 crore, the section between Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari of 87 km, 154 km section between Tiruchi and Madurai, 22 km section between Thrissur and Guruvayur.
The electrification project will also cover Pakala-Peyanapalli (40 km), Yeshvantpur and Yelahanka (46 km), Karepalli-Bhadrachalam (45 km) and Lingampalli-Godamgura (50 km) under the South Central Railway.
The Railways Board is expecting Villupuram and Vridhdhachalam segment by September this year, and the segment up to Ariyalur by January 2008, thereby covering Tiruchirapalli junction by April 2008.
The Central Organisation for Railway Electrification is expected to submit DPR to the Board for 154 km section between Tiruchi and Madurai by June-end.
The tender formalities for 22 km section between Thrissur and Guruvayur are almost complete and the board will execute the work before December-end. The Board has floated tenders for procurement of overhead equipment and Rs 54 crore project will commence by October this year.

[rajkrish]

More on Plaza Centre...

Plaza Centres plans mixed use complex project


Thiruvananthapuram June 23 The Netherlands-based Plaza Centres N.V. has announced a $150-million project to develop a mixed use - office, shopping and entertainment - complex in Thiruvananthapuram.

:notacrook:

[Sathyalal]

Dear Sanjay, thanks for the support.

A view of Technopark by international media.
Dr Barnard is a senior lecturer at the Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria.He suggests South African companies to emulate technopark companies

A story of remarkable success. More than 100 firms have located in the Technopark. We are about to visit a film animation firm with more than 450 employees. In its five-year history, it has grown dramatically and has secured contracts with leading film companies.
-----
The back room of the facility, where the 3D animators work on personal computers, more closely resembles our stereotypes of high technology. This is where experienced animators get promoted.
This firm sees quality, not low-cost labour, as its competitive advantage. It is situated in a science park with large gardens, a cafeteria and gym, and it hires only graduates, preferably finance graduates.

In the next several years, the South African companies that find ways to identify and develop the potential of underskilled employees will have a substantial advantage over their competitors. An animation firm in Kerala has already found one way of achieving that goal.

http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A501748

[Sathyalal]

Dream of a 'Silicon Coast' in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: They are fresh from college but not desperate for a job!

Eight engineering graduates from this state, known better for its thriving tourism industry, are looking to give jobs to people in their IT startup that is already being valued at around USD seven million.

This team of graduates, which actually shaped its destiny by setting up 'Torque' to provide IT solutions across verticals, now dreams of turning Kerala into the 'Silicon Coast' of India.

"I come from a middle class family. I don't have a big family tag to my name. The state has given me a good education. And, now I think, I have to pay (it) back," Torque CEO Sanjay Vijayakumar told media on asked about the inspiration behind the venture created a year before they left campus.

Obviously, the team also drew inspiration from Stanford University graduates, who helped the Silicon Valley in the US to become the metonymy for world hightech ventures.

Their brainchild Torque has in a short time grown into a pioneering technology business incubated company being currently valued at $5-7 million based in Technopark here.
"Our initial cash investment was Rs eight lakh raised by eight of us while we were in college some 18 months back," Vijayakumar said.

Besides Vijayakumar, the core group included Kenni Joseph, now Torque's Chief Technology Officer, Sony Joy Chief Operating Officer and Anil K Antony, son of Defence Minister A K Antony.

Torque is looking for a venture capital of Rs 700-800 crore to set up a Mobile Hub Technology centre - "Dawn of Silicon Coast" - in Kerala and met President A P J Abdul Kalam at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, much to the appreciation of India's first citizen.

"It was a memorable experience. We were actually given 20 minutes but the interaction went on for 45 minutes. Dr Kalam said that it was for the first time that a group of students had come with a dream of becoming job-creators rather than job-seekers," Sanjay said.

The 'dream project' aims at promoting a hundred startups by acting as a catalyst to promote student entrepreneurship's in the country.

"Our philosophy is to be innovative, adaptive and effective. There is no dream that could not be materialised through hardwork based on this philosophy," Sanjay added.

Torque's focus, so far, has been on mobile value added services. Some of its products like FastAlert, a multi-modal communication tool integrating SMS, e-mails and voice alerts into an intuitive and user-friendly online interface, have been well received.

"We have had enquirers on this from the US and UK on this," said Sanjay.

Another Torque product is MobShare, positioned as India- specific Youtube and Orkut, which enables interaction through MMS blogging and SMS alert.

BlueMessenger, another product, is a bluetooth enabled kiosk creating distant Blue Zones where users could receive ad promotion, download content, interact and chat with users in Blue Zones around the world.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Young_turks_dream_of_a_Silicon_Coast_in_Kerala/articleshow/2151140.cms

[rajkrish]

Country Club to invest Rs 100 cr in Kerala


.........The Country Club Treasure Cove in Kovalam will be upgraded to 5-star facility so as to project it for a global presence.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/06/27/stories/2007062702562100.htm

[rajkrish]

Leela group promotes Ayurvedic tourism

Promoting medical tourism in a big way

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Leela Hotels, Palaces and Resorts is all set to promote medical tourism in a big way by tapping the American market for ayurvedic-massage-based therapies.

Peter J. Leitgeb, president of Hotel Leelaventure, told presspersons here on Monday that business travellers from the U.S. accounted for a large number of guests at the company’s hotels in Bangalore and Mumbai.

The company was trying to work out a communication and branding campaign to build its presence in the U.S. market and promote the properties as a destination for Ayurveda treatments. The company was budgeting around $80,000 for this process.

“There is also a growing interest in alternative medicine in the U.S., and in the first phase, the corporate segment would be tapped by us.”

Mr. Leitgeb said the company was looking at promoting its hotels, especially the one at Kovalam, as a destination for ayurvedic-oil-massage-based therapies and medical tourism.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/27/stories/2007062754390200.htm