IT SEZ News: 16/7/09

INFOPARK BOARD’S NOD FOR CONSTRUCTION AT CHERTHALA
Kochi
The Hindu

A two-lakh sq.ft capacity building will be constructed in the first phase of the proposed IT park at Cherthala. This was decided at the meeting of the Board of Governors of Infopark, which met here on Wednesday.

The meeting evaluated the progress of the preliminary works of the proposed Information Technology parks in Cherthala, Ambalapuzha and Koratty being set up under the aegis of Infopark.

The meeting evaluated the construction of Athulya, the new building complex coming up on the Kochi campus of Infopark, and expressed satisfaction about its progress.

Commercial Real Estate: 15/7/09

OF AIRPORTS AND IT PARKS…
Hyderabad
The Hindu Business Line

The proposed airport at Gulbarga remains on paper only. There is considerable interest in an Information Technology (IT) Park but does the potential exist? Is the Budget benefiting small businesses?

These were some of the issues that cropped up at an interactive session on ‘Union Budget-2009’, jointly organised by the Hyderabad Karnataka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (HKCCI) and The Hindu Group.

There is considerable interest for the development of an IT Park. What are the requirements and does Gulbarga have the potential, members of the HKCCI wanted to know.

PRIVATE FIRMS PUT SEZ PLANS ON HOLD
New Delhi
Financial Chronicle  The Economic Times (Delhi edition)  

In view of the slowdown, the credit-crunched private firms have put on hold their plans for setting up special economic zones (SEZ) in the national capital

At a recent meeting with Delhi chief secretary Rakesh Mehta besides other industries department officials, private developers such as DLF Commercial Developers and Consolidate Finvest and Holdings expressed their inability to invest in the project.

“All the private developers who were keen to set up the special zones were not keen to invest at this time, citing financial crunch,” the chief secretary said.

He said only two projects of the state government's own DSIIDC (Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation) have been given approval for development of IT park and gems and jewels SEZ. The DSIIDC SEZ projects will now be reviewed by the commerce ministry for final approval, Mehta added.

Since the notification of the Delhi SEZ policy in February, the state government had received eight proposals from the developers with some of them even identifying the location for their projects. While Sweet Home Estate has identified land in Vasant Kunj, both Sumit Apartments and Consolidate Finvest and Holdings planned SEZ in Nazafgarh and DLF Commercial Developers in Jasola.

As per SEZ policy endorsed by Delhi Cabinet in 2006, no polluting industries will be allowed to be set up inside SEZs and environmental clearance will be a must for all projects except those dealing with ITES.

 

Commercial Real Estate: 13/7/09

PUNJAB CLEARS MUCH-AWAITED SEZ BILL
Rahul Kumar, Chandigarh, July 13, 2009
The Economic Times (Delhi edition)  Business Standard  

With the SAD-BJP government clearing the much-awaited Punjab Special Economic Zones Bill, 2009, on Saturday, the decks have been cleared for developers to give a major boost to the development of the SEZ's in the state.

As per the norms laid down in the policy, the requirement of areas for setting up SEZs in case of a multi product SEZ is 1,000 hectare, product-specific 100 hectare, IT-specific 10 hectare and warehousing 40 hectare. Speaking about the policy, state industries & commerce minister Manoranjan Kalia said due to paucity of land and high cost in the state, the government has asked the Centre for relaxation in the aforementioned norms and has also sought permission for development of SEZs as per viability of the project, to be determined by the developer.

 

MOHALI TO BE DEVELOPED IN PHASES UNDER MASTER PLAN
Nitin Jain, Mohali, July 13, 2009
The Indian Express

According to the final master plan of the state Government, Mohali will be developed in phases. Reason: simultaneous treatment of the entire 16674-hectare area, marked for development, will be neither feasible nor desirable.

The phasing plan, the copy of the master plan says, has been designed to ensure that the development of land within the local planning area is well-coordinated and involves minimum investments on the provision of infrastructure.

Considering their potential to spearhead IT growth, education and business tourism in the region, the Airport City, Knowledge City, Business and Hi-tech Parks have been earmarked for the first phase of development.