KOTTAYAM (The Land Of Letters, Latex, Lakes And Legends), Kerala

[sakrishna]

Quote:
Company being formed for Kottayam airport project

Kottayam: The follow-up measures for executing the airport project in the district had got slowed down, probably on account of the wrangling in the district panchayat over continuance of presidentship of Thomas Kunnappally. Now that he remains firmly in the seat, the district panchayat seems to be ambling along to improve the situation.

Kunnappally is optimistic about identifying the location for the airport project and forming a company within one month. Spots have been located at Kattachira, Kodimatha, Pallom etc. There should be a minimum of 250 acres so that a one- and- a ?half- km runway can be built. The protagonists are looking for 500 acres, with an eye on future expansion.

The intention is primarily to bring aircraft with a carrying capacity of 74 passengers.
Ultimately, the investors would be brought together and a company formed for the construction of the airport.

V N Vasavan, MLA, said measures can be expedited after formation of the company.
LINK

[sakrishna]

apollo Hospital In Kottayam
Chennai Based Appolo Hospitals Will Open 2 Superspeciality Hospitals, Named Appolo Reach, In Kerala.one Will Be In Kottayam. Don't Know Where The Other Will Be.

[sakrishna]

Indus Krishna,Puthenangadi
16 Floors
http://induscivilisation.com


courtsey: nishanthnair@SSC

[PLUS]

Originally Posted by sakrishna

apollo Hospital In Kottayam
Chennai Based Appolo Hospitals Will Open 2 Superspeciality Hospitals, Named Appolo Reach, In Kerala.one Will Be In Kottayam. Don't Know Where The Other Will Be.

Nedumbassery.

Kottayam will also have an IT-SEZ. ETL infras SEZ will be spread over
Ernakulam and Kottayam districts. And may be HNL's SEZ - is that also
in Kottayam ?

Anyway, only 3 districts in Kerala will have private SEZs, Kochi, Thrissur
and Kottayam. Private SEZs directly signifies investment potential as it
does not come thru any govt intervention. Private investors look for
potential destinations, buys land on their own and start these SEZs. Only
genuine applicants so far are for three districts of Kerala.

[sakrishna]

Originally Posted by PLUS

Nedumbassery.

Kottayam will also have an IT-SEZ. ETL infras SEZ will be spread over
Ernakulam and Kottayam districts. And may be HNL's SEZ - is that also
in Kottayam ?

Anyway, only 3 districts in Kerala will have private SEZs, Kochi, Thrissur
and Kottayam. Private SEZs directly signifies investment potential as it
does not come thru any govt intervention. Private investors look for
potential destinations, buys land on their own and start these SEZs. Only
genuine applicants so far are for three districts of Kerala.

tanx PLUS for the information. got to knw abt ETL infra's SEZ y'day, tanx to kollam'llam@SSC. I don't have much info on HNL's SEZ.
actually this shows that Kochi is growing beyond Ernakulam distrcit. anyway, let's wait and watch wether the two SEZs in Kottayam districts norther area will have any impact on the overall decelopment of the district as well as the district HQs.

[sakrishna]

Some Villa Projects
Wexco Homes - Norwich Meadows @ Kumaranalloor
Wexco Homes


NJT Homes - Green Acres, near Ettumanoor
NJT Homes


Realtec - Grandeur @ Manarcad
Realtec

[sakrishna]

MORE NEWS ON KOTTAYAM PORT
Quote:
News Dated : Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Vasavan optimistic about opening port in November

Kottayam: V N Vasavan, MLA, is cocksure that the work on Kottayam port would be completed soon and the project would be commissioned by the end of November.

He recounted to Kottayamvartha online newspaper that all speculations about hiccups were wrong.

He was visiting the port area to see the construction work and also the barge getting ready. This would be the first port in the country, which is being commissioned by government and private participation. This would also be the first port connecting inland waterways.

Vasavan felt that in the wake of the the whole infrastructure work having been completed, like the main office complex, warehouse, barge, it would be possible to see through the commissioning by November end.

The remaining issues are with regard to the road connecting the port with the main road. Land has to be obtained from the education and industries department. Speculations are with regard to the land being secured on both sides of the present panchayat road which has to be widened to eight metres. The delay has occurred as there was some misunderstanding on the part of the officials.

The departments concerned would release the land free of cost forthwith. Steps are on the anvil, the MLA pointed out.

Quote:
News Dated : Wednesday, October 15, 2008


The barge of Kottayam port has special features

Kottayam: The barge nearing completion for use in the Kottayam port has special features.

The barge is constructed for a port which is being set up with government-private participation. It would be the biggest barge in the State as it has 300 dwt capacity. It can carry 10 containers at a time. As many as 6000 containers would reach Kottayam a year utlising the services of this barge.

It is a single-engine barge working entirely on hydraulic system. The barge is designed in such a way that it would consume the least quantity of fuel per hour. Its completion is taking the least time. The largest number of Malayalis working here and the least number of outside workers pressed into service are the other specialities.

Moreover, the country would have the first port connected with inland water transport. It is proposed to to utilize the services of two such barges in Kottayam port.

When the renovation work of Thanneermukkom bund gets completed, with the setting up of the lift bridge there, bigger barges could be run. Also foreign ships could have berthing facilities.

Quote:
News Dated : Wednesday, October 15, 2008


Kottayam port pre-commissioning work at fast pace

Kottayam: The Kottayam port is nearing construction work in the interior of Nattakom at a fast pace. The only bottleneck in the expedition of work is with regard to the eight-metre-wide road connecting the port with the main road.

It seems days are not far off when barges would be plying through River Kodoor and Vembanad lake to the Sea at Kochi and back with numerous containers, offering dreams of development on both banks.

Port department, Customs, Electricity, Forest, Industries and other agencies concerned have been taking concerted action these days with the keenness to have the port working at the earliest.

The building complex has been completed, the work on making the barge is nearing completion. Considering the interest shown by various institutions and agencies concerned, the authorities were quick to add that the commissioning would materialise in
November.

KINFRA and South Indian Chamber of Commerce is undertaking the work jointly on an 8.5- acre plot . The 40,000 square-foot warehouse, 10,000-square-foot administrative block, offices for shipping line agents, bank, strong-room, canteen, barge-berth are all at the last stage of completion.

Work on the barge to carry containers, container yard, online trucking for goods transport, the beautification of the road and compound are all going on expeditiously.

Of this, the road work alone has been remaining to be undertaken. Steps are also being taken to remove all hurdles in this regard.

The commissioning of the port would go a long way to the quick development of Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts.

Kottayam Port and Container Terminal Service Private Ltd is the company running the port services. Construction work started in 2006. The government holds 49 per cent of the shares and private parties and institutions 51 per cent of the shares.

SOURCE:http://kottayamvartha.com

[sakrishna]

MUNROE LIGHT - THE LIGHT HOUSE @ PALLOM
Munroe light, set up by colonel Munroe, in the year 1813, is a perfect evidence of the bygone British colonial era in Kottayam. Other heritage strucutres of the colonial era include - CMS press and CMS college (The original name of CMS college was College COTYM. COTYM is the anglicized version of Kottayam.)
Coming back to Munroelight,this wonderful piece of architecture is older than many Sea facing light houses in the state. It is situated near the place where Kodoor river meets the great Vembanad lake.But it is poorly maintained, clearly understood from the picture put up below. Wish it is included in the Heritage list and maintained properly, and should be opened to public.

Photo courtsey: Niikon @ flickr

[sakrishna]

Another case of negligience towards the Central Travancore region
Quote:
Inland waterway project gets stuck in a morass
Dennis Marcus Mathew
ALAPPUZHA: A major project to revive and develop three of the State’s important waterways passing through the districts of Alappuzha and Kottayam has been in limbo since November 2005, leaving both districts confused whether the project will ever be completed.
The project, initiated in 2003 as part of the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) with World Bank assistance, was to develop the 23-km Kottayam-Alappuzha inland waterway, the 38-km Kottayam-Vaikom waterway and the 27-km Alappuzha-Changanassery via Kavalam waterway.
With an inland container terminal set to come up at Kottayam, tourist inflow on the rise and Kuttanad’s connection with the outer world depending much on these waterways, the project envisaged removal of water hyacinths and other obstructions in these routes; strengthening of the canal shores with concrete sheets and stonewalls; deepening of the canals; 116 new wharfs; one modern boat terminal each at Kottayam and Changanassery; six new bridges at Illickal, Kanjiram, Thiruvatta, Kidangara, Arpookara and Pulikuttysseri and 10 walkover bridges at different spots.
Contract
According to Kuttanad Development Society (KDS) executive director Fr. Thomas Peelianickal, Kochi-based Bhageeratha Engineering was handed over the contract by the Inland Water Transport Division under the Water Resources Department with a project estimate of Rs.60.90 crore and a deadline of two years.
“But by August 2005, only 12 per cent of the work worth Rs.7 crore was completed and the contract was terminated in November 2005. Bridges were built at Thiruvatta and Arpookara, but approach roads were not constructed. Work on the Changanassery boat terminal was only in the initial stage at that time and was abandoned,” Fr. Peelianickal told The Hindu.
“A new contractor was roped in to complete these works with an estimate of Rs.6.6 crore. But there is no clarity as to whether contracts will be awarded to take up the crucial works of cleaning of the three waterways, canal shore strengthening and protection and the remaining four bridges. The remaining Rs.47 crore is likely to lapse if immediate steps are not taken,” he said.
Container terminal
The inland container terminal at Kottayam would require development of the feeder canals towards the terminal while transport through these routes would play a major role in development of the Kuttanad region, he said, adding that if the government failed to revive the project, KDS would launch an agitation.
Source:http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/01/stor...0156011000.htm

[sakrishna]

FOUR SEASONS RESORT TO BE DEVELOPED BY EMAAR MGF
Quote:
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in IndiaFour Seasons Hotel Mumbai has 202 guest rooms and suites. While it has a tiny lobby, the company has not scrimped on the room sizes and the base room size is 36 square meters whilethe presidential suite is 310 square meters. Its restaurant San-Qi, the 180 seater Asian restaurant serves Japanese, Wok and Tandoori cuisine. Other dining options are the 60 seater Italian restaurant Prato and The Bar and Verandah, as well as the Club and the pool deck. The hotel has more than 500 square metres of dedicated indoor meeting and function areas and also a business center, plus will add a ballroom and other extended meeting facilities by the end of next year. The two-storey spa at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai offers traditional ayurvedic therapies and western treatments, and has a Chi Studio (accommodating yoga, meditation and aerobic activities), pool, extensive gym, relaxation lounge, and a Rossano Ferretti salon. Over the next couple of years the following properties will be added to the company’s portfolio:

1. Four Seasons Hotel Hyderabad will be located in HITEC City, and will have a total of 190 rooms with 35 villas and is expected to open in 2011. It is being developed by Emaar MGF
2. Four Seasons Hotel Gurgaon is located within DLF Golf and Country Club in southeast Gurgaon. It will have 225 rooms and is expected to open in 2012. It is being developed by DLF Group
3. Four Seasons Resort Kerala is located on the shores of Vembanad Lake, Kottayam district, about 50 kms south of Kochi. The property will have 75 villas with 20 private residences and will open by 2012. It is being developed by Emaar MGF
4. Four Seasons Hotel Bangalore is located in Makeri Circle along Bellary Road. The property will have 220 rooms with 88 serviced residences and 95 private residences and will open by 2012. It will be developed by Goldman Sachs/Whitehall and some local partners, including Westcourt Real Estate.

Source:http://www.expresshospitality.com/20...gement03.shtml

[sakrishna]

CII FORGOT KOTTAYAM?
From todays News:
Source:http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/19/s...1952510500.htm

Quote:
CII development plan for 4 districts
Special Correspondent
Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kannur are the districts
KOCHI: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is preparing detailed plans for the development of the four districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kannur.
The project is part of a CII initiative under its India@75 national vision. Sixteen districts in south Indian States are covered under the scheme.
CII chairman B.V.R. Mohan Reddy said that CII would work for the promotion of tier II and tier III cities which were the growth engines of the economy. About 30 to 35 per cent of the country’s population lived in metros and the remaining in rural or semi-urban areas, he said.
CII-Kerala State council chairman M.S.A. Kumar said that CII aspired to make Kerala the skills capital of the world. With this aim, CII-Kerala was transforming ITIs. There was a mismatch between skills attained and those in demand, he said. Many institutes did not have faculty development programmes and lacked facilities to impart service sector skills.
Mr. Kumar said that CII-Kerala had adopted 13 ITIs for upgrading across the State in the first and second phases of the project between 2007 and 2008. In the third phase, ten more ITIs would be adopted in public private partnership in 2008-09.
CII-Kerala had signed a MoU with Marian College, Kuttikanam, and would provide pre-employment, industry-specific training to 1,000 youths from Idukki and Kottayam districts under a grass root-level skill development initiative. CII was also providing modular employable skills in over 308 trades across 31 sectors, mainly for school dropouts with a minimum 5th pass. Under its ‘Urban Kerala Mission: City Connect Kochi’ initiative, CII was planning to fund a common city foundation. The fou ndation would work on commonly agreed programmes.
Training Youths of Kottayam and Idukki and still they won't be able to find employment in their own districts. what does this mean?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A not so old news
Source:http://www.aol.in/news-story/cii-to-...017/index.html
Quote:
CII to train 25,000 school dropouts in southern states

Indo Asian News Service
Last Updated: June 28, 2008 08:50:04
Chennai, June 28 (IANS) The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will help upgrade the skills of 25,000 school dropouts in the southern states to make them employable, said a senior CII official here Saturday.
The CII would adopt 92 industrial training institutes (ITIs) in the four states for upgradation through public-private partnership (PPP) scheme and train 5,000 faculty members on 'soft skills' through industry-university consortium, said CII-southern region chairman B.V.R. Mohan Reddy, who is also the chairman and managing director of Infotech Enterprises Ltd.
CII would also work for the introduction of 'soft skills', a choice based credit system (CBSE), in 15 universities in Tamil Nadu, and set up a skills academy in Chennai, he told reporters.
The CII would enhance the employability of 10,000 socially disadvantaged students under its 'affirmative action' initiatives. It would also take steps to provide education to industry workers.
Reddy said CII would focus on a 10-point agenda and implement the key recommendations of Vision 2025 document towards making 'the southern region a front-runner in socio-economic development'.
Reddy also announced that the CII would kickstart a project for competency assessment of colleges in Tamil Nadu. It will launch 'college excellence clusters' to enhance quality of education and conduct training programme for faculty members.
'CII believes that tier II and III cities such as Hosur, Erode, Vizag, Vijayawada, Belgaum and Kottayam are the new destination for investments and the growth engines of economy,' Reddy said.
He added that the industry body would speed up other infrastructure development projects like road connectivity and airport expansions in the south
What does this mean? Is it that CII is just another central Govt. body which doesn't keep its words? Or is it only in the case of Kottayam?

[sakrishna]

FLAIR ALLIANCE - LEGACY @ PUTHENANGADY, 20F


http://www.flairalliance.com

[PLUS]

Skyline also has a 19 floor project announced at Kottayam

[sakrishna]

Originally Posted by PLUS

Skyline also has a 19 floor project announced at Kottayam

any idea when it'll be launched?

[sakrishna]

SRK MENORA HEIGHTS @ Thiruvathukkal, 22 floors


http://srkconstructions.com

[sakrishna]

Home Basics - Spice apartments @ Kanjikkuzhy

http://homebasics.co.in

[sakrishna]

Quote:
News Dated : Monday, March 02, 2009

Majority for indoor stadium at Nagampadam




Kottayam: After much heckling, bargaining and division, Kottayam municipal council on Monday decided to set up the indoor stadium at Nagampadam.
The decision was taken with 20 votes in favour and eight votes against setting up the indoor stadium at Nagampadam. From the very beginning of the special council meeting called to order on Monday, there were arguments galore in favour of and against setting up the indoor stadium at Nagampadam.
The leftists wanted the stadium at Nagampadam while the Congress members wanted it to be set up at Kodimatha. In the last council also, the Congress members had expressed their opposition to constructing the indoor stadium at Nagampadam.
Then also there was division like Monday?s. The municipal council in February had decided to take back the land given over to the sports council for the indoor stadium. It was therefore difficult to hand over the land again to the sports council.
It was in these circumstances that the special council meeting was called to order on Monday. Municipal council had given over 1.60 acres of land to the sports council.Later, order was issued to hand back 1.40 acres of land to the municipality.
Also, order had been issued to hand over two acres of land to the sports council at Kodimatha. The sports council had approached the government requesting it to cancel the decision of the municipality.
The government had asked for the opinion of the municipality in the matter. The municipality, in turn, had requested the government not to cancel the earlier order.
The sports council would get assistance from the government for construction of the stadium. Therefore, it approached the municipality to accord sanction for construction of the stadium at Nagampadam itself.

Source: KOTTAYAM VARTHA

[airportparking]

Nice post...Greatly appreciated!!!