International consultancy firm eyes Coimbatore

Flourishing manufacturing sector and growing importance of IT provide impetus to real estate sector in city
The Rs 100 crore international consultancy firm Trammel Crow Meghraj Property Consultants Pvt Ltd has great hopes of the potential of Coimbatore as a realty hub.
Focal point
N.Anathanarayanan, its Regional Director, says that for his company, which is a "one-stop-shop for real estate solutions", Coimbatore will be the focal point in the State, next only to Chennai.
The company has ten offices in the whole of the country, including the four metros, and the last one, set up recently, is the one in Coimbatore.
According to him, the flourishing manufacturing sector in Coimbatore region combined with the current focus of the Government on developing it as an IT hub has provided a great impetus to the real estate sector in this tier-two city.
Mr. Ananthanarayanan observes that commercial developments in the city have been mostly catering to banking and industrial sectors.
"There is a sudden change in the overlook since Tamil Nadu Government started promoting Coimbatore as the next IT destination," he said.
He points out that four IT parks with 3.5 lakh sqft area have already been completed here.
Under construction
While three more such parks are under construction with 3.25 lakh sqft area, ten more are proposed with 9.25 lakh sqft area on 357 acres.
Apart from the TIDEL Park planned by the Electronic Corporation of Tamil Nadu close to the Medical College, the KG group has acquired 160 acres near its existing campus on Thudiyalur road (near Saravanampatti) for developing it as ITES and BPO Special Economic Zone.
In addition, the ELCOT has identified 109 acres in the Bharathiar University campus itself for the proposed BU-ELCOT city.
Coimbatore, which has been traditionally playing a major role in trade and commerce of southern India, is now witnessing the construction of two malls (multiplexes) in total with 2.5 lakh sqft area.. Six more malls are expected with 4.2 lakh sqft built-up area on 5.8 acres of land in due course.
Similarly, two major townships — Sahara Township and Metro Corp Monte Visa — are coming up. Besides, more than 20 major residential units, totally with 3,000 apartments, are expected to get completed in the next three years.
Corporates
Mr.Ananthanarayanan says that a number of corporates have been approaching his company wanting to know " right place" and "right size" of the land and building for their proposed unit.
"Their query to us is where should I set up my unit, the size of the unit and find me a place," he says.
With specific reference to Coimbatore, he says the developers are on the lookout for land for residential units. "At times we get exclusive mandate for marketing of the constructed units," he observes.
The company builds up a pool for retail and commercial properties.
He points out that his company usually does a feasibility study including financial modelling. "We are trying to understand the business of the client before suggesting suitable land for his use," he says.
According to him, a number of developers from Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore are looking for land for establishing residential units in this region.
Good potential
Trammel Crow has 10 offices in the country, including the four metros, and the most recent one is in Coimbatore
Developers from Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore are looking for land for establishing residential units

Coimbatore identified as ODI centre

The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has identified Coimbatore as an ideal centre for holding one-day internationals (ODI) outside Chennai in view of the past experience of ODIs held in Chennai having been abandoned due to heavy rains during the North-East monsoon.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the District Secretaries Forum of the TNCA held under the Presidentship of N. Srinivasan, TNCA President here on Sunday.
K.S. Viswanathan, Assistant Secretary of the TNCA told The Hindu that the future tour programmes of the International Cricket Conference (ICC) included Test or ODIs in Chennai during the period from October to December when the North-East monsoon was active in this part of India.
Stadium building
Mr. Viswanathan said that the TNCA would build in Coimbatore a stadium, which would have facilities for spectators, players and the media persons. A press box would be provided. The Coimbatore District Cricket Association (CDCA), which has a 7.5 acre-land, is willing to lend it to the TNCA to construct the stadium.
The meeting also discussed the need for construction of stadiums and improvement of the grounds in the districts. Grounds have been identified for improvement in Tiruchi and Theni.

Information Technology (IT) companies have booked about two lakh square feet for occupation at the Tidel Park here.

Information Technology (IT) companies have booked about two lakh square feet for occupation at the Tidel Park here. The park will have a total built up area of one million sq. ft.
Managing Director of the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) C. Umashankar told The Hindu on Saturday that confirmation was awaited from companies for occupation of more area. "By the time construction works start for the park the entire area will be booked," he says. Most of these would be small and medium-scale enterprises.
Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi laid the foundation for the park here on Saturday. Building works at the park are expected to start in a couple of months and would be completed by November or December 2008. The park is coming up at a total investment of Rs. 300 crore.
Mr. Umashankar said lands would be handed over soon to Wipro and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for their facilities at the IT park here. The park was coming up on 29 acres near the Coimbatore Medical College.
While the Tidel Park, jointly promoted by ELCOT and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation, would occupy 10 acres, Wipro would get 10 acres and TCS five acres.
The final customs notification for Special Economic Zone status for the park was awaited, he said.
ELCOT was waiting to get another 27 acres from the Health Department