My article published in Times of India(TOI) - Hyderabad edition Times Property section 12th April 2008. Page 2

HYDERABAD attracts corporates

Ajit Nair looks at the city's landscape from the point of view of a corporate employee

Hyderabad is a 400 year old city with a history reminiscent of Qutub Shahi, the Asif Jahi and the Nizam dynasties who left their indomitable stamp on the city. Today, Hyderabad is a bustling metropolis with an urban population of 7 million and boasts of a unique mixture of the old and the new as it strives to become the home for Information Technology, Outsourcing, Biotechnology, Tourism, Education and International Business.All these factors have fuelled the demand for more accommodation,office/retail space as well as hospitality services. It is inevitable but true that life here is dependent to a large extent on the way Hyderabad is gearing up to meet the challenges in future. Over the last decade, Hyderabad has seen some frenetic investment activity leading to a huge boom in quality infrastructure like special economic zones, industrial parks, IT campuses, and a new international airport.This has also led to a big demand for quality housing in and around the city.The obvious question that arises here is - what amenities and infrastructure is the city providing to prospective employers and employee's vis-à-vis other cities in India? Spread across an area of 217 sq kms with 80% literacy rate, the city is seeing many new developments. Its 75,000 odd auto rickshaws are by and large the easiest and most economical mode of transport.The GPS connected prepaid taxis are also available at large.A new Outer Ring Road, elevated expressways and the new Hyderabad Metro rail are soon to be added in the list of developments. It has well connected broad roads and all public spaces like pavements, dividers and empty areas under the flyovers have been beautified with sophisticated greenery and decorative pieces. The area under the jurisdiction of the local Hyderabad municipal corporation has been expanded with greater powers thus ensuring better management (decongesting Hyderabad into different growth pockets), accountability and ensuring proper decentralisation of power.This has led to more ideas being debated on how to make the city a better living place. The local municipal corporation is working on making multi-level parking lots across the city of Hyderabad along with plans to construct simultaneous green zones for the public. The local administration has also placed special emphasis on developing communication facilities with plans to have dedicated connectivity and to make the city Wi-Fi enabled. Rigth now it is well connected to other parts of the country and outside by rail, road and air. Hyderabad also boasts of a fully self-contained inland container freight depot and air cargo complex.It has a new international airport with a capacity to manage 12 million passengers and has all the amenities that one usually gets to see in a class one international airport. The city has a well connected network of banks and financial institutions.The healthcare sector in Hyderabad has also witnessed an enormous growth of late with a train of modern state-of-the-art hospitals coming up at the city at affordable service rates. It’s plush malls, multiplexes and umpteen eating joints add up to the lively spirit of the city. Being a growing business and tourist centre, it has an expanding list of hotels ranging from the premiere ones to the very ordinary ones. All these factors make Hyderabad a truly cosmopolitan and booming city thereby shooting up the demand for property and real estate-both affordable and luxurious segments, which are well spread across the city. Coupled with it is the rising demand for new houses from NRIs. No wonder, the city has all the elements that can attract corporates to make Hyderabad their home for a profitable living.

My article published in Times of India (TOI) -Hyderabad edition Dated - 29th March 2008. Times property Special Report - Home Affair. Page 15.

Gadget Homes

Luxury has gone digital. Read on as Ajit Nair goes about putting together gadgets for a smart home!

Gone are the day's when people just cared about a house with walls and roof above. Today the community cares a lot and exhibit genuine interest in value adds that a home brings along with it. It is the age of Hi Tech and smart homes with a whole host of gizmo/gadgets that come into play. The gadget's being high on safety and comfort with features like closed circuit TV (CCTVs) systems that can transmit images from the patio, the backyard, or the front door, and a security system that monitors more than just break-ins and fires. Luxury has gone digital now. We have homes which have automatic temperature and lighting control system linked to all the important and necessary electronic/electric gadgets like the television, music system, the microwave, refrigerator, ovens in the kitchen and the important lights, these being switched on or off when not in use. Today's advanced homes are Wi-Fi enabled with instant/wireless internet connectivity anywhere in the house, the house have separate in house amphitheatre giving the residents a feel of a large screen movie watching experience never heard of before. Anything and everything to do with solar power is a must have in such homes as they are advanced and energy efficient (saving). Solar heaters/lamps are the most sought after devices in general. Of course, smart homes are not just about going digital or having a lot of gadgets and gizmos but technology properly utilized can make our homes more efficient, safe, comfortable, and fun. Some of the latest gadgets that being gas leak sensors, fire alarms/extinguishers, locker safes, foot massagers, recliners, data tacks (a device which is shock proof and a holding point for multiple pug ins), temperature control feature Jacuzzi's and weight scale which has add on features like body fat monitor and body water percentage calculator. To top it all you have touch screen enabled remote controls which handle multiple jobs like blinds and curtains movement control, controlling the house lights, Air Conditioning control etc. These hi-tech systems can now add a new dimension to convenience and comfort and it has been well received. With the changing times and social displacement an important event in any new urban landscape in India, homes have become more culture independent. These paradigm shifts can also been seen in the flats, villas and other independent constructions of today as they adopt/implement more and more up to date and latest gadgets in their respective homes. Developers today are constructing different kinds of buildings at the same time - from houses and condominiums and have attracted sizeable foreign investors. This has lead to the builders providing a lot of value add in the flat itself; a typical case being advanced security systems which include finger imprint systems, door sensors, movement sensors, and entrance videophones. Whether its security, entertainment, or lighting a smart home addresses all these issues. So one can definitely quote the quote that - Intelligence is a matter of interest.

The rise and fall of Saddam Hussein (the 5th Anniversary of American Invasion of Iraq)

Sadam's last few days - I really do not think today that America has done anything better in Iraq and still firmly believe that through sustained international dialogue and mediation, one would have ensured a smooth transition of power in Iraq. one shouldmnever forget the fact that Saddam had a big role in shaping the modern day Iraq , which is in tatters.
Source - pictures (Rediff.com)
Image 1 - In this composite image, the late Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is seen in court during his trial, in the fortified 'green zone' in Baghdad.

Iamge 2 - Iraqis watch a statue of former President Saddam Hussein falling in Baghdad's al-Fardous square on April 9 2003. (Right) A handout photo of Saddam Hussein after his capture on December 14, 2003.

Image 3 - Saddam Hussein during his trial in early 2006.

India's tech education statistics

There are 1,346 degree-granting engineering colleges in India with an annual student intake of 440,000, plus 1,244 polytechnics with an annual intake of 265,000.

My full Page article on the new Hyderabad Airport(Shamshabad) published in the Times of India (Hyderabad edition) -Special Report on 16th March.Page 2

This picture is for pictoral representation purpose only..

This City Rocks !
With all the activity happening around the city, techie Ajit Nair joins the dots and explains why the future looks pretty awe-inspiring to him
The Upbeat India Story According to a statistic India churns out 350000 engineers (one third of the entire world estimated to produce 1 million annually), 70000 MBA's and close to a million graduates every year. Four states --Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Kerala -- account for 31 percent of India's population, but 69 percent of India's engineers. India boasts of 306 universities and 15000 colleges. Many people bet on India's generation young as we are the only nation with a huge segment of the total population between the age group of 20 - 35 years. India is young and India is booming, firing positive outlooks for almost all the sectors, ushering in an impressive middle class segment with a lot of buying clout. The Indian economy is showing signs of 9 per cent GDP growth to be sustainable in the next decade or so, which is a result of growth across sectors like IT, BPO, manufacturing and pharma. This in turn results in more real estate activity thus ensuring this spurt in real estate activity to be more fundamental by nature than purely being speculative. We are already talking about IT exports touching $60 billion dollars by 2010. Software exports stood at around $24 billion in 2006(Nasscom). The $60 billion target represents a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.3 per cent. Similarly the Indian BPO segment contributed $6.5 billion to the total software and services exports and this is to cross $8 billion in 2007. Another area of great activity is Indian tourism industry, which has the potential to grow further by 50-100 percent annually. Hyderabad - The City Of Choice Andhra Pradesh, one of the bigger states in India has a huge pool of highly qualified manpower with 29 universities producing 55,000 engineers, 110 polytechnics and 563 industrial training institutes turning out thousands more skilled workers every year. Andhra Pradesh is well connected to major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. Andhra state is home to various emerging industries like bulk drugs/pharmaceuticals, horticulture, poultry farming, spices mines/minerals, textiles/apparels and now IT. Hyderabad is known for its rich history, culture and architecture representing its unique characteristic of a meeting point for North and South India, and its multilingual culture, both geographically and culturally. Hence, Hyderabad is considered to be the gateway of southern India. With a population of approximately 6.5 million (65 lakh), it is India's 5th largest metropolis and the 41st largest metropolitan area in the world. Hyderabad has a cosmopolitan culture and a very affordable living standard compared to other competitors like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Hyderabad actually involves twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and also has many upcoming satellite townships like Shamshabad (the location for the new airport), Gachibowli, Uppal and so on. Hyderabad is the emerging IT /Biotechnology hub of India and has a very strong background in entertainment industry. Hyderabad has initiated a whole host of investment friendly initiatives from the governments of the past and present for almost a decade now, including a mix of public, private and private-public participation. Other than the the ambitious Shamshabad international airport, a whole host of other infrastructure features such as the longest flyover in India, the IT hubs in Hi tech city, Gachibowli, Uppal, Shamirpet, the genome valley Biotechnology hub, Semiconductor Park and the Outer Ring Road (ORR) project. Like many Indian cities, Hyderabad has witnessed a remarkable growth in the real estate business, thanks to a predominantly information technology-driven boom in the 1990s and the retail industry growth over the last few years which have spurred hectic commercial activity. A number of retail malls have come up or are being built in the city. The investment friendly government has also ensured extensive investments in the digital infrastructure within the city promoting the setting up of various educational campuses by a vast array of firms. Some of the very notable educational investments in pipeline being - Vedanta university, Birla campus, many prestigeous US universities etc.The city hosts two Central Universities, two Deemed Universities, and six State Universities. Shamshabad - the future outlook The new airport, widely tipped to be among the best in Asia having world class facilities is expected to cater a total of around 7 million passengers per year in the intial phase and finally upto 50 million passengers per year.This multi million dollar project has been built in an area of around 5,500 acres of land and will have the longest runway among Indian airports.The new airp[ort project also envisages plenty of real estate development within the airport like hotels, convention centers, shopping malls/entertainment complexes and Free Trade Zones etc. There is laso going to be a lot of business activity with regards to the adjacent Air Cargo comples and an MRO(Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility) near or inside the airport. Hence, Shamshabad is witnessing many related investments in the area of hospitality, education, IT, ITES, Biotech parks, business parks, Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and housing coming up in and around the new International Airport. The Fabcity investment alone is around $3 billion and promises to generate an emplyment of around 1.5 million people by 2015 (both direct and indirect). The Fabcity project spanning over 1500 acres of land, being developed by a consortium of firms including both AMD and Intel, will open up a new business avenue of high end chip designing/testing and manufacturing, currently manufactured in few countries only. This is an extremly important project for India as it takes the Indian economy into the next level of the business learning curve. The second phase work on Fabcity project is set to commence from April 2007. Government of Andhra Pradesh has allotted close to 5000 acres of land for Software and Hardware park near Shamshabad ensuring a slew of MNC investments into these parks.. Other Related Investments in Shamshabad The Mucherla IT park - It is located around 14 kms from the new airport has 850 acres of land, where 20 acres have been allotted to dell.Infosys is setting up a 550 acre campus, the biggest software facility in India. Amusement Park - Asia's biggest Amusement park being developed close to Shamshabad airport is to attract thousands of tourists everyday. Apparel Park - Spread over 176 Acres of prime Industrial land complete with banks, post offices, exhibition halls and shopping complexes is a conglomeration of several garment making units. Dubai Garments companies such as Vetco, Atraco and Cristal Garments located in Jabel Ali Free Zone have already decided to shift their operations to Apparel Park. Videocon Project - Videocon International, the country's largest Consumer electronics manufacturer plans to pump Rs. 500 Crores into its state of the art manufacturing facility in the next 3-4 years. Astra Micro Wave Products Ltd - Engaged in the manufacture of Communication related products including radar subsystems for defence and telecommunication sectors has embarked on a plan to set up its third plant near research centre Imarat. International University - 100 Acres allotted for the International University in Hyderabad will provide quality education for International scholars. The International University is sure to attract nearly 10,000 international scholars every year. AP Housing Board Township - Proposed 125 Acres township with Malaysian collaboration. In addition HUDA (hyderabad urban development authority) plans to auction a mega venture of 350 acres and develop a 600 Acres Township at Maheshwaram Mandal Nova Park - 3000 Acres of land has been allotted near the hardware park for the proposed NOVA Park. According to real estate experts once the adjacent ORR (Outer ring road) project is completed the existing prices in and around Shamshabad like Kothur; Mansanpally could go up by another 20-25 percent. The ORR project is a six lane express way encircling Hyderabad city and runs very close to the Shamshabad Airport. The dedicated airport rail link between Begumpet and Shamshabad will bring down the travel time from the city center to Shamshabad by more than 50 per cent and will also provide connectivity to the other big projects in and around Shamshabad airport. There have been various pending proposals for more real estate activity in and around Shamshabad. The rail link modeled on the lines of the rail corridor in Hong Kong and London could bring down the average travel time from 90 minutes to 22 minutes. Andhra Pradesh government has recently sabctioned the Shamshabad Police Station as the biggest police station in Hyderabad with a force of more than 200 personnel and this facility will also be the most modern police station in the state. MMTS(multi model transit system) Railway Station - The main MMTS Railway Station in Timmapur directly links this zone to the Cargo hold of the International Airport. With a sanction of 230 Crores for the development of Timmapur MMTS Railway Station, work is progressing at a rapid pace. What's more, the Outer Ring Road coupled with the Express Highway and MMTS Railway connectivity will lead straight to the IT Hub of Gacchibowli and Madhapur. For the area, it will mean a straight access to the future. (The writer Ajit Nair, is with Kenexa Technologies.)

Milan 0 - 2 Arsenal: A Picture Speaks A Thousand Words

How important is this moment for us ...this is going to help us rediscover our season....Cesc Fabregas hugging his mentor and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after that 84th minute wonder strike against European Champions AC Milan.

I loved this comment on Eduardo from Arsene...

Query - on the reported 'Eduardo' chants by Villa fans ...( Aston Villa football fans where trying to take advantage of Arsenal players mentallity post that horrendous tackle on Arsenal center forward Eduardo by chanting Eduardo...

Wenger's quid pro quo reply to the query -

"You expect better from people who come to football stadiums. It looks that intelligence and stupidity can have no limits. Unfortunately stupidity has won."

In different moods... and with friends...

Look @ Eduardo's Leg...this will happen to a top notch professional football player.

Why is Budget presented on the last working day of February?

Some more interesting facts on Indian Budget...Source - rediff.com

If it's February, it's time for the Budget. Budgets have always been presented on the last day of February. So B-day is always on February 28, except on leap years when it is presented on February 29.

This year, the Budget will be presented on February 29. This will be Chidambaram's first Budget on February 29 (all his other six Budgets were presented on February 28). Morarji Desai has presented two Budgets on February 29.

Why Budget is tabled on the last working day of February?
The finance minister is required to submit the Budget to the Parliament usually on the last working day of February so that the Lok Sabha has one month to review and modify the Budget proposals.

The Budget proposed by the finance minister comes into effect after parliamentary discussion on the Budget has been completed by April 1.

Who decides the Budget day?

In India, the Budget is presented in Parliament on a date fixed by the President.

The Budget speech of the finance minister is usually divided in two parts. Part A deals with general economic survey of the country while Part B relates to taxation proposals.

The General Budget is presented at 11 a.m. on the last working day of February, i.e. about a month before the commencement of the financial year except in the year when general elections are held.

In an election year, Budget may be presented twice -- first to secure vote on account for a few months and later in full.