M&M plans Rs 1,100-cr SEZ in Jaipur

Thru Business Standard

Project likely to create direct & indirect employment for around 2.50 lakh people.

Mahindra & Mahindra today announced plans to set up a special economic zone at Jaipur that is projected to attract investments of Rs 1,100 crore. It is expected to create direct employment for 100,000 people and indirect employment for 120,000-150,000 people.

The SEZ will be executed by a special purpose vehicle, Mahindra World City Jaipur Ltd, formed by Rajasthan State Industrial Development & Investment Corporation and Mahindra-Gesco Developers Ltd. The SEZ will be spread over 3,000 acres. Its first phase of 129 acres will be completed in six months.

Delhi-Jaipur Highway riddled with potholes

Thru Indian Express

IF you thought that the National Highways connecting the capital to cities in other states meant a smooth ride, think twice. The Delhi-Jaipur Highway, far from being a great long drive experience, is pockmarked with huge potholes at several places.

While over 13 km of the stretch between Bhabhru and Shahpura is riddled with crater-sized potholes, the ares around it is no better with uneven texture and patchy repair at several places. Residents in the area said that the road has been poor for over an year now , especially after the recent spell of rains. Ajay Singh, an auto driver from Patwa - a village near Bhabhru on the highway - said that the road was a big problem during monsoons.

Jaipur heritage grooming : HindustanTimes.com

Thru HindustanTimes.com

The Rajasthan government has decided to develop 52 historical sites in the vicinity of the Pink city as part of its efforts to market the area as an international destination for heritage, health and eco tourism.

Yoga tourism soaring in Pink City

Yoga apepars to be the new USP of the Rajasthan capital.

More and more travel agencies are devising yoga packages, saying one out of 10 foreign tourists and corporate visitors come here exclusively for yoga classes.

The Pink City, it seems, it becoming the new favourite for those who want to plunge into yoga.

R.S. Rathore, general manager of Hotel Mansingh, told IANS: 'Five years ago nobody knew about health or yoga tourism here. Today it has outrun all expectations.

'Apart from tourists, large groups from the corporate sector come just to learn yoga.'

Karan Singh of Surya Tours and Travels said: 'Gone are the days when the quest for mental peace used to drive people to places like Rishikesh or southern India. Today Jaipur is replacing them all.'

Full story via Indo-Asian News Service

Rajasthan's Heritage Monuments available for "adoption"

Thru New Kerala

Rajasthan Government has introduced an innovative “Adopt-a-Monument” scheme to conserve the treasure of Heritage Monuments in the State through pubic and private investment.

This scheme, being first of its kind, is likely to take care of maintenance and development of monuments.

“Adopt-a-monument” scheme facilitates an individual; a businessman or corporate, to conserve a monument by contributing resources,” says Vinod Jutshi, Tourism Officer, Rajasthan.

Under the programme the adopting party would be allowed to use these places of antiquity for their promotional campaigns.

Under this scheme, a monument will be entrusted to the caretaker for a minimum period of 10 years while Government agencies will be responsible for the conservation work.

Jaipur rush leaves Delhi bullion market panting- The Economic Times

Jaipur rush leaves Delhi bullion market panting- The Economic Times: "NEW DELHI: The $3-billion bullion market of Delhi is heading for a crisis as business is moving to Jaipur. Even the minuscule 0.75% tax difference after Delhi embraced the value-added tax (VAT) has come as an incentive for jewellers and bulk buyers to source gold, silver and jewellery from neighbouring Jaipur.

Rajasthan's decision to keep itself away from VAT has not only resulted in a revenue loss for Delhi but also indicates higher prices of gold and silver jewellery in the coming marriage season.

Bullion trading, in particular, is expected to hit hard by this differential tax structure. Most of the bullion traders including the single largest bullion trader in the Indian subcontinent, MMTC Ltd plans to dump Delhi in favour of Jaipur. "

Jaipur to get its own IT hub - The Economic Times

Jaipur to get its own IT hub - The Economic Times:

"JAIPUR: Greater Noida's IT city has become the model for setting up a similar venture in the Rajasthan capital.

The decision to model the IT city in Jaipur on the lines of Greater Noida was taken after minutely studying the master plans of several other big cities, Lalith Panwar, Commissioner of Jaipur Development Authority, said.

He said already a high- level committee comprising of experts on town planning, law and order, architect and township developers has been constituted to suggest necessary amendments in the existing Jaipur Master Plan for developing the proposed IT city.

Initially, proposals for setting up an IT corridor on the Ajmer Road state highway and an IT park on a sprawling 25,000 sqm. area in Durgapura locality had been made. "

System error in India's Silicon Valley

Thru Asia Times Online

[...]
It is the unexpected corners of the country - the smaller towns and cities - that are rapidly emerging as the new magnets, especially as outsourcing centers. A study conducted by the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) with management consultancy major KPMG says such cities as Jaipur, Pune, Mohali, Ahmedabad, Vizag and Kochi are increasingly attracting IT and outsourcing firms.

The study pointed out that Jaipur, hitherto ignored by big IT companies and outsourcing firms, is poised to emerge as a major hub because of government initiatives and several attractive features of the city itself. 'Jaipur retains the advantage of a small city - lower travel time and real estate and power availability. It has gained global visibility as the tourism hub of Rajasthan and is trying to leverage this for IT and ITES [IT enabled services] industry,' the study said. According to NASSCOM, about 30% of India's outsourcing revenues ($12.5 billion last year) will be headed to smaller cities within a few years.
[...]

Kotak Mahindra Bank enters Rajasthan

Thru Sify.com

Expanding its business, Kotak Mahindra Bank opened its first retail banking branch in Rajasthan at Jaipur today.
[...]
This was the third bank which opened its branch in the recent past in Jaipur. The Chennai-based Bharat Overseas Bank and the Catholic Syrian Bank also had opened their branches here recently.

"Rajasthan has a vibrant industry and trade and Jaipur is one of the fastest growing cities in India. It offers good business opportunities with its tourism and gems and jewellery trade. I see immense potential for growth and expansion in the State", Bank Executive Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Uday Kotak said.

Infosys Eyes Jaipur For New Facility

Thru Financial Express

JAIPUR, SEPT 23: Infotech major Infosys Technologies is on a reconnaissance mission to set up base in Jaipur for its Rs 1,000 crore software-cum-residential centre. Infosys chairman NR Narayanamurthy is learnt to have written to chief minister Vasundhra Raje last week in this regard for acquiring 1,000 acres of land within 30 km of Jaipur city. Ms Raje has already unrolled a red carpet welcome to Mr Narayanmurthy and his team, along with all possible assistance in this regard.

A fact-finding team from Infosys had already held a close-door session with Ms Raje in this regard, during the recent Economic Policy and Reforms Council, said highly-placed sources.

“A team from Infosys has approached us for acquisition of 1,000 acres of land,” Sreemath Pandey, secretary in the state Information Technology department told FE.

In response, Raje has promised them all help and had even assisted the team in conducting an aerial survey in order to determine the location of the centre. The team was escorted by officials from RIICO and Bureau for Industrial Promotion (BIP), sources said.

“The team is scheduled to come back with a blue print of the proposal for the venture,” said Mr Pandey. Subsequently, officials said that the company would set up a liaison office in Jaipur. A major factor which seems to have led the IT major to focus on Jaipur is its proximity to Delhi, even while retaining its tranquility.

The company is also learnt to be scouting for areas in Bhopal and Pune. The state government is in the process of coming out with a revised IT policy in the coming months. Until now, the lack of infrastructure was said to be the biggest handicap in wooing IT and IT-related business in Rajasthan.

For the state, it would be a major achievement as it would herald a new era in boosting investment in the state’s IT sector. In fact, the Infosys interest may also act as a trigger to woo others to the state.

However, despite the state government’s repeatedly revision of IT policy to woo investments, new ventures have not seen the light of the day. Even as some BPO centres have come up in the state, large companies have not yet taken any keen interest in the incentives offered by the state government under its IT policy.