[Sathyalal]

Please post news items related to Trivandrum projects in this thread

[Sathyalal]

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

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

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

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

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

[sudheeshnairs]

:previous:

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

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/7733/technocitylayout7nu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[sudheeshnairs]

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

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/1671/cyberpalms1kw8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/5260/dsc00645fd9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

A slightly modified view, from the front

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

[sudheeshnairs]

Thiruvananthapuram Central to be made a world-class station

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

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

Thiruvananthapuram:

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

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

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

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

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

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

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/07/stories/2007030712450500.htm

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

[sudheeshnairs]

:previous:

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

photo copyright rikkiandmatt

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6974/trainsrikkinandmattze6.jpg

pic courtesy: Jimmy Jose, IRFCA.

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/867/tvmcentralsidingsqm6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Park infront of Central Railway Station and Bus Station at Thampanoor

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/5143/dsc00482wy2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/5913/dsc00483bh7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://tinypic.com/9glrhw.jpg

http://tinypic.com/9glu6a.jpg

http://tinypic.com/9gv6ua.jpg

http://tinypic.com/9gva02.jpg

http://tinypic.com/9gvct1.jpg

SECOND ENTRY

http://i16.tinypic.com/2q30ho5.jpg

Old Photo, taken before 'Electrification of the lines'

http://tinypic.com/9gvhtt.jpg

[Sathyalal]

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

[Sathyalal]

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

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

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

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

[Subin]

To add to what Sudheesh posted

1. Copyright : Unni.K - Flickr

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/7800/tvc2unnikbf1.jpg

2. Copyright : Unni.K - Flickr

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/8525/tvc1unnikns7.jpg

3. Reservation Counter Copyright : Miran Rijavec - Flickr

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9941/tvc3miranrijavecqi8.jpg

[rajkrish]

Animation School in KINFRA video and Film park @ Kazhakkoottam

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

[Subin]

Vizhinjam International Transhipment Terminal Project to be retendered

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

Source : Hindu: March 8th (http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/08/stories/2007030820280500.htm)

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

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

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

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/3121/vizhinjamajayyg7.jpg

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

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/5259/img0509rsmd4.jpg

[Subin]

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

Read More : Hindu March 10th (http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/10/stories/2007031022780500.htm)

News from Manorama Online (http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentType=EDITORIAL&programId=1073753765&articleType=Malayalam%20News&contentId=2122249&BV_ID=@@@)

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/3807/telecomcity1wc3.jpg
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/2919/telecomcity2nj4.jpg

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

[Subin]

Telecom city to be set up in Trivandrum
Rs.13 crore for third phase expansion of Technopark
A permanent festival centre for the Thiruvananthapuram International Film Festival
Attukal Development Scheme
Rs.196 crore has been provided in the budget for the development of Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram cities under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Rs.250 crore would be made available from Sustainable Urban Development projects to implement another scheme for the development of urban infrastructure facilities. It will be implemented in five Municipal corporations, including Thiruvananthapuram
Fresh tenders would be invited for the development of Vizhinjam port. Rs.5 crore has been earmarked in the budget for strengthening the share capital of Vizhinjam International Seaports Limited that provides infrastructure facility
The State Government would provide Rs.20 crore matching grant for the Rs.100 crore development of the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College
The Regional Cancer Centre here would get Rs.9.5 crore.
The Thiruvananthapuram International Film Festival, which has already received international acclaim, would be provided Rs.50 lakh for setting up a permanent festival centre
Rs.2 crore for the conservation of four colleges that has heritage buildings. This includes the landmark University College
N. Krishna Pillai Foundation and The Institute of Journalism, Press Club, Trivandrum would get Rs.10 lakh each

Source: Hindu March 10th (http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/10/stories/2007031022780500.htm)

[Subin]

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

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

Read more : Hindu Online March 11th (http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/11/stories/2007031119660500.htm)

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

[Subin]

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

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

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

Source : Hindu March 11th (http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/11/stories/2007031119610500.htm)

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

[Subin]

Report from Mathrubhumi Dhanakaryam(Financial Supplement)

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/4673/infytvmms6.jpg ;)

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

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

[rajkrish]

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

Photo courtesy : Vinodtnt
http://i11.tinypic.com/2dtylcj.jpg

[rajkrish]

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

Source:http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=157830

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Sathyalal]

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

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

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

[Sathyalal]

Chennai to emulate Trivandrum and Delhi on parallel corridor concept

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

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/13/stories/2007031316990400.htm

[Subin]

Decks have been cleared for the setting up a Rs.100-crore International Convention Centre Complex (ICCC) near Akkulam tourist village in the city with 26 per cent equity participation of the State Government.

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 region of the country.

Official sources told The Hindu that a private partner - Chalet Hotels and Properties Pvt. Ltd. along with M/s Raheja Corporation Pvt. Ltd. - had been selected through a bidding process.

The agreement was being worked out and Chalet Hotels and Properties (Kerala) Pvt. Ltd. had been registered.

To be taken up under the Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) concept, the ICCC will come up on 46 acres of land on the left side of the road leading from Akkulam tourist village to the Kazhakuttam-Inchivila NH 47 bypass. The site is close to the land acquired for the development of the Technopark.

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. Proximity to the international airport, Technopark, railway terminal, and the beach resort of Kovalam are cited as the main reasons for Akkulam being selected to set up the ICCC.

:yes:

Full Article: Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/17/stories/2007031724010500.htm)

[rajkrish]

Suburban trains to start service soon'

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister Vijayakumar on Friday told the Assembly that suburban train services connecting major metro cities and small cities would be started taking into consideration the severe travelling problem in the State.

Minister also indicated the first suburban train service would be started from Kollam to the state capital possibly by this year itself. More details are awaited.

Last year, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation had proposed to run trains between Kollam and Neyyatinkara at 30 minutes duration during the peak hours using the existing infrastructure facilities.

The proposals had been accepted in principle and it was decided to implement the proposals with the assistance of the DMRC using Central Government funds at the earliest

[rajkrish]

MCH becomes fully computerised
Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital (MCH) has become the first ever Government Medical College in the State to become fully computerised.

The hospital information management system implemented at the MCH by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) includes a campus-wide network of 250 nodes with fibre optic backbone and helps in patient admission, ward management, staff scheduling, laboratory management and pay-ward reservations and enquiries.

All patient care activities at the MCH have thereby become automated, with all records, registers and lab reports readily available in the system.

Detailed News:
http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/17/stories/2007031724040500.htm

[rajkrish]

Decks have been cleared for habitat center too
Mathrubhumi reports:- as per minister Benoy vishwam, decks have been cleared for habitat center @TVM and will be set up soon..
Read :-
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/php/newsFrm.php?news_id=1213822&n_type=NE&category_id=3&Farc=

cheers ...:tup:

[rajkrish]

R.R.L. becomes "NIST"

The Regional Research Laboratory (R.R.L), Trivandrum has been a premier R&D institution for the last three decades has changed it's name to "National Institute for Inter Disciplinary Science and Technology" as the Council for Scientific Research and Development decided to expand the existing research facilities which is expected to bring the institute into greater prominence in R&D landscape.

Here is the Mathrubhumi news
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/php/newsFrm.php?news_id=1213738&n_type=NE&category_id=3&Farc=

:tup:

[Subin]

Source : Manorama

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1797/ethihadnewsan8.jpg

Report says UAE's national Airlines, Ethihad Airlines will fly to Kochi and Trivandrum 4 times a week from next month onwards.. :notacrook:

[rajkrish]

Great news :notacrook:

[Subin]

The Greens

4 towers Prakrithi, Haritham, Sangamam, Viharam : 16 floors


MIR Realtors have announced their 11 acre Township in Peroorkada in Thiruvananthapuram

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2493/mirgreenspf9.gif

Location
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/3808/locationhd3.jpg

Apartment

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/5417/aptsaa3.jpg
:tup:

[rajkrish]

This looks awesome. I guess this is their biggest project in Kerala

[Sathyalal]

MILFORD, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Degree Controls, Inc. (DegreeC), the global leader of state-of-the-art thermal and airflow technologies for the electronics and telecommunications industries, announced today that it has strengthened its Asian operations by appointing Ven Holalkere to the newly created position of Regional Director, Asia. Mr. Holalkere will be based in Trivandrum, India and report directly to DegreeC’s President and CEO, Jag Sisodia.
In eleven years DegreeC has become a leading provider of thermal and airflow solutions for challenging telecommunications and medical applications. Degree°C is now applying its chassis-level thermal expertise to mission-critical room-level spaces, primarily sophisticated data centers and clean rooms.

DegreeC began its operations in Trivandrum, India in 2004 and has seen rapid growth since that time.

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070314005569&newsLang=en

[rajkrish]

Minister D. Purendashwari has announced that Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) will be coming up in Trivandrum during 11th plan.

With this latest entrant Trivandrum, which already has a plethora of premier educational and R&D institutes has reaffirmed its place as the knowledge capital of Kerala if not South India.

[rajkrish]

Leela IT park and IBS towers @ Technopark

Photo courtesy : Sudheesh Nair

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/1623/dsc02932du6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

IBS building u/c as seen from Bhavani. This is the main building, two 12 & 13floor towers will be coming at both sides

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

[Subin]

Source: New Indian Express (http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070320232113&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0&)
Three locations have been identified in the district for setting up the proposed Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER), Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told the Assembly on Tuesday.

The Jersey farm at Vithura, Bonakkad Estate at Vithura and the Kariavattom campus of the Kerala University are the proposed locations, he said in reply to a question by V Sivankutty. The State Government has also informed the Centre of its readiness to lease out land on a long-term basis for setting up the IISER.

He said that the Planning Commission has given in-principle approval for the project.

Following the nod by the Union Human Resources Ministry, the government had appointed the Higher Education principal secretary to find suitable locations. :cool: :cool:

[Subin]

Source:New Indian Express (http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070320232113&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0&)

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan informed the Assembly that land acquisition for Technocity would be completed by September this year. The project needs a total of 507 acres. He also said that problems related to acquisition of land for Technopark expansion would be solved.

Recently Embassy group, Ascendas, Raheja's and Emaar-MGF had held discussions with Technopark regarding Phase III and Technocity :tup:

[sudheeshnairs]

AQUA VISTA, 15 Floors,106 Apartments, Akkulam Waterfront, with an Infinity pool (over the portico). This is a project by PTC Builder, and is close to NH Bypass. It is after the proposed 'Waterscapes' by SFS on the NH Bypass-Kuzhivila-Akkulam-Ulloor road.

The architect is C2WY Studio, Singapore.


http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/2397/aquavista1lg6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/6936/aquavistaje9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The location

http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/1382/akkulam1ta4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/2313/akkulam2nj0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[rajkrish]

This looks stunnig :tup:

AQUA VISTA, 15 Floors,106 Apartments, Akkulam Waterfront, with an Infinity pool (over the portico). This is a project by PTC Builder, and is close to NH Bypass. It is after the proposed 'Waterscapes' by SFS on the NH Bypass-Kuzhivila-Akkulam-Ulloor road.

The architect is C2WY Studio, Singapore.


http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/2397/aquavista1lg6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/6936/aquavistaje9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The location

http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/1382/akkulam1ta4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/2313/akkulam2nj0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[rajkrish]

Condor Marigold

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/2929/condorapartment5tt.jpg

[rajkrish]

Condor Daffodils

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/1042/dafodilswc7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[sudheeshnairs]

Heera Swiss Town

18 floors, three towers.


http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/4240/heeraswisstowndm2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[rajkrish]

Artech's Samrudhi Retreat @ Muttada, Pattom

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/817/11658145821562660305016ao2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Sathyalal]

Be proud of home grown companies like suntec,ibs etc

SunTec software to power DBS Bank


SunTec, the Thiruvananthapuram-based relationship-based pricing and centralised billing solutions company, has entered into an agreement with Singapore-based financial service firm DBS Bank to deploy its flagship product TBMS-F.

A SunTec source said here that DBS, which is one of the largest financial services player in the whole of Southeast Asia, will use TBMS-F to examine better ways to serve its customers, through innovative bundling and pricing of its product offerings.

http://www.business-standard.com/iceworld/storypage.php?leftnm=8&subLeft=1&chklogin=N&autono=279077&tab=r

[Rummy_123]

BANGALORE/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: RELIANCE Industries (RIL) is likely to join the race for the $1-billion Vizhinjam port on the Kerala coast, with the state government deciding to call for fresh tenders, sources said. RIL was looking at participating in a major port project on the west coast which could rival Colombo’s prominence, and hence the early interest in Vizhinjam International Seaport (VISL) that falls on the international shipping line, sources added. RIL’s substantial exports, both dry and liquid operations, are mainly driven through large jetties at Dahej and Hazira. Further, RIL is also developing Rewas Port closer to its mega SEZ projects in Navi Mumbai.When contacted, an RIL spokesperson declined to comment.

The private sector behemoth’s interest was in initial stages and it was premature to comment on what progress it would make, sources said. But multiple sources said RIL could be among those who show initial interest when the state kicks off the new tender process in the coming months as it was showing interest in other port projects on the west coast.

Former BPL Mobile promoter and infrastructure entrepreneur Rajeev Chandrasekhar has already signaled interest in Vizhinjam project located near Kovalam, which has been in the making for over a decade now. The Kerala government has initiated moves for re-tendering the Vizhinjam port project, after previous round of bidding for the project had to be dropped because of the Centre’s disinclination to clear the winning bid involving a Chinese consortium on security concerns. The previous round bidding saw 16 firms, including Port Authority of Singapore, showing interest in the Rs 4,360-crore project.
VISL officials said the re-tender was expected to be floated within a few months. They said the request for proposal (RFP) documents for the project were being revised and that tenders would be called for once that exercise was completed. IL&FS has been entrusted the job of the RFP revision, VISL officials said.

The Kerala government proposes to have equity participation in the project and had also sought viability gap funding from the Centre. The first phase of the project involving close to Rs 2,000 crore is scheduled to be completed in three years after obtaining the Centre’s clearance.However, a section of the observers believes that the future of Vizhinjam port could be in jeopardy with Tamil Nadu pushing for a similar project at Kolachel just about 40 km away. The move could strip the strategic locational advantage of Vizhinjam on the international shipping line.


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Energy/Oil__Gas/RIL_may_join_race_for_Kerala_port_project/articleshow/1817895.cms

[rajkrish]

Thejaswini (Biggest single office structure for IT/ITES in India) as seen from
Bhavani (erstwhile topper w.r.t to space :tup: )

Photo courtesy : Sudheesh Nair

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/9476/dsc02935lm8cs6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[rajkrish]

M-Squared building, Technopark

Photo Courtesy : rajeshdxb

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/4637/picture036mik4zy0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Technopark Club

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/9058/picture038mak5ua8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/1150/picture040mkm6fo6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[rajkrish]

Taj Ginger

Photo credits: Sathyalal

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/7598/tp11fi1iw2.jpg

[Sathyalal]

Raj, Your M2 building photo reminds me the following

Yes, many are wondering why there are no hypes or advertisements for built up space in Technopark, Trivandrum. The answer to the question can be guessed from the following information table. It is sellers market.
Many of our media friends are not even aware of the private buildings like Padmanabham,Mrithupanya and M2 in TP.
Whatever the built space announced is booked before the start of construction.Gov should see this fact and compare this with players(not in Trivandrum) taking many years to sell smaller buildings or finally convert the IT space to some other purpose even after lot of adv and media coverage.

The biggest IT Park in the country has changed the investment image of the state and is the most sought after place.

Hope the Government will act soon.There will be an IT revolution in the state.

Raheja ,Leela Scottish Lace, Ascendas, Embassy ,Emaar and Chesterton are planning big and just waiting for the land


http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/1148/tpde7.jpg

Source: http://www.technopark.org/landrequest.htm

[Subin]

Many of our media friends are not even aware of the private buildings like Padmanabham,Mrithupanya and M2 in TP.

Great post Sathya. :tup:

Padmanabham :Sept 2006 Snap. Photo Courtesy: Sudheesh

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/8383/padmanabhamfl2.jpg

Its owned by the Softex group which has software and BPO operations from Technopark. Padmanabham is a 60,000 sft facility in 5 floors. Apart from their own use, Softex have leased it to Asian School of Business. (ASB). ASB have recently tied up with a Singapore architect for their campus in 15 acres. They would functioning from Padmanabham till the new campus is ready.

[rajkrish]

Very true Sathya. Though I heard abt Raheja, Ascendas, Emaar and Embassy, I never knew that these many companies had requested for land. Wonder why Govt is silent on this?. They should have given the land much earlier

Less said, the better about the media. They are biased and we all know how they reported the inauguration of Thejaswini. So you can't expect anything better than this from them. ;)

And it is truly amazing to see how TP has progressed from from a fledgling IT Park to an IT infrastructure behemoth without any hype and hoopla from the media. I believe the future would be just fantastic and would firmly place Trivandrum as a knowledge hub.

[SREEKUMAR]

Great News Sathya... Unbelievable ......
:frog:
[QUOTE=Sathyalal;2727237]Raj, Your M2 building photo reminds me the following

Yes, many are wondering why there are no hypes or advertisements for built up space in Technopark, Trivandrum. The answer to the question can be guessed from the following information table. It is sellers market.
Many of our media friends are not even aware of the private buildings like Padmanabham,Mrithupanya and M2 in TP.
Whatever the built space announced is booked before the start of construction.Gov should see this fact and compare this with players(not in Trivandrum) taking many years to sell smaller buildings or finally convert the IT space to some other purpose even after lot of adv and media coverage.

The biggest IT Park in the country has changed the investment image of the state and is the most sought after place.

Hope the Government will act soon.There will be an IT revolution in the state.

Raheja ,Leela Scottish Lace, Ascendas, Embassy ,Emaar and Chesterton are planning big and just waiting for the land

[Sathyalal]

Thanks sreekumar.

Great News Sathya... Unbelievable ......
:frog:
[QUOTE=Sathyalal;2727237]Raj, Your M2 building photo reminds me the following

Yes, many are wondering why there are no hypes or advertisements for built up space in Technopark, Trivandrum. The answer to the question can be guessed from the following information table. It is sellers market.
Many of our media friends are not even aware of the private buildings like Padmanabham,Mrithupanya and M2 in TP.
Whatever the built space announced is booked before the start of construction.Gov should see this fact and compare this with players(not in Trivandrum) taking many years to sell smaller buildings or finally convert the IT space to some other purpose even after lot of adv and media coverage.

The biggest IT Park in the country has changed the investment image of the state and is the most sought after place.

Hope the Government will act soon.There will be an IT revolution in the state.

Raheja ,Leela Scottish Lace, Ascendas, Embassy ,Emaar and Chesterton are planning big and just waiting for the land

[rajkrish]

Kalpana heights : Fully taken up by BIB BAZAAR for 27 lakhs /month

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/8379/kalpanahtsoj3gm0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/7964/dsc03015fh1si9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Sathyalal]

Long queue for IT space. Now it will be turn for animation studios...

50 Animations studios!:)


KERALA TO SET UP ANIMATION SEZ
Chhavi Dang, Mumbai
The Economic Times

.....
Kinfra, the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation, a statutory body of GoK, is developing this park where it expects around 50 large animation studios from major centres to move in. “This is the second phase of development happening in the park and we have decided to make it an exclusive animation SEZ. It is the first of its kind in India,” said Kinfra films and video park project manager K Sudhakaran.
....
currently, an MoU has been signed with animation studios like Toonz Animation, Dimensions which are currently headquartered in Kerala and Chandigarh-based Compact Disc. The organisation is also in talks with Chennai-based Accel Animation Studios, a mobile gaming and animation company also to move into the animation SEZ, which will be operational in three months.

[Sathyalal]

The Foreign Investment Proposal Board (FIPB) has cleared the Damas-Flemingo joint ventrue, according to official sources. Damas will be selling its gold jewellery brands like harmony and legacy and its diamond brands at major airports. Damas has already been allowed to set up shops at Chennai, Trivandrum and Jaipur international airports. Operations at these airports are expected to begin within a month.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Cons_Products/Fashion__CosmeticsJewellery/Damas_allowed_51_in_FDSPL_venture/articleshow/1830465.cms

[rajkrish]

One of the city's most exclusive clubs, the NRI Club is building a swanky, new building to house its luxury hotel and club facilities, again at Pattom.

Photo credits : Ajay

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6403/picture037rswk9.jpg

[rajkrish]

New JOSCO showroom set to open

The new JOSCO showroom, the second in the city, is all set to open up at Pattom. Bhima Jewellery is also opening an outlet in Pattom. With the completion of the Condor Mall, Pattom will soon be a up-market retail destination in the city.
Photo credits : Ajay

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/8042/picture036rscr4.jpg

[rajkrish]

This is going to be one of the most expensive apartment complexes in Kerala.
:rolleyes:

Price for 2 Bedroom Villa : 53 Lakhs
Price for 3 Bedroom villa : 64 Lakhs
Price for 4 Bedroom villa : 71 lakhs - 1 Crore +

And 4 out of 7 one crore villas have already been sold.


The Greens

4 towers Prakrithi, Haritham, Sangamam, Viharam : 16 floors


MIR Realtors have announced their 11 acre Township in Peroorkada in Thiruvananthapuram

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/7537/townshipxw2.jpg

Location
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/3808/locationhd3.jpg

Apartment

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/5417/aptsaa3.jpg
:tup:

[Subin]

This is going to be one of the most expensive apartment complexes in Kerala. :rolleyes:
Price for 2 Bedroom Villa : 53 Lakhs
Price for 3 Bedroom villa : 64 Lakhs
Price for 4 Bedroom villa : 71 lakhs - 1 Crore +

:shrug: :cool: :D

[Subin]

Condor Mall

With the completion of the Condor Mall, Pattom will soon be a up-market retail destination in the city.
Raj, Add this too :notacrook:

Photo credits: Sudheesh

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/7194/condormallwp3.jpg

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/3305/condormall1kb6.jpg

12-14 floors - Retail space + an hotel. Seems they have changed the design.

The initial design

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/8640/condurmall1dqdx3.jpg

[Subin]

Five star deluxe hotel by Taj

-- The white big building on the left with a little red dome is the new Five star deluxe hotel by Taj (Dodla are the property owners).

-- The building u/c infront of the frame is SFS Fairmont.

-- The under construction building, with partial green net covering is the new Four Star Hotel by S P Fort group (15 floors-finishing stage)

http://img470.imageshack.us/img470/9339/dodla5nb.jpg

Photo Courtesy :Sudheesh

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/744/dsc02470fg7.jpg

[Subin]

Malabar Gold Mall

Pantaloons is said to have taken up space here. ;)

Photo Credits: Ajay

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/9914/img0611rsgn8.jpg

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/1399/img0616rsst9.jpg

[Subin]

Varkey's Tower

- Coming up in Statue
- Construction going on

Photo Credit: Ajay

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2631/varkeycopy8af0oh.jpg

and the construction update ...

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/7572/img0629rsfg9.jpg

[Subin]

Heera InfoCity near Technopark

Photo Credit: Sudheesh

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1139/finalheerainfonitewj5.jpg

[Subin]

Muthoot Corporate Office

Vellayambalam - 10 floors (37 m) :tup:

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/8469/muthootcoop6xq.jpg

[Subin]

Jose Alukkas Wedding Centre

Photo Credits: Ajay

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/38/img0618rshm4.jpg

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/7531/img0620rssp8.jpg

[Subin]

One more hotel Project - One of the city's landmark's, The Luciya, has finished its renovation and upgradation. It is due to open as a full five-star shortly

Photo Credit: Ajay
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/8961/img0619rskt5.jpg

[Subin]

IBS CAMPUS, Technopark.

Tower 1 -12 Floors-1,60,000 sft.
Tower II- 13 Floors-1,80,000 sft.

Credits: Sudheesh
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7184/ibs1bl0.jpg

[Subin]

Oceanus Blue Mount

Credits: Sudheesh
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/8164/airfviewcroppedrk7.jpg

[rajkrish]

Great update Subin :tup:

[rajkrish]

Kuwait company to invest $136 million to set up three hotels in Kerala | INRnews
Kochi, India, March 01, 2007 - The Kuwait based KGA Group of companies is to invest $136 million to set up three hotels in the Southern Indian state of Kerala.

The plans include a 210 room hotel with conference facilities in Kochi in collaboration with Crowne Plaza, and one hotel each in Kovalam and Thiruvananthapuram. :previous:

[rajkrish]

Oceanus is in the process of acquiring 50 acres near Technopark for integrated IT and Residential project

Oceanus Blue Mount

Credits: Sudheesh
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/8164/airfviewcroppedrk7.jpg

[rajkrish]

Varkey's towers look stunning:previous:

Varkey's Tower

- Coming up in Statue
- Construction going on

Photo Credit: Ajay

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2631/varkeycopy8af0oh.jpg

and the construction update ...

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/7572/img0629rsfg9.jpg

[rajkrish]

Beacon - Green Leaves

Photo credits : Shafi

http://i12.tinypic.com/47l66ie.gif

[rajkrish]

SI Bains Court

Photo credits : Ajay

http://tinypic.com/9uau5k.jpg

[rajkrish]

Gayathri, Technopark

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img271.imageshack.us/img271/6774/tp64ul.jpg

[rajkrish]

Skyline Tiara @ Kumarapuram

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://tinypic.com/9zpyiu.jpg

[rajkrish]

Now see the biggest and busiest Railway Station(after Chennai) down south.

Photo credit : frmNeo999

http://img315.imageshack.us/img315/7255/jvc00017yj.jpg

[rajkrish]

NABARD office. This structure uses the space frame concept

Photo credit : Sudheesh Nair

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/1196/dscn62672eu.jpg

[rajkrish]

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/3359/dscn62683iy.jpg

[rajkrish]

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/3479/dscn62697ws.jpg

[rajkrish]

Malabar Builders plans to construct shopping malls, townships and apartments in Kozhikode, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c.php?leftnm=10&autono=278971

[rajkrish]

Etihad Airways - Abu Dhabi to Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline, is set to expand its services to India with the launch of two *** routes from Abu Dhabi to Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) and Kochi (Cochin) in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

Highlights...

* Flights from Abu Dhabi to Thiruvananthapuram will begin from 31st May, 2007
* Etihad will operate Tri-weekly to Thiruvananthapuram and the routes are expected to increase to daily flights from October 2007.
* Etihad will operate a three cabin Airbus A340-500 aircraft to Thiruvananthapuram, with the capacity to carry 240 passengers with 12 in first class (diamond zone), 28 in business class (pearl zone) and 200 in economy (coral zone)

[rajkrish]

Poovar Island Resort

View of the 'floatels'

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5711/poovar14he.jpg

[rajkrish]

Sunken Bar and Pool

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6471/poovar28tf.jpg

[rajkrish]

Inside view of 'Floatel'

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6830/poovar32me.jpg

[rajkrish]

Pool side party area

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5965/poovar47et.jpg

[rajkrish]

Now some midrises

Nikunjam Estates Nxt

Photo Credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1531/nikunjamestatesnxt7rc.gif

[rajkrish]

Nikunjam Monarch

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3655/nikunjammornarch4fq.jpg

[rajkrish]

Nikunjam Royale

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/2797/nikunajmroyale3xe.jpg

[rajkrish]

Nikunjam Towers

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/2980/nikunjantowers2bg.jpg

[rajkrish]

Nikunjam Estates

Perspective credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/6720/nikunjamestates9lz.jpg

[rajkrish]

Nikunjam Retreat

Perspective credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/1963/nikunjamretreat7mr.jpg

[rajkrish]

Hotel Chaithram

Photo Credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/7893/chaithramgall046mc.jpg

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/6972/chaithramgall011xh.jpg

[rajkrish]

Hotel Samudra, Kovalam

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/2623/samudragall019lv.jpg

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/3652/samudragall038bj.jpg

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/2021/samudragall040ob.jpg

[chandrurajan]

Great Pics Rajesh & Subin...:)

[rajkrish]

Thanx Chandru. Now see some pictures of one of the best resorts in India. The Taj Green Cove- 5 Star deluxe resort which adopts a Balinese theme.


Swimming Pool

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/3006/dsc02882ws2.jpg

[rajkrish]

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/5532/dsc02883sk8.jpg

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/716/dsc02887mt0.jpg

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/161/dsc02865nn5.jpg

[rajkrish]

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/5953/dsc02861bv6.jpg

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/6017/dsc02862on1.jpg

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/2883/dsc02874kb3.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/405/dsc02875rv0.jpg

[rajkrish]

Photo credits : Sudheesh Nair

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/2136/dsc02879ba2.jpg

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/1752/dsc02871ed4.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4576/dsc02872ve0.jpg

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/5552/dsc02873pe1.jpg

[Subin]

US lab comes calling

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is setting up its India operations in collaboration with Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram. The laboratory is in the final stages of a $350-million project to provide a modern campus for the next generation of `great science.'

Frost and Sullivan estimates that the R&D outsourcing market in India will grow from $1.3 billion to about $9 billion by the year 2010.

The latest entrant into this happening sector is a science and technology laboratory behemoth in the US - Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). It is setting up its India operations in collaboration with Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram.

Read Full Article (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ew/2007/04/02/stories/2007040200110300.htm)

[chandrurajan]

This is great news !!!

[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

[rajkrish]

Vizhinjam Container Terminal news update

T’PURAM: The proposed Vizhinjam International Container Terminal will not have a ‘clone’ within 150 km on either side of it on the Kerala coastline, the State Government has decided.

The government has also decided to bear the cost for developing external infrastructure for the project such as railway and road, a responsibility which it had earlier vested with the private partner.

In fact, the government reinstated two conditions on Tuesday which it had done away with while announcing that it was going in for global tenders for the project a second time.

As in the last bid, the State Government will also bear the contingent liability capped at Rs 67.50 crore, if changes occur in the basic design, subsequent to drilling and collection of data by the successful bidder.

And, the company that successfully bids and operates the port for 30 years, the original concession period, will also have the First Right of Refusal to match the winning bid if the government decided to bid out the port operation after the concession period expires.

These are the changes that the government approved on Tuesday in the Request for Proposal (RFP) for global tender to invite the private partner for the multi-crore project. Initially, a State Government grant was proposed to meet the expenses for developing the external infrastructure for the project, amounting to Rs 80 crore. This was modified later.

The public-private partnership that emerges after a successful bid would have to meet the cost, the government had decided.

This was one point to which the companies, taking part in an investors’ meet for the project on April 17, objected. The decision to ban private developers from constructing a similar container transshipment terminal within 150 km in the state also arose from a suggestion from companies at the investors’ meet.

But, not allowing a similar port nearby is not such a big issue. What with the Vallarpadom Container Transshipment Terminal coming up in Kochi, there will be little scope for another in-between, anyway. Besides, it applies only to the region north of Vizhinjam, because in the south, the Tamil Nadu border is close by, and the condition does not apply beyond Kerala borders.

As many as 43 companies, big and small, including giants such as the Russian Rosoboron had taken part in the investor meet, the first one by the State Government for a single project, in April.

The State Government had decided on a second round of global bid after the Centre denied clearance to a Chinese-led consortium that had originally grabbed the project.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070626224347&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0&

[rajkrish]

Sorry double post

[Sathyalal]

Kerala to have world-class missile facility soon

The state will soon have a worldclass missile development facility with the takeover of Kerala Hitech Industries Limited (Keltec),Trivandrum by BrahMos Aerospace.

Sources told this websites newspaper that the takeover of Keltec by BrahMos was under the active consideration of Union Defence Ministry. Industry Department officials agreed that a formal agreement for take over of Keltec could be expected soon.

In May 2007, a Defence delegation from BrahMos visited Keltec to conduct spot study and analyse the potential of the company. The delegation members collected information and further directions are awaited from the Ministry of Defence.

A joint venture company with 50.5 percent stakes with the Indian Government and 49.5 percent shares by the Russian Government, BrahMos manufactures Supersonic Cruise Missiles with conventional warhead that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. These missiles are unique due to its 2.8 Mach supersonic speed with much longer strike range than other missiles. BrahMos has evinced its interest in the take over of Keltec and to develop it into a world-class missile facility with system integration and testing. A supplier of high precision strategic defence and space equipment for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and ISRO, Keltec looks forward for its technological upgradation.

According to the State GO dated March 22, 2007, the takeover of Keltec would attract initial additional investments of about Rs 200 crore to the state. The advanced missile development facility will be the first Defence production unit in Kerala.
The facility in conjunction with ISRO will generate tax revenue to the state.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070627020356&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0&

[Sathyalal]

Export from Trivandrum Airport is 23900 tonnes
And the total cargo movement is 36700 tonnes .
The export through Trivandrum airport is almost 200 % compared to the second one in the state.
Calicut comes third, but with very good growth rate.

Monday’s Bussiness Manorama report

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1959/mn2it1.png

Here is the data (exports only) from Kerala Airports
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/3130/mn3vu6.png

Hope that with the completion of proposed cargo complex, this will multiply many times.

[Sathyalal]

High growth rate reported by TVM Airport.

http://aai.aero/traffic_news/TRFEB2007.pdf

2.1.1 TOTAL AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS:

The total aircraft movements (International and Domestic) handled in February 2007 has shown an increase of 23.7 per cent as compared to the aircraft movement handled in February 2006 (referred to Annexure-I).
Major increases are at (Annexure-IIC):
• Chennai
34.6%
• Srinagar
41.0%
• Bangalore
33.6%
• Nagpur
34.6%
• Hyderabad
38.8%
• Coimbatore
38.1%
• Trivandrum
51.8%
• Cochin (CIAL)
36.7%
• Jaipur
65.0%
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 8.2 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):
• Delhi
9.7%
• Cochin (CIAL)
19.4%
• Bangalore
15.2%
• Amritsar
48.9%
• Trivandrum
27.8%
Air Arabia started their operation at Trivandrum Airport from December 2006 and at Jaipur Airport from May 2006. Introduction of Transit Flight by Finn Air at Jaipur Airport is also 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 28.0 per cent during February 2007. 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
44.8%
• Srinagar
55.4%
• Bangalore
36.1%
• Cochin (CIAL)
55.0%
• Hyderabad
46.8%
• Jaipur
56.2%
• Trivandrum
84.4%

• Nagpur
36.5%
• Varanasi
67.5%
Low cost airlines namely Air Deccan, SpiceJet & Go Air and other existing airlines have increased their frequencies of operations in the existing sectors and started number of new sectors in all regions. Low cost airlines namely Indigo Airlines and Indus Air have started their operations from 4th August 2006 and 28th December 2006 respectively.

[rajkrish]

50 cities seen as hub of retail space boom

"Emerging Cities" -Nagpur, Indore, Nasik, Bhubaneshwar, Vizag, Coimbatore, Mangalore, Mysore and Thiruvananthapuram — where IT-ITeS companies are expanding, will become important over the next three years.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/203077.html

[Sathyalal]

French Information Resource Centre opening at Alliance Francaise
Friday June 29 2007 08:14 IST
T'URAM: The upgraded library and exhibition hall at the Alliance Francaise de Trivandrum will be inaugurated by P Govindapillai on Friday.

Head of the book section of the French Embassy in India, Celia Vaudaine, will also be present on the occasion.

The library, which has been shifted to a new block, will be called French Information Resource Centre and has some new features, including a children corner, audiovisual services and internet access. Members can watch DVDs and access the francophone channel TV 5 at the television corner of the library.

The library has around 2,000 books, including French and English translations, besides French magazines. Apart from French classics and works of celebrated French authors, the library also has some new arrivals, including books of contemporary French writers like Irene Nemirovsky.

read more ..
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070628215256&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0

[Sathyalal]

Toonz Animation Academy of Trivandrum is launching their Mumbai branch in Andheri. This will be their second branch in India (the first being Kolkata) and Nagpur is slotted to be next. The launch of the academy is on July 5, 2007. Seminars have been conducted by animation experts to throw light on the trends in animation industry and its opportunities.
The two-and-half-year-old Toonz is a first mover in the Indian animation industry. It is said to be one of the largest animation studios in Asia and it has been working with most of the top names in the Animation world. The academy has both local and international faculty rich with production experience.
The seminar conducted on Thursday had a demo session on 2D and 3D by world famous animation expert, Philippines-based Dino Cordero, who is presently the Dean of Toonz Animation Academy. Dino Cordero has over 17 years of experience in the industry and has been part of famous animation productions like Tom & Jerry, X-men, Spiderman among others.

http://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=fromthepress&subsection=inbombay&xfile=June2007_inbombay_standard13374

[Sathyalal]

One more major is interested in India's largest IT park where lion's share of Kerala's IT is happening.

Delegates from National Panasonic Japan visited Technopark

29th June 2007 :

World electronics giant National Panasonic, Japan represented by Mr. Yutaka Nakao, Director, Mr. Tomoo Otsuka, Senior Manager, Mr. Laurent Safa, Lead Research Engineer & Mr. Hareesh P V, Advanced Technologies Development Laboratory visited Technopark on 29th June 2007. They were given a warm welcome by the CEO of Technopark, Mr. N Radhakrishnan Nair & Mr. M Vasudevan (Senior Manager- Business Development).

National Panasonic made news recently with the acquisition of Anchor for Rs 2000crores. With the bonding between India and Japan becoming more solid, the Japanese companies are coming to the forefront in initiating business in India.

The meeting was at the operational level; the Japanese team expressed their interest in setting up a venture involving software development, chip design and chip testing. Later the guests were taken to NEST in Periyar as per their request where they were given a first hand account of how they were serving their clients in various countries, especially Japan.

http://www.technopark.org/campusnote.htm

[Sathyalal]

Kerala's knowledge hub is not only growing in the area's of IT, Space reaserch and other R& D areas, but also in foriegn language literature.


Literary Sojourn

Monday July 2 2007 09:17 IST

That Indian literature fast becoming hot property in the West might not be news anymore.

But not many in India are aware that the growing interest in Indian literature

Celia Vaudaine,was in the city on Friday for the inauguration of the renovated French Information Resource Centre at Alliance Francaise de Trivandrum.

We also have residence projects where we invite French authors to India to write books pertaining to India or India relations with France. Marie Desplechin and Frank Pavloff are two noted French novelists who visited India as part of these programmes recently.

Novelist Paule Constant will be visiting Thiruvananthapuram in October. We are also organising a conference of feminine authors in the Jawaharlal Nehru University in October, which includes women writers from Canada and Mauritius besides India and France.・

Last time we had conducted a workshop in Thiruvananthapuram in collaboration with the Toonz Animation Academy.

The book section of the French Embassy plans to launch a major programme in 2008
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070701225550&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0

[Sathyalal]

Light Logics Holography & Optics signs agreement with Technopark
28th June 2007 :
Light Logics Holography & Optics Pvt.Ltd. signed agreement with Technopark. The agreement was signed by Mr.P T Ajith Kumar of Light Logics Holography & Optics and Mr. N. Radhakrishnan Nair, CEO, Technopark.

[Sathyalal]

Kudos to this home grown company.

SunTec Grows Global Presence with Singapore Office

NewswireToday - /newswire/ - Trivandrum, Kerala, India, 07/03/2007 - International expansion continues for worldwide pricing and billing solutions vendor.


SunTec Business Solutions, global provider of relationship based pricing and dynamic billing software, today announced the opening of a Singapore office, another milestone in SunTec’s international expansion plans.

Located on Singapore’s well-known Beach Road, SunTec’s new office will primarily focus on company sales in China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. The Singapore location will also support SunTec’s APAC clients, including DBS Bank of Singapore and Bakrie Telecom of Indonesia.

“The global appetite for a billing solution that helps increase fee based revenues is tremendous, and we have aggressive plans for SunTec expansion around the world,“ said Nanda Kumar, SunTec CEO. Our Beach Road office is operational and expected to grow from 12 to 22 employees within the next six to eight months. We’re looking at other key areas and plan to open an office in the Middle East very soon.”

Most recently, SunTec expanded its presence in the US, with a dedicated customer support center. This US center and the new Singapore office both demonstrate SunTec’s focus on a superior customer experience for next generation communications, media, entertainment (CME) and banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) companies worldwide.


http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/20511/

[Sathyalal]

US firm holds the Keys to budget hotels
OUR CORRESPONDENT

Within means
New Delhi, July 3: Berggruen Hospitality Pvt Ltd plans to set up a chain of budget hotels under the brand name Keys. The company, promoted by the US investment firm Berggruen Holdings, aims to set up at least 38 hotels comprising about 4,500 rooms over the next five years across India.

The first resort, having a capacity of 150 rooms, will come up at Candolim in Goa in September. According to officials, Berggruen Hotels has acquired 10 sites in India and is planning to acquire 20 more.

After the 38 hotels became operational, another 12 were expected to be under construction, Berggruen Hotels managing director Sanjay Sethi said.

Some of the cities where the company will have hotels are Thiruvananthapuram, Kovalam, Kochi, Pune, Calcutta and Jammu. It will develop three hotels in Bangalore to cater to the demand for quality budget hotels.

The company is looking at managing hotels for other developers as well.

Berggruen Hospitality also plans to set up 50 vocational training institutes at an initial investment of $10 million in the next three years.

The venture will be branded as United Education Institute (UEI) Global and offer courses in hospitality management. It plans to add more courses in the future, including aviation, retail management and travel and tourism.

Praveen Roy, MD, UEI-Global said, “The course fees will vary from Rs 45,000 to Rs 75,000. Related courses in retail, aviation, residential schools, nursing, equipment rental and radio taxi will also be started soon.”

The first institute will come up at Rohini in New Delhi on July 15.

UEI Global, which will offer both one-year hospitality management programmes and short-term vocational courses, plans to open four more academies in Noida, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram and Pune by September 2007.

Ashish Kesharwani, head, hospitality, said, “Some of the programmes are designed to upgrade skills of those who are already in the industry.”
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070704/asp/business/story_8012064.asp

[Sathyalal]

Air Deccan has introduced an additional ATR-72 flight from Chennai to Thiruvananthapuram.
The flight DN-117 will leave Chennai at 7.30 p.m. to reach Thiruvananthapuram at 9.05 p.m. The DN-118 flight, in the return direction, will depart from here at 9.20 p.m. to reach Chennai at 10.55 p.m.

[Sathyalal]

The KINFRA Film and Video Park, which will house India's first SEZ for animation and gaming.

A few weeks ago, Accel Animation Studios, a division of Accel Transmatic Ltd., became the latest entrant at the KINFRA Film and Video Park (KFVP), the first infotainment industrial park in the country, set on 75 acres (30 hectares) of countryside at Kazhakuttam on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. The company plans to set up a state-of-the-art animation studio and a motion picture facility. It has tied up with US-based Long Tale International to develop, co-produce and distribute animation movies for the global market. Accel joins other prominent names such as Chennai-based Prasad Labs, which now processes almost the entire output of the Malayalam film industry within the Park.

The KFVP is a fully owned subsidiary of the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA), a statutory body established by the Government of Kerala in 1993. The Union Ministry of Commerce has given KINFRA approval to set up India's first product-specific Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for the animation and gaming industry on 25 acres within the KFVP. It also plans to establish an international animation school in 4.5 acres within the SEZ.

The KFVP has been asked to identify a private partner to set up the school, which is estimated to cost Rs.20 crore. A third of this will come from the Government of India and the balance shared equally by the private sector partner and KINFRA.

"There is a dearth of trained animators not only in Kerala but in India as a whole. The animation school will hopefully overcome this disadvantage, and also trigger further investments in the animation and gaming industry," said S. Ramnath, Managing Director of the KFVP. The school will train `industry-ready' animators and will offer graduate-equivalent diploma and short-duration certification programmes. The Park already offers post-production facilities like dubbing, editing, recording, re-recording and mixing.

"The investment opportunities offered by the KFVP are immense and growing," said A.S. Suresh Babu, Managing Director of KINFRA. "You can choose from a wide range of investment options such as video studios, digital cinema facilities, animation and special effect studios, DVD and CD replication service providers, teleport facilities and outdoor shooting facilities."
http://www.flonnet.com/fl2412/stories/20070629002711200.htm

[Sathyalal]

Land-use pattern of Ponmudi in for changes

Roy Mathew

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The land-use pattern of the ecologically fragile Ponmudi hills will be changing drastically in the coming years with the implementation of various projects there.

The Forest Department has decided to de-notify the planted areas of Mechiston estate, which it had taken over under the Kerala Forest (Vesting and Management of Ecologically Fragile Lands) Ordinance, 2001, paving the way for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Space Technology in the area.
The campus of the institute of Indian Institute of Technology standard, which is proposed to come up on 100 acres of the tea estate, will be a major project with residential facilities and a captive power plant. The Indian Space Research Organisation had entered into an understanding with the owners of the estate for transferring part of the estate area for the campus.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/08/stories/2007070852250400.htm

[Sathyalal]

Berggruen Holdings lines up $300 m investment for India
SUDIPTO DEY

TNN[ MONDAY, JULY 09, 2007 03:46:50 AM]

NEW DELHI: New York-based fund, Berggruen Holdings, which manages proprietary capital worth over $1.5 billion, plans to invest over $300 million in India over the next three years in hospitality, real estate, education, car rental, construction equipment leasing and logistics businesses.

Earlier this year, the fund had announced plans to launch its budget hotel brand in India, Keys, with an investment of around $100 million over a three-year period across 40 sites. The first property is expected to be operational by the year end at Goa. Construction is currently on in at least three sites, including Trivandrum, Bangalore and Kovalam.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Markets/Real_Estate/Residential/Berggruen_Holdings_lines_up_300_m_investment_for_India/articleshow/2187309.cms

[Sathyalal]

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Venture capital companies in the United States are exploring options to make substantial investments in IT ventures in the State, says George Brody, a potential US investor and marketing strategist.

Mr. Brody, here on a hunt for prospective young entrepreneurs, told TheHindu that he had identified a couple of promising young talents in Technopark.
“Kerala has all the potential to emerge as an IT hub like Bangalore in a decade. ,” says Mr. Broody.

Mr. Brody, settled in Dallas, is the founder and chief technology officer of GlobeRanger, a company that produces Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices.

RFID is primarily used to track baggage and can be used for logistics and medical applications. Mr. Broody started the company with a capital of $11 million in 1999 and says that he has been doing fairly well.

“I am keen on joining hands with budding professionals and would like to help them prosper in their career. The US venture capital companies have already made some investments in Bangalore. They can be made to come to Kerala too,” he says.

“Venture capitalists seek to nurture young breed of entrepreneurs and I will be happy to provide the right guidance and to work out strategies for them. Getting funds from US companies will not be a problem,” he adds.

The 86 per cent growth in cellular phone connections offers immense scope for development in wireless technology.

Mr. Brody, a native of Kollam, graduated in electrical engineering from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He had worked with the ISRO before migrating to the US.

[Sathyalal]

It is interesting to note that Kerala's knowledge hub is offering cyber expertise to the whole nation

BANGALORE: The Bangalore police have sought the expertise of the Resource Centre for Cyber Forensics at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Thiruvananthapuram to decipher the contents of the high-capacity hard disk seized from the home of Kafeel Ahmed and his brother Sabeel Ahmed here. The two have been detained by the U.K. police in connection with last week’s Glasgow terror attack

C-DAC, under the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, provides advanced expertise in cyber security, signature verification and online fraud. The domain expertise comes from security and intelligence agencies, while C-DAC experts offer computing knowledge.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/10/stories/2007071056290100.htm

[Sathyalal]

VANCOUVER: Several airlines in the region are planning to operate to more Indian destinations, subject to bilateral air traffic rights and their respective fleet strengths.

Carriers like Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Garuda of Indonesia and Air Mauritius are eyeing Indian cities to launch flights, their top officials told media in separate interviews.

"We would like to operate to more cities in India, but will have to wait for bilateral negotiations between the two governments as we are utilising all (air traffic) rights granted by India", PIA Chairman Zaffar Ahmad Khan said.

He said the airline, which was now flying from Karachi and Lahore to Delhi and Mumbai, would like to operate services to Chennai, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram.

Its Senior Vice President S Kamran Hasan said the new flights, when allowed, would operate thrice a week with Airbus A-320 aircraft. The frd later depending on the load factor.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2114212.cms

[Sathyalal]

Mr Bean's merchandise to hit Indian markets

Toonz Licensing, Mr Bean's licensing agent for India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal has inked an agreement with Tiger Aspect Productions to bring the globally popular character portrayed by Rowan Atkinson to the South Asia market.
This deal comes close on the heels of the huge success of the movie 'Mr Bean's Holiday', which has grossed almost $2 million in just 4 weeks.

Toonz Licensing, is the licensing and merchandising arm of multimedia entertainment company Toonz Animation, which is based in the Technopark campus.

Announcing the deal, Toonz CEO Jayakumar said, Mr Bean already has

Toonz Animation is a major provider of animation to the US and European markets and has several global entertainment majors on its client list - including Marvel, BBC, Hallmark, Paramount and Cartoon Network.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=7d55b193-f108-42a8-b5d4-8eabd62e9060&&Headline=Mr+Bean's+merchandise+to+hit+Indian+markets

[rajkrish]

New Josco @ pattom. Their biggest...

Photo credits : Ajaypp

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/4474/picture004rsug7.jpg

[rajkrish]

Skyline Domain opp: Infy Campus, Technopark

Pic credits : Vinod Vasudevan

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/4149/technoparkfinalak7.th.jpg

[Sathyalal]

Etihad Airways has started its three flights-a-week service from Abu Dhabi to its latest destination, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.

"The launch of the Thiruvananthapuram service is the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for Etihad Airways in India. There is huge demand for flights to Kerala from our customers across the world, including Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, and we look forward to welcoming them onboard our aircraft.”

Launch prices for Etihad's new Thiruvananthapuram flights start from AED 1260 for return coral zone (economy class), AED 2460 for pearl zone (business class) and AED 3950 diamond zone (first class).

http://www.expresstravelworld.com/200707/aviationworld26.shtml

[Sathyalal]

Cyber sleuths

G. Anand

Thiruvananthapuram: The cyber forensic experts at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) here are developing software tools for gathering digital evidence from electronic devices such as personal digital assistants and portable media players.

The CDAC’s national resource centre for cyber forensics here was in national news recently after its software tools were successfully used for retrieving evidence from the personal computer of a Bangalore-based suspect in the London-Glasgow bombing.

The centre has already devised a set of tools for extracting digital evidence from mobile telephones. The use of digital devices for criminal purposes has been on the increase in the country.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently using CDAC’s cyber forensic tools for training investigators at its academy in Ghaziabad.

The centre has developed special digital surveillance software for Central security agencies. Six forensic laboratories in the country are currently using CDAC’s tools. CDAC is also helping the State police set up a cyber forensic laboratory at the State Forensic Sciences Laboratory here.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/17/stories/2007071750840200.htm

[Sathyalal]

The main campus of the IIST will come up at Ponmudi in two years・time.

The course streams at the IIST, which will be set up temporarily at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thumba, are BTech in Avionics, BTech in Aerospace Engineering and Integrated Masters in Applied Sciences. There are 120 seats in all
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070716004926&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0

[Sathyalal]

Silicon valley based animation firm started operations in Video park, animation hub of the country. They are planning for one more animation park

Thiruvananthapuram: I am a serial entrepreneur. It is the bug of Silicon Valley that has bit me.・Meet Elizabeth Koshy, the CEO of Animation Dimensions, and come face to face with a woman who lives and breathes entertainment. For her, animation is yet another creative bash, one that she celebrates whole-heartedly.

Based in Silicon Valley, hailed as the animation hub of the world, she could not keep herself away from the bug for too long. After scripting success as the general manager of Nivea and making a name in social marketing by establishing Cause Celebre, an event management company (she had introduced Bipasha Basu to fashion ramps and had worked in close connection with Bollywood for years), she entered the animation industry just two years ago.

Elizabeth had set up Animation Dimensions only to bring in some of the international names in animation industry to India - Mike & Young, 6ph and Outside Lines, to name a few. The animation feature, Growing up with Creepy, that her company made in collaboration with Discovery Kids is currently on air in the US.


In the city on Wednesday as part of opening a new facility of Animation Dimensions at Kinfra Park, she says the animation boom is here to stay. She, however, is disappointed about the dearth of talent here.

We are currently working on three international projects and few other domestic ones. Though our team has 300-plus artists, we need more adept hands to work in our international productions
She had recently acquired Kathaa Animations that hot to fame with the cartoon characters in Hum Tum. And currently, she is engaged in animation features such as Pammi and I, The Sea Prince, Bombay Dogs, Potbelly Narayan and many more.

We are planning to set up a state-of-the-art CGI studio in the city and an animation park along with a residential complex where the artists can stay and work. It will boast of a totally new creative ambience.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070719005349&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0&

[Sathyalal]

Vellayambalam circle

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6595/vellayambalamoj9.jpg

[Sathyalal]

India's first Space University takes wings in August

Bangalore, Jul 22 (PTI)

"August middle is our target", said G Madhavan Nair, Chairman of ISRO, which is setting up the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) in Thiruvananthapuram..


India's first space university is all set to take wings next month seeking to groom tailor-made experts to fuel the country's satellite and rocket programmes.
"August middle is our target", said G Madhavan Nair, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, which is setting up the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and expected to meet the high technology requirements of ISRO.
It would initially operate from the campus of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Thiruvananthapuram, a lead centre of ISRO, which will create a full-fledged infrastructure for IIST on a picturesque site in Ponmudi near the Kerala state capital in about two years.
The Institute, which offers technically tuned courses in space science and technology, has already attracted some of India's bright minds encouraging India's space agency.
"The response is really good. Original plan was to take from the so called extended list of IIT JEE. But we could see large number of applicants from the main list of IIT itself", Nair told PTI in an interview.
ISRO sources said around 150 students were expected to be enrolled in aeronautical and avionics engineering and integrated MSc in space sciences in the first academic year.
Nair said ISRO came up with the idea of setting up of the institute as it was faced with a "very alarming situation" in terms of attracting the right talent for India's space programmes.
"Most of the students who come out of IIT and IISc etc..they go to either Management, IT or abroad. So, they are not available to the Indian scientific community," Nair said.
http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jul222007/national2007072214433.asp?section=updatenews

[SREEKUMAR]

This is really a great news for Kerala .....
The infy Campus & IIST will defenitely change the face of TVM......

:tup:


India's first Space University takes wings in August

Bangalore, Jul 22 (PTI)

"August middle is our target", said G Madhavan Nair, Chairman of ISRO, which is setting up the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) in Thiruvananthapuram..


India's first space university is all set to take wings next month seeking to groom tailor-made experts to fuel the country's satellite and rocket programmes.
"August middle is our target", said G Madhavan Nair, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, which is setting up the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and expected to meet the high technology requirements of ISRO.
It would initially operate from the campus of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Thiruvananthapuram, a lead centre of ISRO, which will create a full-fledged infrastructure for IIST on a picturesque site in Ponmudi near the Kerala state capital in about two years.
The Institute, which offers technically tuned courses in space science and technology, has already attracted some of India's bright minds encouraging India's space agency.
"The response is really good. Original plan was to take from the so called extended list of IIT JEE. But we could see large number of applicants from the main list of IIT itself", Nair told PTI in an interview.
ISRO sources said around 150 students were expected to be enrolled in aeronautical and avionics engineering and integrated MSc in space sciences in the first academic year.
Nair said ISRO came up with the idea of setting up of the institute as it was faced with a "very alarming situation" in terms of attracting the right talent for India's space programmes.
"Most of the students who come out of IIT and IISc etc..they go to either Management, IT or abroad. So, they are not available to the Indian scientific community," Nair said.
http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jul222007/national2007072214433.asp?section=updatenews

[Sathyalal]

This is really a great news for Kerala .....
The infy Campus & IIST will defenitely change the face of TVM......

:tup:

Sreekumar,
Agree, No doubt that ISRO, VSSC,IIST,C-DAC,RRL etc and the proposed ISSER will make Trivandrum, a unique knowledge hub of the country. But Looks like it is not stopping there. There is a proposal to set up one of the largest and advanced R& D lab which will make all the others dwarfs.

May be you must have guessed it by now.

Keep fingures crossed. If everything goes well,may be in next one year we will see some concrete plans/agreements, which will make the place an international knowledge hub.

[Sathyalal]

Capital awaiting a development boom

Monday July 23 2007 11:55 IST


T'PURAM: The development of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, complete with a glass terminal, will be completed by August 2008, Law Minister M Vijayakumar has said.

Construction company Kitco has already been given Rs 15 crore for the construction of the flyover that leads to the entrance of the airport at Chakka
The Minister said that lots would happen in the city on the development front. The tender process for the Vizhinjam terminal would be completed in three months, he said. An agreement will be signed with the qualified agency this year itself.

The development of the IT corridor, which begins from Pallippuram, and the construction of the International Convention Centre at Akkulam too will be expedited.

The international IT Fest will be held at Technopark this year, he said.

The capital city outskirts too have much in store.

The work on national institutes like Indian Institute for Science Education and Research Centre at Nedumangad and

ISRO’s space institute will begin this 2007.


http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070723013425&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0

[SREEKUMAR]

I heard that Dubai based Emmar group has plans to develop the technocity .Is there any update on that ???

[QUOTE=Sathyalal;2966794]Capital awaiting a development boom

Monday July 23 2007 11:55 IST

T'PURAM: The development of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, complete with a glass terminal, will be completed by August 2008, Law Minister M Vijayakumar has said.

Construction company Kitco has already been given Rs 15 crore for the construction of the flyover that leads to the entrance of the airport at Chakka
The Minister said that lots would happen in the city on the development front. The tender process for the Vizhinjam terminal would be completed in three months, he said. An agreement will be signed with the qualified agency this year itself.

The development of the IT corridor, which begins from Pallippuram, and the construction of the International Convention Centre at Akkulam too will be expedited.

[Sathyalal]

Emaar is one of the contesters for the projects. But ultimately our Babus & polititions will play to decide who will execute it.

[QUOTE=SREEKUMAR;2966807]I heard that Dubai based Emmar group has plans to develop the technocity .Is there any update on that ???

[QUOTE=Sathyalal;2966794]

[sudheeshnairs]

I heard that Dubai based Emmar group has plans to develop the technocity .Is there any update on that ???


Yes, and one of our friends who is active in 'skyscrapercity' is the Business Development Manager of Emaar MGF;) . They are submitting their proposal for Technocity. As sathyalal said lets see what the Govt is going to do.

[Sathyalal]

Mathrubhumi reports..

[QUOTE]512 acre Technocity to be done by Inkel.

Current strenth of Technopark is 20000(around 80 % of IT mass in the state). Around 130 companies.

The third phase will soon add 20000
Around 50000 thousand jobs in Technocity.
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/2007_customimages/news/PF121170_50bis1.pdf
This is my view
Current 20000 Technopark+ Another 40000 thousand from Second(construction going on) and third phase + 50000 for technocity and several private IT parks, Telecom city, Film and Videopark, Life Sciences park and Aparal park will provide around 4-5 lakhs direct jobs in and around Kazhakkutam and 3-4 lakhs indirect jobs. That means additional 1 million population in this area. Gov agencies should act quickly and effectively to handle the situation.

[Sathyalal]

KIMS
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/16/kimswz1.jpg

[sudheeshnairs]

Sathyalal, I think we can have the photos in the 'Trivandrum-Lush green city in the hills and by the blue sea' thread. This thread is for projects and other news.:)

[Sathyalal]

Trivandrum is miles ahead when it comes to research, compared to other places in the state. Space Science, Supercomputing, Cyber Forensics, Biomedical or whatever is it.

Research capital
Tuesday July 24 2007 11:34 IST

An analysis of published papers in the field of medical research has found that Thiruvananthapuram accounts for 64 percent of the total papers published in the state

The reason for capital city topping the list could be because of the clustering of research institutions in the city.

The Sree Chithra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology heads the list with nearly 24 percent of the total publications from the state, followed by Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram Medical College and surprisingly, the Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala.

Surprising, because the KU Department with relatively meagre infrastructure facilities and funding has done exceptionally well than fully-fledged research institutions such as Regional Research Laboratory, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology and Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070724011257&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0

[Sathyalal]

Kazhakkutam-Intl Airport Corridor (Thiruvananthapuram)
Most happening place in Kerala
A Case Study

‘Happening place’ is a term commonly abused by the real estate promoters. But how many of them reveal a real analysis based on facts.
What makes a region happening place? Existing infrastructure, number/size/importance of the new projects coming up makes one such a place.

A study on Kazhakuttam Bypass Region, the most happening place in Kerala.

• It tops the state in terms of Hi-tech industries
• It tops the in terms of number of IT companies/IT employees/IT exports
• It tops with the existing R&D and educational institutions/new projects.
• It tops the state with the existing support infrastructure.
• New IT parks, Malls, Hotels, Convention Centers, Residential Buildings.
• It is near to many tourist locations where you can relax after a hectic day of work.

1 Technopark

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/1346/17688674ei3.png

Word class infrastructure for IT
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/297/61822300me7.png

Unique supporting infrastructure

• NH 47 bypass through the main gate.
• NH 47 to city near the rear side.
• Link road to MC Road.
• Multiple road access from the city, which is unique to this IT Park.
• 10 minutes drive to Trivandrum International Airport.

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/2633/42078768ch2.png

Tejaswini-Largest office building in the state. Around 8.5 lakhs sq ft.

www.technopark.org


2 Major IT Companies

2.1 Infosys

• Operating from Bhavani Building.
• Expanding to the new space in Tejaswini
• Major plans along the bypass.

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/7779/95917411pm3.jpg



This is the largest campus for a software company in Kerala
www.infosys.com

2.2 TCS
Tata consultancy service has 40 acres around Technopark
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/1200/67256096tt4.jpg

Global Training center 5 lakh sq ft Peepul park getting completed

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/4518/67983659qk2.jpg
Construction started for the new 1 million sq ft campus in 25 Acres SEZ
www.tcs.com

2.3 US Tech• Largest IT employer in the state, around 3500 people
• Currently operating from Nila and Bhavani
• New campus construction in 36 acres is about to start. Around 1.6 million sq ft planned
http://www.ustri.com/

2.4 Tata Elxi• Currently operating from Gayathri building.
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/4471/32320976wi9.th.jpg
• Completing the construction of the new campus
http://www.tataelxsi.com/

2.5 IBS
One of the fastest growing IT firms in the areas of aviation sector
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/7377/31496440av1.jpg
New campus of around 5 lakhs is getting completed.
www.ibsplc.com

2.6 E & Y
Operating from Gayathri building
www.ey.com/me/ssc

2.7 Allianze cornhill
Operating from Chandragiri building.
Planning for individual campus in 10 acres of land.
www.allianz.co.uk www.acis.co.in
2.8 RM
Operating from Gayathri building www.rmesi.co.in
2.9 Suntec
City grown company. One of the fastest growing international companies in the billing sector.
Operating from Nila
Has got separate campuses in the city
Planning new campus near technopark in 20 acres of land
www.suntecgroup.com
2.10 Nest
Operating from Pamba-Periyar
Has got separate campuses in the city
Constructing new campus near technopark
http://www.nestsoftware.com/
2.11 Toonz
India’s most advanced Studio and Animation giant.
www.toonzanimationindia.com
3 New campuses under construction
• Infosys
• TCS
• IBS
• US Tech
• Tata Elxi
• Leela park
• Nest
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/7779/95917411pm3.jpg

100 acre acquisition is getting completed in coming weeks
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7189/10sx6.jpg


4 Construction companies waiting for land to build IT parks


http://www.technopark.org/landrequest.htm


Embassy Group
Emaar Group
Chesterton Mehraj Property Consultant
Raheja Group
Ascendas Group
Compact Disc India Pvt.Ltd, Chandigarh
Leela Scottish Lace
Indo-Hong Kong Industries P Ltd


5 IT Companies waiting for more land
http://www.technopark.org/landrequest.htm

Name of company
L & T
Patni Computers, Chennai
IBS
SunTec Business Solutions
Torque
IIITM-K
Allianz Cornhill
Assyst International
Aryan Infoway
IVL India Ltd
IDS Software Services Pvt Ltd
Accel Transmatics
Britek India
CDI India Ltd
Indriya Technologies
Seaview Support Systems
eZe Care Systems
Qburst
SRC Software
Zafin Centre of Excellence
Wins Infotech
Kreara Solutions P Ltd
B2B Software
Maxartisits
Vinirma Consulting
Alamy Images
Hages Business Solutions
A R Software Solutions
Argent Software
MCFADEYAN
Palnar Transmedia

6 Technocity
Largest proposed IT park in the state
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/4286/11ms7.jpg

Location: 5 kms from Existing Technopark
Area: 512 Acres
Estimated number of jobs: 2,00,000
Current Status: Land acquisition is getting completed. Procedure for 200 acres is over
Location: 3 Kms from Technopark

7 Film & Video Park

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/7665/12kk8.jpg

http://www.kinfra.com/pro4.htm

Location: 2 Kms from Technopark
Spread over 75 acres


Emerging leader for post-production services, animation studios and teleport facilities in the country.

25 Acre animation SEZ, First in the country

Prasad Video Labs has set up an advanced film processing lab.

A state-of-the-art studio facility for Vismaya max

Accel Transmatics had setup india’s first motion capture studio

Toonz, India’s most advanced studio has set up animation school

http://www.studio-systems.com/broadfeatures/MarApr2002/Kinfra%20Film%20and%20Video%20Park%20emerging/44.htm

8 Word class Life Science Park
Current status: Land: Acquisition in Progress
Location: Kazhakkuttam
Planned for
Pharmaceuticals,
Medical devices,
Biotechnology,
Nanotechnology
Nanufacturing
R&D
Clinical development
9 Telecom City
This has been planned in association with the Indian Telephone Industries (ITI).
Total investment: 300 crores
Location: Kazhakkuttam
Status: Agreement signed with ITI for sidco’s 25 acres land

4 million sq feet built up space
40 000 new jobs.

10 Country’s most prestigious R& D and Educational Institutions

10.1 VSSC

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/4574/13ir3.jpg
VSSC, ISRO´s single largest group of technologists and engineers

India’s Space Research center, developing satellites, Launch vehicles
Pioneer in Liquid Propulsion Technology
Pioneer in Scramjet Propulsion
Planning Chandrayan (Moon Mission)
Second largest employer in the state after Technopark
Location: Beach Road parallel to bypass

http://www.isro.org/centers/cen_vssc.htm
10.2 Indian Institute of Space Technology
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/586/14kh6.jpg

A world-class institute for Space Technology. First of its kind in the country. No.1 preference for IIT entrance toppers.
IIST Share the resources and Special facilities of ISRO apart from creating its own infrastructure to integrate its research activities with the national space programs
Dr. Abdul Kalam will be the lead faculty for the institution
Location: Inside VSSC.
100 acre additional campus is coming up in Ponmudi hills
http://iist.ac.in/index.htm

10.3 Oak Ridge National Laboratories
The proposed will be one of the largest R & D institutions in India
The laboratory is in the final stages of a $350-million project to provide a modern campus for the next generation of `great science.
ORNL is a multi-program science and technology laboratory managed for the US Department of Energy by University of Tennessee and Battelle
Location: Technocity
http://www.ornl.gov/
10.4 Asian School of Business
Location: Inside Technopark
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/8682/asbmg1.th.jpg


International campus for Business Studies
New 15 acre campus planned

http://www.asb.edu.in/

10.5 IIITM-K

IIITM-K is a premier, autonomous institution of excellence.
Established by the Government of Kerala for higher learning and research in Information Technology and Management.
The institute enjoys the best possible natural and hi-tech ambience of pursuit of knowledge.
The Institute is well recognized for its path-breaking innovations in IT and for its major projects
10.6 College of Engineering Trivandrum
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/7923/17wq3.jpg
Kerala’s first and one of India’s Premier Engineering colleges

Location: 2 kms from Infosys
http://www.cet.ac.in/

10.7 Kerala University Campus
Kerala university’s center for Research programs

Areas: Basic Sciences
Technology
Literature

Location: Shares boundary with technopark
http://www.keralauniversity.edu/location.htm
10.8 LNCPE
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2267/18tw3.jpg
The Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education (LNCPE), Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram is a part of the academic wing of the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

Location: 2 Kms from Technopark

www.lncpe.gov.in

10.9 International School
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/3318/20is3.jpg
Kerala’s first and only authentic international school with international curriculum

Location: 2 kms from Technopark
www.trins.org


In addition to the above specified, many number of schools/colleges/technical training centers including Sainik schools, university engineering college etc are in this location
11 Manufacturing
11.1 Apparel Park
Location: Kazhakkuttam
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/8955/21lz9.jpg

AIHH is setting up a major unit in collaboration with a Japanese firm
An Italian-Australian joint venture is also on the cards
Three more units by Leela group.
Currently it has three units by the Leela group and one from a city-based entrepreneur
Apparel and small industries park’s together occupy area of 90 acres.

Unlike the typical apparel parks they offer the following

Dedicated power supply
Continuous supply of treated water.
Common bonded warehouse,
Convention and business centers

Guesthouse
Healthcare centre.
11.2 Others
Travancore Titanium/Kerala Hi-tech industries and Veli industrial area are the important ones to mention in the same region

12 Hotels/Malls/Hospitals/Convention centers
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/7598/22xz5.jpg
Large number of hotels/Malls conventions centers is mushrooming around the area
The Akkulam international convention center
Total built-up area of 16,480.86 square meters.

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
Chalet Hotels Ltd. (part of the K. Raheja Group) is constructing the same.

Plaza Mall : Israeli groups purchased land near Akkulam Bridge.
2.1 million sft of IT Park, mall and hotel are planned
This is the largest land transaction in the state.
This will be one of the largest commercial installations in the state


http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7638/23ma8.jpg


Ginger, Technopark KIMS

13 Residential Projects
Based on the number of projects it is natural that residential sector is booming up. Several number of apartment projects are coming up in the area.

Some of the finishing ones
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/3751/24kk5.jpg



14 Other Major installations around the area
Southern Air Command
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/5071/26ob1.gif
Sprawling campuses spread over several acres in Akkulam.
The proposed Nuclear command center of India

Trivandrum intenational Airport
5th international Airport in India after the 4 metros.
10 minutes drive from Technopark
New International terminal gate opens at Bypass.
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/2039/25kv3.gif
New world class terminal with steel and glass structure
Kochu veli Terminal
http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/7585/27ed0.gif

Terminal near the bypass

Trivandrum central is the second busiest terminal in South India after Chennai
Kochu veli terminal will help to divert some of the trains
Center for Earth Science Studies
http://www.cessind.org

15 New public sector projects under completion in the region

Air India MRO being completed

New cargo terminal


16 What makes the region so vibrant
Most cosmopolital population in the state due to Technopark, Airforce base, VSSC and several world class training institutions.
See what ASB says in their website
“Our campus is located in Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala. Trivandrum has wide, open spaces, a relaxed atmosphere and a cosmopolitan outlook. A unique combination of great natural beauty, vibrant culture, friendly people and a safe, welcoming ambience, the city offers a nurturing environment where students can excel”
Near to the capital city of Kerala, knowledge hub of Kerala
Following are the research centers around the city
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Bio Technology
VSSC
ISRO
LPSC
Regional Research Laboratory
RCC
Sree chithra institute of medical technology
Center for Development Studies
TBCRC
Tropical Research Center
C-DIT
C-DAC
New proposed ISSER

Near to important tourist destinations
10-30 minutes drive to the following tourist locations

1. Akkulam
2. Sankummukham
3. Veli
4. Kovalam
5. Museum park
One To Two hrs to the following locations
1. Ponmudi
2. Neyyardam
3. Varakala
4. Poovar
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/7568/28fg6.jpg

17 No Media glare! Surprising?

• May be it is because of the demand market, This is evident from the companies waiting for land
• Not much advertisement/promotions needed for the sale of residential apartments
• Quoting the words of our hon. president, our local media is more interested in negative projections and debates. Not on the ones like what is happening here.

18 Summary• Fastest growing Region in the State
• Most Cosmopolitan Area in State
• Around 2,00,000 IT jobs in next 4-5 years
• Around 1,00,000 jobs in Animation, Cinema, Telecom industries
• Around 1,000,00 in other sectors
• Around 2,000,00 indirect jobs

[Sathyalal]

SilkAir also plans to boost capacity on the existing routes when its northern winter schedule comes into effect on October 28. Thiruvananthapuram is among the destinations that will see increased frequency of SilkAir.

[chandrurajan]

Great Work Satya....:tup: Congrats

[SREEKUMAR]

Great work....
Amazing !!!!!! … Why these things are not published in any of the Newspapers????
Any ways keep up the good work...:worship:


[QUOTE=Sathyalal;2969408]Kazhakkutam-Intl Airport Corridor (Thiruvananthapuram)
Most happening place in Kerala
A Case Study

‘Happening place’ is a term commonly abused by the real estate promoters. But how many of them reveal a real analysis based on facts.
What makes a region happening place? Existing infrastructure, number/size/importance of the new projects coming up makes one such a place.

[Sathyalal]

Hi Sreekumar,
Most of the items gets coverage as news items in National media. But not in local media. Also there are no fullpage advertisement to sell the appartments, since they do not need it, because their needs are very much backed by the other developments.

One example link given below. This is in National media. But did you able to find the same in any of the local media. No surprises. May be they have not grown up to understand what is it.



http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ew/2007/04/02/stories/2007040200110300.htm

http://www.ornl.gov/
Great work....
Amazing !!!!!! … Why these things are not published in any of the Newspapers????
Any ways keep up the good work...:

[Sathyalal]

For all those film buffs out there, it is celebration time again. The 12th Trivandrum International Film Festival (TIFF 2007) organised by the Chalachitra Film Society will begin on Friday.

The festival will be inaugurated by Adoor Gopalakrishnan at the Kalabhavan theatre at 5 pm after which the inaugural movie Un Dimanche A Kigali (Just This Part is Worth It) from Canada will be screened.

Films will be screened in the World Cinema, Asian Cinema, Focus and Oscar series segments, besides a retrospective on Alireza Raieesian (Iran).

The World Cinema Section will feature 14 films from 12 countries produced during 2000-2006 and which have received appreciations at various international film festivals. Hotel Rwanda, Motorcycle Diaries, Constant Gardener, Habana Blues, Down Fall, The Third Wave, Enemy of the People, Do not Disturb, Swimming Pool, Bank Ban Sacra Carona (Hungary), Provoked and Ben痴 Biography will be screened in this section.

In the Focus section, Mama's Guest, Love Without Boundaries, Paradise is Somewhere Else and The Insane Flew Away will be screened. The retrospective section on Alireza includes The Journey, Rayhaneh, The Deserted Station and Havana Files. Missed Call, Nital, Drishtantam, Mahotsav and Baadha will be featured in the Asian Cinema segment.

The films in the segment will be introduced by the directors of the film. Oscar and Golden Globe winners of 2007 ・United 93, Click, Crash, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Dead Man's Chest, Pursuit of Happiness and Marie Antoinette ・will be screened in the Oscar series.

Iran Cultural Centre director Shakib will be the guest of honour. He will also introduce the Iranian cinema during the festival.

The closing film of the festival will be Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. The festival office will start functioning at the Kalabhavan theatre on Thursday.

The festival will conclude on August 2.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20070725003238&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0

[Sathyalal]

General Atlantic To Invest $60 Mn In Kerala IT Firm
Wednesday 25th of July 2007 General Atlantic (GA), the Greenwich-headquartered global growth investor, will invest $60 million (Rs.2.42 billion) in Kerala-based IBS Software Services (IBS), a leading IT solutions provider to the travel, transportation and logistics industries.

GA, rated among the top 20 private equity investment companies in the world, will thus acquire a minority stake in IBS which is headquartered in Technopark here.
In a press statement Wednesday, IBS Group chairman and managing director V.K. Mathews said the firm was excited about this partnership, which would enable it to leverage the strengths of the respective organisations.

'Being a global growth investor in the technology sector, GA will be able to provide IBS with strategic assistance to propel IBS to the next phase of its aggressive growth strategy,' said Mathews.

'GA's investment will be used to further accelerate the organisation's growth through global mergers and acquisitions, and ramping up our sales, business consulting capability and infrastructure.'

Founded in 1997, IBS provides new-generation software products and services for the travel, transportation and logistics sectors.

It serves more than 70 customers worldwide including top airlines, busiest airports, cruise lines and oil and gas companies, which use IBS solutions for their mission-critical operations.

IBS employs about 1,700 people globally with two development centres in India.

GA managing director Abhay Havaldar will join the IBS' board of directors and will assist the company in evaluating growth opportunities globally.

Havaldar said IBS was one of the leading software product companies in India and with its deep technical expertise, high-quality client base and strong management team, it was extremely well-positioned for continued growth and expansion.

http://newspostindia.com/report-8761

[rajkrish]

Tremendous work Sathya. Hats off

[sudheeshnairs]

sathyalal, keep the good work.:)

Perhaps we can take pics of International Apparel Park & Film/Video Park and have a collage like you have done for Technopark. I can get permission since I worked earlier with KINFRA.

And can think of extending the scope of the 'Happening place', ie, not to stop at Akkulam, but continue till Vizhinjam. Infact it is one such straight stretch spanning some 40 kms from Vizhinjam to Technocity along the NH.

[SREEKUMAR]

True.Sathya. Our local newspapers give priority to politics, sex scandels /ugly news etc.. They never see the developments.
Why don't you guys approach the TV channels so that the public will come to know these developments. I believe almost all the TV channels are based in the Capital. Right.
Hardly anybody brows this website.
cheers ....:shrug: :shrug:
Sree.....



[QUOTE=Sathyalal;2970915]Hi Sreekumar,
Most of the items gets coverage as news items in National media. But not in local media. Also there are no fullpage advertisement to sell the appartments, since they do not need it, because their needs are very much backed by the other developments.

One example link given below. This is in National media. But did you able to find the same in any of the local media. No surprises. May be they have not grown up to understand what is it.

[rajkrish]

Superb news. It seems IBS is going places :tup:

General Atlantic To Invest $60 Mn In Kerala IT Firm
Wednesday 25th of July 2007 General Atlantic (GA), the Greenwich-headquartered global growth investor, will invest $60 million (Rs.2.42 billion) in Kerala-based IBS Software Services (IBS), a leading IT solutions provider to the travel, transportation and logistics industries.

GA, rated among the top 20 private equity investment companies in the world, will thus acquire a minority stake in IBS which is headquartered in Technopark here.
In a press statement Wednesday, IBS Group chairman and managing director V.K. Mathews said the firm was excited about this partnership, which would enable it to leverage the strengths of the respective organisations.

'Being a global growth investor in the technology sector, GA will be able to provide IBS with strategic assistance to propel IBS to the next phase of its aggressive growth strategy,' said Mathews.

'GA's investment will be used to further accelerate the organisation's growth through global mergers and acquisitions, and ramping up our sales, business consulting capability and infrastructure.'

Founded in 1997, IBS provides new-generation software products and services for the travel, transportation and logistics sectors.

It serves more than 70 customers worldwide including top airlines, busiest airports, cruise lines and oil and gas companies, which use IBS solutions for their mission-critical operations.

IBS employs about 1,700 people globally with two development centres in India.

GA managing director Abhay Havaldar will join the IBS' board of directors and will assist the company in evaluating growth opportunities globally.

Havaldar said IBS was one of the leading software product companies in India and with its deep technical expertise, high-quality client base and strong management team, it was extremely well-positioned for continued growth and expansion.

http://newspostindia.com/report-8761