KOTTAYAM (COTYM) Cityscapes And Projects

[S.A.KRISHNA]

Bordered by the lofty and mighty Western Ghats on the east and the Vembanad Lake and paddy fields of Kuttanad on the west, Kottayam is a land of unique characteristics. Panoramic backwater stretches, lush paddy fields, highlands, hills and hillocks, extensive rubber plantations, places associated with many legends and a totally literate people have given Kottayam District the enviable title: The land of letters, latex, lakes and legends .

[S.A.KRISHNA]

http://srkconstructions.com

[S.A.KRISHNA]

Home Basics - Spice apartments @ Kanjikkuzhy

http://homebasics.co.in
[url="http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/526/homebasicsspicsapartmenuq1.png"]"http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/526/homebasicsspicsapartmenuq1.png"[/url]

[S.A.KRISHNA]

A hillock @ Neeloor, Kottayam district - Pic courtsey: Abhi_flick @ flickr


Hotel Windsor Castle @ Kodimatha, Kottayam - Pic courtsey: Prashant @ Picasa


Kottayam Cityscape - Pic courtsey: Happy Sleepy @ flickr


Enthralling Kumarakom - from Rajesh's Photo Gallery @ Flickr

[PLUS]

More










http://www.flickr.com/photos/happy_sleepy/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/unemotoeninde/

[S.A.KRISHNA]

thanx PLUS for the pics.

[S.A.KRISHNA]

I've come to know that Trivandrum based HEERA group will be launching an apartment complex in Kottayam, named Breeze comprising of 2 towers, each of 25 or 26 floors. A huge flux has been put up @ Kallor Jn. If possible cud some one get a snap and post it here? i'll be gr8ful. Thanx.

[S.A.KRISHNA]

Heera Breeze @ Kalathilpady - 26 fl X 1, 25 fl X 1 ,in 3.36 acres

Please excuse for the poor pic quality

[PLUS]

Good one, SAK

[S.A.KRISHNA]

WEXCO W-Mall @ Kanjikkuzhi

W Mall is Kottayam's first premium shopping mall. Located in the heart of the city, it is a destination where the entire family can indulge in a never before shopping experience. With most of the premium Indian and international brands, it gives you simply the best. Haute couture, home appliances, electronics, sports gear, food courts and more..






Wexco Bradbury Villas @ Carithas


Wexco Melford Park @ Puthenangadi -New design


http://wexcohomes.com

[S.A.KRISHNA]

Kodimatha boat-jetty renovation work underway

Source: mathrubhumi



* Length of the jetty to be increased to 30 mts.
Width to be increased to 2.5 mts.

* Floor to beautified by laying tiles.
Project will also have a relaxation centre for the passengers.

* Total cost for the work - Rs. 20 lacs

Kodimatha boat jetty - an old picture (reposting)
(c) -Girish Kumar PJ @ panoramio

[S.A.KRISHNA]

Water sports complex at Cheepungal - Tender procedures started

Source: Mathrubhumi


* Tender procedures for the construction of the proposed tourism cum water sports complex at Cheepungal started.

Tender invited for the construction of approach road and walkway.

* 1st phase of the project to come up in 3.86 acres of land adjacent to 'pennar' canal and Vembanad lake at a cost of 1.6 crores.

* Project to comeup under Kottayam DTPC.

* Project envisages facilities for the parking of houseboats,speed boats, food court, swimming pool,amenity centre, pedal boating, water sports, kayaking etc.

*There will be facilities to watch sunset too.:

*Project planned to be completed in 1 year.



This will enable the local people also to acess the lake shore.

[S.A.KRISHNA]

Mir's proposed township @ Kodimatha,Kottayam to feature a 9 hole golf course

Source: CorporateProfile-mir.pdf

[S.A.KRISHNA]

Project Cancelled (Good, it should not be at the cost of environment)

Rakindo's toursim Township in Kumarakom


[url="http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/localContentView.do?district=Kottayam&contentId=6603101&programId=1079897613&tabId=16&BV_ID=@@@"]Manorama Online[/url]

* 6000 crore Rupees will be invested
* Around 130 acres out of total 405 acres will be linked with the lake
* Bird sanctuary in 22 acres
* Work may begin this year
* Project plan prepared
* The project will also feature a Marina for parking boats, 18 hole golf course on 150 acres, villas, condominiums, street malls etc.

[S.A.KRISHNA]

See the sincerity of this bloody LDF Govt. towards Kottayam mini Port ( Just like other Projects which still remain in paper viz. Kottayam mini airport, Kottayam IT Park, Kottayam Town Master Plan, Kottayam-Kumarakom Road, TECIL revival, Travancore cements renovation, Kidangoor Kinfra Park, Inland waterways development project, Meencahil River Valley Project, Mooledom and Kumaranalloor ROBs, Akalakkunnam Film Institute, Private IT park by world Malayali Council all because of the negligence from the part of the state Govt.)

[S.A.KRISHNA]

Government of Kerala helping Land Mafia?

Fraud Behind Aranmula airport Project?

Why did GoK deny NOC to Kottayam airport project which had recieved Central Govt. support in 2008?

Go through the following news report that appeared in the Hindu in 2008.

‘Real estate interests behind airport’

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor
Paddy field being converted in Aranmula puncha
Photo: Leju Kamal

Unchecked: Vast expanses of paddy fields being converted by a private party at Aranmula after announcing the construction of an international airport there. —
ARANMULA (PATHANAMTHITTA): The announcement of Central support to the proposed airport project in Kottayam has brought to light certain unpleasant facts behind the much-publicised proposal for another “international airport” announced by a private agency at Aranmula.

Aranmula Aviation Limited (AAL), a recently-floated private company, announced its “dream project” to construct an international airport at Aranmula a year ago. A few months ago, the company even announced the launching of its air taxi service from Aranmula in a year’s time.

However, talking to The Hindu on Tuesday, AAL director T.K. Raveendran Nair expressed his doubts about the “sincerity of certain company quarters” in implementing the airport project.

He said that with the announcement of Central support to the proposed airport in Kottayam, the chances of getting clearance for another airport in the adjoining district of Pathanamthitta were remote. According to him, there is every reason to suspect some sort of “real estate interests” on the part of certain company top-brass. Capt. Nair said that, to his knowledge, AAL had not yet sought clearance from the Civil Aviation Department or any other agency concerned for the proposed airport project.

Moreover, the company did not possess “even a single cent of land of its own as the Mount Zion Trust headed by AAL managing director Abraham Kalamannil is yet to transfer the land earmarked for the project,” he added.

“Dream” project
It all started with the announcement of an airport project by the Kozhencherry-based Mount Zion Trust five years ago. The trust reportedly purchased about 101 hectares of low-lying paddy fields in the Aranmula puncha and started indiscriminate conversion activity in 2003-04. However, the paddy field conversion hit a road block following strong opposition from various farm workers’ unions, especially the CPI(M)-led Kerala State Karshaka Thozhilali Union (KSKTU).

The proposed airport project was revived a year ago with the registration of a new company, AAL, and induction of P.S. Nair, a Kochi-based real estate businessman, as its chairman. The other three members on the AAL board are Mr. Abraham Kalamanil (managing director) and Mr. Raveendran Nair and Samuel Thomas (both directors).

Meanwhile, the Mount Zion Trust and Mr. Abraham Kalamannil, who still possess the entire land, resumed the conversion of Aranmula puncha with alleged official and political patronage.

Even the local MLA, who was in the forefront of the agitation against the land conversion five years ago, kept mum on the bulldozing of an adjoining hill into the paddy fields, alleged a local businessman.

There are also allegations that the Revenue authorities’ inaction is a testimony to the large-scale corruption involved. However, the district authorities here have confirmed that no official sanction has been given so far for land conversion in Aranmula puncha.

Though Capt. Nair says that only 20 hectares of paddy field have been converted, the local people say that the converted area is around 40 hectares.

Capt. Nair said that he had already made his stand clear that the company should return the money, around Rs.30 lakh, collected from various shareholders if it failed to implement the project.

It is also a fact that the land value in Aranmula has shot up with the announcement of the airport project.

Environmentalists here have called upon the government to take over the converted portion of the Aranmula puncha and restore it without any delay.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/23/stories/2008072351730700.htm

The promoters behind the So-called 'Aranmula airport project' must have influenced Politicians, bureaucrats and some ministers to sabotage 'Kottayam airport project' when the 'Real Estate' motive of the people behind the Aranmula airport project got exposed.
And Nowhere in the world exists an international airport associated with a Village.


Afterall, Aranmula is only a village.
Above all, this is surely going to be an environmental disaster.

[arundinil]

Government of Kerala helping Land Mafia?

Fraud Behind Aranmula airport Project?

Why did GoK deny NOC to Kottayam airport project which had recieved Central Govt. support in 2008?

Go through the following news report that appeared in the Hindu in 2008.

The promoters behind the So-called 'Aranmula airport project' must have influenced Politicians, bureaucrats and some ministers to sabotage 'Kottayam airport project' when the 'Real Estate' motive of the people behind the Aranmula airport project got exposed.
And Nowhere in the world exists an international airport associated with a Village.


Afterall, Aranmula is only a village.
Above all, this is surely going to be an environmental disaster.

I think the above report itself is totally outdated and no sense in posting it, as things have changed a lot since the time it was posted.

First of all, today the project is done by KGS group with stake from ADAG and others. Secondly most of the fields were un-used for pretty long time and hence doesn't benefit anyone. An airport would propel more investment and employment opportunities. A dozen of spin off benefits can occur. Aranmula is located in a place having a large number of NRKs, particularly from American and Europe and a direct connectivity can surely bring them more closer like those in ME.

Secondly it can trigger larger tourism projects and cater pilgrim tourism for Sabarimala and Maramon Convention.

Kottayam is very close to Kochi and could be reached within 2 hours area. I don't think, every district can have an airport

Thanks

[S.A.KRISHNA]

^^
Mr. Arun Dinil. Please don't speak as if you know everything over this issue.

This is a clear case of fraud. I can give you more details.

1. Go through the site of KGS developers? Have they already built any airport previously? NO.

2. ADAG too doesn't have any such experience. ADAG recently won a contract from Maharashtra Govt. to maintain 5 small airports for just Rs. 63 crore.

3. Had an EOI invited to develop an airport in Aranmula, no good devloper (with previous expreience in having built atleast a good airport) would have responded. (Ya, the so called Aranmula city)

3. The airport proposed for Kottayam was a mini airport. An airport south of Kottayam, in Kottayam district itself, could've been expanded (as per the traffic growth) to cater to parts of Kottayam, Alapuzha, Idukki and Pathanamthitta.

4. Which is the most important city in Central Travancore, in terms of the business houses, commercial establishments etc.? It's Kottayam

5. BTW, do you think that the claim these people make about runway length need to be believed? I'll give you the proof

6. No where in the world exists an airport associated with a village. Aranmula is a village

7. According to the words of civil Aviation Shri Praful Patel, India will be in a need of 400-500 operational airports by 2020, which is just 82 today.

If so, why did GoK deny a project which the Civil Aviation minister offered whole hearted support?

8. The claim the promoters behind the Aranmula airport make that 'They already recieved in principle approval from' DGCA is a big lie. I've proof for this.

9. Do you know the fact that the new 'Goa airport which is coming up in MOPA' is just 41 Kms (aerial distance ) from the present Dabolim airport?

If so, an airport some where near the Kottayam - Pta border (80 Kms aerial distance from CIAL and 110 Kms from TIA) can't be built?

Another correction to your misconception ( Kottayam - Ekm is 70 Kms, 2 hrs whereas Kottayam-CIAL is 90 Kms, 3 hrs).

10. Paddyfields are wetlands also. By filling the (uncultivated) paddy fields, this is surely going to affect the water table. Moreover, they've illegally, partially encroached upon a stream which is lnked with Pampa.

11. Just around 1 lakh people out of 5 crore pilgrims who visit Sabrimala every year travel by airport. IF so, an airport near Kottayam Town would've very well served the purpose.

Most of the people who visit Maramon Convention are locals/Keralaites, except for those who give talks in the convention.

BTW, Don't simply swallow all that has been mentioned in their website. Okay?

[DileepKS]

Just a nitpick. Isn't the Mopa airport a REPLACEMENT for Dabolim, which belong to Navy?, just like CIAL replaced the naval airport?

An Airport attached to Kottayam makes more sense, but don't forget that the Aranmula project is 100% private funded. It is their money, and they can locate the airport in their backyard if they please. I don't see a reason for any other location to complain.

OTOH, if any public fund was being utilized, then I would have vehemently opposed the project. Right now, it is only the environmental concerns that have value. But given the region, the loss of a few hundred acres of wetland makes no impact.

[Naaz]

Already Kerala z having the highest density of airports(3 international wrkin, 1 in the pipeline), then agn discussions & plans fr more!!!wats d heck??