Archive for the 'DISTRICTS & BLOCKS' Category

Jindal’s $10 billion plan for Odisha includes Coal to liquid plant and power plant

Angul, Anugul- Talcher - Saranga- Nalconagar, Coal, Coal to diesel, Jindal, Steel, Thermal, TOI, Economic Times 1 Comment »

Following is an excerpt from a report in Economic Times.

… "The state has received an investment proposal of Rs.101,100 crore (Rs.1 trillion/$22 billion) from Jindal Steel and Power. About $10 billion has been proposed for the new coal-to-liquid project," a senior official of the state steel and mines department said.

The project includes the coal-to-liquid plant, the thermal plant and a coal washery.

A coal block has already been allocated to the company in Angul district, over 160 km from here, by the central government. And the steel producer and power utility is now looking for about 2,000 hectares of land for the project, Naveen Jindal said.

"About three sites were being explored and the company prefers a location near the coal block," a senior company official said.

Also, Jindal is building a 12.5 million tonne steel plant, a 1,320 MW capacity power plant and an industrial complex in the same district. The company requires about 4,500 acres land for the steel and the power plant. "About 4,000 acres has already been acquired," the official said.

"The work on the steel and the power plant is going on and we hope to commission one part of the power plant and the steel plant by the end of this year," he said.

Amtek Metal & Mining Ltd (AMML) to set up a mega auto park with an associated two million tonne per annum (mtpa) integrated steel plant and 500 Mw power plant at Tangi in Cuttack district with an investment of 15820 crores

Auto, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Business Standard, Cuttack, MOUs, Steel, Steel ancilaries, Thermal Comments Off on Amtek Metal & Mining Ltd (AMML) to set up a mega auto park with an associated two million tonne per annum (mtpa) integrated steel plant and 500 Mw power plant at Tangi in Cuttack district with an investment of 15820 crores

Following is an excerpt from a report in Business Standard.

The Orissa government today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Amtek Metal & Mining Ltd (AMML), for setting up a mega auto park with an associated two million tonne per annum (mtpa) integrated steel plant and 500 Mw power plant at Tangi in Cuttack district.

The project envisaging an investment of Rs 15,820 crore, is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for 33,000 persons. Out of the total projected investment, Rs 2050 crore is proposed to be invested for mega auto park in phases.

While the total land requirement for the projects is estimated at 2500 acres, about 550 acres will be required for the mega auto park. … AMML’s project consists of ferrous foundry, steel forging plants, steel fabrication plant, open die forging plant, special fastener, aluminium die casting plant, alloy steel plant and ring gear blank plant among others. It would transfer the hot metal from blast furnace to auto park for production of auto components.

… “With the signing of the MoU, we expect greater interest from the national auto industry which will help create an auto hub in the state”, Patnaik remarked. Taori said, the company would adopt ITIs and the polytechnics in the state to impart skill training to the unemployed youth in Orissa.

Cuttack people unhappy with trains bypassing Cuttack: An easy solution

Bhubaneswar and vicinity, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, ECOR, Khordha, Railway maps 1 Comment »

Recently unhappiness is brewing because of various trains bypassing Cuttack. See the following news item from Samaja.

I believe there is a easy solution to this: Develop the Naraj station to have express train stops and develop the accessibility of the Naraj station from the roads that goes from Naraj to Bidanasi side of Cuttack.

I wrote about it earlier in http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/archives/1967. Following are some excerpts from that article.

Naraj Station lies across Kathjodi river about 1 km away from the bridge. It is about 2 kms from the proposed 2nd campus of Ravenshaw university, 3-4 km from Bidanasi-CDA and within 1 km from the proposed Sri Sri University. 

Several trains in the BBS (Bhubaneswar)-SBP (Sambalpur) line such as 2893 (BBS-BLGR superfast), 8304 (Puri-SBP Intercity), 8405 (Puri-ADI), 8507 (VSK-ASR) skip Cuttack and go via Naraj without stopping there. By developing the Naraj station a bit more, developing the road between the station and the bridge, and introducing stops at Naraj station people in Cuttack will be able to easily access these trains.

… Naraj is really very close to Cuttack; much close to Cuttack than Barang or the proposed station between Barang and Patia. Also, Naraj station is much closer to the newer parts of Cuttack (such as CDA and Bidanasi) than the Cuttack station. Also, a lot of development is planned near Naraj that includes the Sri Sri University, National Law University and 2nd campus of Ravenshaw University. …

There were some concerns regarding the overlap with the proposed New Barang station between Patia and Bhubaneswar. I think with the rate Cuttack-Bhubaneswar area is growing even if a major station in the form of a New Barang station comes up, it will be still a good idea to have a express stop station in Naraj.

In the not too far future the greater Bhubaneswar area would need five stations: Khurda Rd, Bhubaneswar, New Barang, Cuttack and Naraj. The following map shows the five stations and the distance between them.

 

Zensar plans to make its proposed center in Bhubaneswar the second largest in the country; progress report on other IT companies coming to Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Genepact, ICICI, IT, Back office, BPO, Khordha, Mindtree 2 Comments »

Following is an excerpt from a report in Business Standard.

“Zensar has communicated that it is keen to start construction work on its development centre soon. The Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) has already given its in-principle approval to allot three acres of land to the software firm in the Infocity region of the city”, a top IT official told Business Standard.

Zensar Technologies plans to invest Rs 30-40 crore on its proposed software development centre. Initially, the centre would be run by a pool of 1,500 professionals but Zensar plans to make its Bhubaneswar centre the second biggest in the country after Pune where its centre is spread over 10 acres.

… Zensar has more than 4,000 employees in India and abroad. The company is rated among the top 25 software firms of the country by National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom).

Meanwhile, other major IT investors have also renewed their commitment on their proposed projects in the city.

MindTree expects to kick off construction work on its Rs 200-crore development centre in the city by June this year. … its centre which would come up over 30 acres of land.

…  MindTree would initially recruit about 1,000 software professionals and eventually ramp up its headcount to 6000. Its development centre in Bhubaneswar will focus on R&D, consultancy and software development.

ICICI Bank, which had sought an extension of two years for its Rs 600-crore eastern regional hub, has been asked by the state IT department to start construction work by April.

ICICI bank’s eastern regional hub would have a built-up area of 1.5 million sq ft and it will have a pool of 15,000 employees in the long-run. The project is to be developed in phases over a period of six to seven years. Similarly, Genpact, which had announced a Global Delivery Centre in the city, has submitted a fresh building plan to the Bhubanewar Development Authority (BDA).

Genpact’s centre in the city will have a total built-up area of 7 lakh sq ft. Initially, Genpact would hire 500 people for running its operations and eventually, the headcount will be scaled up to 3,000.

Indocopter plans its 4th maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Hindu, Business line, INDUSTRY and INFRASTRUCTURE, INVESTMENTS and INVESTMENT PLANS, Khordha Comments Off on Indocopter plans its 4th maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre in Bhubaneswar

Following is an excerpt from a report in Hindu.

Indocopters, a Vectra Group company and distributor of Eurocopter in India, is planning to invest close to Rs. 150 crore in expanding its three maintenance, repair and overhaul centres located in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

The company will set up another MRO centre at Bhubaneswar in Orissa during the second half of the current year …

Apollo hospital opens in Bhubaneswsar; interested in a nursing college and eventually a medical college

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, HEALTHCARE and HOSPITALS, Khordha, Medical, nursing and pharmacy colleges 3 Comments »

Following is an excerpt from a report in Financial Express.

… Reddy, while talking to media persons on eve of inauguration of the Apollo Hospital, Bhubaneswar, said on Thursday the group is proposing to set up a nursing college in Orissa. “ If the state government would provide the required land in Bhubaneswar, we would start the nursing college and a medical college at a later stage."

Dr. Pankaj S Mankad, chief executive officer, Appolo Hospitals, Bhubaneswar, said the nursing college would be started with an intake capacity of 50.

… Apollo Group, which now runs 48 hospitals across seven countries, has 15 colleges of nursing and hospital management.

The group has set up its 49th hospital at Bhubaneswar over an area of 7.5 acre with an investment of Rs 150 crore. It is planning to invest another Rs 150 crore to expand the facilities in Apollo Hospital, Bhubaneswar.

“ With over 50 specialities and super-specialities, Apollo Hosptials, Bhubaneswar offers comprehensive solutions across the healthcare spectrum,” said Anumpam Das, chief operating officer(COO).

Indigo doubles its flight operations at Bhubaneswar from March 18 2010: twice daily non-stop to Delhi and Hyderabad and once daily 1-stop to Bangalore and Mumbai

BBSR-Bangalore, BBSR-Delhi, BBSR-Hyderabad, BBSR-Mumbai, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Indigo, Khordha 1 Comment »

Following is from its page http://book.goindigo.in/skylights/cgi-bin/skylights.cgi.

6E 257 Bhubaneshwar Bangalore 10:00 AM 1:00 PM Tue Hyderabad  
6E 259 Bhubaneshwar Bangalore 6:45 PM 9:50 PM Daily Hyderabad eff 18 March 10
6E 260 Bhubaneshwar Delhi 10:10 AM 12:10 PM Daily   eff 18 March 10
6E 258 Bhubaneshwar Delhi 6:15 PM 8:15 PM Tue    
6E 258 Bhubaneshwar Delhi 7:10 PM 9:15 PM Ex Tue    
6E 257 Bhubaneshwar Hyderabad 10:00 AM 11:20 AM Daily   eff 18 March 10
6E 257 Bhubaneshwar Hyderabad 10:00 AM 11:25 AM Daily   till 17 March 10
6E 259 Bhubaneshwar Hyderabad 6:45 PM 8:15 PM Daily   eff 18 March 10
6E 257 Bhubaneshwar Mumbai 10:00 AM 1:25 PM Ex Tue Hyderabad
6E 260 Bangalore Bhubaneshwar 6:45 AM 9:40 AM Daily Hyderabad eff 18 March 10
6E 258 Bangalore Bhubaneshwar 2:40 PM 5:45 PM Tue Hyderabad
6E 257 Delhi Bhubaneshwar 7:30 AM 9:30 AM Daily   eff 18 March 10
6E 257 Delhi Bhubaneshwar 7:35 AM 9:35 AM Daily   till 17 March 10
6E 259 Delhi Bhubaneshwar 4:15 PM 6:20PM Daily   eff 18 March 10
6E 260 Hyderabad Bhubaneshwar 8:15 AM 9:40 AM Daily   eff 18 March 10
6E 258 Hyderabad Bhubaneshwar 4:25 PM 5:45 PM Tue    
6E 258 Hyderabad Bhubaneshwar 5:10 PM 6:40 PM Ex Tue    
6E 258 Mumbai Bhubaneshwar 3:20 PM 6:40 PM Ex Tue Hyderabad

From my personal experience Indigo is the best airlines in India.

Balasore demands to be industrialized

Balasore, INDUSTRY and INFRASTRUCTURE, KGP...Lakshannath Rd - Bhadrakh Comments Off on Balasore demands to be industrialized

Following are excerpts from a report in expressbuzz.com.

now there are ample opportunities which can help making the district an industrial rich. While an all weather port at Dhamra is on the verge of completion, another port at Kirtania will come up soon. These ports will attract big industrial houses if the government projects the potentiality,” president of BCIC Himanshu Das said.

The industrial body has demanded setting up of a software park in Balasore along with a land bank of 2000 acres for large and medium industries, development of road water supply and drainage system at different industrial estates in the district, setting up of an urban haat, plastic cluster, marketing assistance to SSI units, uninterrupted power supply, development of ancillary industries and proper implementation of single window system.

This apart, BCIC has drawn the attention of the government on transfer of north Orissa railway area (from Lakmannath to Markona) from South Eastern Railway (SER) zone to East Coast zone. “Besides, we want construction of a new railway siding at Bampada as it is essential to have a full-fledged railway siding to meet the enhanced requirement of industries and trade,” Das added.

State needs to contribute infrastructure for the proposed PCPIR in Paradip

CENTER & ODISHA, Chemicals, Jagatsinghpur, Paradip - Jatadhari - Kujanga, PCPIR, Petrochemicals Comments Off on State needs to contribute infrastructure for the proposed PCPIR in Paradip

Following is an excerpt from a report in Financial Express.

The state-owned Industrial Infrastructrue Development Corporation (IDCO) chairman-cum-managing director, Priyabrata Patnaik, told reporters that the Union secretary urged the state government to provide land, water linkage and power supply besides other required infrastructrue for the project.

The PCPIR project, which is going to spread over an area of 250 square kilometers at Paradip with the Indian Oil Corporation’s (IOC) oil refinery as anchor tenant, is expected to attract investment to the tune of Rs 2,75,000 crore.

The major chunk of investment, about Rs 23,000 crore, will come in petroleum and petro-chemical sector.

The project will generate employment opportunity for more than 2 lakh people when it is fully commissioned.

Following are some pointers on PCPIRs.

On Vedanta, Lanjigarh, Dongria Kondh and the international NGOs

Kalahandi, Vedanta Comments Off on On Vedanta, Lanjigarh, Dongria Kondh and the international NGOs

Following strong campaign by the NGOs the mainstream media is all over Vedanta on these issues. Some of their articles and points are available at the following web sites.

Following is Vedanta’s side of the story obtained from http://www.bignews.biz/?id=843650&keys=Vedanta-Amnesty-Lanjigarh-Dongaria.

Vedanta Alumina Refinery at Lanjigarh has been built with the state of the art technology and the first Alumina refinery in the country and among few in the world having successfully implemented Zero Discharge System. The environmental measures adopted in the plant with respect to Air and Water Pollution is among the best and performance of the same is being regularly monitored by State pollution Control Board (SPCB). Based on Vedanta’s commitment towards Environmental Protection and Socio-Economic Development of the area, SPCB has renewed its Consent to Operate for 2 years instead of normal 1 year i.e valid upto March 2011. Vedanta’s initiatives for Zero Discharge, Zero Waste and Zero Harm is appreciated at all level and Vedanta’s is committed to become the first Alumina Refinery in the world to achieve this goal very soon.

Today, water and energy consumption at VAL refinery is the lowest in the country and is a proof of Vedanta’s commitment towards environmental protection .The allegation made by Action Aid has already been checked by top world recognized institutions like Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and find no substance in to it.
Regarding leakage- during initial trial runs only in 2007-08, we would like to clarify that no caustic effluent was ever discharged in to the river. On investigation by SPCB and expert team mentioned above, it was established that there was small seepage from the joint between earthen dyke wall and overflow pipes in Red Mud Pond which was collected and recycled back within the bounded area of Red Mud Pond for which provision has been kept in the design of Red Mud Pond by Indian Institute of Science from the beginning.

Vedanta strongly denies any allegations of pollution of the environment in Lanjigarh and of violation of human rights. Vedanta remains fully committed to pursuing all its investments in a responsible manner, respecting the environment and human rights and adopting the best corporate social responsibility standards practices.

Vedanta sustainable development strategy, known as the ‘Vedanta Way’ is all encompassing and comprises the following four principal elements:
• Environmental Stewardship: Respect for nature, enhanced resource conservation and use of environment friendly technology are embodied in our working,
• Nurturing People: People are our key assets. We are committed to build a flexible, flat and learning organization with an engaged and high performing work force. We believe in nurturing and mentoring leaders from within and providing opportunities for growth based on meritocracy, performance and integrity,
• Health and Safety: We are committed to providing a safe, secure and healthy workplace for all employees by using the best technology and practices, and
• Empowering Communities: Communities are integral to our business. We are committed to enhancing the quality of life of the communities near our operations and creating self sustaining communities. We work to gain and nurture our social license to operate in the host communities.

It is only because of support from local community, Vedanta could establish an Alumina refinery after 25 years ( last Alumina Refinery was built and commissioned by NALCO in 1986) in a record time of less than 3 years. With the successful commissioning of proposed expansion of Alumina Refinery and Aluminium Smelter at various location , Vedanta will be the third largest Aluminium Producer in the world.,
Background:

Indian Constitution has made enough safeguard in terms of Act Like PESA, special provision in constitution under Schedule V to protect and ensure development of tribal community. The issues raised by Action Aid regarding Dongaria Kondh and Mining Project were brought before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in IA Nos 1324 and 1474 in W P (C) 202 of 1995 and IA Nos 2081-2082 @ W.P (c) No 549/2007 and a judgement in favour of the project was given.

Kalahandi is one of the most backward and underdeveloped area in the country and known worldwide for years for ill things like Poverty, Hunger, Malnutrition, Drought, Malarial deaths, Cholera and diarrhea ‘s death, low literacy, lack of education and medical facilities even though it is one of richest resource district of Orissa having precious stones, granite, bauxite, limestone etc. Since, implement any large-scale mining operation presents wider environmental and public administrative challenges, this project was initiated by the Indian authorities themselves, having identified this most backward area of India as in need of significant economic investment and social development, as well as the most suitable location for such activities. By way of background, India’s national planning authorities had identified a number of least developed districts of the country, of which Kalahandi is one, which were in need of substantial socio-economic investment. It must be appreciated that a majority of the population in the area where the project is situated lives below the poverty line.

Update on the Shamuka beach project near Puri in Odisha

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Business Standard, Puri, Puri, Shamuka Beach project, Sites in and around Bhubaneswar 1 Comment »

Following is an excerpt from a report in Business Standard.

The state government, which acquired around 970 acres of land in the first phase for the Rs 3500-crore project, has now set in motion the process to acquire 626 acres of land for the project in the second phase.

The second phase land acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of 2010. The Shamuka tourism project needs 2500-3000 acres of land in all.

The project is being developed near Sipasarubali, about 10 km south of Puri on the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

…  After the second phase land acquisition, the Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) will invite fresh bids for the project. This has been necessitated as the initial attempt to invite bids for the project received lukewarm response last year.

It may be noted that only three hotel chains had participated in the earlier bidding process for developing the four five star hotels on 100 acres of land. …

The state government had engaged global consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to incorporate some new provisions in the bid document for the Shamuka tourism project so as to make it investor friendly.

… The state government is investing Rs 50-70 crore on providing external infrastructure like electricity and water supply for the five-star hotel properties. Apart from the four five star hotels, the Shmauka tourism project would have facilities like a convention centre of international standards with a seating capacity of nearly 1,500, an 18-hole golf course, boutique hotels, international spa and wellness centres, an entertainment zone and sports facilities.

Adani group’s port and industrial zone plan for Jagatsinghpur district

Business Standard, Coal, INVESTMENTS and INVESTMENT PLANS, Jagatsinghpur, Jatadhari port (POSCO), Paradeep port, Paradip - Jatadhari - Kujanga 3 Comments »

Update: Following are excerpts from another report in Business Standard which has some extra information.

The port project called Adani Kalinga Port is to be developed in two phases at a distance of three km from Jatadhari Muhan, the proposed site of Posco India’s captive port in the state’s Jagatsinghpur district.

… The proposed port which would have 12 berths in all will handle coal, iron ore, liquid and containerized cargo.

… Besides the port, the Group plans to invest in other sectors in the state like power plant, edible oils and mining.

 


Following is an excerpt from a PTI report in Business Standard.

Ahmadabad-based Adani Group is keen on setting up a large port in Orissa coast and developing an industrial zone, including a power plant, at mammoth investment of Rs 98,000 crore.

A company delegation led by its Managing Director Rajesh S Adani met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here and made a presentation in this regard.

The company informed the state that it was interested in setting up a 100 million tonne capacity port in Jagatsinghpur district, near Paradip Port and a proposed captive port by Posco.

With an initial investment of Rs 5,000 crore, the company has proposed to start the first phase of the Rs 10,000-crore port project in 2013-14 and complete it by 2015-16.

It also has plans to set up an industrial zone close to its proposed port in Jagatsinghpur an investment of Rs 88,000.

…The company plans to send coal after mining at Talcher area, to Gujarat and Maharashtra from the proposed port.

"The coal will be sent after washing. The washery reject coal will be utilised for the proposed power plant," a company official said. The proposed power plant would be a part of the industrial zone.

Update on progress on the IT front in Bhubaneswar; Mindtree to start construction in June; ICICI asked to start in April

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Business Standard, Genepact, ICICI, Khordha, Mindtree, Private Parks, State Bureaucrats (IAS, OAS, etc.) 2 Comments »

Following are excerpts from a report in Business Standard.

While MindTree expects to kick off construction work on its Rs 200-crore development centre in the city by June this year, ICICI Bank, which had sought an extension of two years for its Rs 600-crore eastern regional hub, has been asked by the state IT department to start construction work by April.

… MindTree, a global IT and R&D services company, co-headquartered in Bangalore and Somerset in New Jersey (US), had entered into an MoU with the Orissa government in March 2006 for setting up its software development centre spread over 30 acres.

…  MindTree would initially recruit about 1,000 software professionals and eventually ramp up its headcount to 6000. Its development centre in Bhubaneswar will focus on R&D, consultancy and software development.

ICICI bank’s eastern regional hub would have a built-up area of 1.5 million sq ft and it will have a pool of 15,000 employees in the long-run. The project is to be developed in phases over a period of six to seven years.

Genpact Limited, the BPO (business process outsourcing) arm of the US-based General Electric which had announced a Global Delivery Centre in the city has submitted a fresh building plan to the Bhubanewar Development Authority (BDA).

“We are pursuing Genpact’s case with the BDA to expedite the company’s project”, the official said.

Genpact’s centre in the city will have a total built-up area of 7 lakh sq ft. Initially, Genpact would hire 500 people for running its operations and eventually, the headcount will be scaled up to 3,000.

On Raheja Corporation’s IT park, he said, land has been alloted but the company is yet to take physical possession of it. Mumbai-based K Raheja Corporation proposed to set up an IT park in the city over an area of 30 acres at an investment of about Rs 250 crore. This IT park would have a total built-up area of 10 lakh sq ft and it was scheduled to be commissioned within three years. The project would generate employment for nearly 20,000 people.

K Raheja Corporation had signed a MoU (memorandum of understanding) with the Orissa government in May 2008 and the IT park was scheduled to be commissioned within three years.

 

Update on Aditya Birla group’s projects in Odisha

Aluminium, Bauxite, Birlas, Koraput, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Sambalpur, Sambaplur- Burla- Bargarh- Chipilima, TOI, Economic Times 2 Comments »

Following is an excerpt from a report in Economic Times.

Aditya Birla Group chairman, Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla is very hopeful of completion of the Rs 4,500-crore alumina refinery plant coming up at Kashipur in Koraput district and expansion of Hindalco aluminium smelter project at Hirakud in Sambalpur district

… In June last year, the Orissa government had recommended the union mining ministry to allot mining lease of Lakharis bauxite deposit in Koraput district in favour of Hindalco Industries Limited, the flagship company of Aditya Birla Group.

This is the second bauxite deposit to be allotted to the Group, which entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Orissa government in April, 2005 is to set up a world-class aluminium complex in the state.

Officials said the Lakharis mine is estimated to have about 45 million bauxite deposits.

Earlier, the Hindalco was allotted Kodingamali bauxite deposit in the district for its proposed aluminium complex at Kansari.

Aditya Aluminium (another unit of Hindalco) had signed a MoU with the Orissa government on April 8, 2005 to set up an integrated aluminium complex in the state. The project involves a total investment of Rs 11,500 crores for production of 1.5 lakh tones of alumina and 3.25 lakh tonnes of aluminium per annum.

Aditya Aluminium has already signed a joint venture umbrella agreement with the Orissa Mining Corporation for bauxite mining in Koraput district.

The company has sought 2012 acres of land for its refinery and 3331 acres for the smelter, sources said.

The state government is in the process of acquiring land for the project, but faces problem in some villages, the sources added resulting in the delay in grounding of the project.

Vedanta’s trauma center in Bhubaneswar to be located in Gangapada

Anil Agarwal, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, HEALTHCARE and HOSPITALS, Khordha, Vedanta 1 Comment »

Gangapada is couple of kilometers before Khurda on the National Highway. The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack CDP proposes the new airport to be located there. Following is an excerpt from a report in Business Standard about the Vedanta sponsored trauma center coming up there.

The construction work for a 100-beded, state-of-the-art Trauma Care Centre, to be set up by Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL) in Bhubaneswar, is likely to start soon.

The state government has handed over the required 10 acres of land for the centre which would come up near Gangapada on the national highway No.5 in the Bhubaneswar-Khurda patch. It will handle the ever-increasing trauma cases and an estimated Rs 75 crore is proposed to be spent on the project. HOSMAC Consultant, an internationally reputed hospital maker has been roped in by the company to render its professional expertise for this project, company sources said.

… The setting up the centre assumes importance as the death rate in accidents per hundred population in Orissa at 35 compares unfavourably with the national average. Add to it, there is no specialized trauma centre in the state with latest facilities to cater to the treatment needs. “The proposed centre will have facilities that will cater to patients of all income groups at any point of time.

Newly built Dhamara port gets its first ship: Samaja

Bhadrakh, Dhamara port (under constr.), Dhamara- Chandbali- Bhitarakanika 2 Comments »

DLF to start work on 1000 crore InfoPark at Infocity Bhubaneswar in April 2010; would like more space devoted to mall and multi-plex

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Business Standard, DLF, IT, Khordha, Malls, Multiplexes 2 Comments »

Following is an excerpt from a Business Standard report in sify.com.

"We had a recent review meeting on the status of DLF’s Infopark project with the company’s executive director. The real estate player is committed to kick off work on its Infopark project by April 1 this year", said Pradipta K Mohapatra, the state IT secretary.

DLF has sought some changes in the contour of the project to be developed over 54 acres near Infocity region of the city. It is keen on setting aside a greater area for non-processing facilities like shopping malls and multiplexes.

… DLF is understood to have resumed negotiations with a host of IT players- both large as well as the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for offering its IT workspace to them.

… The DLF Infopark project will be developed in three phases and it comprises an IT block, a luxury hotel, a retail chain, service apartments and recreational facilities with a total built-up space of about 5.5 million sq ft.

For setting up the luxury hotel, DLF had tied up with Hilton, an international hotel chain.

In the first phase, DLF had committed an investment of Rs 300 crore for developing an IT workspace of international standards with a built-up area of 5.7 lakh sq ft.

The first phase was scheduled to be operational within eighteen months to two years after commencement of construction work.

The Infopark project was to generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for over 40,000 people in sectors like IT and ITes (IT enabled services), retail and hospitality.

JSL to establish a 704 Crore steel park in Kalinganagar

Jajpur, Jajpur Rd- Vyasanagar- Duburi- Kalinganagar, Jindal, Mettalurgical Cluster - Jajpur (Kalinganagar), Steel ancilaries 1 Comment »

Following is an excerpt from an IANS report.

JSL Ltd, formerly Jindal Stainless Ltd, signed an agreement with the Orissa government Wednesday to set up a stainless steel park in the state on an investment of Rs.704 crore.

The park would be set up adjacent to its 1.6 million tonne per annum integrated steel project coming up at Kalinga Nagar industrial complex in Jajpur district, …

… The project, to be built on 300 acres, will have 71 units, including a service centre.

More details are in an article in Orissadiary. Following are some excerpts.

JSL Vice – Chairman Jindal said the proposed park would generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for about 3800 and1200 persons, respectively. He added that the project would ensure high tax receipts of around Rs 140 crore for the state government in the first five years in terms of excise and income tax value added products. As per the MoU, JSL will develop the park and provide all infrastructures like boundary wall, roads, drains, research and development centre, power and water supply, railway network, township, school and hospital.

Architectural products, surgical and hospital equipment, hardware, stamping and forging, cold rolling, and re-rolling mills, tube and pipes, heat exchangers, heavy machinery capital goods, kitchenware, lifestyle products and stainless steel composite panel manufacturing units will come up in the park. To mark on the occasion, five companies Empowertrans Private Limited, Jagadamba Exports, Jupitor India, Kraftsware Limited and Kitechen Essentials signed MoUs with the JSL Limited government to set up down stream industries.

First private STP comes up in Odisha; Nanadankanan to have a 5000 sq ft Orchid House

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, IT, Nandan Kanan, Private Parks Comments Off on First private STP comes up in Odisha; Nanadankanan to have a 5000 sq ft Orchid House

Following is an excerpt from an IANS report.

Orissa got its first private software technology park Tuesday. Built on the outskirts of state capital Bhubaneswar by city-based JSS Group, the venture was inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The JSS Software Technology Park has a built-up area of about 55,000 square feet and can accommodate about 1,000 IT (Information Technology) professionals, Bijoy K. Sahoo, Chairman of the JSS group told IANS.

The eight-floor building constructed with an investment of Rs.10 crore in the first phase has ready-to-move-in facilities, Sahoo said, adding that two companies have already allotted space and they have begun their operations from today (Tuesday).

JSS has planned to invest Rs.70 crore (Rs.700 million) in the second phase that is scheduled to complete in the next 24 months. The total built up area of the project after second phase expansion would be two lakh square feet, he said.

Following is from JSS’s web page.

Keeping to long standing demands from the Information Techenology (IT)
Companies in the Small and Medium Enterprise (ITSME) Sector, the InterMinisterial standing Committee (IMSC) of Goverment of India has approved the First Private Software Technology Park (STP) of Orissa.The IMSC felt it imprerative to setup a micro,small and madium enterprise(MSME) software park to broaden the export base of the state. The park will enble IT professionals to walk in and to state their business instantly.
The news STP has been christened as JSS software Technology park.The private STP is locted at Infocity in Chandaka ,Bhubaneswar with a view to provide incubation and infrastructure faclities to new ans young entrepreneurs in the MSME sector .Infocity is considered as the biggestITpark in estern India spread over an area of 350 acres, currently housing IT giants like Infosy, Wipro, TCS, Mind Tree ect.

The intelligent building of the JSS STP is spread in sprawing three acre campus and housses state-of-art technology to fulfil the growing demands of highly competent IT professionals.


Following is an excerpt from a report in expressbuzz.com.

The Nandankanan Zoological Park here will have the largest Orchid House of Orissa soon.

Spread over 5,000 sq ft, the garden will be home to some exotic species which are found in Orissa as well as outside.

The Nanadankanan Zoo authorities have collected over 156 varieties of orchids belonging to 35 species for the Orchid House which is now awaiting to be thrown open. Altogether, the specially-designed garden will be home to 1,000 plants, Director of Nandankanan Zoological Park Sudarshan Panda said. All the three different types of orchidaceae – epiphytic, subaerial and those growing on the soil are part of the collection.

Odisha HLC clears project worth 48,500 crores on Jan 27th 2010

Angul, Dhenkanal, High Level Committee, Nayagarha, Sonepur, Sundergarh, Thermal Comments Off on Odisha HLC clears project worth 48,500 crores on Jan 27th 2010

Following is an excerpt from a report in Business Standard by Nageshwar Patnaik.

… All these projects will create employment opportunity for nearly six thousand people

The investment proposal includes setting up of five new thermal power projects and expansion of two existing power plants.

.. The new power projects cleared by the committee include 3200 MW plant National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) at Dharanipali in Sundergarh district (Rs 18,000 crore), 2000 MW plant by Orissa Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) at Rengali (Rs 8,250 crore), 1320 MW plant by BGR at Bhapur in Nayagarh district (Rs 6,300 crore), 1980 MW plant by JR Power Gen Private Limited at Bainda in Angul district (Rs 8,000 crore) and 1320 MW plant by Adhunik Power Company Limited at Birmaharjpur in Sonepur district (Rs 8000 crore)

The existing projects which were given permission to go for expansion are Chambal Infrastructure Limited (from 1200 MW to 1320 MW and GMR Limited (1050 MW to 1400 MW).

Chambal Infrastructure Limited – which has its plants at Siria in Dhenkanal district will invest Rs 5000 crore while GMR Limited will put in Rs 6000 crore at its Kamalanga plant in the same district.

Toyota negotiating with Orissa Sands Complex (OSCOM) for setting up a rare earth chloride plant near Chhatrapur

Berhampur- Gopalpur- Chhatrapur, Business Standard, Ganjam, Indian Rare Earths Ltd, MINES and MINERALS 2 Comments »

(Thanks to futureberhampur for the pointer.)

Following is an excerpt from a report in Business Standard by Hrushikesh Mohanty.

Japanese auto major Toyota Motor Corporation has evinced interest in setting up a processing plant for rare earth chloride, one of the intermediate products of monazite.

The auto major is in advanced stage of negotiations with Orissa Sands Complex (OSCOM), a unit of Indian Rare Earths Ltd, for setting up the plant near OSCOM’s site at Matikahal, near Chhatrapur, about 30 km from here. …

The rare earth metals used in manufacturing several electronics items, magnet and automobile tools are in high demand in the international markets.The officials of IREL have anticipated several other companies to come forward to set up their plants to process the individual rare earths in the area.

It may be noted that OSCOM is setting up a 10 million tonne per annum monazite processing plant within its existing unit in Orissa.

…  The monazite processing plant is expected to start production from next year. Presently the Mining and Mineral Separation (MMS) plant of OSCOM is producing ilmenite and associated minerals by processing the rare earth minerals which are abundant in the Ganjam coast. The present capacity of the MMS plant of OSCOM is 2,20,000 tonnes per annum and the capacity utilization of the plant is almost 100 per cent.

Vibrant Greater Rourkela Development Forum in the Web

Rourkela- Kansbahal, Sundergarh, Websites of Interest 2 Comments »

The Greater Rourkela Forum at http://www.rourkelacity.com/rdf/index.php is gaining momentum. There are vibrant discussions happening there in many subjects. Some of the hot topics there are:

I like the way discussions are going on there focusing on how to develop the greater Rourkela area. Hope more people will join that forum and work together towards Rourkela’s development. 


With this forum there are now four regional forums and Blogs that I know of and that are regularly updated. 

  1. Rourkela Development Forum – in a discussion group format visible to all
  2. Future Berhampur – a blog
  3. Kalahandia – a blog
  4. Western Odisha discussion and development forum – a blog

Hope soon there will more regional forums/blogs watching over the development and interest of other areas of Odisha such as Northern Odisha (Balasore-Baripada), Koraput-Jeypore area, Sambalpur-Jharsuguda area and Angul-Talcher area.

JK plans new pulp mill in Rayagada at a cost of 1500 crores

Paper and newsprint, Rayagada 1 Comment »

Following is an excerpt from a report in expressindia.com.

JK Paper plans to invest around Rs 1,500 crore to set up a new pulp mill at Rayagarh Rayagada, Orissa. “The amount would be raised through a mix of debt and equity in the ratio of 1.5:1,” JK Paper MD Harsh Pati Singhania said. He said the company will raise the money through external commercial borrowings, debt instruments such as foreign currency convertible bonds apart from internal accruals. The new pulp mill will come up with a capacity of 2 lakh tonne per annum and paper a capacity of 1.5 lakh tonne per annum. It is likely to be commissioned in the second half of 2012.

For the new plant, the company will also ramp up its captive power unit from existing 35 mw to 55 mw.