Hyderabad: The new international airport in the city is almost ready and the first trial run will take place on Tuesday. The first flight is scheduled to land at 4 pm, at the airport that is being touted as a traveler's paradise.
The Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad which has been open since the days of Nizam's rule will soon be consigned to history. The city is getting a new, modern replacement — the 2500 crore Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
The airport will be equipped with the following.
A 70 meter high Air Traffic Control tower.
4,260-metre-long runway— India's longest, and capable of handling the world's largest aircraft—the Airbus A380.
4,260-metre taxiway for emergency takeoffs.
A seven-storey passenger terminal.
42 parking bays.
60 check-in counters.
An airport village.
A business hotel with 308 rooms.
And many shopping outlets.
In its initial phase, the airport will be capable of handling over one crore passengers and more than one lakh tonnes of cargo a year. And once the airport is completed, it will handle over four crore passengers and ten lakh tonnes of cargo a year.
The new airport will be commercially operational from March 16, and the first trial run of a passenger aircraft will take place on Tuesday.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
TCS launches Synergy Park in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: The slowdown in the U.S. economy has to be watched while concentrating on core competencies. This was revealed by S. Ramadorai, CEO, TCS, during a press conference in connection with the launch of the company’s Synergy Park here on Monday, the second Global Delivery Centre (GDC) and the largest facility of TCS in the city.
S. Mahalingam, CFO, however, maintained that there was no slowdown in decision-making. Mr. Ramadorai said there was definitely a problem in the U.S. in terms of its economy and one had to wait and see while concentrating on core competencies.
Stating that TCS was on a growth mode, the CEO said the company made recruitment offers for about 22,000 people for 2008-09 and had not made any reduction in campus recruitments. He described as “untrue” the reports that 500 employees were asked to leave. Media “bunched it up” with regard to what had happened over a period of 11 months based on their performance. When compared with the employees base of 1.08 lakh the figure was “insignificant”.
Stressing the need to focus on organic growth, he said the acquisition of an asset would not be based on rupee-dollar parity but on the value it can create for the company. He said the salaries in the IT sector would stabilise in future, depending on the capabilities of the employees and how much of that would translate into real growth.
He said TCS was in favour of continuing the Software Technology Parks of India scheme.
Built over an area of 50 acres, the Rs. 750-crore Synergy Park has a potential for 8,000 people. While the first phase, established at a cost of Rs. 250-crore, became operational on Monday, construction of the next phase would begin in April this year. The Park is an approved special economic zone (SEZ) and will serve global TCS customers in various segments with focus on technology areas such as enterprise solutions and IT services.
Mr. Ramadorai described Andhra Pradesh as one of the preferred destinations with Nasscom rating Hyderabad as number one among super nine IT destinations.
S. Mahalingam, CFO, however, maintained that there was no slowdown in decision-making. Mr. Ramadorai said there was definitely a problem in the U.S. in terms of its economy and one had to wait and see while concentrating on core competencies.
Stating that TCS was on a growth mode, the CEO said the company made recruitment offers for about 22,000 people for 2008-09 and had not made any reduction in campus recruitments. He described as “untrue” the reports that 500 employees were asked to leave. Media “bunched it up” with regard to what had happened over a period of 11 months based on their performance. When compared with the employees base of 1.08 lakh the figure was “insignificant”.
Stressing the need to focus on organic growth, he said the acquisition of an asset would not be based on rupee-dollar parity but on the value it can create for the company. He said the salaries in the IT sector would stabilise in future, depending on the capabilities of the employees and how much of that would translate into real growth.
He said TCS was in favour of continuing the Software Technology Parks of India scheme.
Built over an area of 50 acres, the Rs. 750-crore Synergy Park has a potential for 8,000 people. While the first phase, established at a cost of Rs. 250-crore, became operational on Monday, construction of the next phase would begin in April this year. The Park is an approved special economic zone (SEZ) and will serve global TCS customers in various segments with focus on technology areas such as enterprise solutions and IT services.
Mr. Ramadorai described Andhra Pradesh as one of the preferred destinations with Nasscom rating Hyderabad as number one among super nine IT destinations.
Wine and dance bash in Hyderabad
Srikala Reddy (TOI Photo)
The couple's bash, at an upmarket lounge was packed with Tollywood stars and well heeled party hoppers. Gunny Raju and Amit Sanghi were among the first to arrive.
The party that went on till four in the morning saw actors Ravi Teja, Ali, Allari Naresh and popular director VV Vinayak sharing a drink. Friends Massi Khan and Krishna Bhupal hung out together.
The Jetwanis Kunal and Nitin and Shivali (hard to miss in that electric blue top she sported) were all here. Hear the pretty gal that Srikala Reddy walked in with is Amulya. And seen engrossed in conversation with the bride-to-be was Priyanka Saincher. Others here were Laila, Anith Reddy and Revant, Venkat Rao and Sunil Reddy.
OVERHEARD: "Bisket has aah-mazing networking skills
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Did Pak cricketer Shoaib marry Hyderabad girl?
HYDERABAD: The Hyderabadi connection has come to haunt Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik. Days after he denied that he ever married a city girl, Ayesha, her father has said the wedding indeed took place, and that he has enough evidence to prosecute the cricketer.
Speaking to TOI on Friday, Mohammed Ahmed Siddiqui, Ayesha's father and a retired employee of Saudi Airlines in Jeddah, charged that Malik has abandoned his daughter after marrying her legally and should be punished for this. "There should be a fatwa against him. My demand to him is to accept the marriage and divorce my daughter. She does not want to go back to a cheater like him. And we want our life back," Siddiqui said.
According to the father, Ayesha has been in a state of shock ever since Malik "disowned" the wedding a few days ago. "Malik had insisted the wedding be kept secret. After the wedding, he had visited my Banjara Hills house and stayed with my daughter on more than 10 occasions. The couple had also spent their honeymoon at Taj Krishna. And the feast that I threw for the Pakistani team when they came to Hyderabad was in fact a wedding reception," Siddiqui said.
Ayesha had met Shoaib during a cricket match in Dubai in 2002 where she was working as the vice-principal of an international school. "It was Shoaib who called me up over phone and asked for my daughter's hand. Although I had objections to my daughter marrying a Pakistani boy, I agreed because both of them were keen," Siddiqui said. After two months of courtship, the couple married on June 3, 2002, over phone, with witnesses from both sides as per the Muslim law.
Siddiqui claimed that not only did the marriage take place, but that it was also consummated. "I have the nikahnama (marriage certificate) issued by a Qazi in Sialkot (Pakistan). The 'vidayee' also took place later," he said.
According to sources, Ayesha had met Malik outside India as well. But it's unclear as to why Siddiqui kept both the marriage and the consummation under wraps for six long years. The marriage reportedly broke off because Malik constantly complained about Ayesha's obesity. Malik would often ask her to reduce her weight and even made her undergo a lyposuction, the father said. According to a source, Ayesha had always been obese and that in media interviews after the 'secret' wedding, had stated she would take measures steps to reduce her weight.
The father also blamed some of Malik's cricketer mates for the breakdown of the marriage. "I believe that several of his friends persuaded him to break the wedding," Siddiqui said, but refused to name anyone. Meanwhile, Ayesha is unwilling to give her side of the story and has moved out of the Siddiqui residence and is staying with a 'doctor' friend.
from times
Speaking to TOI on Friday, Mohammed Ahmed Siddiqui, Ayesha's father and a retired employee of Saudi Airlines in Jeddah, charged that Malik has abandoned his daughter after marrying her legally and should be punished for this. "There should be a fatwa against him. My demand to him is to accept the marriage and divorce my daughter. She does not want to go back to a cheater like him. And we want our life back," Siddiqui said.
According to the father, Ayesha has been in a state of shock ever since Malik "disowned" the wedding a few days ago. "Malik had insisted the wedding be kept secret. After the wedding, he had visited my Banjara Hills house and stayed with my daughter on more than 10 occasions. The couple had also spent their honeymoon at Taj Krishna. And the feast that I threw for the Pakistani team when they came to Hyderabad was in fact a wedding reception," Siddiqui said.
Ayesha had met Shoaib during a cricket match in Dubai in 2002 where she was working as the vice-principal of an international school. "It was Shoaib who called me up over phone and asked for my daughter's hand. Although I had objections to my daughter marrying a Pakistani boy, I agreed because both of them were keen," Siddiqui said. After two months of courtship, the couple married on June 3, 2002, over phone, with witnesses from both sides as per the Muslim law.
Siddiqui claimed that not only did the marriage take place, but that it was also consummated. "I have the nikahnama (marriage certificate) issued by a Qazi in Sialkot (Pakistan). The 'vidayee' also took place later," he said.
According to sources, Ayesha had met Malik outside India as well. But it's unclear as to why Siddiqui kept both the marriage and the consummation under wraps for six long years. The marriage reportedly broke off because Malik constantly complained about Ayesha's obesity. Malik would often ask her to reduce her weight and even made her undergo a lyposuction, the father said. According to a source, Ayesha had always been obese and that in media interviews after the 'secret' wedding, had stated she would take measures steps to reduce her weight.
The father also blamed some of Malik's cricketer mates for the breakdown of the marriage. "I believe that several of his friends persuaded him to break the wedding," Siddiqui said, but refused to name anyone. Meanwhile, Ayesha is unwilling to give her side of the story and has moved out of the Siddiqui residence and is staying with a 'doctor' friend.
from times
Google innovators strive to make a difference
Aim to make information available anytime, anywhere
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Global R&D
Google News emerged when an employee of Google wanted all the information available on cricket on the Web from publications all over the world.
The Japanese, with their experience in precision planning, came out with Google Transit, a facilitator of logistics.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
V.Rishi Kumar
Hyderabad, Feb. 3 For Internet search provider Google innovations in non-US markets such as India, Thailand, Japan, Poland, and Brazil are making a difference with its much distributed research-driven workforce.
Unlike the US, which has a largely PC-centric Internet interface and about 20 per cent accessing information on mobile phones, a big chunk of Internet users in the Asia Pacific region are mobile devices-driven.
Speaking to Business Line, the Director of Product Management, Mr Dipchand V. Nishar, based at Mountain View (California), explained how Google foresees the Web-driven services space and how innovators handle this challenging task.
Making access easy
He explained there is a fundamental shift in the way people access information. As opposed to a device-centric nature, be it computers or mobile phones, the accent is on cross platform integration, making access to information seamless and device agnostic, he explained.
Researchers in Taipei, Poland, Brazil, Thailand, India (Bangalore) and Japan are in the thick of development work, making it easy for a user to access information from anywhere, anytime.
Local objectives, global offerings
During a visit to Hyderabad, a day after the announcement of Microsoft’s $44.5-billion bid for Yahoo, Mr Nishar, now touring regional research facilities, said innovations that start with local objectives could become global offerings.
Citing the case of how Google News or Google Finance emerged out of India, and how Google Transit, a facilitator of logistics, came out of Japan, Mr Nishar said it is just that the latter could have been possible only in Japan. No one else could have thought of Google Transit but the Japanese with their precision planning, execution and with an eye on punctuality, he said.
What starts as a local innovation, gets validated for global usage. Google News emerged when an employee of Google wanted all the information available on cricket on the Web from publications all over the world.
When asked what set them apart, Mr Nishar said that employees were encouraged to come up with ideas. Several of the innovations which ended up as products, such as Android for mobile phones, Google News and Google Finance, had come through this way. In the 20 per cent “free time” where they are allowed to do what they want, they get innovative. It is this type of flexi-work environment that helps churn out new products.
Digital convergence
Over 40 per cent of world’s population live in this part of the world. Internet penetration is low and the consumption of the digital media is poised for rapid growth. In fact, patterns in some of the social networking sites such as Orkut showed that social network graphs were emerging. Contrary to general perception that only the youth use it, a good number of users were older, he explained.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Global R&D
Google News emerged when an employee of Google wanted all the information available on cricket on the Web from publications all over the world.
The Japanese, with their experience in precision planning, came out with Google Transit, a facilitator of logistics.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
V.Rishi Kumar
Hyderabad, Feb. 3 For Internet search provider Google innovations in non-US markets such as India, Thailand, Japan, Poland, and Brazil are making a difference with its much distributed research-driven workforce.
Unlike the US, which has a largely PC-centric Internet interface and about 20 per cent accessing information on mobile phones, a big chunk of Internet users in the Asia Pacific region are mobile devices-driven.
Speaking to Business Line, the Director of Product Management, Mr Dipchand V. Nishar, based at Mountain View (California), explained how Google foresees the Web-driven services space and how innovators handle this challenging task.
Making access easy
He explained there is a fundamental shift in the way people access information. As opposed to a device-centric nature, be it computers or mobile phones, the accent is on cross platform integration, making access to information seamless and device agnostic, he explained.
Researchers in Taipei, Poland, Brazil, Thailand, India (Bangalore) and Japan are in the thick of development work, making it easy for a user to access information from anywhere, anytime.
Local objectives, global offerings
During a visit to Hyderabad, a day after the announcement of Microsoft’s $44.5-billion bid for Yahoo, Mr Nishar, now touring regional research facilities, said innovations that start with local objectives could become global offerings.
Citing the case of how Google News or Google Finance emerged out of India, and how Google Transit, a facilitator of logistics, came out of Japan, Mr Nishar said it is just that the latter could have been possible only in Japan. No one else could have thought of Google Transit but the Japanese with their precision planning, execution and with an eye on punctuality, he said.
What starts as a local innovation, gets validated for global usage. Google News emerged when an employee of Google wanted all the information available on cricket on the Web from publications all over the world.
When asked what set them apart, Mr Nishar said that employees were encouraged to come up with ideas. Several of the innovations which ended up as products, such as Android for mobile phones, Google News and Google Finance, had come through this way. In the 20 per cent “free time” where they are allowed to do what they want, they get innovative. It is this type of flexi-work environment that helps churn out new products.
Digital convergence
Over 40 per cent of world’s population live in this part of the world. Internet penetration is low and the consumption of the digital media is poised for rapid growth. In fact, patterns in some of the social networking sites such as Orkut showed that social network graphs were emerging. Contrary to general perception that only the youth use it, a good number of users were older, he explained.
Wipro hosts Utsaah 2008
Hyderabad, Feb. 3 The employees of Wipro Technology (Hyderabad) and their families showcased their talents at Utsaah 2008 — the annual get together. Hundreds of employees jived, danced and grooved to make the evening memorable.
Utsaah 2008 marks the end of a month-long cultural and sports events within Wipro Hyderabad. Employees from various departments participated in the event.
‘Enriching lives’
A group of volunteers from the employees’ community and the senior management conducted sports events and cultural competitions. The finalists from the various competitions performed at the final event on Saturday and prizes were distributed to the winners.
The Location Head, Wipro Technologies (Hyderabad), Mr Krishnamurthy, in a statement said, “At Wipro, we constantly look at various activities by which we can enrich the lives of our employees, ranging from conducting such get-togethers to working on community initiatives. Fostering a healthy work-life balance, events like Utsaah 2008 help the employees relax, while also nurturing their creativity and teamwork.”
Utsaah 2008 marks the end of a month-long cultural and sports events within Wipro Hyderabad. Employees from various departments participated in the event.
‘Enriching lives’
A group of volunteers from the employees’ community and the senior management conducted sports events and cultural competitions. The finalists from the various competitions performed at the final event on Saturday and prizes were distributed to the winners.
The Location Head, Wipro Technologies (Hyderabad), Mr Krishnamurthy, in a statement said, “At Wipro, we constantly look at various activities by which we can enrich the lives of our employees, ranging from conducting such get-togethers to working on community initiatives. Fostering a healthy work-life balance, events like Utsaah 2008 help the employees relax, while also nurturing their creativity and teamwork.”
A ‘desi’ edge to expected Microsoft-Yahoo ‘sangam’
Bangalore: When news broke on Friday of Microsoft’s Godfather-like “offer you can’t refuse” to the shareholders of Internet portal leader Yahoo, there was more than average interest in India’s own Silicon City, which is home to large research and development teams for both U.S.-based technology entities.
Microsoft has the larger presence in India — some 5,000-strong — and the software sultan has two key R&D centres. The one in Bangalore is home to Microsoft Research, a hardcore forward-looking research team, led by P. Anandan, which has strong links with academia. It also houses a separate team that creates and supports most of the Indian language initiatives of MSN — Microsoft Network — the browser and search arm.
However, the larger team of engineers is to be found in Hyderabad, where the Microsoft India Development Centre (MIDC) at Gachibowli, is the company’s biggest product development group outside the United States. Headed by Srini Koppulu, one of Microsoft’s longest serving development executives, the MIDC has been key to the company moving many of its flagship Windows and Office applications to the mobile phone.
Yahoo has just over 1,000 India-based engineers — and since 2007, Stanford University scientist Prabhakar Raghavan, a recognised expert on Web search technology, and global head of Yahoo Research, has been guiding the efforts here. Interestingly, India has bucked the trend and made Yahoo the most popular e-mail tool in the country.
The research group has created a number of local search and Indian language tools even while helping to craft the recent “OneSearch” mobile search tool, launched worldwide. “We just had to tap the great talent here,” Yahoo co-founder David Filo told The Hindu on his last visit to Bangalore in 2007.
“This mega bid is of course an acknowledgement of Microsoft’s failure to monetise its online presence, and of the unshakable dominance of Google,” comments Prasanto K. Roy, doyen of Indian technology editors and Editor-in-Chief, CyberMedia Group Publications, in a communication to The Hindu. He adds: “It is ironic that Microsoft of all companies is talking about the evils of monopoly and one-player dominance, when it says that together with Yahoo, it can offer a credible alternative. The bid is a great thing for Yahoo, for even if it does not take the offer; but chances are that it would, for it will not easily get a better offer.”
If the deal goes through, there will inevitably be some overlaps in the India-end of development activity, but based as it is on much-wanted skills, one need not expect that many engineers will be ‘let go.’
Microsoft has the larger presence in India — some 5,000-strong — and the software sultan has two key R&D centres. The one in Bangalore is home to Microsoft Research, a hardcore forward-looking research team, led by P. Anandan, which has strong links with academia. It also houses a separate team that creates and supports most of the Indian language initiatives of MSN — Microsoft Network — the browser and search arm.
However, the larger team of engineers is to be found in Hyderabad, where the Microsoft India Development Centre (MIDC) at Gachibowli, is the company’s biggest product development group outside the United States. Headed by Srini Koppulu, one of Microsoft’s longest serving development executives, the MIDC has been key to the company moving many of its flagship Windows and Office applications to the mobile phone.
Yahoo has just over 1,000 India-based engineers — and since 2007, Stanford University scientist Prabhakar Raghavan, a recognised expert on Web search technology, and global head of Yahoo Research, has been guiding the efforts here. Interestingly, India has bucked the trend and made Yahoo the most popular e-mail tool in the country.
The research group has created a number of local search and Indian language tools even while helping to craft the recent “OneSearch” mobile search tool, launched worldwide. “We just had to tap the great talent here,” Yahoo co-founder David Filo told The Hindu on his last visit to Bangalore in 2007.
“This mega bid is of course an acknowledgement of Microsoft’s failure to monetise its online presence, and of the unshakable dominance of Google,” comments Prasanto K. Roy, doyen of Indian technology editors and Editor-in-Chief, CyberMedia Group Publications, in a communication to The Hindu. He adds: “It is ironic that Microsoft of all companies is talking about the evils of monopoly and one-player dominance, when it says that together with Yahoo, it can offer a credible alternative. The bid is a great thing for Yahoo, for even if it does not take the offer; but chances are that it would, for it will not easily get a better offer.”
If the deal goes through, there will inevitably be some overlaps in the India-end of development activity, but based as it is on much-wanted skills, one need not expect that many engineers will be ‘let go.’
This ‘Ram leela’ is unfounded
Rumour mills in tinsel town have been abuzz with all kinds of rumours about Ram Charan Tej and his co-star in Chirutha, the ravishing Neha Sharma.
Putting an end to the incessant rumour mongering is the pretty lady Neha Sharma herself, who's been at the center of all the drama though living far away in Delhi. Speaking from her residence in the Capital she sternly denied all the speculation as loose talk. Clearing the air once and for all Neha says, "There is no truth to any of these rumours.
It was great working with Ram Charan and being my first co-star the experience will always remain special but there is nothing more to it. I don't understand where is all this coming from." Stating that she could not have asked for a better start to her career Neha adds, "Looking back I think it was a perfect launch for me under a great banner and a brilliant director.
I had a great time working with Charan and if an opportunity comes along I would love to work with him again. But all this gossip is something I can do without." That's not all, the actress revealed that she will be soon be coming to Hyderabad to finalise on some movie offers. Looks like, the gossipmongers will be have to shift their attention elsewhere
Putting an end to the incessant rumour mongering is the pretty lady Neha Sharma herself, who's been at the center of all the drama though living far away in Delhi. Speaking from her residence in the Capital she sternly denied all the speculation as loose talk. Clearing the air once and for all Neha says, "There is no truth to any of these rumours.
It was great working with Ram Charan and being my first co-star the experience will always remain special but there is nothing more to it. I don't understand where is all this coming from." Stating that she could not have asked for a better start to her career Neha adds, "Looking back I think it was a perfect launch for me under a great banner and a brilliant director.
I had a great time working with Charan and if an opportunity comes along I would love to work with him again. But all this gossip is something I can do without." That's not all, the actress revealed that she will be soon be coming to Hyderabad to finalise on some movie offers. Looks like, the gossipmongers will be have to shift their attention elsewhere
Sierra Atlantic opens new campus in Hyderabad
By IANS
Hyderabad : Sierra Atlantic, one of the world's largest IT solutions providers, Saturday opened its new campus here.
A leader in offshoring enterprise applications and outsourced product development, the company has invested $14 million in the state-of-the art campus, equipped with modern facilities coupled with the latest technology and ergonomics.
The first phase of the campus has a total built-up area of 200,000 square feet and will house 1,500 employees. The second phase, covering a built-up area of 350,000 square feet is planned to accommodate additional 3,500 employees, the company said in a statement.
The campus reflects Sierra Atlantic's commitment to consistent growth, with its employees and partners, it added.
Upon completion, the campus will have world-class facilities including modular workspaces with break out areas, an expansive cafeteria, a modern gymnasium, tennis and basketball courts, a cricket pitch, and internal landscaped atriums.
"The campus along with our proven ability to recruit and cultivate India's brightest engineering talent further enhances Sierra Atlantic's capability to deliver world-class IT services to our global customers," said Raju Reddy, chief executive officer, Sierra Atlantic.
"The new facility will enhance our ability to scale operations as per customer demand and meet our promise of 100 percent customer satisfaction," he said.
Sierra Atlantic is offering services in the new Oracle economy, outsourced product development, and Microsoft competencies, with global delivery from both India and China.
Headquartered in Fremont, California, the company has operations in 16 countries across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Hyderabad : Sierra Atlantic, one of the world's largest IT solutions providers, Saturday opened its new campus here.
A leader in offshoring enterprise applications and outsourced product development, the company has invested $14 million in the state-of-the art campus, equipped with modern facilities coupled with the latest technology and ergonomics.
The first phase of the campus has a total built-up area of 200,000 square feet and will house 1,500 employees. The second phase, covering a built-up area of 350,000 square feet is planned to accommodate additional 3,500 employees, the company said in a statement.
The campus reflects Sierra Atlantic's commitment to consistent growth, with its employees and partners, it added.
Upon completion, the campus will have world-class facilities including modular workspaces with break out areas, an expansive cafeteria, a modern gymnasium, tennis and basketball courts, a cricket pitch, and internal landscaped atriums.
"The campus along with our proven ability to recruit and cultivate India's brightest engineering talent further enhances Sierra Atlantic's capability to deliver world-class IT services to our global customers," said Raju Reddy, chief executive officer, Sierra Atlantic.
"The new facility will enhance our ability to scale operations as per customer demand and meet our promise of 100 percent customer satisfaction," he said.
Sierra Atlantic is offering services in the new Oracle economy, outsourced product development, and Microsoft competencies, with global delivery from both India and China.
Headquartered in Fremont, California, the company has operations in 16 countries across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Investors pouring in big bucks in Hyderabad's realty
Investors are pouring in big bucks into Hyderabad's infrastructure companies. Around USD 550 million of private equity have come in the year 2007 alone reports Viswanath Pilla and Vivin Mathew.
GMR & GVK, which were not exactly household names a mere 5 years ago, are now companies you better know. They’re the ones who won the bids for the modernisation of the New Delhi and Mumbai airports.
Other Hyderabad companies like Indu Projects have taken the cue to grab a piece of the infrastructure pie.
"The ability of raising larger labour pool, ability to stick to project milestones and resources provides a competitive edge for Hyderabad-based companies." I Syam Prasad Reddy, MD & CEO of Indu Projects.
There is an edge that is attracting many private equity firms to Hyderabad. There’s something for everyone and the highest equity infusion was from Blackstone. It put in USD 150 million in Nagarjuna Constructions. Small firms like Soma Enterprise and Aparna Constructions bagged USD 100 million each for malls, townships and roads.
"Everyone wants to be part of booming infrastructure sector, where the real growth is going to take place" adds Maganti Ankineedu, director, soma constructions.
But this is not new to Andhra Pradesh. In the 1960s and 70s, large irrigation and industrial projects like Nagarjuna Sagar and Visakhapatnam Steel Plant created a wave of contractors. Many of whom founded infrastructure companies. a leading example is the Reddy family which owns the Gayatri Projects. Founded by first generation entrepreneur and now incumbent minister T. Subbirami Reddy, it was transformed into an infrastructure company by son Sandeep Reddy.
"Influx of PE funds, corporate governance is helping our companies in the process of transformation. To scale up you need to professionalism, that is where the second generation is making difference." adds TV Sandeep Reddy, MD, Gayatri Constructions.
Also making a difference is the government. It is planning to spend nearly 500 billion on infrastructure projects. That’s certainly more money for Hyderabad that is flush with private equity funds.
GMR & GVK, which were not exactly household names a mere 5 years ago, are now companies you better know. They’re the ones who won the bids for the modernisation of the New Delhi and Mumbai airports.
Other Hyderabad companies like Indu Projects have taken the cue to grab a piece of the infrastructure pie.
"The ability of raising larger labour pool, ability to stick to project milestones and resources provides a competitive edge for Hyderabad-based companies." I Syam Prasad Reddy, MD & CEO of Indu Projects.
There is an edge that is attracting many private equity firms to Hyderabad. There’s something for everyone and the highest equity infusion was from Blackstone. It put in USD 150 million in Nagarjuna Constructions. Small firms like Soma Enterprise and Aparna Constructions bagged USD 100 million each for malls, townships and roads.
"Everyone wants to be part of booming infrastructure sector, where the real growth is going to take place" adds Maganti Ankineedu, director, soma constructions.
But this is not new to Andhra Pradesh. In the 1960s and 70s, large irrigation and industrial projects like Nagarjuna Sagar and Visakhapatnam Steel Plant created a wave of contractors. Many of whom founded infrastructure companies. a leading example is the Reddy family which owns the Gayatri Projects. Founded by first generation entrepreneur and now incumbent minister T. Subbirami Reddy, it was transformed into an infrastructure company by son Sandeep Reddy.
"Influx of PE funds, corporate governance is helping our companies in the process of transformation. To scale up you need to professionalism, that is where the second generation is making difference." adds TV Sandeep Reddy, MD, Gayatri Constructions.
Also making a difference is the government. It is planning to spend nearly 500 billion on infrastructure projects. That’s certainly more money for Hyderabad that is flush with private equity funds.
Congress Activists Attack Party MP's House In Hyderabad
Sunday 03rd of February 2008
The differences within the ruling Congress party came into the open when party activists attacked the house of their own party MP Hariram Jogaiah here Sunday for his criticism of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
About 100 party workers barged into the house of Jogaiah at Madhapur neighbourhood and smashed windowpanes and broke the flowerpots.
The MP from Narsapur in coastal Andhra was not at his house at the time of the attack. But he later termed it as a 'murder attempt' on him, and alleged the chief minister was behind it.
He said his wife was alone in the house and the protestors had terrorized her.
Holding party flags in their hands and shouting slogans against the MP, the party activists staged a sit-in outside his house and set his effigy afire.
The protestors demanded that Jogaiah be expelled from the party. 'He should be sent to mental hospital,' shouted one activist.
The police reached the spot and arrested a few Congress workers, who were protesting against Jogaiah's remarks against Rajasekhara Reddy.
Alleging that the chief minister was behind the 'murder attempt' on him, Jogaiah told newsmen that he would complain to party president Sonia Gandhi.
'I will tell the leadership that if this chief minister, who has a criminal background, is not checked, the party will suffer a crushing defeat in the next year's elections,' he said.
'These attacks can't suppress my voice. I will continue to express my views without fear,' he said.
Refusing to resign as MP, he said the people had elected him and he would not betray them by resigning. He, however, said he was ready to face any action by the party leadership. 'If they want to expel me, let them do it.'
Jogaiah had earlier stated that if Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi launches a new party, he would join the same. The MP had also predicted that the film star would become the chief minister and Rajasekhara Reddy would get defeated in the next elections. His remarks had embarrassed the party and the central leadership had also sought explanation from him.
Meanwhile, president of Congress party's Greater Hyderabad unit D. Nagender denied that the chief minister was behind the attack on Jogaiah's house. 'Some party activists vent their anger over his remarks,' he said demanding the MP's immediate expulsion.
The differences within the ruling Congress party came into the open when party activists attacked the house of their own party MP Hariram Jogaiah here Sunday for his criticism of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
About 100 party workers barged into the house of Jogaiah at Madhapur neighbourhood and smashed windowpanes and broke the flowerpots.
The MP from Narsapur in coastal Andhra was not at his house at the time of the attack. But he later termed it as a 'murder attempt' on him, and alleged the chief minister was behind it.
He said his wife was alone in the house and the protestors had terrorized her.
Holding party flags in their hands and shouting slogans against the MP, the party activists staged a sit-in outside his house and set his effigy afire.
The protestors demanded that Jogaiah be expelled from the party. 'He should be sent to mental hospital,' shouted one activist.
The police reached the spot and arrested a few Congress workers, who were protesting against Jogaiah's remarks against Rajasekhara Reddy.
Alleging that the chief minister was behind the 'murder attempt' on him, Jogaiah told newsmen that he would complain to party president Sonia Gandhi.
'I will tell the leadership that if this chief minister, who has a criminal background, is not checked, the party will suffer a crushing defeat in the next year's elections,' he said.
'These attacks can't suppress my voice. I will continue to express my views without fear,' he said.
Refusing to resign as MP, he said the people had elected him and he would not betray them by resigning. He, however, said he was ready to face any action by the party leadership. 'If they want to expel me, let them do it.'
Jogaiah had earlier stated that if Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi launches a new party, he would join the same. The MP had also predicted that the film star would become the chief minister and Rajasekhara Reddy would get defeated in the next elections. His remarks had embarrassed the party and the central leadership had also sought explanation from him.
Meanwhile, president of Congress party's Greater Hyderabad unit D. Nagender denied that the chief minister was behind the attack on Jogaiah's house. 'Some party activists vent their anger over his remarks,' he said demanding the MP's immediate expulsion.
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