Upcoming Projects in India

5545 Rail India Technical and Economic Services and Indian Railway Construction Company have written to the Railways expressing their willingness to manage and invest in rail projects in the country. An official familiar with the plan said that the Railway Board is yet to take a decision on the matter eteriorating as successive governments have y for projects because raising passenger idents have been taking place frequently and the safety and quality of travel has worsened across the country. In a proposal sent earlier this month, RITES has offered to take up projects based on an annuity model and raise the necessary resources for them if the ministry can provide a "comfort letter" assigning the project to RITES without the usual open-bidding process, said an official who didnt want to be named. RITES is also willing to undertake sanctioned projects under a model in which they are allowed to charge a management fee. Mr Rajeev Mehrotra CMD of RITES said that "We are very keen and exploring the possibility of investing in railway projects. The basis by which we can do so is still being discussed and the discussions are at a nascent stage." Meanwhile, the company has more than INR 600 crore cash that can be deployed in projects and could also leverage its strong balance sheet to raise more funds

5544 Aksh Optifibre Ltd Has Bagged The Contract For Package B Of The National Optic Fibre Network (NOFN) Backbone Project For Supplying Optical Fibre Cables. The Project Is Aimed At Connecting Over 250,000 Gram Panchayats Across The Country And Lead The Charge Towards Empowering The Heart Of The Nation For Better E-Governance, E-Health Services And Better Educational Services At The Grass Root Level. The Project Is Scheduled To Be Completed By September 2015 And Aims To Provide High-Speed Broadband Internet To All The 250,000 Gram Panchayats With Speeds Of Upto 100 Mbps To Create A Model Of Development And Sow The Seeds For An E-Revolution In The Rural Parts Of The Country. The NOFN Project Is Being Rolled Out By Bharat Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL), The Special Purpose Vehicle Setup Under The Department Of Telecom. BBNL Has Divided The Project Into Six Packages - East, West, North, South, Central And Northeast And Separate Bids Have Been Accepted For All The Six Zones. The Total Value Of This Project Has Been Set At Rs. 20,000 Crores.

5543 The Board Of Directors Of Power Grid Corporation Of India Ltd At Its Meeting Held On January 13, 2014, Have Given The Investment Approvals For 2 Projects. The Board Approved The Phase-I Of Unified Real Time Dynamic State Measurement (URTDSM) Project At An Estimated Cost Of Rs.374.63 Crore, With Commissioning Schedule Of 27 Months From The Date Of Investment Approval; And Transmission System Associated With Contingency Plan For Evacuation Of Power From IL&FS (2x800 MW) At An Estimated Cost Of Rs. 97.95 Crore, With Commissioning Schedule Of 18 Months From The Date Of Investment Approval.

5542 L&T Hydrocarbon Has Announced That It Has Received New Orders Worth Rs 1,000 Crores From The Domestic Market In Its Offshore And Onshore Business Sectors. BG Exploration And Production India (BGEPIL) Has Awarded L&T An Rs 700-Crore Offshore Contract, Which Encompasses Total Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) And Installation Of One Wellhead Platform And Subsea Pipe Laying (30 Kms), Spread Over The Panna-Mukta Fields Of Joint Venture - ONGC-RIL-BGEPIL. The Project, Part Of The Joint Venture’s Strategy To Boost Production To Meet India’s Rising Energy Demands, Is Scheduled To Be Completed By March, 2015. In Addition To Conventional Wellhead Facilities, The Scope Also Includes Installation Of Piggy Back Pipeline On The Infield Pipeline From An Existing PPA Host Complex. In The Onshore Sector, L&T Hydrocarbon Has Also Won An Additional Order Of Rs 300 Crores For Construction, From A Leading Refinery In India.

5541 The Cabinet Committee On Investment Has Cleared Reliance Powers Tilaiya Ultra-Mega Power Project (UMPP) In Jharkhand, According To Sources. Rpower May Not Have To Provide Non-Forest Land To Compensate For The Loss Of Forest Land Acquired For The Proposed Plant, They Said. They Also Said The Companys 4,000-MW Tilaiya Plant Is Now Expected To Be Treated On A Par With The Other Public Sector Projects And Therefore Would Be Exempted From Providing Compensatory Afforestation For The Loss Of Forest Land. The Tilaiya Power Plant Is To Be Executed By A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) - Jharkhand Integrated Power Ltd - Which Was Handed Over To Reliance Power In January 2009 By Power Finance Corporation - The Nodal Agency For Umpps. Tilaiya Would Be The Fourth UMPP To Be Awarded To A Developer. Earlier, Two Umpps Bagged By Reliance Power Are Those Of Sasan (Madhya Pradesh) And Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). Tata Power Is Operating The Mundra UMPP In Gujarat. UMPP Is A Big-Size Coal-Based Power Plant With At Least 4,000 MW Capacity And Is Built At An Approximate Cost Of Rs. 25,000 Crore.

5540 The Hyderabad-Based Pennar Enviro Ltd And Pennar Engineered Building Systems (PEBS Pennar), Subsidiaries Of Hyderabad Based Pennar Industries, Have Bagged Orders Worth Rs 70 Crores From Companies Such As NTPC, JSW, JBF, Texpin Bearings, Frontier Sales, Saraf Agencies, Etc. Nrupender Rao, Chairman, Pennar Industries, Commented, “Continuing Orders Procured By PEBS Pennar And Pennar Enviro In Current Market Scenario Speaks Of Technological Design And Project Management Capabilities Of These Companies. We Are Confident That These Subsidiaries Will Continue To Increase Orders In The Next Few Quarters” While Pennar Has Won Order From NTPC For A 50 MW Solar Power Plant In Singrauli, MP, It Has Been Engaged By JSW (Dolvi) For Designing, Supplying, Erection And Commissioning Of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) Using Membrane Bio-Reactor Technology. For JBF, Pennar Will Be Involved In Process Design, Detail Engineering, Procurement And Supply, Erection And Commissioning Of A Demineralisation Plant Of 5.5 MLD Capacity In Mangalore. Pennar Has Bagged An Order From Texspin Bearings For A Factory Building, Near Ahmedabad, The Total Area Of Which Is 14,545 Sq M. While Pennar Has Won Repeat Order From Frontier Sales, Guwahati, For Pre-Engineered Buildings, The Saraf Agencies Order Covers A Building Of 19,123 Sq M For A Manufacturing Plant In Orissa.

5539 VA Tech Wabag Ltd. An Indian MNC In Water Ans Waste Water Management, Won A Repeat Order For Rs.250 Crore From Bangalore Water Supply And Sewerage Board (BWSSB) For Construction Of Waste Water Treatment Plant. The Scope Of Supply Includes Design And Construction Of 90 MLD Waste Water Treatment Plant At Bellandur Amanikere, Karnataka, With Operation And Maintenance For A Period Of Seven Years. The Project Funded By Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), The Company Said. Commenting On This Development, Sales Head S. Natrajan Said, "We Are Delighted To Get This Repeat Order From BWSSB, One Of Our Key Clients In Municipal Sector. We Continue To Enjoy Customer Confidence Of Municipal Clients Based On Our Proved Track Record And Execution Capability." Presently, The Company Is Executing A WWTP Project At K&C Valley For BWSSB Which Is Also Funded By JICA. In Addition, Wabag Has Been Operating And Maintaining Five Wwtps In And Around Bangalore.

5538 Pipavav Defence And Offshore Engineering Co. Ltd. Has Been Declared As The Lowest Bidder By The Indian Coat Guard, Ministry Of Defense, Government Of India, For Construction Of One Training Ship Under Buy Indian Category On A Competitive Basis. The Value Of Order Will Be Around Rs.221 Crore. Training Ship Is Intended To Provide Basic Sea Training To All Cost Guard Personnel And Is One Of Its Kind Having Integral Helicopter, Capable Of Operations In All Maritime Zones Of India. This Is Consecutive Second Prestigious Recognition By The Indian Coat Guard After The Company Was Declared As The Lower Bidder For Design And Construction Of Fourteen Fast Patrol Vessels For Around Rs.920 Crore

5537 Reliance Power Has Announced That The Equipment For The Third 660 MW Unit At The 3,960 MW Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project In Madhya Pradesh Has Started Functioning. "The Boiler, For Its Third 660 MW Unit At The 3,960 MW Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project, Has Been Commissioned," The Company Said In A Statement. The First 660 MW Unit Of The Sasan UMPP Had Been Commissioned In March 2013 While The Second Unit Was Synchronised To The Grid In December 2013. Meanwhile, Coal Production Has Already Commenced From The 20 Million Tonnes Per Annum Capacity Moher And Moher-Amlohri Coal Mines, Allotted For The Sasan Plant.

5536 Coal India Ltd. (CIL) Has Received Approval From The Ministry Of Environment And Forests (Moef) For 23 Projects After Intervention By The Cabinet Committee On Investment (CCI). “As On 30 December 2013, Out Of The 20 Projects Pending With The Moef For Environment Clearance (EC), 16 Proposals Have Been Granted EC,” The Coal Ministry Said In A Note Highlighting The Action Taken Report On Decisions By The CCI. Of The Four Projects Awaiting Environment Approval, Three Belong To Western Coalfields Ltd. And One To South Eastern Coalfields Ltd., Units Of Coal India. In Addition, Two Of Five Projects Have Been Granted Stage-II Forest Clearance (FC), And Five Of 15 Proposals Have Been Given Stage-I FC. Of The Projects Awaiting Stage-II FC, Two Belong To Central Coalfields Ltd. And One To South Eastern Coalfields. Two Projects Of Central Coalfields, Four Of South Eastern Coalfields And Four Of Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd., Coal India’s Consultancy Firm, Have Yet To Get Stage-I FC. The Government Set Up The CCI To Expedite The Decision Making Process For Clearance Of Projects In The Infrastructure Sector. The Coal Ministry Said Four Meetings, Including One On 11 December, Have Been Held Among Officials Of The Two Ministries And Coal India To Review And Expedite Clearances

5535 The Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India’s First Global Financial Hub, Having Completed Substantial Phase-I Infrastructure Development, Has Invited National And International Developers For The Development Of Commercial And Residential Towers In Its Premises. At The Pre-Bid Meeting Held On December 31, 2013 And Thereafter, Developers Have Been Visiting GIFT City. The Company Has Floated A Request For Proposal (RFP) For Further Development In The GIFT SEZ And Non-SEZ Areas, Said Ramakant Jha, Managing Director And Group CEO, Here On Saturday. As Part Of Phase-I Development, GIFT City Is Developing Around 13 Million Square Feet Of Built-Up Area (BUA) For Commercial, Residential And Social Uses. Of This, 8.4 Million Sq.Ft. Of BUA Has Already Been Allotted. GIFT City Has Come Up With 1.25 Million Sq.Ft. Of BUA For Commercial And Residential Purposes In GIFT SEZ And Non-SEZ Areas. Leading Developers Evincing An Interest In Participating In The Development Of GIFT City Included Ajmera Realty, Hiranandani, Arihant Developers, Lodha, And Godrej, He Said. GIFT Has Already Made Land Allotments To Various Social Infrastructure Projects, Including A School (By Narsee Monjee Education Trust), Club (West India Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.), And Hospital (Bid Received). It Has Also Made Allotment For A Tier IV Data Centre And A Fuel Station. When Fully Developed, GIFT City Is Expected To Generate 5 Lakh Direct Jobs And An Equal Numbers Of Indirect Jobs. It Will Be The Only Project In India To Provide Such A Large Number Of Employment Opportunities, Jha Added. GIFT Is A Globally-Benchmarked International Financial Service Centre (IFSC) Being Developed By The Gujarat Government Through A Joint Venture Between Its Undertaking Gujarat Urban Development Company Ltd (GUDCL) And Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS).The Central Finance Business District (CFBD) Is Being Currently Implemented On 886 Acres Of Land

5534 IHI Has Been Awarded An EPC (Engineering, Procurement And Construction) Contract To Construct Two (2) Of India’s Largest LNG Storage Tanks At Dahej LNG Terminal In State Of Gujarat, By Petronet LNG Limited (PLL). The Two Tanks Will Each Have A Net Storage Capacity Of 170,000m3. The Construction Is Scheduled To Be Completed In 2016, The Company Said In Its Press Release. IHI Has Already Completed Four (4) 148,000m3 LNG Storage Tanks At Dahej LNG Terminal And Two (2) 155,000m3 LNG Storage Tanks At Kochi LNG Terminal In State Of Kerala, For PLL. In This Winter, IHI Has Been Awarded An EPC Contract Of Two (2) LNG Storage Tanks By GSPC LNG Limited. By This Continuous Award Of EPC Contract, IHI’s Share Of LNG Storage Tanks In India Will Be More Than Seventy (70) Percent

5533 Maharashtra Thursday Decided To Set Up A Technological University Of All Engineering And Technology Institutes With Its Four Divisional Centres And Five Sub Centres In Different Cities. This Will Facilitate Under Graduate And Post-Graduation Degree Courses For The Students In Various Courses Available With Engineering And Technological Institutes Across The State. While The Divisional Centres Of The New University Will Be Opened In Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur And Aurangabad, The Sub-Divisional Centres Would Be Based In Kolhapur, Solapur, Amravati, Nanded And Jalgaon. The Decision Was Taken At The Cabinet Meeting. The Main Centre Of The University Will Be Located At Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological Education University Premises In Lonere In Mangaon Taluka Of Raigad District. For This The State Universities Act Will Be Amended. The University Was On Thursday Empowered To Bring All Technological Training Institutions Under Its Umbrella. To Set Up Offices And Hire Premises An Amount Of Rs 15 Crore Has Been Allocated By The State Government To The University. The University Will Include All Subjects Except Those Already Taught In Civil Architecture And Pharmacy Institutes. State On Thursday Also Decided To Set Up A Commission With 11 Directors That Will Govern The Vocational Training Institutes In The State. The Board Will Conduct The Examinations And Will Decide The Curriculum Besides Reviewing The Quality Of Institutions. The State Approved A Grant Of Rs 5 Crore To The Board.

5532 Defence Minister A.K. Antony Will Launch The Construction Work Of The Kerala Science City Project At Kuravilangad On February 1. Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman K. Radhakrishnan Will Be The Chief Guest. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy And Ministers Will Participate. Jose K. Mani, MP, Told The Media Here On Thursday That The Project Would Come Up On 30 Acres At An Outlay Of Over Rs.100 Crore. The Centre Would Bear 60 Per Cent Of The Project Cost And The Rest By The State. A Sum Of Rs.41 Crore Had Been Made Available For Construction, Which Would Be Taken Up In Two Phases. The Project Would Be Jointly Implemented By The Ministry Of Culture And The State Education Department. The First Phase Would Include A Science Gallery That Explained The History And Milestones Of Science With Interactive Features, Multidimensional Thrill Area With Motion Simulation System, Musical Fountain With Laser Multimedia, And An Observatory. The Cost Of Executing The First Phase Had Been Put At Rs.51 Crore. Mr. Mani Said The First Phase Would Be Completed In A Year-And-A-Half. Thematic Galleries Based On Robotics, Astronomy And Aerospace, Oceanography, Bioproducts And Rubber, Environment, Biotechnology, And Nanotechnology Had Been Envisaged In The Second Phase. Final Phase An Evolution Theme Park, Planetarium, 3D Theatre, Campus With Wi-Fi And Wimax Facilities, Science And Energy Park, Science Library, Ham Radio Station, Walkway Museum, Rope Car Service, Butterfly Garden, High-Tech Classrooms, Auditoriums, Classrooms, Seminar Halls And A Food Court Would Come Under The Final Phase.

5531 The Visakhapatnam Port Has Finally Agreed To Award The Rs 820-Crore Container Berth Expansion Project To Visakha Container Terminal Private Limited (VCTPL). It Is A Design, Build, Finance, Operate And Transfer (DBFOT) Public Private Partnership (PPP) Project. Promoted By Dubai Ports World And United Liner Agencies Of India, VCTPL, Is Currently Operating The Container Terminal At Visakhapatnam Port. The Expansion Project Would Help The Port Handle 1.05 Million Container Boxes From The Existing 0.5 Million. The Project Works Include Construction Of A Berth, Erection Of Higher Capacity Cranes, Handling Equipment And Reclamation Of More Than 100 Acres, And Is Expected To Be Completed In The Next Three To Four Years. The Port Is Expected To Handle More Than 270,000 Containers This Fiscal, Up From 80,000 Containers It Handled In 2008-09. Keeping In Mind The Growth Potential, The Vizag Port A Year Ago Had Called In For Global Tenders For The Berth Expansion Project Under The PPP. Companies Including VCTPL, Adani Port, Navayuga Engineering, Gangavaram Port Had Shown Interest In The Project, But Only VCTPL Came Forward To Submit The Financial Bids. The Final Award For The Project Has Been Delayed Due To The Low Gross Revenue Share Quoted By VCTPL. However, After The Negotiations On December 26, VCTPL Has Agreed To Enhance The Revenue Sharing From 10.044 Per Cent To 11.044 Per Cent. Earlier, Vizag Port Appointed Rail India Technical And Economic Services (Rites) To Study The Revenue Sharing Issue. While The Rites Recommended A 20-25 Cent Share For It From The Gross Revenue, The Indian Ports Association (IPA) Has Suggested A Minimum 15.5 Per Cent Share. However, The Port Has Agreed To Go For 11.044 Per Cent Share Proposed CTPL As The Final Cost Estimates Of The Project Rose To Rs 820 Crore From The Initial Rs 633.11 Crore. This Was Due To Rupee Depreciation Against The US Dollar, Diesel, Power Costs Coupled With Presumed Higher Capacities, Low Tariffs, Traffic Uncertainty, Project Viability, Said VCTPL Sources.

5530 Borg Energy, A Solar Power Solutions Provider, Plans To Invest USD 45 Million (Rs 279 Crore) In India On Projects Including A Rural Electrification Programme. The Investments Are Likely To Be Made In Next Six Months. The Company, Which Entered The Country Last Year, Is In Advanced Discussions With Some States In North India For A Rural Electrification Programme. This Project Is Expected To Cost About USD 25 Million, Borg Energy Indias Managing Director (Asia Pacific) Boaz Augustin Jr. Said Here Today. It Is Also Looking To Invest USD 20 Million For Various EPC (Engineering, Procurement And Construction) Projects, He Said, Adding That In The Long Term, Plans Are On The Anvil To Set Up An R&D Plant In The Country. Borg Energy India Is A Subsidiary Of US-Based Borg Inc. The Company Has Introduced Smart Grid Technology-Based Micro Solar Power Plants In The North Indian Market. These Plants Have The Potential To Save Up To 60 Per Cent Of Household Power Bills, The Firm Said.

5529 South Korean Steel Maker Posco Has Received Environment Clearance For Its Rs 52,000 Crore Steel Plant In Odisha, Ending An Eight-Year Wait For The Project To Get Off The Ground. "Yeah, I Have Cleared It," New Environment Minister M Veerappa Moily Said Here. "It (The Approval) Was Given About A Week Back." The Approval Comes A Week Ahead Of South Korean President Park Geun Hyes Visit To India. The Clearance Will Pave The Way For Posco To Build The Steel Plant With An Annual Production Capacity Of 12 Million Tons. Officials In The Ministry Said Poscos Project Comprised Of Two Aspects - A Steel Plant And A Port Project. Moily Delinked The Two And Granted Approval For The Steel Plant. Environment Clearance For The Port Is Pending.

5528 Maharashtra Government Has Decided To Undertake A Dryland Farming Programme For The Farmers Who Are Dependent On Monsoons And Do Not Have Any Other Irrigation Source. The Government Plans To Spend Rs 20,000 Crore On The Programme In Five Years. The Project Headquarter Will Be At Aurangabad. About 55 Per Cent Of Population In The State Is Dependent On Agriculture For Livelihood. Out Of The 225 Lakh Hectares Cultivable Land In The State, 80 Per Cent Is A Dryland.

5527 Leading Estate Developer Lodha Group Today Said It Will Launch The Second Phase Of Its Mega City Project Palava On Saturday. The Mumbai-Based Realtor Is Developing Palava, A Mega City In Dombivli, A Suburb Of Mumbai Located In Thane District. The Entire Project, Spread Over 5,000 Acres, Is To Be Completed In Four Phases By 2025. The Second Phase Consists Of 800 Buildings And Is Slated Be Completed In The Next 5 Years. "The Second Phase, Spread Across 800 Acres And Comprising Around 800 Buildings, Will House Malls, Residential And Commercial Towers, Hotels Among Others," Abhinandan Lodha, The Companys Deputy Managing Director, Told PTI Here. "We Expect To Generate Nearly Rs 15,000 Crore From This Phase," He Said. In The First Phase, The Company Has Already Delivered 20,000 Residential Units, He Said, Adding, "The Focus Will Be On Providing High Quality Units At Affordable Prices. We Expect To Provide 1 Lakh Middle-Income Affordable Housing By 2025." The Size Of Apartments In Phase Two Ranges Between 750 Sq Ft To 1,200 Sq Ft, Costing Rs 36 Lakh To Rs 65 Lakh. "In The First Phase, Spread Across 250 Acres, Prices Ranged Between Rs 20 Lakh And Rs 50 Lakh. But With The Appreciation Of Property Prices And Increasing Demand For Housing In The Area, The New Apartments Will Cost Between Rs 36 Lakh And Rs 65 Lakh," He Said. The Firm Has Bought Over 3,500 Acres Of Land For The Project And Will Acquire Another 1,500 Acres Soon, He Said. Lodha Further Said The Company Has Spent Rs 4,800 Crore For Purchasing Land And Funding The Construction In The Phase 1.

5526 India And The World Bank Today Signed The Loan Agreements For World Bank (IDA) Assistance Of $ 250 Million For The Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project. The Loan Agreement Was Signed Here By Mr Nilaya Mitash, Joint Secretary, Department Of Economic Affairs, Ministry Of Finance On Behalf Of The Government Of India And Mr Onno Ruhl, Country Director (India) Of World Bank On Behalf Of The World Bank. The Project Agreement Was Also Signed By Mr Rakesh Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand On Behalf Of The Government Of Uttarakhand. An Official Press Release Said The Objective Of The Project Was To Restore Housing, Rural Connectivity And Build Resilience Of Communities In Uttarakhand And Increase The Technical Capacity Of The State Entities To Respond Promptly And Effectively To An Eligible Crisis Or Emergency. The Primary Beneficiaries Of The Project Would Be The Communities In The State That Would Benefit From The Restoration Of Housing, Rural Connectivity, And Risk Mitigation Infrastructures. By Strengthening Disaster Risk Management Systems And Institutions, The Project Has The Potential To Benefit The Entire State Of Uttarakhand. The Project Will Have Six Components Which Are (I) Resilient Infrastructure Reconstruction, (Ii) Rural Road Connectivity, (Iii) Technical Assistance And Capacity Building For Disaster Risk Management, (Iv) Financing Disaster Response Expenses, (V) Project Implementation Support, And (Vi) Contingency Emergency Response.

5525 Lanco Infratech, One Of Indias Largest Integrated Infrastructure Enterprise, Gained On Monday After The Appellate Tribunal For Electricity Has Passed Its Order In The Matter Of Tariff Determination For The Second Unit Of Lanco Amarkantak Power Project In Korba District, Chhattisgarh. As Per The APTEL Order, Amarkantak Unit 2 Shall Be Paid Regulated Tariff Based On The Actual Capital Cost Of The Project. This Would Result In Sustainable And Profitable Operation Of The Project At Full Capacity.

5524 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Will Flag Off A Cancer Therapy Project In The City On Friday. He Will Lay The Foundation Stone For The Rs 450-Crore Hadron Therapy Centre For The Tata Memorial Centre In Parel To Provide Focused Radiation Therapy To Cancer Patients. He Will Also Lay The Foundation Stone For A New Building For Women And Paediatric Cancer Patients. Both Projects Will Come Up On A Five-Acre Plot In The Haffkine Institute Adjacent To The Tata Memorial Centre. The Plot Was Handed Over To The Cancer Centre By The State Government Last Year. At The Hadron Therapy Centre, A Machine Will Use Protons Instead Of Photons To Deliver More Precise Beams That Destroy Cancer. "Conventional Radiation Has Several Issues As It Can Destroy Normal Cells Along With The Cancerous Cells, But The Proton Beam Therapy Will Be More Precise And Not Harm Surrounding Tissues, Said Dr Rakesh Jalali Of Tata Memorial Hospitals Radiation Therapy Department. Hadron Therapy Deposits High Level Of Radiation Critical To Control Aggressive Tumours But It Gives Little Dose To The Non-Cancerous Tissues. India Has Over 450 Conventional Radiation Machines. The Hadron Centre Will Be The First In The Country. In Fact, The Centre Will Be Among The Half A Dozen Such Centres Across The World. Dr Rakesh Jalali Of Tata Memorial Hospitals Radiation Therapy Department Said The Machine, Which Requires Such Intense Infrastructure That It Will Take Five Years Before To Be Commissioned, Was Best Used For "Paediatric Cancers, Some Forms Of Abdominal And Head And Neck Cancers".

5523 Max India Group Firm Antara Senior Living Has Roped In Construction Major Shapoorji Pallonji For Its Housing Project For The Elderly At Dehradun, Being Developed At A Cost Of Rs 520 Crore. "Antara Senior Living Joins Hands With The Leading Engineering And Construction Conglomerate Shapoorji Pallonji And Appoints Them As The Civil Contractor For Their First Senior Living Community In Purukul, Dehradun," The Company Said In A Statement. Shapoorji Pallonji Engineering And Construction (SPEC) Will Be Responsible For All Civil And Structural Works Of The Project, It Added. The Value Of The Contract Was Not Disclosed. Construction Work Has Started And Completion Is Expected In Early 2016. The Project Spread Over 20 Acre Comprises 217 Apartments Ranging In Size From 1,500 Square Feet To 7,000 Sq Ft. The Apartments Will Cost Between Rs 1.25 Crore And Rs 4.5 Crore. The Project Also Has Three Penthouses, Each Priced At Rs 7 Crore. Antara Senior Living, The New Business Venture Of The Max India Group, Focuses On People Over The Age Of 60 And Its First Initiative Is To Create Residential Communities That Offer Lifestyle With Lifecare For Senior Citizens. The Company Has Tied Up With Architects And Designers Perkins Eastman (New York) And Esteva & Esteva (Spain)

5522 Tata Group Real Estate Arm Tata Housing Development Today Launched A Luxury Residential Project In The Northeastern Suburb Of Mulund. The Project, Named Gateway Towers, Is Spread Across 8.5 Acres And Is A Part Of The 19-Acre Redevelopment Project. "We Have Invested Around Rs 2,000 Crore For The Entire Redevelopment Project Across 19 Acres, Out Of Which The Saleable Component Would Be Around 8.5 Acres, Where We Will Be Developing Six Luxury Residential Towers," A Company Source Said. The Company, Which Has Not Revealed The Number Of Units As Well As The Per-Unit Cost, Will Develop Six Residential Towers, Ranging From 31 Stories To 41 Stories. Managing Director And CEO Brotin Banerjee Said, "This Project Is In Line With Our Strategy Of Creating Marquee Projects In Major Metros." Mulund Has Witnessed An Increasing Demand For Luxury Housing From Consumers And Investors Because Of Proximity To South Mumbai And Fast Growing Thane Areas, He Said. The Towers Are Designed By Callison. The Construction Is Expected To Be Completed In Four Years.

5521 Bengal Engineering And Science University (Besu) Has Decided To Set Up A 400kw Solar Power Plant And A Solar Tree Inside Its Campus At Shibpur, Howrah. The Decision Is Part Of Converting The Entire Campus Into A Solar Run University. The Process Of Convert Into A Solar Run Campus Which Had Started In 2011 Will Now Finally Turn A Reality. "Partially We Have Already Started The Process Of Conversion. A 3.5kw Solar Power Plant Has Been Installed Which Has Been Named As Rabi Kutir. From The Plant Which Has Been Set Up, Tagore Garden And Some Part Of The Street Lights Are Run. We Have Already Completed The Estimation To Install A 400kw Solar Power Plant On The Roof Top Of The Main Academic Building Which Will Be Grid Connected And Will Generate Electrical Power. It Will Be Used To Run The Entire Campus," Said Vice-Chancellor Ajay Kumar Ray. He Added, "When We Will Not Require The Additional Power Then We Can Sell It To The Electricity Board. Once It Is Connected With The Grid Then The System Will Be In Place." The Power Which Will Be Generated From Solar Cannot Be Conserved. "It Will Be A Everyday Process To Generate Solar Power. We Cannot Store The Energy Since At Night The Power Is Lost. We Will Charge The Batteries And Keep It Stored. Some Stand Alone Solar Lights Will Be Installed And Also A Solar Tree Which Will Look Like The Christmas Tree And Have Solar Panels Which Will Generate Power Shall Be Set Up. Our Professors And Scientists At The Centre For Green Energy And Censor System Has Developed This Solar Tree," Ray Added.

5520 Welspun Energy Will Invest Rs 1,350 Crore In The Next Three Years To Set Up 150 MW Solar Power Project In Punjab, For Which The Company Has Signed The Initial Agreement With The State Government. "Welspun Energy Limited Today Announced An Mou With Punjab Government To Set Up Solar Power Project Of 150 MW Capacity," The Company Said In A Statement. Welspun Energy Will Invest Rs 1,350 Crore For Setting Up This Solar Project Over The Next Three Years, It Said, Adding That Welspun Is Already Developing A 35 MW Solar Project In Punjab. This 150 MW Project Is Slated To Begin Commercial Operations By 2017. "The Partnership With Government Of Punjab Is In Line With Our Commitment Of Lighting India With Clean, Sustainable Energy. We Look Forward To Working In Close Collaboration With The Local Authorities To Develop Efficient And World Class Solar Capacities For The State," Vineet Mittal, Managing Director, Welspun Energy Said In The Statement. The Project Will Supply Clean Energy To 72 Lakh Families. With The Commissioning Of This Project, An Estimated 24,96,602 Tonnes Of Carbon Dioxide Emissions Will Be Mitigated Each Year, The Statement Claimed.

5519 NHPC Today Signed A Preliminary Agreement With Kerala For Developing Wind Energy Projects In The State. "Memorandum Of Understanding For Development Of Wind Energy Projects By NHPC In The State Of Kerala Was Signed Between NHPC And Government Of Kerala," NHPC Said In A Statement. NHPC Will Develop Grid Interactive Wind Power Project In Nallasingam And Kottathara Sites In Pallakad District With A Potential Of 82 MW Capacity. The Projects Are Expected To Be Completed Over The Next Two Years. Power Generated From Them Will Be Provided To The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) On Rates Fixed By The Electricity Regulatory Commission. NHPC Is In The Process Of Diversification With New Solar And Wind Power Projects In Various States.

5518 BPCL Along With MPL Will Set Up A Rs 3,000 Crore Polyurethane Project In Kerala. A Senior Official, Who Is Directly Involved In The Project, Said BPCL And MPL Have Decided To Go Ahead With The Project. The Capacity Of The Project Would Be Increased To 3,50,000 Tonnes. The Original Plan Was To Set Up A 2,50,000 To 3,00,000 Tonnes Capacity Plant With An Investment Of Around Rs 2,500-3,000 Crore. BPCL Is In Talks With MPL, To Float A Joint Venture In Which Few Foreign Companies Are Expected To Participate, To Set Up The Project. The Project Will Be India’s Single Largest Polyurethane (PU) Manufacturing Plant," A Senior BPCL Executive Said. Both Partners Would Finalise The Structure By Mid-January Or Before January-End And Will Hold A 50 Per Cent Stake Each In The New JV. A Pre-Feasibility Report Is Being Prepared. The JV Partners Are Also Considering To Dilute Around Five Per Cent Stake To The Technology Provider And Similar Per Cent Age Stake To A Trading Company. The Project Will Be Spread Over 150 Acres Of Land Next To The BPCLs Existing Facility At Kochi, Kerala. Another BPCL Official Said The Company Is In Talks With Global Players To Source Technology From Licensors For Polyurethane (PU) Project. The New Indigenous Plant Is Expected To Go On Stream By January, 2017, And Will Cater To Industries Such As Automobile, Foams & Mattresses, Ancillaries, Paints & Inks, Insulations, Refrigeration And A Host Of Other Applications.

5517 Jaihind Projects Ltd Has Informed BSE That The Company Has Bagged Two Work Orders From M/S. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC) For Worth Rs. 30.39 Cr & Rs. 14.17 Cr And One Work Order From M/S. Gujarat State Petronet Limited (GSPL) Worth Rs. 3.71 Cr. Indian Oil Corporation Has Awarded Two Work Orders; One Worth Rs 30.39 Crore For Composite Mainline And Combined Station Works For Re-Routing Of Existing Barauni-Kanpur Pipeline In Different Stretches Between Mughalsarai And Kanpur For Dedicated Freight Corridor Of Indian Railways. The Second Work Order By IOC, Worth Rs 14.17 Crore, Was Awarded For Laying Of 18# OD, 64 Km (Approx) Cross Country Crude Oil Pipeline By Extending Existing Loop Lines Group-B-From Dumri To Barauni (About 27 Km) And Other Associated Works. On The Other Hand, A Work Order Worth Rs 3.71 Crore For Parle Connectivity Projects (6" Dia X 5.587) Was Awarded By Gujarat State Petronet Limited (GSPL).

5516 The Proposed TCS Learning Campus In Thiruvananthapuram Will Be Located On A 97-Acre Property In The Technopark Area Of The City. The Campus Will Be Built Over An Area Of 6.1 Million Square Feet And Will Feature Residential Accommodation For Professionals And The Faculty At The Centre The Proposed TCS Learning Campus Will Provide A Natural, Contemporary Vision For Education By Linking Elegant Design, Ecological Thinking And Modern Technology. The Integrated Design Has Been Organised Around A Centralised, Iconic Training Facility With Collaboration Rooms And Libraries On The High Plateau At The Middle Of The Site With Residential And Support Buildings Around It. The Master Plan Of The Campus, Inspired By The Rich Regional Heritage, Incorporates The Local Architecture Influences And Used Local Materials In Construction. It Incorporates Several Green Concepts Such As Zero Waste Discharge With 100 Percent Recycling Of Sewage, Energy-Efficient Systems, Large Area Of Green Cover, Rain Water Harvesting Systems And Integrated Building Management Systems.

5515 The Tirunelveli District Administration Has Announced That Administrative Sanction Has Been Granted For The Construction Of A Breakwater In Uvari Village With Dimensions As Requested By The Villagers. An Official Statement From The District Collector On Monday Stated That Sanction Has Been Granted With The Revised Estimation Of Rs 63 Crore. The Breakwater Would Be Constructed 1,560m Long Towards North And 400m Long Towards South, Covering The Village From Our Lady Of Church To Kappalmatha (Our Lady Of Wealth) Church In These Directions. With Sea Erosion Eating Away The Village Steadily, The Villagers Have Been Demanding A Breakwater For The Last 15 Years. Lately, The Sea Erosion Has Turned Worse With The Waves Hitting The Compound Walls Of The Kappalmatha Church. According To The District Administration, The Construction Project Would Be Carried Out Under The State Governments Proposed Developmental Works Around Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant For Rs 500 Crore. As Requested By The People, The Breakwater Size Has Been Increased To 1,560m From 1,150m In The North And The Budget Cost Has Been Revised To Rs 63 Crore From The Earlier Cost Of Rs 52 Crores, District Collector, Karunakaran Stated. He Had Also Mentioned That The Breakwater Will Be Effective To Arrest The Sea Erosion Threatening The Village And Allow The Fishing Community In The Village To Anchor Their Boats In The Safety Of The Breakwaters. Besides, The Structure May Also Pave Way In Promoting Marine Tourism Activities In The Future, He Said.

5514 Building Solutions Company Everest Industries Plans To Set Up Its Second Manufacturing Plant For Pre-Engineered Buildings At Dahej In Gujarat. With An Annual Production Capacity Of 60,000 Tonnes, The Plant Will Target Projects In Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh And Chattisgarh, Besides Parts Of Rajasthan And The Southern States. The Company Has Said It Finds It Difficult To Tap The Fast-Growing Demand For Steel Building In The West And The South With Its First Unit Of Similar Capacity At Roorkee In Uttarakhand.

5513 Hyderabad Is All Set To Get Yet Another National Centre Soon. It Will Get A Rs 100 Crore National Institute For Footwear Design And Development. The Foundation Stone For The Institute Will Be Laid In The Last Week Of January. The Andhra Pradesh Government Has Already Allocated The Required Land At Gachibowli In Cyberabad. A Couple Of Weeks Ago The Union Minister For Small, Micro And Medium Enterprises, K.H. Muniyappa Had Announced That It Would Set Up A National SME University. About 100 Acres Was Available For The Facility To Come Up In The City. The Foundation Laying Event For The Footwear Design Institute Was Finalised During The Meeting Of The Union Minister For Commerce And Industry, Anand Sharma, And Chief Minister, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, On Friday Here. The Rs 100-Crore Has Been Sanctioned By The Commerce Ministry. The Two Discussed Various Proposed Projects In The State Including Setting Up Of World Trade Centre At Madhurawada, Visakhapatnam And Three National Investment And Manufacturing Zones. The Union Minister Has Told The State Government To Complete The Process Of Identifying A Partner For Setting Up Of The Rs 35-Crore World Trade Centre Under PPP Mode. Of This, Rs 20 Crore Will Be Given By The Centre And The Balance Should Be Borne By The State, A Release From The Chief Minister’s Office Stated.

5512 NTPC Has Signed An Initial Agreement With The Geological Survey Of India To Set Up A Geothermal Power Project At Tattapani In Chhattisgarh. "A Memorandum Of Understanding (Mou) Was Signed Between NTPC And Geological Survey Of India Today...For Preparation Of DPR (Detailed Project Report) For Geothermal Power Project At Tattapani,". Ajit Kumar, ED (Business Development) At NTPC, And PB Sarolkar, Deputy Director General, GSI, Signed The Agreement. NTPC Had Earlier Signed An Mou With The Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency To Set Up The Project At Tattapani. Geothermal Power Projects Use Heat From Rocks And Fluids In The Earths Crust To Generate Electricity.

5511 For The Police Modernization Project, The State Government Claimed To Have Allocated Rs 90.83 Crore During The Current Financial Year. The State Government Had Provided Rs 2.33 Crore To State Police Headquarter For The Purchase Of Latest Equipments. Besides, Funds Worth Rs 691.01 Lakhs For Anti-Riot Equipments, Rs 11.79 Lakh For Security Apparatus, And Rs 18.11 Lakh For Other Equipments To All Districts Have Also Been Granted. Funds Have Also Been Released For Purchasing Latest Training Apparatus As Well. Pointedly, Rs 52.41 Lakh Has Been Allocated To Etah District For Constructing Barrack Where At Least 30 Jawans Can Stay. Similarly, Banda District Have Also Been Given Rs 33.65 Lakh For Construction Of A Barrack Meant For 12 Jawans. Besides Rs 1.15 Crore And Rs 61.11 Lakh Have Also Been Sanctioned To Chandauli And Unnao District For Construction Of Barracks Meant For Staying 80 And 40 Jawans Respectively. Moreover, Funds Have Also Been Sanctioned For Setting Up State Of Art Facilities Equipped Control Rooms For Four Major Cities Of The State Including Allahabad (Rs 9 Crore), Kanpur Nagar (Rs 6.60 Crore) And Lucknow And Ghaziabad (Rs 7.5 Crore Each). These Control Rooms Will Be Equipped With GIS, GPS And Vehicle Tracking System Etc. With This, Cops Sitting In Modernized Control Room Will Be Able To Locate Vehicles On Screens To Be Installed At Control Rooms And Instructing Them To Reach The Spots In Terms Of Regulating Traffic And Crime Control.

5510 The Airports Authority Of India (AAI) Has Given Its In-Principle Consent To The Project Site Of Greenfield Cargo Airport At Bhaini Bhairon In Haryanas Rohtak District, After Conducting A Preliminary Site Visit And Pre-Feasibility Study. The Defence Ministry Has Also Issued A "No Objection Certificate (NOC)" To The Ministry Of Civil Aviation In This Regard, An Official Spokesman Said Here Today, Adding That With This Cargo Facility, Commercial Activities Would Get A Boost In The State. "The Detailed Project Report (DPR) Preparation For The MRTS Project Is Underway. Concept Master Plan Of Manesar Bawal Investment Region (MBIR) Has Been Finalised And Development Plan Has Also Been Approved By The State Government,"

5509 IL&FS Engineering And Construction Company Limited (IL&FS Engineering Services) Has Won A Rs 84.3 Crore Order For The Construction Of Elevated Stations For The Phase-II Of The Gurgaon Rapid Metro Rail Project (RMRG). The Contract Involves Civil Structural Works For Construction Of Five Elevated Stations At Sectors 53-54 And 55-56 In Gurgaon (South Extension). The Total Value Of The Contract Is Rs 84.30 Crore And Is To Be Completed In 24 Months. The Company Is Also Executing A Contract For The Construction Of A Double-Track Elevated Viaduct For Phase-II Of RMRG.

5508 RPP Infra Projects Ltd. Said It Has Won Contracts From Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation And Mangalore Special Economic Zone. The Company Has Recently Bagged A Contract For Rs.28.50 Crore For Construction Of Scientific Godown From Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) Cap Storage Campus At Punalkulam In Pudukottai District In Tamil Nadu And Secured Additional Orders For Rs.17 Crore For Smaller Godowns Across Tamil Nadu. It Has Also Won A Contract For Rs.81.50 Crore From Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) For Construction Of Boundary Wall (Balance) For MSEZ-Package 2 In Mangalore. The Company Is Executing A Project For MSEZ Valued Rs.32 Crore And, Out Of This, It Had Completed R.19 Crore. With These New Orders, The Companys Order Book Has Jumped To Rs.650 Crore. The Company Is Currently Executing The Project Like Strengthening Of Contour Canal In Parambikulam And Aliyar In Tamil Nadu, The Township Project For NTPC And TNEB In Vallur, Northern Chennai Are Under Progress. It Is Also Executing Projects In BHEL, Trichy, Chennai Corporation And Mangalore Refineries, Mangalore

5507 Infrastructure Major Larsen & Toubro (L&T)S Construction Wing Has Won New Orders Worth An Aggregate Rs 2,962 Crore Across Various Business Segments. "The Buildings And Factories Business Has Bagged New Orders Worth Rs 1,555 Crore," The Contracts Won By Buildings And Factories Business Include A Large Turnkey Order From An Information Technology Major For Construction Of Two Technology Centres In Bangalore And A Turnkey Order For Infrastructure Development Of Three Government Medical Colleges In Cuttack, Sambalpur And Behrampur In Odisha. Uther Orders Won By The Buildings Division, The Water & Renewable Energy Business Of The Company Has Bagged "New Orders Worth Rs 726 Crore" Including Contracts For A Combined Water Supply Scheme To 1,891 Habitations In Pudukkottai And Sivagangai Districts In Tamil Nadu From Tamil Nadu Water Supply & Drainage Board The Power Transmission & Distribution Business Has Bagged New Orders Worth Rs 258 Crore", The Company Said, Adding That This Includes An Order From Transmission Corporation Of Andhra Pradesh For Work Of Supply, Erection, Testing And Commissioning Of A 400 Kv Double Circuit Transmission Line. The Company Also Received Additional Orders Worth Rs 423 Crore From Various Ongoing Projects In Metallurgical & Material Handling, Heavy Civil And Transportation Infrastructure Businesses Of L&T Construction.

5506 Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda Will Lay Foundation Stones Of Several Projects, Including A Water Supply Facility In Rewari. Hooda Will Lay Foundation Stones Of A Sub-Tehsil Building At Dahina And A Rs 2.32-Crore Water Supply Project, An Official Spokesman Said Today. He Will Also Lay The Foundation Stone Of Rao Birender Singh State Institute Of Engineering And Technology At Zainabad. The Institute Will Be Built At A Cost Of Rs 34 Crore, The Spokesman Said. The Chief Minister Will Inaugurate A Rs 24.64-Crore Project For Widening The Road From Dahina To Jatusana And Water Supply Schemes Costing Over Rs 4.56 Crore At Dhani Thethrabad And Lohana Villages.

5505 Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI). Officials At The Agra Circle Of ASI Informed That As Of Now, Three Different Conservation Projects Have Begun. The First Relates To The Royal Entrance, The Iconic Gate That Connects The Outer Part Of The Monument With The Main Mausoleum. This Gate, Which Is About 200 Feet Tall, Is A Beautiful Structure That Displays The Characteristic Mughal Intricate Inlay Work. Travails Of Time Have Taken A Toll On Some Of The Tiles In These Inlay Work, Therefore, The First Project Relates To Conservation Of The Inlay Work In The Gate. The Second Project Deals With The Roof Terrace Of The Royal Entrance. The Terrace Of The Gate Has Developed Cracks And Some Sections Have Decayed, Posing Threat Of Collapse. In The Conservation Project, A New Roof Is Being Made. Mehmaan-Khana, A Structure On The East Of The Main Mausoleum, Is The Spot For The Third Conservation Project. Certain Joints In The Rear Wall Of The Mehmaan-Khana Have Widened Due To Weathering. Some Sections Of The Jaali In The Mehmaan-Khana Structure Either Missing Or Have Broken Completely. The Problems Will Be Removed Under The New Conservation Project. Official Associated With The Restoration Project Shared Information That Conservation Work At The Taj Is Exclusive. "The Formula For Mortar Is The Same As Used At The Time When Taj Mahal Was Being Constructed. Lime Is The Primary Base For Mortar Instead Of Cement. It Contains Ingredients Like Jaggery, Powdered Bael Fruit Shell And Urad Dal Among Others. Since Minimal Interface With Machines And Primary Traditional Tools And Techniques Are Used, The Work Is Time Consuming," Said NK Pathak, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI Agra. He Also Informed That Three Categories Of Laborers Undertake The Work-Experts In Inlay Work, Experts In Stone Work And Support Staff For The Auxiliary Service.

5504 The Survey To Lay Railway Lines In Mewat Has Been Completed And Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda Has Written To The Railways Department Stating That The State Government Would Bear Half Of The Cost Of The Project, A State Minister Said Today. "The Process To Acquire Land For The Project Would Soon Commence," Haryana Transport Minister Aftab Ahmed Told Reporters Here. He Also Said That A Rail Corridor Would Also Be Developed In Taoru. On The Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway Project, He Said That 87 Per Cent Work Of The Expressway From Palwal To Manesar Has Already Been Completed. He Also Said That Projects And Schemes Involving An Investment Of Over Rs 3,000 Crore Have Commenced From January 1

5503 An Ambitious Project To Mitigate Flood Damage In Bihar Has Taken A Major Step Forward With A Central Agency Finalising The Detailed Project Report For Linking Four Intra-State Rivers Which Would Help Protect Three Districts From Floods. The Multi-Purpose Project, Which Envisages Diversion Of 492 Cumecs Of Flood Water From Burhi Gandak River To Baya/Ganga River, Would Also Augment Irrigation Of Over A Lakh Hectares Of Farmland. DPR, Prepared By The National Water Development Agency (NWDA), Is A Crucial Step In The Process Of Interlinking Rivers That Enables A State Government To Approach The Central Water Commission (CWC) For Further Clearances. According To The Report, Interlinking Of The Four Rivers -- Gandak, Noon, Baya And Ganga -- Would Protect Three Districts Of Samastipur, Begusarai And Khagaria In The Flood-Prone State From Devastation Caused During Annual Floods. While The Three Districts Collectively Record Flood Damage To The Tune Of Rs 204.73 Crore Annually, Diverting Flood Waters Would Save Rs 143.31 Crore. It Would Also Pave The Way For Enhancing Irrigation Of 1.26 Lakh Hectares Of Lands Proposed During Kharif Season, Giving Irrigation Benefits Worth Rs 587.10 Crore. Estimated At A Total Cost Of Rs 4200 Crore, The Report Proposes Construction Of A Barrage Across The Flood-Prone Burhi Gandak River And A Long Canal, Measuring 29 Km, Offtaking From The Barrage And Outfalls Into Baya River Interestingly, The DPR Of Burhi Gandak-Noon-Baya-Ganga Intra-State Link Is The First Such Project Of Any State Government Taken Up By NWDA, Functioning Under The Ministry Of Water Resources.

5502 Dr. Manmohan Singh Has Launched The E-Literacy Project In Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Last Saturday. The Project Will Be Implemented By Panicker Vigyan Vikas Kendra. The E-Literacy Campaign To Be Implemented Using The Tools Of Information And Communications Technology (ICT) Will Help In Reducing The Digital Divide. This Will Contribute To Improvements In The Living Standards Of The Underprivileged Population Of The State. P N Panicker Foundation, The Mother Organization Of P N Panicker Vigyan Vikas Kendra, Was The First Organization In The Country To Popularize E-Reading Among The Rural Masses. It Is Now Taking The Lead To Make Kerala The First E-Literate State Of The Country, In Collaboration With The Central And State Governments And Civil Society Organizations. Commending The Efforts Of P. N. Panicker Vigyan Vikas Kendra, Dr. Manmohan Singh Said: "We Need Such Initiatives To Be Taken Across The Length And Breadth Of The Country. This Will Help Us In Realizing The Full Potential Of ICT- In Decentralized Governance, In Better Delivery Of Services, Particularly Education, In Financial Inclusion And In E-Commerce."

5501 The Madhya Pradesh Government Is Working On A Rs 46 Crore Project For The Cleaning-Up Of Khan River Which Flows Through The Indore City. Wharfs Would Be Built Along Its Banks At Various Places, An Official Said. Another Project, Estimated To Cost Rs 87 Crore, Has Been Sanctioned For Developing Area Around The Historical Krishnapura Chhatri Monument.

5500 The state government has decided to set up a handloom in Krishna district headquarters of Machilipatnam. The All India Handloom Technology Institute would be set up with a project cost of Rs 35 crore.

5499 Union Ministry Of Environment And Forests (Moef) Gave The Mandatory Environment And Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Clearance For The Vizhinjam International Seaport Project On Friday. The Moef, While Giving Clearance For The Rs 4,010-Crore Project, Has Stipulated 29 Specific And 14 General Conditions To Be Abided By The Port Authorities. The Ministry Also Said That People Can Approach The National Green Tribunal Within A Period Of 30 Days. The Ministrys Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) Had Given The Green Nod For Project On December 3 And Set 17 Conditions. The Vizhinjam Port Had Submitted The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report To The Moef In August This Year. The State Government Has Already Floated Global Tenders For Constructing The Port

5498 Kolkata Will Have Its First Westin Property, A Brand From US Hospitality Conglomerate Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, By Mid 2015. Westin, The Upmarket Branded Hotel Brand, Will Manage The Upcoming Rs 600-Crore Property On An Eight-Acre Plot In The Satellite Township Of New Town, On The Eastern Fringes Of The City. Sujit Kanoria-Run Shristi Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd Is Developing The 330-Key Hotel, Which Westin Will Manage Under A 15-Year Contract. “Construction Work Has Been Complete. Interiors Work Is Going On. The Hotel Will Be Operational By The End Of 2014 Or Mid 2015,” Sujit Kanoria, Managing Director, Shristi Infrastructure, Told Business Line. Apart From Guest Rooms, The Hotel Will Also Have Service Apartments. It Will Also Have An Adjoining Commercial And Retail Space, He Said. “We Have Chosen Westin As Our Partner Because Of The Chain’s Strong (Referral) Booking System And Its Brand Value,” Kanoria Said. The Project Is Likely To Break Even In Another 5 Years. Shirsti Infrastructure Is Also Investing Over Rs 300 Crore To Set Up Two New Hotels - One In Udaipur, Rajasthan And Another In Puducherry. Both Would Be Star Properties, With Puducherry Being A Mix Of Three-Star And Five-Star Facilities.

5497 The Union Ministry Of Road Transport And Highways Has Given Its Nod For The Upgradation Of NH 212 That Connects Mysore To Kozhikode In Kerala. The Rs 498.29 Crore Project Is Seeking To Beat The Election Code Likely To Be Imposed In March By Completing The Tender Formalities Within February And Taking Up Works Like Shifting Of Electric Poles And Cutting Of Roadside Trees By Then. Union Road Transport And Highways Minister Oscar Fernandes Had Approved The Upgradation Project On December 31. Unlike Earlier When The Ministry Had Planned To Take Up The Project Under The PPP Model, It Is Now Funding The Project That Will See The Busy Mysore And Nanjangud Road Upgraded To Four Lane While The Rest Of The 129 Km Stretch Will Be Upgraded. The National Highways Authority Of India (NHAI) Has Estimated That Rs 353.38 Crore Is Required For The Upgradation Works. And Rs 65 Crore Is Set Aside For Pre-Construction Works Which Include Shifting Of Electrical Installations And Axing Of Roadside Trees. The Work Will Be Launch In March

5496 The Cabinet Committee On Economic Affairs (CCEA) Today Approved A Proposal For Construction Of A 220kv Transmission System From Alusteng (Srinagar) To Leh In Jammu And Kashmir. The System Will Pass Via The Drass, Kargil And Khalsti 220/66kv Sub-Stations Of Power Grid Corporation Of India Limited (PGCIL) And The 66kv PGCIL Interconnection System For Drass, Kargil, Khalsti And Leh Substations At An Estimated Total Cost Of Rs. 1788.41 Crore. The Transmission Project Shall Provide Grid Connectivity And Reliable Power Supply To The Strategically Important Ladakh Region, An Official Press Release Said. The Project Will Be Implemented Through PGCIL, A Central Transmission Utility, Within 42 Months From The Date Of Release Of The First Instalment Of Funds. The Project Cost Will Be Borne By The Government Of India And The Government Of J&K In The Ratio Of 95:5 To Ensure Interest Of The Government Of J&K In The Project. Upon Commissioning Of The Transmission System, The Same Shall Be Transferred To The J&K Government Who Will Carry Out Operation & Maintenance (O&M) And Other Related Activities At Their Own Cost As Per The Terms And Conditions In The Memorandum Of Understanding (Mou) To Be Signed In This Regard.