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A P ’ s m o s t c r e d i b l e r e a l e s t a t e m a g a z i n e

V o l u m e 2 I s s u e 4 A p r i l - M a y 2 0 1 2

ANDHRA PRADESH REAL ESTATEDEVELOPERS ASSOCIATION

R s . 5 0

Realty maange moreBudget 2012-13

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cont

ents

Published by AP Real Estate Developers Association# 102, Tirumala Shah Apartments, Yellareddyguda, Ameerpet ‘X’ Road, Hyderabad - 500 073 Tel : 65572184 , 99898 44467For feedback/suggestions email toapredahorizons@gmail.com

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Contents

Budget, amixed bag - Page-4

Builders should know their duties - Page-10

Grading in realty to the fore - Page-12

Smart

homes - Page-14

Italy all the

way-Page-16

Good interviewing -Page-18

Wealth from waste-Page-22

Branding as strategy-Page-24

Hyderabad turns into aviation hub-Pae-26

JLL upbeat on Hyderabad-Page-30

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Cover Story

One of the welcome features of the Union Budget 2012-2013 is the thrust on infra-structure, as it is a necessary

input for the country’s sustained growth. It is heartening that a road map has been drawn up to address some issues facing the infrastructure sector. However, the real estate sector continues to get a short shrift and did not get much as it ought to have. On infrastructure, the Finance Minis-ter has emphasised the need to remove the lacunae and has proposed an Infra investment fund of Rs 50,000 crore. For National Highways alone, the fund alloca-tion is Rs 10,000 crore. The investment on sectors such as power, roads and bridges,

telecommunications, railways, irrigation, water supply and sanitation, ports, air-ports, storage and oil-gas pipelines would be increased from about 8 per cent of GDP to about 10 per cent of the GDP. The total investment in infrastructure would have to be over Rs 45 lakh crore.HousingOn housing, Mr Pranab Mukherjee has proposed various measures to address the shortage of housing for low income groups in major cities and towns, includ-ing ECB for low cost housing projects and setting up of a Credit Guarantee Trust Fund. Some highlights of the Budget pro-visions for different sectors, including real estate, are listed on the facing page.

Budget, amixed bag for realty

The Finance Minister has not granted industry status to the sector. This has been a long pending demand now. This move would have made bank fi nancing easier and inexpensive for realty companies

B U D G E T2 0 1 2 - 1 3B U D G E T2 0 1 2 - 1 3

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Cover Story

Possible impact on realty sectorLet us analyse what the budget means for the real estate sector, as it is the second largest contributor to the country’s GDP only after agriculture. On the whole, the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s bud-get is a letdown. He has allowed external commercial borrowings (ECB) for low-cost affordable housing projects, which will bring down the interest cost for devel-opers. Last year, a 1 per cent interest rate subsidy was provided for loans towardsaffordable housing, which continues. However, the FM has disappointed the real estate sector by not widening the in-terest rate subsidy scope. The disappoint-ments are many and we need to examine them in detail. The Finance Minister has not granted

Income tax exemption limit raised to Rs 2 lakh to provide relief of Rs 2,000 to all assessees; 20 per cent tax on income over Rs 10 lakh, up from the earlier Rs 8 lakh limit. External commercial borrowings permitted to low-cost housing sector. Infusion of Rs 15,888 crore in public sector banks, regional rural banks and NABARD in 2012-13. Four thousand residential quarters to be constructed for paramilitary forces with an allocation of Rs 1,185 crore. Defence to get Rs 1.93 lakh crore during 2012-13. Service tax rate raised from 10 per cent to 12 per cent to garner Rs 18,660 crore to the exchequer. Number of proactive steps taken on black money (stashed away abroad); information has started fl owing in, prosecution to be initiated; White Paper

to be tabled in the current session.National Skill Development Fund allocated Rs 1,000 crore. Excise duty raised from 10 to 12 per cent. Import duty on equipment for iron ore mining reduced from 7.5 to 2.5 per cent.Allocation of Rs 200 crore for research on climate change. National mission on food processing to be started in cooperation with state governments. Integrated Child Development Scheme to be strengthened and restructured with allocation of Rs.15, 850 crore. Allocation of Rs 14,000 crore for rural water supply and sanitation. External commercial borrowing of up to $1 billion permitted for airline sec-tor. From 2012-13, full subsidies for

providing food security; in other sectors to the extent the economy can bear this. Hope to raise Rs.30,000 crore from disinvestments. New equity savings scheme to provide for income tax deduction of 50 per cent for those who invest Rs.50,000 in equity and whose annual income is less than Rs.10 lakh. Corporate market reforms to be initiated. Bills on micro-fi nance institutions, national land bank and public debt management among those to be introduced in 2012-13.Growth in 2012-13 estimated at 7.6 per cent; expect infl ation to be lower.Better monitoring of expenditure on government schemes.

HIGHLIGHTS

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Cover Story

industry status to the sector. It has been a long pending demand now. This long overdue move would have made bank fi nancing easier and cheaper for realty companies. The government has not re-laxed norms for repatriation of FDI in real estate. This would have made the market environment more investment-friendly. The FM has also not enacted legislation on real estate investment trust (REITs), which would have promoted investment in the sector.There is no mention either about the set-ting up of a real estate regulator, which has disappointed the sector. This would have ensured a semblance of fair play and transparency in the industry and protection of consumer interests.The Union Government has also not implemented the revised Direct Taxes Code (DTC). That would have had strong

implications on special economic zones (SEZs). The industry requires clarity on issues that may emerge from time to time and how businesses would be promoted in SEZs.

Unfulfi lled wish-listAs the realty sector is a major driver of growth and generates thousands of jobs across its various verticals and associated industries, it is only apt that the sector gets industry status. But strangely, the govern-ment continues to give it the cold shoul-der. The sector wanted the government to relax norms for repatriation of FDI in real estate. In addition to this, the realty sector was expecting the FM to enact legislation on Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). While a draft policy for REIT was issued a couple of years ago, there were no further developments in this regard. Promoting

REIT would also enable pension fund in-vestors and insurance companies to invest in real estate assets providing stabilised revenues to meet their return obligations. In 2011, 1 per cent interest rate subsidy was provided for loans towards afford-able housing. The realty sector wanted the scope of this subsidy to be amplifi ed and broadened to include a wider price band of budget housing to benefi t home buyers, especially in the lower income groups.Some major players in the sector feel that the Union Budget 2012-2013 is another opportunity lost and a few bold decisions could have done wonders for the nation’s economy. These are some more reactions from industry captains.‘Nothing much to cheer about’“Our reaction to Union Budget 2012-13 is mixed, at best. It seems fair to state that the Indian real estate sector does not

The slow farm growth rate continues to be a strain on the economy.

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Cover Story

have much to cheer about,” says Anuj Puri, chairman, Jones LaSalle India. Mr Puri says that the raising of the personal income tax exemption limit from Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 2 lakh is just tokenism. It is cer-tainly not relevant for the aspiring Indian middle-class home buyer. The expected exemption limit of Rs. 3 lakh would have had some signifi cance. That said, the 1 per cent tax rebate for home loans of up to Rs.15 lakh on homes costing up toRs 25 lakh will prove benefi cial for developers in this segment, Mr Puri adds. Exempting proceeds from the sale of a residential property from Capital Gains tax if they are invested in equity or equip-ment of an SME provides home owners with more reinvestment options. The increase in the service tax rate from 10 per cent to 12 per cent will increase the cost of production for developers, who are already reeling under high input costs. Al-lowing External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) for affordable housing is, without doubt, an excellent move. It will ensure better capital availability for developers of low-cost housing. This sector is typifi ed by low margins, and it becomes attractive only if developers are enabled to produce greater volumes. Better capital availabil-ity will help in timely project execution, which will result in higher volumes, says Mr Puri. The postponement of a decision on FDI in multi-brand retail comes as a disap-pointment. We seem to have missed yet another opportunity to boost the Indian economy by ways of signifi cant foreign capital infl ows. On the other hand, the increased spending on warehousing will certainly help the retail real estate sec-tor, since more storage capabilities will help retailers expand into more cities and towns. Likewise, the measures to increase funding for highways and other infrastruc-ture will help put more territories on the

real estate map.

Cup of woesIt is a disappointing budget for the middle class home buyer. We had made numerous representations to the Ministry to bring down the cost of loans. Nothing has been done on that front. Instead, the industry will have to grapple with even higher rates of service tax and excise. This will result in an increase in cost of construc-tion by Rs 50 to 100 per sq ft which will ultimately be passed on to the customer. We had also hoped that some sort of tax breaks would be given for EWS and LIG housing on the lines of the erstwhile 80 (I) B. However, nothing has happened.The only silver lining is that for the fi rst time ECB has been allowed for EWS housing but with a number of riders. It

remains to be seen if companies will actu-ally be able to raise any ECB with these riders. In short, nothing signifi cant has been done to ease the liquidity crunch of either the developer or the home buyer.--Pankaj Bajaj, President, CREDAI, NCROverall this budget does not have much to look forward to. With reference to the real estate sector, there is an absence of any intent to address the issues concerning the sector. High property prices and low demand coupled with tight lending sce-nario have further dimmed the consumers’ ambition of owning a house. Among other challenges for the sector, the unprecedent-ed increase in urbanisation is a challenge as well as an opportunity; however, the lack of a road map will prolong the prob-lems of the urban centres.

The mess in the power sector is a cause for concern.

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Having said that, the residential segment has got some attention in terms of fund al-location to rural housing and ECB window for affordable housing projects. Higher allocation for infrastructure and rural-oriented schemes should have a positive cascading effect on the economy. Thank-fully, residential leases have been kept out of the ambit of the service tax. --Pranab Datta, MD, Knight Frank India

The budget for 2012-2013 for the real estate sector is not a very welcome one. There are some positives but it again has not addressed some of the long pending demands of this sector. The budget has al-lowed borrowing from overseas for afford-able housing projects, which is a welcome step. It will defi nitely boost fund fl ow and can give impetus to the affordable housing segment. The extension of interest subsidy of 1 per cent on housing loans of up to 15 lakh is a positive step but an increase on hous-ing loans of up to Rs 25 lakh will further boost the demand for low-cost housing and will help buyers at large. The increase of service tax and the excise duty would directly make an impact on real estate sec-tor which will ultimately have an impact on the price of properties and will affect the customers. Also, our long pending demand to give industry status to the real estate sector once again has not been ad-dressed.--R K Arora, CMD, Supertech Ltd

The real estate sector has once again been deprived of the “industry status” which would further deprive the sector of the natural benefi ts, which it could have availed of given the “industry” status. No doubt the ultimate benefi ciary in that case would have been the end users/custom-ers. The Budget proposals have allowed

FDI in affordable housing sector which is likely to increase the fund fl ow in this area and ease out the real estate sector. Exten-sion of subvention scheme for another one year is defi nitely a support for real estate. However, the increase in loan limits was expected and should have been given by the Finance Minister to give arespite to the real estate sector.It is also notable that the Finance Minister has increased the service tax and also the excise duty which would directly make an impact on various inputs of real estate, which ultimately is likely to affect the price of properties. --Gaurav Gupta, Director, Omkar Realtors & Developers

The real estate sector has not received any sops in the current budget which could have boosted the market and customer sentiment. There were no indications also of this sector being granted the much deserving industry status. On the contrary, the increase in Service Tax will push up the realty prices as the additional cost will be passed on to the buyers.Increased spending on the infrastructure is welcome step but hope to see much towards urban infrastructure to support the real estate industry. The move to allow ECB for low cost housing is a positive step.--Ashwani Prakash, Executive Director, Paramount Group of Companies

In my opinion, the Union Budget bears an average impact on the economy. While the Budget has shown some green signals towards infrastructure growth, it has fi scal roadblocks in its way. The planned Rs 50 lakh crore investments in infrastructure is indeed worth appreciating, although separate amendments and provisions for the real estate sector would have been welcomed. Also, the proposed investments

in health and education sectors will further boost the country’s infrastructure to a large extent. The fi scal defi cit of 5.9 per cent of the GDP in the year 2011-12 has panned out very differently as compared to the target of 4.6 per cent which indi-cates excessive spending by the govern-ment to keep up the growth momentum. Also the hike in excise and custom duties of 2 per cent will not only have a cumula-tive effect on the cost of construction as a whole but may also impact the revenues of India Inc substantially. With land acquisi-tion prices touching the roof, no rebate in home loans and interest rates and now an additional rise in cost of construction will postpone the desire of an average home buyer.One more element that was off the Budget purview was emphasis on green practices and carbon emissions in India. At present the government does not have specifi c tax benefi ts or policies for accounting towards the higher costs incurred in green build-ings like higher levels of depreciation and tax breaks. In this direction, some thrust on green construction could have encour-aged developers to adopt sustainable prac-tices which in turn would have also helped in lowering the carbon emissions. To address the fi scal defi cit, the indirect taxes have been increased which will strain the nation’s growth.--Zubin Irani, President (India), UTC Climate, Controls & Security

To sum up budget 2012-13, it can best be considered a mixed bag, if not a total dis-appointment, given the liquidity crunch in the market and the slowdown. The accent on low-cost and affordable housing aimed at the common man is welcome, but for other investors there is still a void.

Cover Story

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Real estate regulator

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Whether builders in this State are more taxed or their brethren in neighbouring States is a mat-

ter to be probed by researchers, because tax laws are complex. This article is not to teach you the provisions inthe APVAT Act, 2005 (let us call it Act) rlating to works contracts. Builders have been in this business since some time and the Act itself is about 7 years old now in this State. To a major extent, all the persons concerned must be aware about their

liability under the Act. Without going into issues like whether the builder is selling goods (only sale of goods is taxable under the Act) or immovable property like fl at; whether tax is payable on the land valueor construction value, etc., the legislature has framed an easy and good tax provision in Section 4 (7) (d) of the Act. Under this, a builder is entitled to opt to pay tax under composition scheme at the rate of 1% upto 13.9.2011 and @ 1.25% from 14.9.2011. Almost all the builders have been paying tax under this clause. I am therefore re-stricting this article only to this composition scheme. (I am not dealing with the regular scheme of payment of tax contemplatedunder Section 4 (7) (a) of the Act).

1. For the purpose of paying tax under

the said clause (d), the builder must be a registered VAT dealer under the Act. Before commencing any business, he should apply for registration and obtain the certifi cate.2. Only a registered dealer is entitled to opt for composition scheme under clause (d). For the purpose of such option, builder-dealer has to fi le form VAT 250 in the offi ce of the CTO/AC concerned and obtain acknowledgment. This form has to be fi led before receiv-ing advance from the fi rst prospective buyer.3. In that form 250, (the columns in this form are not suitable for builder), builder has to mention full address of the site withsurvey numbers and the nature of con-

That which angers men most is to be taxed above their neighbours—Sir William Petty (1623-87).

Builders should know their duties, responsibilities

Taxes & Laws

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Laws & Regulations

struction, i.e., fl ats/villas/ commercial complex, etc.4. Builder has to enter into a mother agreement to start with, with the pro-spective buyer, mentioning the entire consideration receivable for the sale of land as well as fl at/villa/shop, etc. In the absence of such agreement, there may be a problem in classifying the transac-tion under clause (d).5.There can be a sale deed (registered) afterwards and then a construction agreement, which should invariably re-fer to the mother agreement.6.Tax @ 1.25% has to be paid by the builder on the entire consideration re-ceived or receivable for the sale of fl at/villa/shop, including the value of land or the market value fi xed by the Sub Registrar for the purpose of stamp duty, whichever is higher.7. At the time of registration of sale deed, crossed DD drawn in favour of the concerned CTO for 1.25% of the amount noted in the sale deed has to be handed over to the Sub registrar to-wards VAT due. It is advisable to retain xerox copy of such DD, which may also be enclosed to the VAT 200 return of the concerned month. (It is said that the most diffi cult thing in the world is understanding a tax return).8. In respect of the remaining amount as per the agreement, tax @ 1.25% has to be paid for the same month along with VAT 200 return through crossed cheque or DD (It is now through net banking).9. Such builder, who has opted to pay tax under clause (d) is not eligible for any Input Tax Credit (ITC). 10. Up to 13.9.2011, there was liability to pay tax under Section 4 (7) (e) of the Act on the value of goods brought/pur-chased from other States/countries or purchased from non-VAT dealersin Andhra Pradesh and used and trans-ferred, at the rate of tax mentioned in the Schedule to the Act. This clause has beenomitted with effect from 14.9.2011. Hence if such goods are used and trans-ferred from the said date, tax is payable only @ 1.25%, as above mentioned. 11. If the builder, who has opted to pay

tax under clause (d), awards sub con-tract of any portion of work or entire work, such sub contractor is not liable to pay tax. In such a case, the builder has to issue a certifi cate to the sub con-tractor to the effect that the sub contrac-tor is not liable to pay tax, as he has opted to pay tax under clause (d).12. The builder need not make any TDS (VAT) from out of the payments made to the sub contractor. 13. Government in its memo No.33263/CT,II (1)/2010-5 dated13.17.6.2011 has specifi cally directed the builders, who are not registered with the department and who have not opted for composition of tax under Sec-tion 4 (7) (d) of the Act to pay tax @ 1% only, under composition scheme along with applicable interest from the due date till actual payment of the said tax due, by registering themselves as VAT dealers. This can be availed of by such builders to avoid further consequences. 14. If the builder brings/purchases any specifi c/identifi ed goods with brand name from other States/countries, as per the specifi c written requirement of the prospective buyer for use in the construction work, on the value of such goods, exemption can be claimed under Section 4 (7) (g) of the Act. In the case of M/s. Patel Engineering Ltd. Vs State of A.P. 51 STJ 150 – the SAT held that no tax shall be leviable by fol-lowing Section 4 (7) (g) of the Act on the turnover of transfer of property in the goods, if such transfer from con-tractor to the contractee constituted a sale in the course of inter-state trade or commerce. A heavy burden lies on the builder to prove this claim. 15. If the builder starts any new ven-ture, he has to fi le fresh form VAT 250 for the purpose of composition. 16. If Service Tax is part and parcel of consideration, then VAT has to be paid even on service tax component. 17. It would be benefi cial to obtain reg-istration certifi cate under Central Sales Tax Act, 1956 (CST Act) 18. In the application for registration, the builder can mention all the goods required to be used and transferred in

the construction of fl at/villa. Goods can be purchased by the issue of C decla-ration form from the other States, only when such goods are incorporated in the certifi cate of registration issued un-der the CST Act. 19. When goods are purchased against C form, the applicable rate of CST would be only 2%. Commercial Taxes Department has been levying tax on theadvances received from the prospective buyers even before the sale deed is reg-istered. Builders have been arguing that there may be sale of fl at or may not be any such sale, as the buyer may at any time go back. Some builders have fi led writ petitions in the High Court ques-tioning such levy of tax on the advances received and the decision is awaited on this issue. 20. If any builder wants to bring com-modities like iron and steel, from other States into this State for use in his busi-ness, he has to send advance CST way bill to the consignor in the other State. Such advance way bill duly fi lled in by the consignor, mustaccompany the goods vehicle.Let me conclude with the following from our own ancient texts:-“Just like a leech, calf and bee draw only small, but very small, quantities from their respective feeds (i.e. blood, milk and honey), similarly a King should, by his orders, take from his subjects, very small amounts of taxes”

--Manu Smriti-[7.129].Kautilya, in his Arthasaastra says that it is the duty of the citizen to pay taxes and that of the leaders to use the taxes for nation building:“Those who do not pay fi nes and taxes take on themselves the sins of those (kings) and (kings) who do not bring about well-being and security (take on themselves the sins) of the subjects (1.13.8).

--P.V. Subba Rao, Advocate,Retired Joint Commissioner (CT),

Hyderabad. Mobile: 9391018552

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Trends

The real estate sector holds im-mense importance in the nation’s economy because of the vast business activities and employ-

ment it generates and the multiplier effect it has on the economy through its backward linkages. The Indian real estate sector has witnessed exponential growth over the last decade, resulting in the tremendous increase in the number of players and projects. However, the sector largely remains unregulated and unorganised, which leaves end-users puz-zled with regard to the developers’ ability to deliver the project in accordance withthe promised terms, quality parameters, and within the stipulated time. It becomes diffi -cult for a retail investor/ buyer or fi nancial institutions/banks to rank the real estate de-velopers or projects with regard to project risk and prospects of successful implemen-tation. Hence, an independent opinion on the relative performance capability of the real estate entity in the form of grading can help in such differentiation.

NAREDCO’s key roleThe National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) is the apex national body for real estate development, with the Minister of Urban Development and Food & Consumer Affairs, public sector organisations and all practitioners of real estate sector, for self regulation of industry and bringing ethics and code of conduct in the profession. NAREDCO has initiated a system of rating developers and real estate projects to enhance the confi dence levels of lenders, investors and consumers while making lending and / or investment decisions.Credit Rating Information Services of India Ltd., established in 1987, has come a long way in pioneering the concept

of credit rating in India. Today, it is the market leader with a dominant share in the rating business in India and is instru-mental in developing the framework and methodology for rating rupee denominated debt obligations of Indian corporates and fi nancial institutions along with the debt issues of large infrastructure projects. In-dividuals, institutional investors and lend-ers use CRISIL ratings as a benchmark for framing investment and lending policies.CRISIL as part of its rating service has de-veloped a methodology for the real estate sector and has completed a large number of projects across the country. NAREDCO has been invited by government to be the agency for rating the developers/real estate projects. Based on this, NAREDCO has entered an MoU with CRISIL for car-rying out rating of real estate projects and developers. The methodology and sym-bols for the same have been developed by CRISIL, in consultation with NAREDCO and National Housing Bank (NHB).

ICRA’s standing ICRA, an associate of Moody’s Investor Service, is a leading credit rating agency in India with more than 21 years of expe-rience and having completed over 6,500 assignments. ICRA rates credit facilities of more than 537 companies in the real estate/construction domain and maintains foremost position in rating real estate com-panies. By virtue of its signifi cant exposure to real estate companies, ICRA has con-solidated a strong knowledge base and risk evaluation criteria in the real estate sector. ICRA has completed rating assignments for major real estate players such as DLF, Unitech, Omaxe, Ansal API and Parsvana-th Developers in the North; Godrej Proper-ties, Peninsula Land, Mahindra Life Space Developers and Tata Housing in the West;

This article explains why grading has become critical today for the crowded real estate market

Grading in realty; an idea whose time has come

13

Trends

Sobha Developers, Prestige Estates, Mantri Developers, Embassy, Brigade Enterprises and Nitesh Estates in the South; and Ambu-ja Group, Forum Group and Shrachi Group in the East.

Indicative criteria to assess real estate enti-ties In assigning grading to real estate en-tities, ICRA assesses the risks under two broad categories: business riskand fi nancial risk. While the assessment looks at all relevant factors in detail, the indicative risk assessmentcriteria for real estate projects are location, appropriateness of execution agencies, lev-el of control & adherence to project sched-ules, price competitiveness, availability of raw materials, quality parameters, regula-tory risk, contractual agreements, approval status, interest rate risk, cash fl ow vs. obli-gations, transfer of ownership and penalty clause to the buyer. Besides the project-spe-

cifi c risks, the track record of the developer and its fi nancial position has an important bearing on the grading of the project. The indicative business risk assessment criteria for real estate developers are sector specifi c

risk, market position, project composition,adherence to project time schedule and quality in the past and current projects, project management and system for timely completion, management quality, extent of legal compliance and documentation and track record of dispute and litigation, trans-fer of ownership and customer satisfaction in the past projects. The indicative fi nancial risk assessment criteria for real estate developers are profi t-ability, leverage, cash fl ow vs. obligation, fi nancial fl exibility, insurance cover, ac-counting quality and contingent liability.

For grading of developers & projects,

ICRA has developed a methodology along with the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), the apex national body for real estate developers, in 2001.

Process fl ow chartGrading scale

ICRA’s grading scale ranges from RT1 i.e. very strong project to RT5 i.e. weak proj-ect. The sign of + (plus)or – (minus) may be appended to the grad-ing symbols to indicate their relative po-sition within the grading categories con-cerned. The grading refl ects the prospects of successful implementation of the real estate project and transfer of ownership as per terms and the magnitude of project risk factors.Against this backdrop, ICRA has evolved methodologies for grading of real estate de-velopers and real estate projects. Through this grading service, ICRA not only seeks to enhance the confi dence of market par-ticipants in the sector, but also aims at stepping up the involvement of banks and fi nancial institutions (FIs) in the real estate sector. ICRA’s Grading of Real Estate De-velopers & Projects is designed to commu-nicate to investors (end-user/buyer of prop-erty) the ability of the developer to deliver in accordance with the terms, qualityparameters, and time stipulated. For de-velopers, the grading, by providing an as-sessment of their abilities and risk profi les, serves to assist them in presenting their case to the users/buyers and lenders while facilitating their internal benchmarking as well. Moreover, the grading, by its very nature, is an incentive for developers to conform to fair trade practices and legal re-quirements. For lenders, the grading serves to enhance their confi dence in real estate projects, thereby facilitating the fl ow of in-stitutional funds to such projects as well as enhances the chances of developers’ access to cheaper credit. The grading from the es-tablished independent rating agency ICRA enhances the credibility as well as branding of the developer/project and increases thepricing power with buyers, investors, fi -nancial institutions and bankers.

14

New age habitats

With our lifestyle getting busier by the day, automated home solutions havebecome the need of the hour

Since we live in a digital age, it is only natural that these solutions need to be available at the tip of our

fi nger. Home automation utilizes technol-ogy to transform your home into a smart home. A smarter home gives you remote and automatic control to your lights, air-conditioning, curtains, entertainment, se-curity, surveillance and many more in one easy to use interface. It streamlines and simplifi es all the electri-cal and electronics in your home offering

the ultimate lifestyle of comfort and conve-nience in a simpler, safer and cost-effective way.

Why home automation?There are many benefi ts that can be enjoyed by installing a home automation system – it offers comfort, convenience, security, sur-veillance and saves energy.

Comfort and convenienceHome is the place where everyone likes to sit back and relax. Comfort and conve-nience have become essential and it is not a luxury anymore. Imagine, with the touch of a single button you could switch off the lights, close the curtains, activate the security system and motion sensors – now that is real conve-nience. In your home theatre room - use your phone, instead of 4 different remotes, to operate projector, amplifi er, TV and AC– now that is real comfort.Security & surveillance

As someone rightly said - it’s not security, its peace of mind. Security for a home is crucial, and the regular lock and key doesn’t work anymore. Switching ON a light when someone gets near your door is one of the simplest ways to scare burglars. With a sur-veillance system, you can keep an eye on your home even when you are away. With high technology solutions like automated door locks, motion sensors, alarm panels, CCTV cameras, solar fencing, etc. one can be assured of the safety of loved ones and property.

Energy effi ciency & savingEnergy is becoming precious day by day and it is everyone’s responsibility to do their bit to preserve it. But, this doesn’t nec-essarily mean that one has to compromise on comfort and convenience. By install-ing an intelligent home automation system you can utilize energy effi ciently, thereby saving energy and money. Automatically switching OFF the air-conditioning when

Smart homes for intelligentliving

-By Ganesh Vudutha

15

New age habitats

no one is in the room or switching OFF all the unused lights and geysers in your home by the click of one button are effective ways of saving energy.

What can be automated?With latest home automation system, it is possible to automate everything that you wish to, well almosteverything. Here is a list of the most com-mon features that are automated and a sneak peek into whatthey can do.

Lighting - On/Off | Dimming | Scene | Timer | Occupancy Sensors | … Air-conditioning - On/Off | Temperature Control | Centralized Control | Occupancy Sensors | … .Entertainment – Home Theatre | Amplifi er | Projector | Music | Movies | Photos… Security - Automated Door Locks | Video Door Phones | Smoke Detectors | Motion Sensors | … Surveillance - View | Record | Night Vision | Motion Detection | … Motor - Curtains | Blinds | Projector Screens | Gates | … Sprinkler - Lawns | Garden | Rain Sensors |Timer …

The options to control all the above func-tions are also endless – one can use his smart phone, tablet, laptop or a computer to access and operate home automation systems. Not only that,with a remote ac-cess feature, you can operate the automa-tion system even when you are away from home. With a scheduling set-up you can

put your home on auto-pilot and au-tomate your day-to-day tasks with-out even touching a button. For e.g. – schedule the com-mon areas lights to switch ON au-tomatically in the evening and swi-tchOFF automati-

cally in the morning.

What are the options?There is a general view in society that home automation is expensive, needs special ca-bling and can be installed only in homes under construction. With advancement in technology, there are many options available for the customer and automation can be done at a very af-fordable cost without extra wiring in an al-ready constructed home.There are numerous technologies that can enable you to set up a home automation system. It is essential to choose the right technol-ogy and no technology alone is best suited for all requirements – as in any case, one size doesn’t fi t all. Every home has unique needs and they have to be clearly identi-fi ed and a tailor-made solution is of utmost importance.

What to consider?1. Be a Smart Customer – read about home automation and familiarize yourself with what a home automation system can offer. There is a plethora of information on the

internet and it opens up your mind to the possibilities.2. Get a professional – there are numerous automation options and choosing the right ones can be tough and time consuming. Consult a home automation specialist who can understand your requirements, design a suitable solution and give you options.3. Choose wisely –discuss with a profes-sional on the various automation features and choose what you want to automate. It helps being specifi c and assists the automa-tion provider to design an automation sys-tem that suits you the best.4. Budget - have a budget in mind as there are many options to choose from and you might lose a grip on the expenditure. If you are not sure on how much to spend and what features to automate. Choose an automation system that gives you options to expand and scale as you enjoy it.

Finally…Can you imagine your TV without a re-mote; the same is going to happen with your home and automation system, eventu-ally. With the endless possibilities offered by the foremost automation providers, you can opt for the right system that suits your requirement the best.

Reaping benefi tsFinally, reap the benefi ts – the small, un-foreseen perks of your newly automated smart home – and don’t be afraid to look at the bigger picture, even if you have to work up to it one component at a time. Listed below are some prominent technology op-tions for home automation.

WirelessWorks on radio frequency or infrared technologySuitable for a single room or small installation Simple installation and execution Can be expanded with minimal changes in infrastructure

Structured WiringWorks on special cabling done for home automationCan be installed only in under construction homesPlanning and execution has to be meticulousNot expandable

Power Line CommunicationWorks on the existing electrical wiringCan be installed in under construction and already built homesSimple installation and execution Can be easily expanded

There are many more technical aspects, which are out of scope of this article, that are to be taken into consideration before identifying the right technology.

PROMINENT TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS FOR HOME AUTOMATION

16

Interiors

Emphasis on quality, innovation, style and creativity typify Italian brands, which are still at the fore-

front of the design industry in the world. The Italians have always been known as the masters of design. The words ‘Made in Italy’ are synonymous with elegance, style, superior craftsmanship, top-quality materials, and an impressive design legacy that stretches back to hundreds of years. With such an emphasis placed on qual-ity and innovation, there is little wonder that Italian products have been so whole-heartedly embraced by the Indian interior industry. Despite coming with a higher price tag, Italian brands have carved out a strong foothold in the high-end inte-riors sector, as consumers in India have welcomed the sense of exclusivity and luxuriousness deemed inherent in an Ital-ian-designed product. Says a prominent designer: “Italians have been designing for thousands of years; they understand the

genesis of design have more imagination, are rooted in culture, and are better media-tors. They are bold andare clearly the leaders when it comes to modern-day design ethics. They under-stand the market and what people are craving. They stay true to their beliefs and know how to create beautiful, aspirational products -– from fastcars, furniture, fashion and food.”

QUESTION OF QUALITYItalian design mainly targets the elite, design-oriented consumer. Products of Italian design have been created by top-class Italian designers such as Antonio Cittero, Claudio Silverstrin and Piero Lis-soni. The popularity of Italian products is down to a combination of unquestionable quality and artistic heritage. Italian design is known for being a little more expensive, but then you are buying original pieces that are crafted by very talented people.

Italy has always been synonymous with fi ne architecture and design since the middle ages.

THE CULTURE OF DESIGNIn terms of the latest trends coming out of Italy, it is the simplicity of design, innova-tion and enhanced interpretation of space that stand out. Italians have introduced some very interesting additions to collec-tions that includes the workplace, offi ce, home and furniture. However, the greatest challenge facing Italian companies, which pride themselves on producing quality pieces of art or furniture, is the issue of replicas. Several Italian fi rms produce original, handmade designs, but the threat, in this digital age, comes from imitation. In an age where mass production is the norm there is hardly any respect for true creativ-ity and a perfect design sensibility.

Mama mia, `tis Italy all the wayA bedroom for teens with Italian design elements.

Mama mia, `tis Italy all the way

17

MAR

KET

RATE

SLocality Price (Rs/Sq.Ft.)

Attapur 2800-3100A S Rao Nagar 3000-3200Barkatpura 4500-4800Bachupally 1500-2100Bandlaguda 2000-2200Banjara Hills 5800-7000Bollaram 2000-2200Chintal 1800-2000Domalguda 3500-4500East Marredpally 4200-5000Erragadda 3000-3800Gachibowli 3500-4500Hi-Tech City/Madhapur 3500-4500

Habshiguda 3000-3500Hyderguda 3000-3500Hasmathpet 2300-2800Hydernagar 2500-2800Jeedimetla 1800-2100Jamai Osmania 2300-2500Jubilee Hills 6800-7800JNTU Road/Kukatpally 3000-3800Kondapur 2500-3800Lingampalli 2000-3400L B Nagar 2500-2800Marredpally (Secunderabad) 3400-4300Mehdipatnam 3000-4200Nampally 2800-3900

Property Rates

18

Life skills

by Carolann Philips

With all the recent talk of reces-sion and depression, successful job interviews have become

more important than ever before! A job interview is a conversation which occurs between a potential employer and a job applicant. The applicant is trying to prove that he is the best candidate for the posi-tion, while the organisation’s representa-tive is not only evaluating the applicant but is also hoping to present a terrifi c workplace. Proper etiquette, therefore, plays an extremely important role for both the candidate and employer in helping them to achieve their goals.For candidates, the ground rule is to be well groomed and punctual. This means practicing good hygiene, dressing appro-priately, and arriving fi ve to ten minutes ahead of the appointed time. Arriving earlier than that may inconvenience the interviewers and arriving after that is considered late! Turn off the cell phone and never takealong an uninvited guest such as a spouse, friend or child. The interview starts and ends with the receptionist. So be courte-ous and fi ll out any paperwork graciously. Follow the interviewer’s lead. Smile when greeted and wait to be told to take a seat. Then say, ‘Thank you’. Be pleasant and confi dent when responding to all interview questions. The key to being confi dent is to prepare. Before the interview, evaluate your assets and features, consider which of them will be most benefi cial to the po-tential employer, anticipate questions and research the company. If asked to say something about yourself, remember the interviewer is not interested in you personallyat this time. Tell the interviewer who you are professionally, cite the results of three or four most signifi cant accomplishments and then ask which of them would he or she wish to know more about. Sit with a good posture; maintain eye contact

and give the interviewer full attention. Do not place a handbag or folder on the interviewer’s table. Rather, place it on the fl oor or in your lap. It is acceptable to ask questions on important matters such as job duties but wait until the interviewer asks if you have any. Thank the interviewer and do not forget to greet the receptionist on your way out. Send a thank you letter or e-mail the next day.For interviewers, job interview etiquette consists of respecting the candidate’s time and energy. Unemployment disrupts a person’s sense of stability and for those people whose work is a source of personal pride and value, losing a job and having to look for another can be disorienting. Begin the interview on time and try to put the candidate at ease instead of testing how well he or she can handle the pressure of an interview. Let the applicant know how long the process will take and the steps that will be involved. Be familiar with the candidate’s resume and during the interview show you know a little about his or her background. This indicates that the resume was given true consideration. Do not take calls, answer e-mails, or allow subordinates

to interrupt the interview unless it is an emergency. Listen attentively and probe or comment on the candidate’s statements rather than plow through a pre determined set of questions. When the interview draws to a close, thank the applicant and convey the approximate date of the hiring decision and the way in which it will be communicated. If an applicant is quali-fi ed enough to warrant an interview, he or she is worthy of a call once a decision has been made, even if not chosen for the position.For both interviewer and interviewee, suc-cessful interviewing likedriving requires practice. The more the practice, the better one gets!

Good interviewing requires practice

(Carolann Philips is a certifi ed etiquette and protocol consultant and behavioural

skills coach. She is the managing director of Hallmark Events, a

company that focuses on designing and de-

veloping programmes with emphasis on

organizational be-haviour and thinking,

based in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.)

Patience and understanding are of great importance.

19

Leisure

20

Events

M e a n i n g f u l d e l i b e r a t i o n s

New member O.P.Ramachandra Reddy of Obili Infrastructure being welcomed to the meeting.

Former APREDA president Mr Murali Mohan presenting a memento to Mr S.Viswanath, Director Planning, HMDA, at

the monthly meeting held on February 28.

APREDA president P.Prem Kumar greeting Anish Kedia of Emami Realty at the meeting.

Mr Prem Kumar presenting a boquet to Mr Bimal Kumar Kedia of Theme Ambience. Looking on is Mr Bhawarlal

Jain, executive vice-president of APREDA.

21

A P R E D A f u l f i l s c o m m i t m e n t

CSR

The houses for fl ood-affected people, which have come up with fi nancial aid from APREDA, at Peddakothiliki village in Kurnool district.

The dwellings for fl ood-affected people, which have come up with fi nancial aid from APREDA, at Vasunagar in Mahabubnagar district.

22

Civic affairs

Do you where Hyderabad stands in the list of cities that generate maximum quantity of municipal

solid waste (MSW)? Fifth, says a survey undertaken by Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council, Columbia Uni-versity, this year. This fi nding need not be taken from a negative perspective. For, it is also true that this waste could be put to commercial use through the generation of power. As per the survey, Hyderabad gen-erated 5,154 tonnes per day of MSW, after Kolkata (12,060 TPD), Mumbai (11,645 TPD), Delhi (11,558 TPD) and Chennai (6,404 TPD). Gangktok has the least MSW generation at 19 TPD. Years ago, it was recognised that MSW could be put to use through different technology adoptions. Biomethanation, gasifi cation, pyrolysis,

plasma gasifi cation, refuse derived fuel (RDF), waste-to-energy combustion and sanitary landfi lls are some of the ways that this waste could be made commercial use of. First, a nation-wide picture of MSW trends. The per capita waste generation rate in In-dia, according to a different study recently, was shown to have increased from 0.44 kg/day in 2011 to 0.5 kg/day in 2011, fuelled by changing lifestyles and the increased purchasing power of urban Indians. Urban population growth and increase in per cap-ita waste generation have resulted in a 50 per cent increase in the waste generated by Indian cities within a decade since 2001.There are today 53 cities in India with a million plus population, which together generate 86,000 TPD of MSW (or 3.15 mil-

lion tonnes per year) at a per capita waste generation rate of 500 grams/day. The total MSW generated in the whole of urban In-dia is estimated at 68.8 million tonnes per day or 188,500 TPD.Improper waste managementBig cities collect about 70-90 per cent of MSW generated, whereas smaller cities and towns collect less than 50 per cent. More than 91 per cent of the MSW col-lected formally is landfi lled on open lands and dumps. It is estimated that about two per cent of the uncollected waste is burnt openly on streets. About 10 per cent of the collected MSW is openly burnt or is caught in landfi ll fi res. For instance, such open burning of MSW and landfi ll fi res together releases 22,000 tonnes of pollutants into the lower atmosphere of Mumbai city ev-

Creating wealth from waste

Creating wealth from waste

The huge amount of waste generated by cities could be a challenge as well as an opportunity for administra-tors.

23

Civic affairs

Andhra Pradesh has proposed an Agribusiness zone, which could attract Rs 67,000 crore in investments and generate a lot of jobs too. First it was information technology and then came petroleum products. Now Andhra Pradesh is weighing the benefi ts of pro-moting an Agribusiness Investment Region, involving major agri clusters in three of its regions. The proposed project in Andhra Pradesh, to be taken up in pub-lic private partnership (PPP) mode, involves setting up integrated infrastructure for rural business and entrepreneurial development. After a favourable response from the Union Agriculture Ministry for the proposal, a team of corporate houses under the leadership of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Indus-try earlier this month made a detailed presentation to the Andhra Pradesh government. Agriculture Minister Kanna Laxminarayana responded favourably to the proposed ABIR project but said a fi nal decision would be taken after eliciting the views of all the stake-holders. Viewing that the AIBR could be developed on the lines of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, the Minister felt the need to rope in countries such as Israel, Netherlands and the US to part-ner and bring in investments and technologies. He said a delega-tion would be sent soon to these agriculturally superior nations to forge alliances. S. Balaji, managing director of Lepakshi Knowl-edge Hub, which proposes to set up an agri logistics food park near Anantapur in an area of over 10,000 acres, said the ABIR project involves setting up 270 integrated agro food parks, livestock parks, agro logistic parks, rural transformation centres and community development parks through a cluster approach. The project, which is expected to attract sizeable funding from global development agencies, will have three clusters in the three geopolitical regions of the State -- Telangana, Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema -- promising employment to 50,000 people directly and 4.5 lakh indirectly.

ery year.But these wastes can generate power. In the past, several attempts to recover energy from these wastes have had failures. For example, ten aerobic compositing projects in 1970s, a large scale biomethanation project and two RDF projects in 2003 have also failed. The large scale bio-methanation plant in Lucknow failed to generate six MW of power due to the absence of source sepa-rated organic waste stream. But anaerobic digestion of MSW has been successful on smaller scales, including in Hyderabad,

especially for vegetable and meat mar-kets, restaurants and hotels. For example, 20,000 household biogas units installed by Biotech, a private fi rm from Thuruvan-thapuram, could save $ 4.5 million (or rs 225 million) for the city.Today there are 80 Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) plants in India, treating mixed MSW and most of these are located in Maharashtra (19), Himachal Pradesh (11), Chattisgarh (nine) and Orissa (sev-en). Now more than 26 new MBT plants are proposed in different cities and towns across India.

The Refused Derived Fuel (RDF) technol-ogy has had some success. And here Hy-derabad and Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh have made signifi cant contributions. A new facility is nearing construction in the Okhla landfi ll site and is about to begin operations. This is designed to generate 16 MW of electricity by combusting 1350 TPD of MSW. Thus, generation of MSW, though should be checked, but could be taken on a positive platter as these are the newer tech-nologies that can re-use them to generate fuels and electricity.

Agribiz next big thing for AP

A modern greenhouse in one of the agri clusters.

24

Strategy

Branding has come to occupy a key role in the realm of realty today,

given the wide scope it offers in the areas of marketing, merchandising, the hyper-driven world of advertising and promo-tion. Nothing, literally, has escaped the phenomenon of ‘branding.’ This extends from products to services, to manufactur-ers and service providers. The real estate sector is no exception. In fact, the whole question of how important builders’ brand names are on the property market should be examined in greater detail.Given his wide experience in real estate marketing, APREDA vice-president Mr Chalapathi Rao Rayudu was invited to a national seminar on “Branding in real estate” conducted by the University of Hyderabad on February 23-24 where he gave a presentation. Taking forward the dialogue on this crucial topic Mr Rao spoke on the whole gamut of branding and elucidated how, for practical purposes, a branded builder is one whose projects sell well on the basis of reliable construction, imaginative designs, and provision of desirable amenities, good project locations and above all credibility. The creation of a credible brand image requires positive feedback from existing customers and a good market reputation as far as delivering consistent quality and value is concerned. Let us examine why branding has become so crucial today and its various stages.• A branded builder will have invested some time, effort and money in build-ing his brand image, having employed a professional advertising and promotion company for this purpose. Additionally, a branded development company would be affi liated with all relevant industry as-sociations, thereby establishing credibility and a record of accountability.• A builder derives numerous advantages from his brand name and brand image. He is automatically clubbed among reputable professionals in the fi eld, wields greater

clout with fi nanciers and can attach higher rates to his projects. He commands the trust of both his clients and employees.

THE INGREDIENTS OF A REAL ESTATE BRAND• A builder in the process of establishing a brand name will make his presence felt at major real estate events such as property exhibitions, and will regularly offer new projects to buyers at such events. He thus puts his company into the limelight. Such projects will be prominently advertised in leading property-relatedpublications and other periodicals, and also by means of attractive hoardings at strategic and eye-catching locations. With repetitive exposure by such media, a brand name gets fi rmly imprinted in the minds of property buyers.

• A branded developer is aware of hav-ing a reputation to protect and live up to. This is evident in conscientious choice of location, superior amenities and quality of construction• A branded builder is a trend-setter on the property market - in other words, therates he charges in his projects will often decide the rates that other projects ofsimilar confi gurations in the same locality will charge.

THE POTENTIAL DOWNSIDE OF BRANDINGGenerally speaking, brand-building is a valid and benefi cial exercise that profi ts both the builder and his clients. However, it should be noted that fame and prestige carry with them a large burden of respon-sibility towards the interests of numerous

Branding in realty as business strategy

APREDA vice president Mr. Chalapathi Rao Rayudu speaking at the seminar on branding in real estate at HCU.

25

Strategy

STAGES OF BRAND EVOLUTION

Product/project CommoditySpecialisedMulti-specialityNicheUsp Organisation

Starting/learning Growing/family Based Professionalised Corporatised

BRANDING OBJECTIVESAdding Value/higher PriceBuilding ImageMarket PositioningRealtors/channel Partners OrBrand Building Ex;pheonix Differntiating Cognitive Dissonance Giving More To Every Stakeholder.

BRANDING ISSUES Projecting Self Vs Brand Or BothEx; Janapriya Engineers SyndicateVvr HosuingManjeeraLa HariBranding Or Marketing Or Both Project Or CompanyShort/medium/long Term Objectives.

REAL ESTATE BRANDING ELEMENTS

LocationTheme/specialityProduct SpecksAmenitiesServicesPriceGroup Specifi c

BRANDING THEMESProject Vs Company. Project/product BasedEx; Lemon Tree/fresh LivingS And S Green BuildingSaket Senior HousingPragati Retirement Homes.Unitech Sports VillageResort Based

Project Specifi c Ads/ Stalls In Expo

BRANDING THEMESLocation Based

Projecting LocationEx; Aliens Group Giving ProjectReports Pbel Giving Communting Time

BRANDING THEMESPrice Based Affordable PriceEx; Janapriya Prajay Premium SegmentShort Term Sales Oriented/marketingOriented Price Offersextras Offer; Furni-ture, A/c’s, Pre-emi

BRANDING THEMESSecurity Based Safety Of Investment Vs GrowthPotential; Market Hype Ex. Suvarna Bhoomi ProjectsPersons Used In Ads;HonestActorsSocial activists

BRANDING PROPS

Membership In Associations Club Membership Participation In Social Clause Events CSR Acitivites Exhibitions/expos Channel Partners

stakeholders. It is easy for a builder whose name commands respect to grow compla-cent and eventually allow his company’s standards to sink. The annals of real estate history abound with instances in which builders rely too heavily on their brand image, fi nally falling into disre-pute because their projects have become substandard.

Things to rememberA respected brand image is a developer’s most valuable asset. The business of building and selling real estate can be a constant, never-ending struggle against incredible market odds. In the fi nal analy-sis, it is a builder’s name that inspires confi dence and sells his projects. He also establishes his reputation by a long-stand-ing presence on the property market. This matters a lot, because there is a high dropout rate among builders who cannot deliver consistently or are not equal to the fi erce competitiveness of the market.Alongside is the range issues on which Mr Chalapathi Rao presented a slide show with the aid of examples drawn from the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunder-abad and enriched the proceedings of the seminar.

APARNA INFRA BEST BRANDAparna Infra Housing has been rated as the leading and best real estate brand in Hyderabad by the Star Realty 2011-2012, a Planman Group initiative. The distinc-tion for Aparna comes as a recognition for their efforts in setting a benchmark in the industry and also consistently delivering value and satisfaction to customers as well as stakeholders alike. According to a press release, Planman Me-dia in association with the Indian Council for Market Research conducted a survey to list the top 100 brands in the realty sec-tor. The parameters of the survey involved evaluating the overall brand equity of real estate fi rms across the residential as well as commercial segments.

26

Conclave

In the third week of March, Hyderabad zoomed into global focus as the fi ve-day third edition of India Aviation 2012

unspooled at the old Begumpet airport. Not only top aircraft manufacturers and air-lines such as Boeing, Bombardier, Airbus, Pratt & Whitney and Dessault displayed their products and services, but three days of business-to-business (B to B) meetings ended with many deals and agreements being signed. Although it is diffi cult to es-timate the estimate of the agreements that were signed, as these would take some more months, even years, to fructify, the re-sponse has been overwhelming. Some even called it better than the second edition, al-though the aviation sector as a whole has hit an “air pocket.” For Hyderabad, it spells good news in terms of development. Take for instance Connecticut-based engine maker Pratt & Whitney. The company has plans to set up a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul

(MRO) unit, component assembly facility and a training facility in India, for which due diligence is on.In all probability, the MRO facility will be set up either at Hyderabad or Bangalore. And Hyderabad being recognised as In-dia’s aviation hub, the choice for the global MNC could be easy. Only a few days ago, the GMR Group and Malaysian Airlines inaugurated India’s biggest MRO in Hy-derabad, which can service all types ofaircraft. Hyderabad has another advantage — it is a regional hub for many carriers, especially Spice Jet which used the city to connect several tier-II and III cities across India, such as Pune, Ahmedabad,Mangalore, Chennai, Kerala and Bangalore. It also offers the least tax on Aviation Tur-bine Fuel (ATF) at 16 per cent, compared to most other States which charge between 20 and 25 per cent — an added incentive for airlines to zero in on Hyderabad. Large market

Hyderabad turns into aviation hub

The majestic Dreamliner at the India Aviation 2012.

27

Conclave

Today India is the ninth largest civil avia-tion market, with passenger traffi c rising from 73 million to 144 million and cargo throughput from 1.5 million tonnes to 2.3 million tonnes in the last fi ve years. According to Boeing’s current market out-look, the Indian aviation market will re-quire 1,320 commercial jets, valued at $ 150 billion over the next two decades. Mr. Keskar said that Boeing was currently hav-ing an order book of over 100 aircraft from Indian carriers which include 787 Dream-liners for Air India (27) and Jet Airways (10). SpiceJet is the other airline expecting to take delivery of Boeing aircraft. As expected, Boeing’s Dreamliner was the cynosure of all eyes among all the aircraft

on static display. The display of industry-leading aircraft of the Bombardier was a highlight of the third edition of the sum-mit. The Learjet 60XR, Challenger 300 and Global 5000 business jets as well as the Q400 NextGen Turboprop, all in operation in the country, enthralled people. Aircraft manufacturers forecast that 4,000 aircraft in the 20-149 seat category would be delivered to the Asia Pacifi c region (including China) over the next 20 years and this is one main reason why the air-craft manufacturer chose to be here for the event. U.S. Charge d’ Affaires Peter Burleigh inaugurated the U.S. pavilion, which un-veiled some of the biggest names in U.S.

civil aviation, including Boeing, GE Avia-tion, Bell Helicopter, Sessna and Pratt & Whitney. Mr. Burleigh said the participa-tion of the US companies at this showdemonstrated a commitment to partner with India on its goal of modernising and upgrading its airports, improving air traf-fi c fl ow and becoming a regional hub for aviation. Meanwhile, Airbus has signed an agree-ment with CAE Simulator Training for set-ting up a second Indian pilot training centre at Noida, near Delhi. The facility will have a capacity to train up to 5,000 crew members annually. All in all, the event gave a boost to Hyderabad in the chart of global regional development hubs.

As a follow-up of the proposals re-ceived from many States by the Min-

istry of Environment and Forests, Govern-ment of India, the EAC for Building/Construction, Infrastructure and CRZ Projects in September 2011 discussedthe issues related to emergency and evacu-ation requirements for high-risebuildings, their height and distance from fi re stations.The EAC recommended that the height of the building should be linked with the width of the road on which the proposed building is to be locatedand also the distance of the fi re station from the building so that in case of emer-gency, the fi re tender may reach in the shortest possible time.These recommendations of the EAC have been accepted by the competent authori-ties and guidelines stipulated regarding buildings of different heights.1) For buildings more than 15 metres in height all necessary fi re-fi ghting equipment shall be in place before the occupancy of the building.

2) Minimum width of the road (right of way)

Location of Fire Station (Desirable)

Within 05 kmWithin 02 kmWithin 10 minutes Driving distance

Width of road (Minimum)

15 m18 m24 m30 m

Width of road (Desirable)

18 m24 m30 m45 m

Height of building

Between 15 m-30 mBetween 30 m-45 mBetween 45 m-60 mAbove 60 m

Location of fi re station

Height of Building

Between 30 m-45 mBetween 45m-60 mAbove 60 m

Location of Fire Station(Minimum)

Within 10 kmWithin 05 kmWithin 02 km

Guidelines for high-rise buildings

28

Good tidings

The government of Andhra Pradesh has decided to reduce the charge levied

for conversion of agriculture land to non-agricultural purposes from 10 per cent to 5 per cent, which comes as a major relief for realtors in and around Hyderabad (HMDA limits). In other municipal areas in the State, however, the charge will be reduced only by 1 per cent. The government also decided to exempt aquaculture from the conversion charge, treating it on a par with agricultural activity.Revenue Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy introduced a bill amending the AP Agricul-tural Land (conversion for non-agriculture purpose) Act, 2006, to facilitate the reduc-tion of the charge.This development comes as a feather in

the cap of A P R E D A , part icularly Mr P.S.Reddy, former APRE-DA president, who since 2006, single-h a n d e d l y

made all the efforts to get the NALA charges reduced. Expressing immense satisfaction over the development, Mr Reddy said that the relent-less efforts of APREDA had fi nally borne fruit. This step would help the realtor com-munity in a big way, he said. Recounting how he had begun the battle for reduction in NALA charges during ex-Chief Minister

Y.S. Rajaekhara Reddy’s tenure, Mr Reddy said that in spite of several hurdles and ups and downs he did not give up the fi ght and highlighted the travails of realtors due to the high NALA charge, in the right fora.

APREDA members to visit Canton FairSome 22 APREDA members from Hyder-abad and Visakhapatnam will visit the Can-ton Fair to be conducted at Guang Zhou in China between April 13 and April 20. This is the fi rst overseas tour to be organised by APREDA. During the tour, APREDA members will visit the Foshan ceramic market for three days, study the conditions there and subsequently proceed to Macau.

On March 18, Bicyclone, a cycling track on the Necklace Road in Hy-derabad was inaugurated by Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy to promote cycling, make Hyder-abad tourist-friendly, encourage a healthy lifestyle among people and reduce pollution. The initiative is a joint exercise between GHMC and the Hyderabad Bicycling Club (HBC) and the track will be open between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. every day.APREDA has contributed Rs 2.30 lakh to the GHMC for the pur-chase of bicycles for this innova-tive effort. The HBC is planning to keep about 100 bicycles with helmets for use by cycling enthusi-asts at the Necklace Road.

Land conversion fee slashed by 5 per cent

APREDA’s contribution to healthy living

Mr P.S.Reddy

29

Feng Shui

Gong Xi Fa Ca! This is the tradi-tional Chinese New Year greeting that means “wishing you prosper-

ity” in Mandarin. The fi rst day of the Chi-nese New Year was ushered in on January 23. Each year is associated with one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac and 2012 is the year of the dragon. This calen-dar is based on a complex lunisolar calen-dar system that uses both lunar and solar cycles to mark time. As a result, the Chi-nese New Year falls on different dates each year, between January 21 and February 21 of the conventional Gregorian calendar.According to Chinese astrology, people born in the year of the dragon are said to be strong, self-assured, eccentric, intellec-tual, and passionate, among other things. The Chinese have identifi ed 12 animals to express zodiacal time. The choice of these animals is based on a tale from Chinese mythology that has been given several in-terpretations. One version is: The rat was assigned the job of inviting a variety of ani-mals to a banquet to meet the Jade Emper-or, who rules the heaven and the earth. At this special meal the animals would have a chance tobe selected for the zodiac signs.The animals who showed up found a place in the calendar. The cat apparently never found a spot because the rat fooled him into believing that the banquet was one day lat-er; hence since that day the rat and the cat have been enemies for eternity. In China, the dragon symbolises the emperor or the male. It represents power and those born in the Dragon Year are said to wear the horns of destiny.The Chinese also consider the Year of the Dragon to be the best year, as people born under this sign are highly intelligent, lucky, healthy and full of confi dence. They are ex-troverts and have strong willpower. They are not always easy to get on with and can prove dangerous enemies. If you get on their right side, they make forsupportive and helpful friends. The Chi-nese call the Dragons the guardians of wealth and power;certainly a prosperous sign to belong to. However, it’s also a sign most prone to megalomania. 2012 for the Dragon: It promises to be a super year. Dragon years

2012: Yearfor the brave

allow people born under the sign to choose and re-channelise theirexcitement and enthusiasm, making them extremely fearless. The Year of the Dragon marks a new beginning in all ways. Be it a new opportunity at work or a new rela-tionship, the year is fi lled with many pos-

sibilities which the Dragon must make the most of. Also, better-equipped to take a step back and re-evaluate situations, Drag-ons this year will enjoy the fruits of both patience and the spotlight.

Based on your year of birth, fi nd out which sign you belong to

The Dragon: 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012The Snake: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001The Horse: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002The Sheep: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003The Monkey: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004The Rooster: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005The Dog: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006The Pig: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007The Rat: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008The Ox: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009The Tiger: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010The Rabbit: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

30

Good tidings

HUMOUR CORNER

The residential property buyer sentiment in Hyderabad has been upbeat and will continue to trace an upward trajectory, says real estate consultancy fi rm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).The consultancy, in its update, states there has been a gradual increase in residential demand and absorption. “We defi nitely expect an increase in PE (private equity) investments into residential real estate projects in Hyderabad in 2012. Until now, institutional capital fl ows had been slow in Hyderabad when compared to some of the other cities,” the report states.This was mainly due to high valuations in 2007-2008, the global fi nancial crisis in 2008-2009 and the State-level political scenario leading to expressed institutional investment sentiment in 2010-11.The real estate valuations are once again picking up and developers as well as end-users are revving up. The political scenar-io will take a turn for the favourable for

PE investment in 2012-2013.The residential supply is likely to outstrip demand in the foreseeable future, possibly impacting the pricing.The commercial real estate sector in Hy-derabad has reacted very differently from the residential sector over the past few years.Hyderabad saw absorption of 4.4 to 5.0 million square feet year-on-year. This clearly indicates that corporate clients did not let the political scenario upset their expansion plans in Hyderabad. Cognizant and Accenture have expanded their of-fi ce bases over the last two to three years. However, very few new companies have set up their base in Hyderabad over the last couple of years. Notable exceptions would be JP Morgan and Facebook, along with a few others.In 2012, the lack of SEZ supply will re-sult in city absorption being lower than in 2010 and 2011.

Buyer sentiment high in Hyderabad, says JLL

31

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AS A PRE-LAUNCH WE ARE ENROLLING SUBSCIPTIONS FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2012-13 (6 BI-MONTHLY ISSUES)

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email: apredahorizons@gmail.com Web: www.apreda.org

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April 2012Date Day Time (IST)14 Saturday Full day15 Sunday Upto 13.57 pm16 Monday Upto 12.27 pm25 Wednesday After 9.49 am

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AUSPICIOUS DAYS

Auspicious days

32

Heritage

The Charminar is synonymous with Hyderabad as it was the fi rst monu-ment built by Sultan Mohammad

Quli Qutub Shah after founding the city of Hyderabad in 1591. The second building to be built by the monarch was Badshahi Ashoorkhana in 1594 for installing the Alam-e-Mubarak (standard) of Imam Hus-sain. Originally built on 500 acres, the area has shrunk to just about an acre. The beauty of the Badshahi Ashoorkhana is its Persian mosaic known as Kar-e-kashi on the walls. The mosaic is made of China chips of dif-ferent colours and hues. In the 1908 fl oods that devastated Hyderabad, the Ashoorkha-na was damaged as it was fi lled with fl ood water up to 6 feet. Consequently, the mo-saic was damaged and the damaged portion was painted to match the untouched mosaic above 6 feet.There are 8 pillars of wood and 4 pillars of stone in the Ashoorkhana. If one looks carefully at the mosaic, one can detect a door which opens into an alcove used by Sultan Quli Qutub Shah during Mohar-rum. There is a separate entrance by which the Sultan entered the alcove. Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem -- In the name of Allah, Most Benefi cent, Most Merciful -- in the form of an alam can be discerned in the mosaic and can be read from either side.The Ashoorkhana has been declared a pro-tected monument and is the recipient of the INTACH Heritage Award, 2006. Encroach-ers within and outside the monument were evicted in 2009 and 2011, respectively. The Ashoorkhana has a Naqar Khana (where the drums were played), Niyaz Khana (where food was cooked and distributed), Abdar Khana (where water was kept for the faithful), Sarai below the Naqar Khana (where pilgrims from afar could rest) and the Mujawer House (the caretaker’s quar-ters). The Ashoorkhana which had been converted into a Bandi Khana(carriage shed) after Aurangzeb’s conquest of Golkonda in 1687 was renovated in the reign of the second Nizam, Nawab Nizam Ali Khan. The alams donated by the Qu-tub Shahi monarchs were made of gold

Badshahi Ashoorkhana, a link from the past

and encrusted with precious gems. These were taken away by the Mughals never to be seen again. The 125 alams which are brought out during Moharrum are made of panchloha, a blend of gold, silver, copper, bronze and lead.The Badshahi Ashoorkhana has the distinc-tion of housing the biggest alam in India. The alam is that of Hazrat Abbas and has an interesting story behind it. The fi rst Commissioner of Police was Talib-ud-Daula who lived in a deodhi near Khur-sheed Jah’s deodhi. This alam was kept in his house but as he didn’t have children, the alam was installed in the Ashoorkhana after his demise. In 1914, the mesh or jali was erected on the Prime Minister Maha-raja Kishen Prasad’s order on a petition by the then caretaker to prevent pigeons from entering the structure. The last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, restored part of the roof when it collapsed.The drums in the Naqar Khana were played up to a year after the Police Action. They would be beaten fi ve times a day: 8 a.m., 12 noon, 4 p.m., 8 p.m. and 12 midnight as this was the method of keeping time in

the days of yore. Today, the Naqar Khana is dilapidated and stands in urgent need of repair. In the days of the Qutub Shahis, 1,000 oil lamps would be lit on the fi rst day of Moharrum and would steadily increase to 2,000 on the second day and fi nally to 10,000 on the tenth day or Ashura. The lamps would be put out at the time of Majlis on Ashura and the monarch would return to the fort.The footprint of Prophet Moham-mad is another sacred relic here. This and the alam of Imam Hussain are brought out every Thursday. Best seen in all its splen-dour with all the alams on display during Moharrum, the Badshahi Ashoorkhana is a ‘must see’ for participants in the heritage walk that starts from Charminar every Sunday. It is a valuable link from the past con-tinuing to this day.

(Sarah Mathews is a Hyderabad-based freelance journalist) Sarah Mathews

The Persian mosaic known as Kar-e-kashi on the walls.

33

Legal corner

34

Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi Airport world’s third best

The GMR Group-run Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad has been adjudged the third best airport in the world in service quality in the 5-15 million passengers per annum category.The airport has been ranked by the Airports Council International (ACI) ahead of global contenders like Abu Dhabi, Adelaide, Ge-neva, Cape Town, Hamburg and London Luton Airports, GMR said in a statement recently. While in 2010 the airport scored 4.51 points overall, the 2011 score led the Hyderabad airport to 4.57 in the category. Year after year RGIA had consistently raised its standards and has made signifi cant progress since 2009 when the score was 4.44, it said.The airport’s foremost responsibility is to improve facilities for passengers and offer them a convenient and comfortable transit, said Vikram Jaisinghani, Chief Executive Offi cer, GMR Hyder-abad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), the operator of RGIA.

Amazon to double its staff strength in Hyderabad

The city of pearls is all set to emerge as the largest development centre outside of the United States for the worlds largest online retailer --Amazon.com with the e-commerce giant keen on add-ing over 5,000 people to its existing Hyderabad operations over the next three years.Amazon.com,which trooped into Hyderabad in 2005,has already made Hyderabad one of its largest development centres in India with a headcount of nearly 4,000 professionals who are engaged in R&D and tech support operations,a release put out by the state information technology and communications department on Wednesday said.The $48 billion turnover biggie employs 56,000 people globally and presently has an employee base of around 11,000 in India,it is learnt.Of these,the remaining 7,000 are spread across Banga-lore and Chennai.The Seattle based online retailer has leased 1.5 lakh sq ft space over the past couple of weeks in Madhapur and is scouting for another 5 lakh sq ft space over the next two to three years to meet its expansion requirements in the city.This is learnt to have been indicated by a team from Amazon.com led by senior executive John Schoettler to chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy at a meet-ing on Wednesday.State information technology and communications minister Pon-nala Lakshmaiah confi rmed that Amazon.com had big plans for Hyderabad.

News

F R O M T H E N E W S

35

Wonderla to set foot in Hyderabad with water theme park

Buoyed by a growth in revenue between 25 and 30 per cent and with a footfall charting an upward curve on the graph, Wonderla, the brand under which Wonderla Holidays showcases its water theme and amusement park, will soon start work on its venture in Hyderabad with an investment of Rs. 210 crore.

Arun Chittilappilly, Executive Director, said they were all set to roll with the construction work on a 55-acre site beyond the in-ternational airport on the outskirts of the State Capital beginning April. Admitting that their plans were delayed with the general strike for separate Telangana, he said the new project would be Wonderla’s biggest, both in terms of investment and the facilities to be offered.

Elaborating on the company’s choice of Hyderabad for the over Rs. 200-crore investment, he said that year-on-year, footfall in existing amusement parks across the country was on the rise. “We found we had a lot to offer here, a place with an interesting mix of people in the IT, BT, pharma and other sectors from across India who could do with entertainment-with-the-family-kind,” Mr. Arun said.

“As of now, we only have games and relaxation for families from dawn till dusk, but soon we will have overnight stays too. We expect to have at least 60-plus games for the entire family in the Hyderabad park,” he said.

Central nod for MMTS Phase-II for connectivity to RGIA

With the Union Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure approving the Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) Phase-II recently, the much-delayed project has inched closer to execution. Once completed,it will improve connectivity to the Rajiv Gandhi Inter-national Airport in Shamshabad.The MMTS Phase-II project was conceptualised at an estimated cost of Rs 632.68 crore,two-thirds of which will be borne by the State Government and remaining by the Indian Railways.The project is slated for completion during three years of the current Five-Year Plan (2012-17).The Phase-II project has been divided into two stages. In stage 1, estimated at Rs 317 crore, the Falaknuma-International Airport (cost about Rs 85 crore), Tellapur-Patancheru (Rs 32 crore), Secunderabad-Bolarum (Rs 30 crore) and Sanathnagar-Moula Ali

News

P A G E S & S I T E S . . .

36

News

(Rs 170 crore) sections would be taken up.In stage 2, the Moula Ali-Malkajgiri-Sitaphalmandi (Rs 25 crore), Bolarum-Medchal (Rs 74 crore) and Moula Ali-Ghatkesar (Rs 120 crore) would be taken up. Also, passenger amenities at different stations in the city and more rakes (MMTS coaches) were incorporated in the MMTS Phase-II.

Hyderabad’s software hub shines brightly

Madhapur And Gachibowli are among the fastest growing offi ce locations In India, says a leading realty consultancy fi rm survey, adding that this is yet another shot in the arm for Hyderabad’s image as a global IT/ITeS hub. The survey has rated Hyderabad’s suburban market, comprising Madhapur and Gachibowli, at the fourth spot in India among the 15 most fastest growing offi ce locations in the country in terms of growth in rental values.According to the consultancy fi rm, the IT/ITeS sector continues to dominate Hyderabad’s offi ce market, accounting as it does for 78% of total absorption of offi ce space, with Madhapur and Gachibowli alone enjoying the lion’s share of 77% in the total offi ce space absorption.In fact, the October-December 2011 period alone saw some major deals being struck by IT majors such as Google, Deloitte and Xilinx, all of whom mopped up between 90,000 and 95,000 sft space each in Hyderabad’s IT district. Hyderabad is surely one of the locations considered by IT companies when they are either looking at setting up shop in India or expanding their presence, points out Ravi Ahuja, executive director, Cushman & Wakefi eld, India.

IT industry representatives say they are not surprised at the fi nd-ings. Gachibowli and Madhapur are not only among the fastest growing in India but also the only areas in Hyderabad where offi ce rentals are moving up because IT and ITeS companies are on an expansion spree and driving demand, says IT and ITeS As-sociation of AP secretary general Bipin Pendyala.What is boosting demand for IT/ITeS offi ce space in Hyderabad is that while realty is very reasonably priced and competitive as compared to other metros like Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, the city offers better infrastructure than these cities.

Rs.400 crore to beautify Hyderabad for bio-diversity conventionThe Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) plans to spend a whopping Rs.400 crore in the next few months to spruce up the capital for the prestigious international convention on bio-diversity scheduled to be held in October, Mayor Majid Hussain and GHMC Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu announced last week that the State Government has been requested to release Rs. 300 crore for the same while a communication has already been sent to the Centre for a grant of Rs.800 crore to take up roads, drains, greenery, lighting and other amenities to host the meet where delegates from 190 countries are expected to attend.Administrative sanction was also accorded for the money re-quired for the city’s beautifi cation for the bio-diversity meet.

Missile unit at IbrahimpatnamA surface-to-air missile unit is set to come up at a cost of Rs

30,000 crore at Ibrahimpatnam in Ranga Reddy district. The founda-tion stone for the project by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) was laid by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy. The infrastructure for the project, spread over 630 acres of land, will be ready in three years. Initially, an estimated 6,000

F R O M T H E N E W S

37

P A G E S & S I T E S . . .missiles are expected to be produced at the unit which would be equipped to subsequently expand production to keep up with the demand. The Union Minister of State for Defence, M Pallam Raju, said that the project’s budget would be allocated in the 12th and 13th Plans. Project developer BDL’s turnover would jump from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 5,000 crore once production begins at the surface-to-air missile defence project unit at Ibrahimpatnam. The new unit will create 1,000 offi cer-level jobs and Mr Pallam Raju said that manpower from educational institutions should be churned out as per industry requirements to enable the local population benefi t from the project and fi nd employment at the unit. The Chief Minister said that the State Government was working on allocating 6,000 to 7,000 acres of land for various defence projects including three each by BDL and BEL, two for ECIL and one for Midhani. These projects would together gener-ate employment for 10,000 people,he added.

Suchitra Ella is new CII chairpersonMs. Suchitra K. Ella, co-founder & joint managing director of

Bharat Biotech International, has

been elected Chairperson of the

CII, Andhra Pradesh, for 2012-13

at a meeting held on March 13 in

Hyderabad. Ms. Ella was Vice-

Chairman for 2011-12 and was

instrumental in launching several

new services for the benefi t of

members. She was elected to the

CII, Andhra Pradesh State Coun-

cil, for the last six years and also

headed the panel on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). She

is a graduate in economics and pursued her academic interests in

the US in the fi elds of business and marketing. Mr. Ashok Reddy,

President, Global HT and Corporate Affairs, Infotech Enterprises,

has been elected Vice-Chairman of CII, AP, said a press release.

MRO facility opened at RGIAUnion Minister for Civil Aviation Ajit Singh inaugurated the

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd’s 350-crore Mainte-

nance Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Rajiv Gandhi

International Airport (RGIA) recently. According to G M Rao,

Chairman, GMR Group, the Indian aviation industry is set to

emerge as the world’s third largest market by 2020 resulting in

economic prosperity across the country. The MRO facility is like-

ly to employ over 1,000 skilled professionals once it is fully op-

erational. Currently, the facility employs over 350 persons. “We

received approval from the European authorities for the MRO

facility. We are also gearing up to seek an approval from the US

authorities. If we get this, we will be the fi rst MRO in the Asian

region to have both approvals,” said Rao. “MAS GMR AERO

TECHNIC LIMITED” (MGAT), a 100% wholly owned subsid-

iary of “MAS GMR AEROSPACE ENGINEERING CO. LTD.”

(MGAE) is a 50:50 joint venture partnership between Malaysian

Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and GMR Hyderabad Interna-

tional Airport Limited (GHIAL). The Joint Venture was formed

to develop an integrated, best in class third party air frame MRO

facility at the SEZ in RGIA. MGAE has developed this facility

to provide full aircraft base maintenance service infrastructure in

India, and will cater to the maintenance needs of the regional and

global airline customers. MGAT will perform the engineering

& maintenance service operations on narrow body aircraft like

B737 NG, ATR 42/72, and A320 family of aircraft types and on

wide body aircraft like B777 & A330, in this MRO facility. The

state-of-the-art facility includes a wide body hangar (accommo-

dates 2 narrow body aircraft alternatively), a narrow body hangar

with 2 Bays, and a narrow body cum paint hangar. At any point

of time, MGAT can provide maintenance services to 5 aircraft si-

multaneously, with wide and narrow body aircraft confi guration.

These hangars are backed up with the necessary workshops to

handle aircraft maintenance, painting, avionics upgrades, interior

refurbishment, structural repairs, component replacements, etc.

News

38

R E A L E S T A T E O N O F F E RR E A L E S T A T E O N O F F E R

Projects

APURUPA INFRASTRUCTURES PVT LTD Developer : MEGASRI CONSTRUCTIONS LTD.Project Name : Celestial GrandLocation : Road No.1, BanjaraHills, Hyderabad.Property Type : Luxury 3BHK Single and Duplex Apartments.Unit Sizes : 2900 Sqft to 3180 sqft (Single) 5806 Sqft to 6356 Sqft(Duplex)Completion By : June,2012Contact No : 994 994 9439Email-ID : sales@apurupainfra.comWebsite : www.apurupainfra.com

BUILDING BLOCKS PROJECTS PVT LTDProject Name : Grandeur CityDeveloper : Building Blocks Projects Pvt LtdLocation : ShadNagarArea of units : 133 Sq. YardsPrice Range : Rs.1,69,000/-Contact No. : 9849166125, 9700151673Email ID : info@ buildingblocksgroup.comWebsite : www.buildingblocksgroup.com

SRI CHAITANYA HOUSINGProject Name : Bharathi MeadowsDeveloper : Sri Chaitanya HousingLocation : Ghatkesar, Warangal Highway

Layout Approved : ResidentialPrice Range : Rs. 6,24,000/-Plot Size : 240 to 1000 Sq. YardsContact No. : 9248912311, 9652571234Email ID : info@chennamaneniinfra.comWebsite : www.chennamaneniinfra.com

SRI CHAITANYA HOUSINGProject Name : Bharathi MeadowsDeveloper : Sri Chaitanya HousingLocation : Ghatkesar, Warangal HighwayLayout Approved : ResidentialArea of units : 300 Sq. Yards Price Range : Rs.7,80,000/-Contact No. : 9248912311, 9652571234Email ID : info@chennamaneniinfra.com chennamaneni234@gmail.comWebsite : www.chennamaneniinfra.com

CHANAKYA CONSTRUCTIONSProject Name : Chanakya EstatesDeveloper : Chanakya ConstructionsLocation : Timmapur, Near ShamshabadLayout No. : Sy No. 387, 488Area of units : 312 Sq. Yards Price Range : Rs.9,36,000/-Contact No. : 9966019357Email ID : mail@chanakyaventures.comWebsite : www.chanakyaventures.com

EMAMI CONSTRUCTIONS PVT LTDProject Name : Emami Swanlake Developer : Emami Constructions

39

Projects

Private Limited Location : Opp: Metro Shopping Mall, Sangeetnagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad Property Type : Residential ApartmentsNo. of Flats : 570 FLATS Units Type : 2 BHK, 3 AND 3.5 BHKPlot Sizes : Starts From 1133 Sft To 2011 SftContact No : 040-30006000 Mail Id. : sales@emamiswanlake.com10. Web site : www.emamiswanlake.com

EK-OM PROPERTY CONSULTANTProject Name : Om PropertyUnique Features : Close to DLF BuildingDeveloper : Om Property ConsultantLocation : GachibowliArea of units : 585 Sq. YardsPrice Range : Rs.2,04,75,000/-Contact No. : 9866464337Website : www.realestateindia.com

EXCEL VENTURESProject Name : West End Green Villa Project – GB227Developer : Excel VenturesLocation : ICFAI Campus, Gandipet Road, Hitec CityPlot Size : 220 Sq. Yards, 316 Sq. YardsLand Area : 11 Acres Email ID : mail@exclventures.comWebsite : www.exclventures.com

HALLMARK CONSTRUCTIONSProject Name : Hallmark KSN ResidencyLocation : Kondapur

Property Type : 3 BHK ApartmentsRate Per sft : Rs.3500 per sft.Unit Size range : 2300sft – 2800sftCompletion By : Ready for OccupationContact Person : O.V.V.S.Murthy Telephone No. : +91 98490 56529 , 040-23000263 Email : info@hallmarkconstructions. comWeb Site : www.hallmarkconstructions. com

SRI JAGATH SWAPNA REALTORSProject Name : Elight EnclaveDeveloper : Sri Jagath Swapna Realtors Location : Bibi Nagar Layout No. : 24-LO-HMDA2009Area of units : 160 Sq. YardsPrice Range : Rs.4,16,000/-Contact No. : 8008000535

J S R ESTATESProject Name : Sri Sai Lakshmi ResidencyDevelope : J S R EstatesLocation : ShadnagarArea of units : 300 Sq. YardsPrice Range : Rs.7,80,000/-Contact No. : 9849027894, 9949099903Email : info@jsrestates.comCompletion By : www.jsrestates.com

LAHARI HOLIDAY HOMES LIMITEDProject type : HMDA approved independent Luxury Villas.Location : Bhanoor, 8 min. drive from ORR

40

Projects

Unit Sizes : 1500 - 2000 sq. yardsBuilt up Area : 5000 – 7000 Sq. Ft.Present Stage : Under DevelopmentContact Mobile No. : 7799777755 / 7799777766Email ID : info@laharigreenpark.comWebsite : www.laharigreenpark.com www.lahariresorts.com

LAHARI INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITEDProject type : HMDA approved independent PlotsLocation : Shankarpally, 8 min. drive from ORRUnit Sizes : 250 - 400 sq. yardsPresent Stage : Under DevelopmentContact Mobile No. : 7799777755 / 7799777766Email ID : info@laharigreenpark.comWebsite : www.laharigreenpark.com

LAHARI GREEN PARKProject type : HMDA approved independent PlotsLocation : Shankarpally, 8 min. drive from ORRUnit Sizes : 250 - 400 sq. yardsPresent Stage : Under DevelopmentContact Mobile No. : 7799777755 / 7799777766Email ID : info@laharigreenpark.comWebsite : www.laharigreenpark.com

LAHARI GREEN PARKProject type : HMDA Regularized Independent plotsLocation : Bhanoor, 8 min. drive from ORRUnit Sizes : 600 sq. yards onwardsPresent Stage : Under Development

Contact Mobile No. : 7799777755 / 7799777766Email ID : info@laharigreenpark.comWebsite : www.laharigreenpark.com

MAK PROJECTSProject Name : Banyan Tree Retreat, Golf Villa PlotsDeveloper : MAK ProjectsLocation : Srisailam Highway RoadPlot Size : 600 to 200 Sq. YardsContact No. : 9949965611, 23415500Email ID : info@makprojects.comWebsite : www.makprojects.com

MANTRI DEVELOPERS PVT LTDProject Name : Mantri Celestia Unique Features : Located in the midst of fi nancial district and I.T Hub, loads of amenities, walk to work concept.Developer : Mantri Developers Pvt.Ltd Location : Wipro Junction Gachibowli. Layout No : Sy. No 126,127 No. of Units : 1192 Units.Area of units : 850 Sq.ft to 1075 Sq.ft (2 BHK) and 1198 Sq.ft (3 BHK).Price Range : 36.54 Lakhs Onwards (Basic Price) Land Area : 11.25 AcresContact No : Praveen 8008755656, Ramesh 9989500621, Himanshu 9177444769Completion By : Dec-2012 OnwardsWebsite : www.mantri.in

NAMAHA ESTATES

41

Projects

Project Name : Independent Villas Developer : NAMAHA ESTATES Location : Miyapur Area of the Plot : 167 to 266 Sq. yardsBuilt – up Area : 1800 to 2400 sftPrice Range : Rs. 70 to 95 lakhsCompletion by : 18 MonthsContact No : 98483 02929E Mail Id. : namaha1999@rediff.com

PRAGATI GREEN MEADOWS AND RESORTSProject Name : Pragati Green islandsDeveloper : Pragati Green Meadows and ResortsLocation : Chilkuri, Near Chilkuri Balaji templeArea of units : 500 Sq. YardsPrice Range : Rs.20,00,000/-Contact No. : 9848799189Email ID : info@pragatiresorts.com

SWARNADHAARA PROJECTSProject Name : SwarnadhaaraLocation : ThimmapurLayout No. : LP No.10/LO/HMDA/PLG/ SHZ/2010Price Range : 9.27 to 15.2 LakhsPlot Size : 244 to 400 yardsContact No. : 9652276789Email ID : swarnadhaara@gmail.comWebsite : www.swarnadhaara.webs.com

SWAGRUHA RESORTSProject Name : Swagruha Kingdale Location : ShadnagarLayout No. : 365/08/HRO/H2

Price Range : 3.5 to 7 LakhsPlot Size : 200 to 400 Sq. YardsContact No. : 9912946789Website : www.swagruhaestates.com

SRI VENSAI REALTORS PVT LTDProject Name : Sri Vensai Realtors Pvt Ltd Unique Features : Near FAB CityDeveloper : Sri Vensai Realtors Pvt LtdLocation : ManasanapallyLayout Approved : ResidentialArea of units : 300 Sq. YardsContact No. : 04027666648, 27635665Email id : sreevensaiprojects@yahoo.comWebsite : www.sreevensai.com

VVR HOUSING INDIA PVT LTDProject Name : Bachupally ParadiseDeveloper : VVR Housing India Pvt LtdLocation : Bachupally, MiyapurPrice Range : 2 to 6 LakhsPlot Size : 100 to 300 Sq. YardsContact No. : 9394411557, 9866573939Email ID : vvrhousing.co@gmail.com

WEST MOUNT PROJECTSDeveloper : West Mount ProjectsProject : Red Clay Court IILocation : Maheswaram Revenue (V) & GPHMDA : Final Approvaed LayoutSize of Plot : 267 Sq yardsPrice : Rs. 3500/- per Sq yardContact : Dr. T S RaoContact No. : 9848017162Mail id : tsr@westmountprojects.com

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THEME AMBIENCE CONSTRUCTIONS PVT LTDPROJECT 1Project Name : Golf ViewLocation : NanakramgudaProperty Type : 2 BHK & 3 BHK Independent FlatsBuilt-up Area : 1085sft – 2030sftCompletion by : 2012 EndContact Number : 9348521652, 9391050852Email Id : themeambience@gmail.comWeb site : www.themeambience.comPROJECT 2Project Name : Fort ViewLocation : Hydersha Kote, Langar HouseProperty Type : 2 BHK & 3BHK Independent FlatsBuilt-up Area : 960sft – 1480sftContact Number : 9348521652, 9391050852Email Id : themeambience@gmail.comWeb site : www.themeambience.comPROJECT 3Project Name : Lake ViewLocation : Old Bombay Highway Road, TolichowkiProperty Type : 3 BHK Independent VillasUnit Sizes : 278 – 369 Sq. YardsContact Number : 9348521652, 9391050852Email Id : themeambience@gmail.comWeb site :www.themeambience.com

VASATHI HOUSINGProperty Type : Residential ApartmentsLocation : APPA Junction on ORRBedroom : Studio / 1BHK /2BHK / 2BHK+Study / 3BHKArea Range : 507 sft to 1355 sft

Price Starting From : Rs.13.5 Lakhs to Rs.32 LakhsPossession : March 2013Contact : 8008688788 VERTEX HOMES PVT LTDPROJECT 1Project Name : Vertex PrimeLocation : Nizampet Road, KukatpallyProperty Type : 2 & 3 BHK Independent FlatsBuilt-up Area : 1140sft – 1470sftContact Number : 9396844261, 23056090Email Id : info@vertexhomes.comWeb site : www.vertexprime.inPROJECT 2Project Name : Vertex Lake ViewLocation : Nizampet Road, KukatpallyProperty Type : 4 BHK Independent VillasUnit Sizes : 230 – 383 Sq. YardsContact Number : 23050942, 23056090Email Id : info@vertexhomes.comWeb site : www.vertexhomes.comPROJECT 3Project Name : Vertex Sadguru KrupaLocation : Nizampet Road, KukatpallyProperty Type : 3 BHK Independent FlatsBuilt-up Area : 1359sft – 1442sftContact Number : 23050942, 23056090Email Id : info@vertexhomes.comWeb site : www.vertexhomes.comPROJECT 4Project Name : Vertex PleasantLocation : Nizampet Road, KukatpallyProperty Type : 2 & 3 BHK Independent FlatsBuilt-up Area : 1008sft – 1499sftContact Number : 23050942, 23056090Email Id : info@vertexhomes.comWeb site : www.vertexhomes.com

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