Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Hidco Convention Centre

I had a detailed discussion with Mr. Dulal Mukherjee today. We went over the plans for the design of the Convention Centre to be built in New Town. A full presentation will be done by Mr Mukherjee on Friday afternoon at Hidco Bhavan. Here is a preliminary sketch of the plan:
The Hidco Convention Centre Plan
Will have the largest hall in the country
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The gazette notification allowing transfer of Salt Lake residential land on payment of transfer fees of Rs 5 lakhs per kottah was obtained from the press today. The link is at http://www.wburbandev.gov.in/circulars/wb_sc_247.pdf
Times of India brought out this story today:
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Here is a link to another ToI story published yesterday on sustainable urban development: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-24/kolkata/32392992_1_urban-development-smart-cities-sustainable-cities

20 comments:

  1. Sir,

    Are the HIDCO Convention Center and International Convention Center one and the same? Or is it different?

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  2. Thumbs up for the convention centre!!! Finally its taking shape.
    Also smart grids, geothermal buildings and personalized rapid transport are fantastic ideas.
    Beside BRTS and metro, what plans are we having for public transport? Same applies for solid waste management.
    As far as purified water supply is concerned, are we planning anything like de-salinating the sea water and supplying it in the districts of Midnapore, South and North 24 parganas and Kolkata?

    You can take a look how California does the water supply management.
    http://www.water.ca.gov/swp/index.cfm

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  3. NO. This is a completely new Hidco initiative (on 10 acres) and quite different and distinct from the International Convention Centre on 100 acres by a private developer

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  4. That's good news. Hope you tell us where it is coming up? Also, any update on KMOMA ?

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  5. Sir, Many builders are putting the blame on NKDA and HIDCO for delayed possession and Occupancy Certificate of the housing projects in Newtown. Akankha by Bengal Shelter, started in Dec’2004 as one of the maiden AA-II project, committed to give possession in max 3 years, is one such example (delayed by >4.5 years by now – still awaiting OC but builder wants allottees to pay and occupy before occupancy certificate is issued). Akankha might be just one example and there are many more such builders. Is there a process or document on NKDA website that talks about the process for occupancy certificate and apartment registration and how residents interest can be protected? Most of the people want amicable solution instead of a long drawn legal battle or going to consumer forums. It will be great if HIDCO and NKDA come forward as a facilitator with guidelines/process to reduce owners' pain.

    May be, to start with, we need a transparency portal on NKDA website where status of any application of completion certificate/request for connection by housing projects (Water, Drainage, Sewerage, Electricity, Fire Audit etc.) can be found so that residents know where it is stuck (what is pending from Builder) instead of misleading information from builders passing the buck.

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    1. Very good question!!!
      If I am not mistaken a friend of mine who's a future resident of Uniworld Kol is going through the same situation without OC, the family has been given the possession so that they can start paying the maintenance. Even though it's still not livable according to government housing rules/reg. No idea how it can happen. Answer to your question will be a great help for others. Thanks

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    2. Very true Mr Avick Bengal DCL Mallika-Malancha is exactly in similar situation and Bengal DCL in March 2012 tried to give possession without water,electricity and with a under construction building in common premises and without Completion Certificate.Thanks to Mr Debasis Sen Chairman NKDA and Mr Gopal Ghose CEO NKDA that Bengal DCL has to withdraw its possession notice.
      Actually with possession rides remaining 5% of flat value club charges(even though club is not ready) maintenance corpus and 3yrs maint charges (around 6 lakhs), so these builders are only interested to take that sum and possession also means maintenance of the premises has started.
      I would like to request sir Mr Debasis Sen to have a transparency portal sort of thing as suggested by Mr Avick in "NKDA website where status of any application for completion certificate/request for connection by big housing projects (Water, Drainage, Sewerage, Electricity, Fire Audit etc.) can be found so that residents know where it is stuck (what is pending from Builder) instead of misleading information from builders passing the buck".
      Thanks Debasis Sir, for all your efforts and actions for trying to make New Town one of the model towns in India.

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    3. Gentlemen,

      One update. I tried NKDA grievance portal for the first time and received response within 24 hours (really nice) saying: "N.O.C from fire and N.O.C from Directorate of Electricity have not been submitted by the developer from which C.C has not been issued. Thanking You New Town Kolkata Development Authority".

      Not sure how builders are giving possessions without these basic things (many people are staying there) and who will be responsible if something happens to the residents. In fact, initially it was at the request of the allottee, but now builders are insisting to pay-up and take possession so that they can charge maintenance fee. Yes, they are incurring cost of maintenance, but if they fix issues to get the NOCs, I guess they can provide official possessions which is safer and clearer.

      Regards,
      Avick

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    4. BTW, someone reminded me that most of the builders promised compensation for possession getting delayed more than 3 years and it is now >7 years for many but they denied compensation invoking force majeure clause (beyond their control) putting the blame on govt authorities (HIDCO) for basic infrastructure. But, if the records of their periodic construction status is checked, it will be clear that delay was from their end as well. So maintenance cost they are incurring is really small compared to what they should have paid to the allotees as compensation.

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    5. Very true Mr Avick,Nicky and Srinibas !! Kudos to you for educating us regarding virtue of Mr Debasis Sen's blog.I am shocked to find Uniworld and Akankha also have same unfair practice seen in bengal dcl project.

      Force majeure clause (beyond their control) is haunting bengal-dcl project since last oct 2011 when mohua and madhabi block (around 200 flats) were coerced to take possession ... NKDA remained unware as residents did not have access to "transparency portal" ... Thanks to mallika block's active residents who came forwarded in an united way and brought to the notice of NKDA ... I hope NKDA will publish the status in the "tranparency portal" the actual status so that we were not again taken for a ride second time...

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    6. Gr8 2 see NKDA's quick action.....They have posted status of notices to get completion certificate by all applicants in its portal:
      http://www.nkdamar.org/Pages/OccupancyCommitmentCertificate.aspx?Id=1

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  6. Thanks for the initiative Mr. Sen.
    But Sir, please please be open to other architects as well. I know Dulal Mukherjee has a tremendous track record and credibility, but we need modern and future thinkers.....if possible keep the designing open and throw for competitive bid. Then it will be so much easier to pick the best.
    Thanks again and good luck

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  7. Just for the record, the following projects have been / are being done through open competitions / EOIs: (i) Market in AA-IB (ii) Market in AA-IA (iii) Nazrul Bhavan in AA-IA (iv) Bhagat Singh Bhavan in AA-II (v) NKDA Building in AA-I (vi) Digha Gate (vi) New Digha Gate (vii) State Govt Office Complex, Salt Lake (viii) Special Renovation of Guest House of UD, Salt Lake

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  8. Sir,
    This is with respect to the allowing of Salt Lake residential land transfer legal. This is definitely a very realistic step taken and will be benefical to our Government/Municipality that will have more more funds for development. Until now they were unfortunately losing on revenue (owing to the unauthorized transfer of land). Also, most importantly, it will go good to the exising land holders in Salt Lake who may like to dispose of the land they hold. I am sure that this will help in utilization of land that is vacant also which is good for existing residents since there are a number of issues faced by residents who have vacant plots beside their houses.
    I take this opportunity to seek your views on the implementation of the permission to build another floor on the existing independent houses in Salt Lake. We know that the same was cleared by the Government but the Bidhannagar Municipality has stalled it citing possible capacity issues of the civic infrastructure. The requirement of additional floor is a much older demand and this would do good to residents who wish to continue staying in Salt Lake. It may be mentioned that additional floor would mainly help existing residents who are short of space. I am sure that very few would actually want to build a floor by spending another Rs. 10 Lakh at least and give it on rent. Additional floor for the exising family primarily. The same families are staying in Salt Lake itself and using the same civic infrastructure. I work in Sector V and here I find that the FAR has been relaxed to meet the need of the growing industry. I think this is a very progressive step taken by the Government. Yes, there are some road space issues in Sector V but I am sure with our able administrators we will find a work-around. For Sector V, the move has definitely beneficial to all.
    Though the regularization of land transfer for Salt Lake and the relaxation of FAR for Sector V have a commercial and economic basis, the demand for another floor for dwelling units on single household land in Salt Lake is actually more of a social and human need. They may be a few who may gain commercially by building another floor and giving on rent, but for the majority of the residents who desperately need more space, it will be a boon. Space for residence is a human need. With families residing in Salt Lake growing the residents need more space in their houses so that they continue to stay together with their near and dear ones. We are sure that given the way Salt Lake has been built, capacity will not be an issue.
    Sir, would be grateful to have your views on this. I understand that you too are a Salt Lake resident.

    Regards,

    Syed Tanvir Hussain
    HB-272, Sector-3, Salt Lake.

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  9. @Hussain: This matter is dealt with by the Municipal Affairs Department and not us.

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  10. Hello Debashis Sir,

    We bought plot at Olive Gardens promoted by Canopy. Please let us know what is the future of the project ? Thanks for your help,

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  11. Hallo Sir, There are loads of confusion regarding the sanctioning authority for the building below 15 meters in panchyat area.Panchyat / zilla parishad / NKDA or whom ?. Is there any authority / portal which has clear cut information on this issue.

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    1. Below 15 m, building rules in rural areas are guided by the acts and rules of the Panchayat Department.

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  12. Hello Mr. Sen,
    I am planning to buy a plot in Jatragachi. The plot is not under HIDCO action area near Lemon building that houses Harley Davidson showroom.
    It is RS plot No. 1014 Mouza Jatragachi PS Rajarhat.
    Kindly guide me how to ascertain that plot is not a Government/ HIDCO acquired land and that in future I can make a house on that plot after appropriate approval from HIDCO/NKDA/ Gram Panchayat. Do I require to obtain a HIDCO NOC before buying that plot.

    Thanks for your advise in advance.

    Regards,
    Gaurav Gandhi
    9903999909

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  13. I think, this is really very well information given about Landlord can get tenant evicted to start own business. Thanks for providing this information in front of me.
    2 BHK Flats for Sale in Nagar Bazar Kolkata

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