Tatas, L&T in race for Bangalore high-speed rail project

The Karnataka government will soon select a consortium bidder for the 35-km high-speed rail transport between Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli and the city centre, a top official said here today.

The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 5,767 crore.

"We have short-listed five consortia for the project and one of them will be selected in the next 15 days to execute the project under the public private partnership (PPP) model," V Madhu, principal secretary, infrastructure development department, government of Karnataka told reporters on the margins of a trade fair.

The five consortia are led by ADAG, Tata, L&T, ICM and Lanco. Out of the total project cost, Rs 1,040 crore will be the share of the Central government as viability gap fund and Rs 532 crore by the state government as the cost of the land.

"The state government will acquire the land for the project. The balance funds will be invested by the selected consortium," Madhu said at a special session on Karnataka: infrastructure development agenda and investment opportunities at Excon 2009, an international exhibition on construction equipment and construction technology fair.

Madhu said though the Central government had cleared the project in principle after it was vetted by the empowered committee, it needs to be cleared by the finance ministry. The financial tenders will be issued after that and 75 days time will be given for them to respond. Financial closure will be achieved by May next year, he said.

A special purpose vehicle (SPV) will be set up to execute the project and decide on the required equity.

During the 30-year term of the project, he said the state government will explore the possibility of taking a stake in the SPV in the form a golden share.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation managing director E Sreedharan had prepared the detailed project report (DPR) for the rail link in 2007.

Karnataka on a fast to complete Infra Projects

Karnataka has stepped up its efforts to take up 48 of the 148 projects worth about Rs 1 lakh crore under Public Private Partnership by actively pursuing the Centre's clearance, while sorting out local bottlenecks of land acquisition, reports Business Line.

The State, which had to struggle for a long time to executive its new green international airport, is now confident of overcoming the hurdles and set in motion the process of implementation, the report added.

The Infrastructure Department plans to take up 48 projects for early implementation and it has already prepared preliminary project reports for 20 projects, it said.

According to government officials, the State had proposed 110 projects in the transport sector alone, which relates to roads, railways and smaller airports.

Though private sector companies and investors have shown interest to invest in the projects, delay caused by clearances from the Central Government and departments, land acquisition and litigation had put paid to the hopes of the projects taking off early. Some of the projects were proposed three to four years ago, the officials were quoted as saying.

The projects, proposed to be offered to investors on design, build, operate and transfer modes, could not be taken up earlier because of enormous time taken in preparing the feasibility reports, it added.

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India to be third largest economy by 2050

'India to be third largest economy by 2050'

New York, Nov 21 (PTI)

India will be the third largest economy in the world after China and United States by 2050, a US-based internationally recognised foreign-policy think tank has said. An article "The G20 in 2050", carried in November bulletin of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said, "China, India, and the United States will emerge as the world’s three largest economies in 2050. Their total GDP, in real US dollar terms, will be over 70 per cent more than that of the other G20 countries combined." Other main findings include, China will become the world’s largest economy in 2032, and grow to be 20 per cent larger than the United States by 2050. Over the next forty years, nearly 60 per cent of G20 economic growth will come from Brazil, China, India, Russia, and Mexico alone. The article was written by Uri Dadush and Bennett Stancil. A Frenchman and former director of World Bank, Dadush is the director of the International Economics Programme at the Foundation, and Stancil is a Fellow at the Programme. "In China and India alone, GDP is predicted to increase by nearly USD 60 trillion—the current world GDP—but the wide disparity in per capita GDP among these three will persist," they noted. India's annual average GDP growth between 2009-2050 is predicted to 6.19 per cent, and these emerging markets will not rise among the world’s richest countries in per capita terms- their average income in 2050 will still be 40 per cent below that of the G7 nations presently. Stressing that the world's economic powers are shifting dramatically, the economists noted that the "G20's recent transformation into the world’s principal economic forum highlights the beginning of a more integrated and complex economic era." Over the next 40 years, the G20 GDP is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 3.6 per cent, rising from USD 38.3 trillion in 2009 to USD 161.5 trillion in 2050, in real US dollar terms. Nearly 60 per cent of this USD 123 trillion dollar expansion will come from Brazil, Russia, India, China and Mexico (BRIC+M). The experts also find that out of the G20 countries, "India is predicted to grow most rapidly, but its current modest size will prevent it from surpassing either China or the United States in real US dollar terms." The authors observe that the growth could be even faster, but the low quality of education, infrastructure, governance, and business climate will hold back progress in developing countries. Technological convergence is expected to be lower in India and Indonesia than in China and Russia. India’s Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) will be 97 per cent as large as that of the United States by 2050. India is expected to become the world’s most populous nation in 2031—and an average exchange rate appreciation of 0.9 per cent per year will push annual GDP growth to an average of 6.2 per cent, according to the study. "India’s US dollar GDP will balloon to USD 17.8 trillion in 2050, sixteen times its current USD 1.1 trillion level," write Dadush and Stancil. On the future of Europe, the report stresses that "to retain their historic influence, European nations will increasingly need to conduct foreign policy under an EU banner, a shift implied by their recently ratified constitution." It warns that the once great power Russia may be marginalised in the new economic order if it remains outside regional coalitions. Currently, Germany, the UK, France, and Italy are the fourth through seventh largest economies in the world. By 2050, the UK, helped by demographic trends, will be the largest of the four, ranking seventh in the world. Italy will be the smallest, ranking fifteenth. PPP GDP in these four countries will be less than half of that in India and less than one-fourth of that in China, the report finds. Ravina Media Media &PR Division of Ravina Consulting No.429 Mahavir Tuscan Near Hoodi Circle, Whitefield Mahadevapura Post BANGALORE 560048 raghav@ravinaconsulting.com www.twitter.com/bangalorenews

Grohe launches tech centre in City

Grohe AG, one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of sanitary fittings, on Saturday, announced the launch of Grohe Technology Centre in the City.

Inaugurated by Water Resources Minister Basavraj Bommai, the centre is primarily designed to provide visitors with a first-hand experience of the Grohe product range. The range offers water saving solutions comprising faucets, showers and kitchen mixtures, highlighting the brand’s commitment towards water conservation. Briefing reporters, Grohe Vice President & Managing Director Mathew Job said “we see a lot of potential here as Bangalore is one of the fastest growing markets in the country and the consumer is exposed to international trends.” He said the estimated market size for sanitary fittings in the country is Rs 2,000 crore, and the company targeted a Rs 400 crore business here by 2012. The company plans to investment Rs 15 crore annually, and launch three more technology centres in the country by the year 2010. It recently launched an academy in collaboration with Don Bosco school in Mumbai called ‘Don Bosco Grohe Jal Academy’ to train the underprivileged with skills to become plumbers. The showers are priced in the range of Rs 800 to Rs 5 lakh.

Metro Reach-1 will be ready by December next year

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on Friday said it was on track to complete the 8-km stretch (Reach-1) from Baiyappanahalli to Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium by December 2010.

Addressing members of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) here, Managing director of BMRCL, N Sivasailam, said: “The opening of the first line is a very feasible option. It is most likely to happen. We are on track.” Admitting that the award of underground (UG) tenders has suffered a delay, Sivasailam said the UG tender package would be rebid and awarded in three-month time. “However, we will open the line on the Northern stretch anytime between June and September 2011 and the Southern stretch between September 2011 and January 2012” Contract The BMRCL also announced that a contract has been signed with Johnson to supply 176 lifts to stations of Bangalore Metro at a cost of Rs 120 crore. Sivasailam further added that elevated stations will only have passenger space and there will be no room for merchandising. “Five per cent of our revenue is expected from sources other than fares, such as advertising. At the moment, our priority is to get the Metro running. It is better to test the market after the trains run” he said. Afforestation On a query from FKCCI members, Sivasailam said the BMRCL has begun an afforestation drive on 300 acres of land in the Tippagondanahalli catchment area. “Despite trees being cut, 90 per cent of them will be back, after project construction is done” he assured. The BMRCL also announced that it was working with BBMP to offer option of Transfer of Development Rights in lieu of a rehabilitation package for land losers. Source : deccanherald Bought to you by : Ravina Media Media &PR Division of Ravina Consulting No.429 Mahavir Tuscan Near Hoodi Circle, Whitefield Mahadevapura Post BANGALORE 560048 raghav@ravinaconsulting.com www.twitter.com/bangalorenews

Centre’s aid for 8 projects in Karnataka

The Union water resources ministry has approved a Rs 2,019-crore assistance for eight major irrigation projects in Karnataka, involving construction of new canals and faster completion of pending works.


Karnataka Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who met Union Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal here on Friday, told reporters that the Centre had approved financial assistance for the projects under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) and the Prime Minister’s Special Package for farmer suicide-prone districts.

The projects are: phase III in stage I of Upper Krishna Project, Bhima Lift Irrigation Scheme, Guddadamallapur Lift Irrigation Scheme, UKP stage II, Ghataprabha Project stage III, Karanja Project and Malaprabha Project.

Bommai said the minister informed him that his ministry had written to the Planning Commission to enhance the financial allocation under the AIBP project from the existing Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,000 crore.

He also disclosed that the Union ministry of environment had cleared the Upper Bhadra Project, conceived to utilise 23 tmc feet of water from the Tunga and Bhadra reservoirs for irrigation and drinking water requirement of drought-prone areas of Chitradurga, Tumkur and Kolar districts.

As the total project cost is over Rs 5,900 crore, the State government has requested the Central government to consider this as a national project and allocate more funds, the minister said.

More funds

Meanwhile, the State government has requested the Centre to allocate more funds to repair canals in flood-hit districts. It was estimated that due to the recent floods, a total Rs 233.80 crore worth of irrigation infrastructure were damaged, including breach of several canals. As the existing Calamity Relief Fund does not have a provision to provide funds to repair damaged canals, the State government requested the Centre to allocate separate funds for the work.

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Rainwater Harvesting by BBMP

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which has completed installing rainwater harvesting system in 16 of its buildings in the first phase, has called for tenders for rainwater harvesting structures in another 16 of its offices in the city.

The Rs 65 lakh project is expected to save nearly 1.2 crore litres of water every day in the future.

The Palike intends to complete the projects by April 2010. “We are targeting all the BBMP buildings in the city including hospitals, schools and ward offices for rain water harvesting for our internal use,” informed a Palike official.

In all, over 300 BBMP buildings are currently being targeted by the officials for rainwater harvesting. Palike officials said that the 16 buildings that already have RWH mechanism will save 1.2 crore litres of rainwaterper day.

“In the second phase Palike head office, the Council building and the IPP centre will be taken up for rain water harvesting,” said the official.

The Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology, consultants to the project, has provided the feasibility report. Officials state that the third phase of rainwater harvesting, as in the previous phases, will have the same number of buildings and cost around Rs 65 lakh.

Solar power

On the other hand, the BBMP still awaits for the Government to approve two projects of installing solar panel systems to generate electricity for their internal use.
The projects were to establish the Grid connect Solar PV Systems at the BBMP Main Building and the Council Building in the same vicinity. The project was to cost Rs 2.25 crore in total to install the system.

“While solar energy will be eco-friendly and cut down on our electricity consumption in conventional terms, the capital cost is on the higher side,” opined the official.
According to the officials, the project has been approved in-principle but is yet to be approved on paper.

The Horticulture Department in the meantime has decided to create at least a 1,000 recharge pits for water percolation in the parks under its
jurisdiction.

Source : deccanherald.com

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Petition on Tagore circle

The issue of Tagore Circle underpass was taken to the Central Government, with Hasiru Usiru, the Green Organisation submitting a petition to the Union Minister for Urban Development, Jaipal Reddy, on Saturday

More buses: Union Minister for Urban Development S Jaipal Reddy flagging off the BMTC buses at Shantinagar on Saturday. Transport Minister R Ashok, Principal Secretary Shankarlinge Gowda are also seen. DH PHOTOThe underpass project has been taken up by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) at a cost Rs 22 crore.

The NGO submitted the petition to Reddy, who was in the City for the flagging off 380
buses .

The petition states: “The BBMP claims that 12,000 passenger car units (PCUs) passed through the (Tagore) Circle. Independent survey done by traffic management experts about three months ago confirmed a figure of hardly 4,500-5,000 PCUs. This is a serious intentional exaggeration to justify the huge expenditure. It is reported in the media that ACP (Traffic) has disassociated with the traffic density figures assumed by BBMP.”
Reddy said that he was not for flyovers or grade separators in the City. “The flyovers (grade separators) will only cause traffic jams on it. I have tried to keep the number of projects for grade separators to a minimal through the JnNURM,” he said.

Twitter users meet Shashi Tharoor

This was the moment tweeple (people who use twitter) were waiting for - a meeting with poster boy Shashi Tharoor.


There was no proverbial ice to be broken during the tweetup (meeting of tweeple) at the Bangalore International Centre. No sooner had the minister of state for external affairs finished his introduction on how he got tweeting than questions gushed in torrents -- from whether he had become a Twitter addict to problems of dealing with the Left Front government in his constitutency.

He had the audience in splits as he described his adventures on the social networking platform. Stating that the cattle-class row did a lot of damage, he said, "I was called to defend Twitter on TV and explain what Twitter was to the Prime Minister. Some even advised me to give it up for the sake of my political career."

Why did he persist? "I am not revealing any state secrets. I see this is as a tool to demystify the process of governance. It brings in an element of transparency and accountability." One overzealous suggestion was that tweeting be made compulsory for all ministers. Tharoor quipped: "I shouldn't be the one to do that."

On the transition from diplomacy to politics: "I am here for the long haul. We are all here with a mission, to serve the society. When we leave, it should be a better place."

At one point, it seemed the roles had reversed: Tharoor was the listener. The audience, comprising mostly computer professionals generously offered suggestions on how his ministry could be made more transparent and interactive by using technology. But it's evident there is a long way to go, as Tharoor said, "Twitter is banned in the MEA."

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SKF unveils its Global Testing Centre in Bangalore

SKF, a leading global supplier in areas of bearings, seals, mechatronics, services and lubrication systems, today inaugurated its India Global Testing Centre here.


Unveiling the new Testing Centre, Tom Johnstone- Group President and CEO, SKF told reporters "we are putting in place in India a knowledge infrastructure that will significantly reduce lead time for our customers and ensure we are able to respond speedily to the requirements for new products".

The main objective, Johnstone said, will be to conduct testing at close proximity to its customers for design process and supplier validation. This shall entail greater support for SKF's processes in a faster and cost effective manner by applying global test standards that adapt to local customer specific requirements.

The Global Testing Centre at the onset will cater to the two wheeler, automotive and sealing solutions businesses of SKF and will subsequently expanded to to encompass the industrial segment as well. The Centre will also cater to teting value added solutions that integrate SKF's five technology platforms.

"The Rs 10 crore Testing Centre is the first phase of the Global Technical Centre comprising the Testing Centre, Laboratory and Development Centre involving a total investment of Rs 30 crore and an overall employee strength of 100-130", he said.

Source : PTI

Bullet Train to link Bangalore - Chennai

Japanese investors have shown a keen interest in introducing a bullet train connecting Chennai and Mysore via Bangalore under a public private partnership model, besides setting up a Japanese industrial park on a 1,000-acre land in Tumkur.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has given the approval in principle to the proposal put forth by the representatives of the Japanese External Trade Organisation (JETRO). JETRO representatives held a meeting with the chief minister in this regard on Wednesday.

However, it is not clear which Japanese companies were interested in taking up the train project, its estimated cost, the State Government’s role in it and other details. Official sources said the plan was still in its preliminary stage. JETRO, sources said, has already conducted a survey and found the Chennai-Mysore route very viable for investment.

The Union government is seriously considering developing the Chennai-Mumbai industrial corridor on the lines of the Mumbai-Delhi industrial corridor.
Moreover, Japanese car manufacturing companies Hyundai and Toyota already have their units in Chennai and Bidadi near Bangalore. Toyota has plans to set up another unit in Mysore. This will throw up lucrative business propositions as far as freight service is concerned, sources said.

55 more underpasses, flyovers on cards

Many of the projects are bound to resemble the flyover at Windsor Manor and the underpass a few yards away at the Cauvery theatre junction. The only difference would be that the BBMP is likely to reduce the usage of the controversial magic box or the pre-cast element technology to almost zero.
According to BBMP sources, the Palike has proposed to build at least 55 more underpasses and fly overs at many bottleneck areas of the City including Minerva Circle, Shoole Circle, Kasturba Road, Shivananda Circle and near Commercial street. “Already we have planned to have a steel bridge from Minerva Circle to Hudson Circle. Work would start soon at Vidyapeetha Circle where an underpass is coming up. At Shoolay Circle we may require one project.

As the Metro Rail project is underway, we do not want to add more to the chaotic traffic in the City by starting new infrastructure projects. First we would like to have a clear picture of Metro Rail to take further steps in this regard,” said a top BBMP official.