July 21-27, 2014 1

Volume 3 � Issue No 29 � July 21-27, 2014 � Price: Rs 100An MMR, Braj Binani Group Publication

RBI relaxes financing norms for infra, affordable housing

will be encouraged to extend long-term loans to the infrastructure sector with flexible structuring to absorb potential adverse contingencies, sometimes known as the 5/25 structure.’’

The benefits available to the banks for the first year (FY15) could be limited to 6bp of assets at pre-tax level which may rise to 16bp over three year period (by FY17), estimates Emkay Global Financial Services Ltd.

The research firm said, “For IDFC the advantage in FY15 will be 34bp since it will be allowed benefits on 16 per cent of the old loan book in the first year itself given than 16 per cent of its bond borrowings have maturity of at least more than five years. Assuming that banks pass on the benefits to borrowers, the relaxation may not impact the RoAs at all.”

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued guidelines for relaxation of the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), the Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) and Priority Sector Lending (PSL) requirements for long term bonds issued to finance infrastructure loans.

“Banks can issue long-term bonds with a minimum maturity of seven years to raise resources for lending to (i) long-term projects in infrastructure sub-sectors, and (i i) affordable housing,” stated the RBI.

The RBI said that apart from what is technically defined as infrastructure, affordable housing is another segment of the economy which requires long-term funding.

The instructions are in pursuance of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s budget speech in which he had said “banks

Under the 5/25 structure, a bank may fix longer amortisation period for loans to projects in infrastructure and core industries sectors, say 25 years, with periodic refinancing, say every five years.

The RBI issued instructions to banks specifying operational guidelines and incentives in the form of flexibility in loan structuring and refinancing. It granted exemptions from regulatory pre-emptions, such as, the CRR, the SLR and Priority Sector Lending (PSL).

As per the RBI regulations, banks are required to keep a portion of deposits at CRR with the central bank and park certain portion in government securities known as SLR.

“The objective of these instructions is to mitigate the Asset-Liability

Management (ALM) problems faced by banks in extending project loans to infrastructure and core industries sectors, and also to ease the raising of long term resources for project loans to infrastructure and affordable housing sectors,” said the RBI.

Banks have been seek ing permission for longer tenor amortisation of the loan, say 25 years, with periodic refinancing of balance debt, said the bank. It further said rupee denominated bonds should be issued in ‘plain vanilla form’ without call or put option with a fixed or floating rate of interest.

Lending for affordable housing means loans eligible under the priority sector, and loans up to Rs 50 lakh to individuals for houses costing up to Rs 65 lakh located in the six metropolitan centres. For other areas, it covers

loans of Rs 40 lakh for houses with values up to Rs 50 lakh.

Further, the RBI said that while banks have been raising resources in a significant way, issuance of long-term bonds for funding loans to infrastructure sector has not picked up at all. Infrastructure and core industries projects are characterized by long gestation periods and large capital investments.

The long maturities of such project loans consist of the initial construction period and the economic life of the asset/underlying concession period (usually 25-30 years).

The realtors’ body Credai hailed the RBI’s move to ease norms for banks to raise long-term funds for financing affordable housing, saying this would lead to cheaper credit for such projects.

“It is a welcome step. This will lead to lower interest rates for affordable housing projects,” said Credai Chairman Lalit Jain.

Jain demanded that the housing sector should be given the infrastructure status and felt that Pune, Ahmedabad and Lucknow should have figured in the list of metropolitan cities.

Another realtors’ body Naredco Chairman Navin Raheja said this would help developers to mobilize cheaper finance for development of affordable housing and will result into cutting in prices of housing in long term.

Conversion of agri land in cities to boost realty

The Maharashtra government’s move to simplify the process to convert agricultural land into non-agricultural holding in municipal limits will boost the realty sector. For instance, thousands of hectares in Pune’s fringes slated for merger in the city limits will be available for construction.

Owners of agricultural plots in the city’s limits will no longer have to take prior permission of the collector for conversion of agricultural land. The collector’s approval, which was obligatory, had given rise to criticism of undue delays and corruption.

Before the state government’s decision it was a must for an eligible person to apply to the collector for permission to convert the use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purpose

Real estate experts say that Pune is growing at a faster pace than ever before. People are flocking to the city

from all over India, increasing the need for homes and commercial properties. The government’s decision has come as a shot in the arm for the realty sector, they said. Once the merger is complete, thousands of acres of farmland in 34 villages will be available for development.

The old city area of Pune has no agricultural plots. The 23 villages merged in the civic limits in 1997 hold some green patches. According to the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) land-use survey, the city has 5.52 per cent of land marked as agricultural plots.

The PMC has already converted 938 acres of agricultural land in Mundhwa to residential use, paving the way for more construction. Mundhwa, largely agrarian till the conversion of land use, grew sugarcane on vast tracts. The civic body has also approved proposals to convert other agricultural patches in Lohegaon, Pashan and

Sangamwadi for residential use.“Residential properties in and

around city will get a boost. Along with the merged villages, the city’s fringes will witness a construction boom as the state government has already approved the expansion of the existing boundaries of ‘gaothans’ (village sites),” said a senior state town planning official.

However, the state’s move has raised concerns about land-use patterns, environmental degradation and decline in agricultural produce, resulting in food security issues. Veteran city activists like Sulabha Brahme and Medha Patkar have earlier pointed out that tribal areas of Pune, Thane and Nashik districts have not been spared of urbanization. The tribal communities are being deprived of their means of livelihood and the land under cereals and pulses is declining, threatening food security, they said.

27 Sez developers seek leeway to

execute projects As many as 27 special economic

zone developers, including Gulf Oil Corporation, Navi Mumbai Sez and DLF Info Park have sought more time from the Centre to execute their projects.

These proposals will be taken up for consideration by the Board of Approval (BoA), headed by Commerce Secretary Rajeev Kher, in its meeting. Some developers have cited reasons like imposition of minimum alternate tax (Mat), poor response of entrepreneurs for setting up unit due to global economic slowdown, problems of land acquisition and environmental clearances for delay in implementing projects. DLF Info Park (Pune) Ltd has sought further extension of the validity period of formal approval, granted for setting up of IT/ITES Sez in Maharashtra, according to the agenda of the BoA meeting.

Similarly Navi Mumbai Sez Pvt Ltd has sought more time for its proposed zones in Maharashtra. Besides, the

Board will take up the proposal of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, which has proposed to set up a multi-product zone in Gujarat.

Development Commissioners of special economic zones have recommended cancellation of ‘formal approval’ granted to as many as 43 Sez developers, including Reliance Infocom Infrastructure and Emaar MGF Land Ltd. The BoA would also take a decision on these applications. Sezs are mainly export hubs which enjoy certain tax benefits. But imposition of Mat has impacted the investors’ sentiments. Over the last few years, many Sezs have de-notified their units.

However, the government is expected to announce some package for revival of investors’ interest in these zones. Of the 566 formally approved Sezs, only 185 are in operation. Exports from these zones increased from Rs 22,840 crore in 2005-06 to Rs 4.94 lakh crore in 2013-14.

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July 21-27, 2014 2DOMESTIC

Mamata Banerjee opens OCL India’s cement plant

in W Midnapore OCL India Ltd, the f lagship

associate company of Dalmia Cement Bharat Ltd commissioned its cement manufacturing unit (Bengal Cement Works), at Godapiasal Industrial Park, West Midnapore, West Bengal, on July 15.

Spread over 154.43 acres , the plant has been set-up at an investment of Rs 615 crore, and it marks the initiation of the company’s investment cycle in West Bengal. OCL India already has two cement plants at Cuttack and Rajgangpur in Orissa with a combined production capacity of 5.35 mtpa.

The plant was inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the presence of Puneet Dalmia, Director, OCL India.. The Bengal unit will help in adding significant revenue to the state treasury in terms of taxes.

I t wi l l a lso provide domici le employment and income generation for skilled and semi-skilled local pool in the district. As part of the Corporate Social Responsibil i ty (CSR) programme of the group, peripheral community development

works in terms of roads, bridges, health, and education facilities will be undertaken.

Commenting on the occasion, Dalmia said, “Bengal’s economy has impressively withstood the continuing slowdown in economic growth in previous years and currently is on a high growth trajectory. We want to grow in Bengal to create a market enduring goodwill by benefitting both our buyers and investors.

“ T h e c u r r e n t b o o s t i n industrialization in the state has

prompted us to replicate our success of Rajgangpur and Cuttack, in Salboni. We plan to scale up our presence in the Bengal market by completing the first phase of investment in the plant. Our high-capacity plant located strategically will ensure timely and faster delivery of cement across the state, a significant emerging market for infrastructure development and thereby the cement industry.”

OCL India is one of the leading cement players in east India cement market. Eastern India contributes to

Shalimar Paints appoints Shankar Subramanian

as Vice President for decorative business

Ajit Pawar lays foundation stone for Welspun Energy

Lodha to raise $1 billion via IPO

Shal imar Paints Ltd, one of India’s leading paint manufacturing companies, has appointed Shankar Subramanian as Vice President for its decorative business. In this role, he will be responsible for growing the company’s decorative business and add to the leadership depth of the company.

The Indian paint industry is valued at approximately Rs 30,000 crores with decorative paints constituting two-thirds of the market and the remaining, industr ia l . Buoyed by growing urbanization and changing lifestyles, the decorative paints segment is registering faster growth. Shalimar Paints, India’s iconic paint maker, is undergoing a strategic transition to become a consumer-centric company through increased focus on the decorative paints business.

Commenting on the appointment, Sameer Nagpal, Managing Director & CEO, Shalimar Paints, said, “Shalimar has embarked on a journey of transformation to emerge as a strong player in the Indian paint industry. Growing our decorative business profitably is central to this strategy. Shankar joins us at this crucial juncture with the objective of driving growth, improving product mix, creating a distinctive value proposition for

Welspun Energy Pvt Ltd (WEPL), one of India’s leading developers of renewable energy projects, will soon commence construction of its 50 mw solar project in Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, laid the foundation stone in Baramati in Pune district.

The plant’s location is one of the most favorable locations in state for setting up a solar project.

Pawar said, “Addressing climate change while balancing development needs is a critical priority area. It is our

Lodha Developers Pvt, which is building the world’s tallest residential tower, is planning an initial public offering (IPO) that may raise as much as $1 billion. The sale may value Mumbai-based Lodha at as much as $10 billion, according to sources. The company will probably start trading next year.

Lodha is seeking a listing after

customers and strengthening channel relationship. Shankar will play a key role in Shalimar’s transformation journey.”

Shankar has over 15 years’ experience in sales, marketing and business development across consumer durable, IT and retail sectors. He joins Shalimar Paints from Ingersoll Rand, an industrial technology company where he was the Director for Residential Solutions business, responsible for establishing the Trane brand of air-conditioners in India.

A graduate in Physics from Pune University, Shankar is passionate about technology. He holds a post-graduate diploma in marketing from the Institute for Social Sciences & Research, Vellore.

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around 18 per cent of India’s cement demand and 14 per cent of the total installed capacity. Cement demand growth in East has been robust at CAGR of 9.75 per cent over FY 09-FY 14 compared to all India growth of 6.5 per cent. Going forward, demand growth in east India is estimated to be around 8 per cent in FY15. This is congenial with infrastructure growth and urban housing demand.

Good locat ional advantage in terms of road and rail network, enriched infrastructural support l ike that of uninterrupted power supply, supply of water for industrial and potable purposes, other basic facilities like sewerage and drainage, etc and incentives available as per the West Bengal support for Industry have played a decisive role

for OCL India in setting up the plant in Bengal.

The p lant has s ta te-of- the-art technology, eff icient quality control systems consisting of ARL QUANT’X Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer, Systronics Double beam UV Visible Spectrophotometer with graphic LCD, AIMIL Mu Compression Testing Machine with automatic pace rate controller, to name a few.

The components like fly ash, clinker, gypsum, and slag are inter-gr ind to manufacture Port land Slag Cement (PSC) and Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC).The new plant will follow OCL’s philosophy of strict quality policy in its products and services conforming to customers’ requirements in the Bengal market.

CM Mamta Banerjee at the inaugaration of the OCL Cement plant in West Midnapore with Puneet Dalmia, MD, Dalmia Cement Bharat and Mahendra Singhi, Group CEO- Cement, Dalmia

Shankar Subramanian

obligation to focus on energy security as well as relook the way we have been using energy. We need to look for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and efficiently use energy sources.

“The government has been systematically working on its Green energy agenda. Maharashtra has laid focus on solar and wind energy to secure energy access for the present as well as the future. The Baramati 50 mw solar project will be a major step in this direction and will certainly help to meet state’s green energy goals.”

home prices in Mumbai more than doubled in the five years through March, according to data from Liases Foras Real Estate Rating & Research Pvt. A $1 billion IPO would be India’s biggest since 2010, when CIL’s share sale raised $3.4 billion. The company is building the 117-storey World One residential tower, which it says will be the world’s tallest at 423 metres.

July 21-27, 2014 4PRODUCT PROFILE

Construction chemicals industry in India

From the beginning of the 20th century cement concrete and cement mortar based on ordinary Portland cement have been accepted as the main building materials for the construction of buildings and infrastructure, considering the ease, speed and the strength they offer.

But this new building material that is the ordinary Portland cement suffered from some initial drawbacks such as shrinkage cracks and leakages when compared to the then existed lime concrete and lime mortar.

So this product needed some modifications to get over its inherent weaknesses, which was achieved by the use of some chemicals. With the increase in demand for bigger, higher and stronger structures in various environment conditions, the ordinary concrete required further modifications to perform as per expectations and deliver the end strength in various climatic and critical conditions.

This was again achieved through addition of chemicals to modify the behaviour of cement concrete to give the desired end-results. With time, the performance demands on concrete increased and research and development of chemicals for modification of concrete became a

regular industry which is now known as the Constructuion Chemicals Industry.

To keep w i th t he pace o f d e v e l o p m e n t s , c o n s t r u c t i o n chemicals industry took upon itself to develop products which not only make construction of modern structures possible by imparting easy workability, better strength development characteristics and

expected performance in extreme environmental conditions, but also to maintain structures through various climates extending their life.

Now a concrete admixture has become an essential fifth ingredient of concrete and construction and completion of a new structure can’t be imagined without the use of construction chemicals at various stages of construction.

Construction chemicals’ expanded range

Start ing from water proofing compounds, construction chemicals have expanded range to ease the workmanship in demanding situations at various stages of construction. Today, each full-fledged construction chemicals manufacturer manufactures 50 to 100 various construction chemicals. These construct ion chemicals can be generally divided into the following groups:

Water Proofing Compounds; Tile Fixing Adhesives and Joint Fillers; Repair and Renovation Products; Admixtures for Concrete and Mortars; Coating and Protection Products, and Construction and Workmanship Aids.

Codes and standardsAs Portland cement was developed

in Europe, so also were the construction chemicals. Suitable codes and guidelines were also framed there to take the full advantage of these new developments in the advancing civil engineering industry.

In India we adopted the use of Portland cement very fast and our government recognized the cement industry as the one essential in nation building, and supported the industry by easing the norms in its classification in excise and its treatment in sales tax, etc.

In the beginning of the 20th century itself, this industry grew rapidly. But after independence in 1947, construction practices and building technology did not develop with the same speed, leaving our own civil engineering codes and practices far behind when compared with developed nations.

Because of this reason construction chemicals were very slow to enter our market, and did not get due recognition they deserved. Now generally, construction chemicals are thought of when a structure is leaking or in distress or in situations when some extraordinary requirements are expected out of a structural member, such as very high strength bridge girder or superior industrial floor, etc.

For creating safe healthy structures for mankind we need to revise our age-old meaningless building codes and civil engineering practices and overhaul the civil engineering syllabus in engineering colleges to incorporate the latest technology and available materials.

We not only need to create new codes for civil engineering, but also for construction chemicals so that wrong materials do not enter the construction arena, putting structures to great risks.

Construction chemicals in IndiaWith the increase in demand for

RCC structures and the government taking up large infrastructural projects, the need-based scope for various construction chemicals opened up in India in the latter part of 1980s.

Practicing engineers then were not aware of construction chemicals. It was the construction chemicals industry which had to first introduce itself and then discuss the utility and the necessity of construction chemicals on their project.

Since construction chemicals were not specified, they were not reflected in the bill of quantities, and hence not quoted for. This became an unavoidable necessity at an extra cost to the civil contractor who would look for the most economic alternative on this extra item for which he is not going to be paid for.

The knowledge about the use of right type of admixture in concrete for the required end-result comes from understanding of the concrete in-depth, with respect to available raw materials ingredients, type of cement used, strength and placement requirements and site condition, apart from thorough knowledge of the chemistry of admixtures.

Since admixtures were not specified, the construction chemicals industry took upon itself the strenuous task of training engineering professionals into this discipline of understanding and using specific chemicals in civil construction.

Today, a construction chemicals professional is a practical civi l engineer and a chemical engineer rolled into one, irrespective of his academic qualifications. Today, we see constructions chemicals executives moving on various sites providing solutions through their knowledge, irrespective of whether they have been able to sell some product of their company or not.

They help in fine-tuning concrete mix designs for achieving desired workab i l i t y and s t rength and suggesting precautionary measures to be exercised in achieving end-results in various aspects.

Fighting a battle The construction chemicals industry

is a knowledge-based industry which has got to go on evolving itself with new products, technologies and specifications to keep the construction industry going. The relationship of construction chemicals to the civil engineering industry is exactly like that of a pharmaceutical industry to human body. Spur ious and duplicate medicines are threat to the pharmaceutical industry, as well as to human life; so is the case with the construction chemicals industry also.

The absence of specifications, reluctance of consultants to specify construction chemicals, the absence of a regulating body similar to FDA and human tendency of the contractor to pick up the most economical product available has encouraged the unorganized sector jump into this business.

To d a y, s p u r i o u s i n t e g r a l waterproofing compounds and tile adhesives and tile joint fillers are being manufactured sold in the market by the unorganized sector in such quantities that the organized sector can hardly catch up. Unfortunately, this industry is without any support from civil engineering fraternity, architects, specifiers and the government.

Because of non-recognit ion and lack of knowledge about the importance of this industry, every manufacturer is fighting his own battle with the Central Excise or sales tax departments to explain the classification of his product, which is not easy anyway even for an engineer to understand.

The time and energy which is thus wasted could be harnessed for constructive developmental works. The role of this industry is close to that of a doctor in providing solutions to the civil engineering industry to get healthy and long lasting structures which last for years without any risk and fear.

Deserved statusIn an effort to safeguard their

interests, construction chemicals manufacturers have finally been able to form an association which is CCMA (the Construction Chemicals Manufacturers Association).

This association, under the able leadership of its current president is in touch with various organizations like Ficci, BIS, architects associations, civil engineering associations, etc to get a deserved status for the industry from the government, removing mindless bureaucratic hurdles faced by the industry in its classification under excise/sale-tax, and to get the requisite specifications incorporated through codes and relevant specification documents.

The sensitiveness of this industry, its utility in construction and nation bu i ld ing, demands that i t be treated slightly differently with other manufacturers and the government needs to simply support it.

July 21-27, 2014 5

One constraint in civil construction is the curing of concrete once it has been cast and the formwork i s r emoved . Cu r ing done by conventional methods cannot be ensured to its optimum efficiency when it is done with water.

The strength and durability of concrete does not only depend upon the correct composition and placing of concrete, but also on correct curing. The principle of curing is to prevent evaporation of capillary water in the concrete so that sufficient water is available for complete hydration. This leads to better end hydration products and avoids surface dusting and plastic shrinkage.

The conventional methods of curing like water spraying, covering with wet burlaps, polyethylene sheets, etc are not only time-consuming but also start after initial evaporation of water and after the appearance of first cracks. Ideally, curing should begin as soon as possible after the casting of concrete.

Emcoril AC is an acrylic emulsion-based, membrane-forming curing compound, to be brushed or sprayed on the fresh concrete only once, at initial stage which is the critical hardening period of concrete or mortar.

It forms a seamless film on the surface of fresh cast concrete and mortars, which arrests evaporation of water from the capillaries and prevents quick drying of the concrete, thus avoiding cracks and enabling the concrete to hydrate efficiently.

Emcoril AC should be applied as soon as possible after disappearance of water sheen from the surface. If the concrete is dry, it is recommended to fog down the surface before application of Emcoril AC.

Emcoril AC can be applied by brush or by normal knapsack sprayers having suitable nozzle. In case of larger areas, motorized continuous spraying devices can be used. The nozzle of the spraying device should be held about 0.7 to 1.0 m distance from the surface and it should be ensured that the complete area is covered. The pump pressure must be maintained throughout the operation to obtain a fine spray.

Advantages of Emcoril AC Emcor i l AC pro tec ts green

concrete against burning by acute sunrays

Particularly suitable where early plastering is required

Optimum hydration leading to stronger end hydration products

Does not affect normal setting process of cement

Minimizes and heals shrinkage/micro cracks at early stages of concrete setting

Idea l fo r ove rhead cu r ing , inaccessible places and places having water shortages

Better solar reflectance lowering the concrete temperature

Emcoril AC Acrylic-based, membrane-forming

curing compound

Emcoril ACrylic-based, membrane-formi

curing compoundNo need for removal before

application of subsequent surface treatments

Consumption Consumpt ion 200-250 g/m²

approximatelyMC-Bauchemie (India) Pvt Ltd

manufactures this product along with a host of other construction chemicals in technical and financial collaboration with MC-Bauchemie, Germany. MC-Bauchemie (India) Pvt Ltd is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company.

PRODUCT PROFILE

Protection with Emcoril AC

Curing with Emcori l AC saves labour costs

Crack format ion wi thout Emcoril

Without curing concrete will crack and less surface will result

July 21-27, 2014 6IN PERSON

‘Landscaping is crucial to the built environment’

What’s the total number of projects you completed in the past 15 years? Would you like to highlight a choice few?

We have completed around 100 projects in the past 15 years.

The multiple offices we designed for Agilent Technologies gave us the chance to work at different locations in India and each interior had its own flavour. Working on the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (with C&T and British architects RMJM) was a great learning experience and an opportunity to be on the cutting edge of design on that scale.

Recently we designed Karigar Centres for craftsmen (for Titan) which were unique CSR initiatives by the client and went beyond the mundane in their ideation.

Suchitra worked as project architect on ‘Dakshinchitra’. Tell us about the heritage project and your experience of working with architect Laurie Baker.

It was an opportunity of a lifetime because not only are projects of this

“The relationship of the built to landscape in the design is very important because a building without Green elements is not complete,” maintain Bengaluru-based architects Suchitra Deep and Anand Krishnamurthy of Firm Terra Architects, in this interview with Dilip Phansalkar. Excerpts:

emphasis on sustainability. The work was extremely challenging. We had a very tight budget and expertise on the ground was limited, but many of these obstacles were overcome by the innovative methods that Baker proposed.

What are your h igh-pr ior i ty considerations when selecting building materials and colour schemes for your works?

The materials must be appropriate for the usage and functionality of the building, the life expected from these materials, the budget the client is comfortable with and local availability, building culture and context.

Colour schemes will determine the atmosphere we want to create in the project and many factors like light in the building, the usage, etc will determine our choice of colours.

How important is it for an architect to understand local construction techniques which enable him to deliver a robust final product?

Unfortunately, it is not as important anymore as it used to be because there has been a flattening of building technology and methods which has ensured that local variations are no longer that relevant.

In an ideal world local variations would have continued to be important and given a unique character to each area’s built environment.

To create a sense of living, Green network and built environment should be integrated into one. What is your observation?

W h i l e d e s i g n i n g t h e b u i l t environment, it is critical to take landscaping into consideration simultaneously so that there is

nature very rare, but there was the privilege of working with late Laurie Baker, the renowned, award-winning British-born Indian architect.

Various features of Baker’s works such as using recycled material, natural environment control and frugality of design are instances of sustainable architecture or green building with its

total assimilation of nature into the project.

How far-reaching is the relationship of the built to landscape in the design?

As indicated above, it is very important because a building without Green

The concept of frameless structural g laz ing (Spider facades) is increasingly being adopted in modern-day building structures. Would you like to comment on the trend?

It should be used only where necessary, as in atria, or spaces with large glass facades where it is important to convey a feeling of transparency.

How does architecture influences all aspects of built environment?

Architecture is the design of built and unbuilt spaces, and people are constantly interacting with these spaces in various forms, whether in the form of homes or workplaces or places for entertainment. Naturally architecture plays a very important role in the environment around us.

What aspects of global warming and other climate changes do architects take into account when undertaking projects?

On an individual project we might not think about it on a global scale, but each contribution we make in the design, whether it is passive solar design, or recycling of waste water -- each of these can add up to something meaningful.

Which was the first project Firm Terra Architects undertook?

It was an interesting house for a dog breeder in one of the upcoming localities of Bengaluru. It was on a small budget, and there were very specific needs for her dogs that we had to address.

As architects, what were the common creative factors that brought you two together to form Firm Terra Architects?

There was a commonality of thinking between the two of us and we felt that we could complement each other well in practice.

On which factors depends the success of any design project?

We are convinced that the success of any design project comes from a relationship of trust and collaboration with our clients. This is reflected in the roster of our clients that include companies like TCS, Agilent Technologies and Titan Jewellery.

What makes Firm Terra Architects building projects and interior designs a class apart?

Our designs are thoughtful , appropriate and innovative, and we try to create new benchmarks for ourselves with each project we undertake.

Corporate office for Torishima Pumps

Factory and office for Komet Technologies

Cafetaria for Agilent Technologies

July 21-27, 2014 8REAL ESTATE

A number of housing societies in Mumbai

are contemplating the redevelopment option.

Here is a brief reference guide for them on what

to look and ask for

Some residential pockets corridors

around NCR still remain attractive at current

valuations

Guideline for housing societies

In most metros such as Mumbai, redevelopment of old residential buildings is a normal and desirable occurrence. Without redevelopment, there would be no new supply in the fully developed city centres. Also, redevelopment is necessary because every building has an inbuilt shelf-life, after which it becomes unsafe, unattractive to the market and difficult to maintain.

Even now, a number of housing societies in Mumbai are contemplating the redevelopment option. However, the stakeholders of these societies often lack the information they need to make an informed call on which developer to enlist, and what guidelines they should follow before making a commitment. Here is a brief reference guide on what to look and ask for:

Check handover timelinesA developer undertaking the

redevelopment of a residential building can legally start the construction

Delhi NCR’s attractive housing corridor

Hyman Minsky, the noted American economist, linked an economy’s lifecycle with speculative investment bubbles which are endogenous to it. He stated that during prosperous times when the economy booms, corporate cash flows rise higher than corporate debts, and this leads to speculative euphoria.

Th is euphor ia cont inues to develop, allowing borrowers to borrow more until their income streams become inadequate to service their debts, creating a financial crisis.

This speculative borrowing bubble then causes banks and financial institutions to reduce lending, which in turn causes a further contraction in the overall economy.

Our economy is currently facing such a contraction. Overall economic activity has slowed, with GDP growth estimated at 4.9 per cent in 2013-2014. True, this is an improvement of 40 bps over the previous year and we have seen growth in the traditional agricultural and allied sectors; however, industrial output and manufacturing in India are currently in a stagnant mode in terms of growth.

Asset pricesWhile infrastructure has been hit

by rising input costs and delayed approvals, asset prices for residential

Anuj Puri Chairman & Country Head, JLL India

process only after he obtains the Commencement Certificate (CC). However, there are a host of other permissions and approvals to be obtained prior to that, together referred to as Intimation of Disapproval (IoD) approvals.

While the society members and developers mutually decide on when to vacate for facilitating the construction, it should ideally be done after the IoD has been obtained. In fact, the developer would also be more comfortable with vacating members only after the IoD has been obtained, since this would minimize his outgoings on the rentals which he would have to pay to members towards meeting their alternative accommodation costs.

Reimbursement parametersThe housing society members of a

project that is to be redeveloped are entitled to monthly rental payments from the developer undertaking the project. The extent and limit for these payments must be clearly outlined in the agreement drawn up between the members and developer.

Usually, it will be equivalent to the applicable rental for a similar-size apartment in or around the same locality. The developer must also reimburse members for the cost of packers and movers and minor interior alterations in the rented accommodation they occupy during

the redevelopment process, as these are also counted as expenses incurred while relocating to a new accommodation.

Rental escalation clauseIn a city like Mumbai, there have

been several cases where members’ backs have been put to the wall because of poorly-framed rental clauses. It is important for the rental escalation cost to be included in the agreement between a developer and the housing society members.

Typically, rentals tend to rise by 10 per cent every year, though this can vary depending on locations, category/type of buildings and some other aspects. Society members should do their due diligence on this subject and negotiate for rental escalation terms that best fit their location and building type.

Maintenance post-redevelopment

The maintenance costs for a project are bound to rise after it has been redeveloped, proportionate to the additional amenities that the developer has provided. These amenities would include but are not limited to recreational facilities, garden, swimming pool, gymnasium, covered parking, air-conditioned lobby, open areas, etc.

The housing society members need to calculate and assess the financial implications, keeping in mind the

interests of all members. Depending upon the average financial capacity and everyone’s common interests, members should ask the developer to only provide amenities that everyone has agreed on.

O f t e n , d e v e l o p e r s o f f e r maintenance-free periods to members, wherein the developer is willing to bear the maintenance charges which would otherwise have been borne by the society members. In the case of such an arrangement, the society should ask the developer to deposit this amount in a separate account prior to giving him permission to sell the surplus flats in the newly redeveloped building.

Delay clause in agreementThe terms and conditions in the

agreement between a developer and the housing society must clearly capture all the details regarding the construction time-frame. The developer should be asked to specifically mention the date by which he would be handing

over the completed structure to the society members.

The applicable penalties that the developer incurs if a delay occurs should also be mentioned. The penalties could be in the form of termination of contract, wherein the society members pay a pre-decided amount on a pro-rata basis according to the status of construction progress. Else, the developer may be liable to compensate the society members in cash or otherwise as a fine for delay.

To summarize, the redevelopment agreement between a housing society and a developer must incorporate maximum clarity over the roles and responsibilities of each involved party.

real estate have recovered and grown over the past two years. The increasing residential asset prices have given rise to a potential bubble, causing stagnation over the past two quarters. From a pan-India perspective, new launches in the residential sector have dwindled over 2013, as developers have been looking at disposing of existing stocks to generate cash flow.

With project funding becoming expensive and buyers showing a lower propensity to purchase in view of unfavourable prices, developers have found it difficult to generate cash and service their debts. This state of affairs is also likely to create greater risks for lenders.

Net absorptionIn Delhi NCR’s commercial office

sector, we have seen moderate to healthy levels of net absorption over the past three years. Absorption in 2013 was the lowest in nine years, despite promising leasing activity. This was primarily because occupiers were focused on cost saving and portfolio rationalization.

The IT/ITeS sector has been the dominant performer, contributing a major share of leasing volumes while the manufacturing and industrial sector has also shown good traction of late. While Gurgaon remains the most favoured destination of office occupiers,

Noida has also performed well. However, while Gurgaon has seen a good mix of IT and corporate occupiers, Noida st i l l remains primarily driven by IT.

Over a one-three year horizon, we are likely to see an improvement in demand and absorpt ion as economic condit ions in the US and Western Europe are showing signs of stabilising. This is likely to increase outsourcing business into India, which will result in improved performance of the office sector.

Indian domestic corporates are also likely to continue contributing towards non-IT demand. From an investment perspective, it makes more sense to opt only for leased assets in the current scenario. Larger investors should consider the domestic private equity funds being raised, which are looking at investing in commercial assets.

The residential sector in Delhi NCR has been affected more by the domestic economy shocks such as high inflation, rising input costs and consistently increasing prices which have acted as a dampener to home sales.

The festive season of 2013 was one of the most muted in the past five to six years, as sales remained sluggish despite the advertised discounts, festive offers and new projects.

Santhosh Kumar CEO, Operations, JLL India

High supply numbersWhile inventory levels are high in

terms of number of months, the overall supply numbers are high only in the broader Noida market. The controlled environment in other sub-markets has acted to keep the numbers at a more manageable level.

Some residential corridors still remain attractive at current valuations. Secondary market valuations are currently trending at a 25-30 per cent discount to the primary market – therefore, the secondary market is a good avenue to get bargain sales.

Investment destinationsSome of the emerging corridors

around NCR which are currently suitable for residential investment are:

Sohna: Lower residential rates, the next development corridor, and it benefits from the KMP Expressway and proximity to Gurgaon.

Neemrana: Venue of upcoming indus t r i a l and in f ras t ruc tu ra l developments to drive residential demand.

Yamuna Expressway: Excellent i n f r as t r uc tu re , bene f i t s f r om expressway as the node to fuel future city expansion, upcoming freight and warehousing developments, and the cheapest residential apartments in NCR.

NH-24: Affordable housing – low entry points, considerable pent-up demand and future appreciation potential.

Faridabad: A relative gold mine, keeping in mind the current land and resident ial pr ices and the infrastructural developments which are likely to put this area on the fast track of growth.

July 21-27, 2014 9EQUIPMENT

‘Only Volvo for road building’

equipment at its various projects. These include an EC210 Excavator, three SD110 Soil Compactors, two DD100 Tandem Rollers and a G930 & G710 Motor Grader.

“They have served us for over six years now,” says Singhal. “Very, very well, I assure you.” Agroh Infrastructure was first introduced to Volvo by VolvoCE Channel Partner, Navin Infrasolutions Pvt Ltd.

The promise was – ‘improved p r o d u c t i v i t y w i t h l o w e r f u e l consumption’. It is clear the Volvos have delivered big time on both counts.

According to him, a typical Volvo works long and hard with minimal breakdowns which is a definite plus in his business where margins often come under pressure. He likes the fact that there is no compromise on safety and comfort in a Volvo

-- his machine operators love the work. And he is effusive about the aftermarket support provided by Navin Infrasolutions. “The way these guys run the show is quite amazing. Ask for any spare part or service solution and you get it right on time.”

All in all, Singhal likes the package immensely. “The product is great, the performance brilliant and the team excellent. We really enjoy the VolvoCE experience,” he admits.

Challenging projects

Agroh Infrastructure is looking to the future with renewed hopes. It aims to be up there as one of India’s best known construction firms. It seeks to expand well beyond state borders by actively pursuing challenging road

Dirk Hoke appointed CEO of Siemens Large Drives Business Unit

JCB India powers ahead

On July 1, 2014, Dirk Hoke took over as CEO of the Large Drives Business Unit of the Siemens Drive Technologies Division. Large Drives develops, manufactures, and markets products, systems, solutions, and services for drive engineering in industrial and infrastructure applications as well as sectors such as marine engineering, mining, cement, pulp and paper.

T h e 4 5 - y e a r- o l d g r a d u a t e

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, during his recent visit to India met JCB engineers in New Delhi on July 8, 2014. JCB is the country’s largest manufacturer of construction equipment.

The meeting with the JCB engineers took place at the Delhi residence of the British High Commissioner Sir James Bevan during a joint visit by the Chancellor, Foreign Secretary William Hague and other ministers.

Swati Gupta, Kavita Verma, Hem Maurya, Divya Patsaria and two ladies going by the same name Priyanka Bansal, have all achieved Diplomas in either Mechanical or Electronic Engineering as they strive to further their careers at JCB’s Indian

engineer joined Siemens in 1996 and started his career at Transportation Systems Division. Subsequently, Hoke held management posts in rail electrification, traction technology, and power supplies at Siemens locations in Germany and other countries. After serving for several years as CEO of Siemens’ Cluster Africa and Siemens Morocco, in 2011 he took over leadership of the

headquarters in Ballabgarh, near Delhi. The group - all aged in their early 20s - have progressed to hold a variety of roles including Assembly Line Leaders to Assistant Managers.

Vipin Sondhi, MD & CEO, JCB India Ltd. said today: “The employees meeting the Chancellor have gone through an exhaustive one-year training programme at the JCB factory in Ballabgarh to become engineers. Their hard work is paying off and they are determined to study further to advance their careers in what is a very male dominated industry. We have an unwavering focus on commitment to training and people development which will only intensify in coming years.”

Industry Solutions Division before being appointed to head the Siemens Division Customer Services in October of the same year.

“To deliver 20 per cent higher productivity and 15 per cent savings on fuel consistently over the years is no joke. Take it from me -- if it’s road building, it’s got to be Volvo,” says Shailendra Singhal, Managing D i rec tor, Agroh In f ras t ruc ture Developers Pvt Ltd.

The champion road builders of them all, it is said, were ancient Romans. At their height, the Roman Empire maintained an amazing 85,000 km of roads across the heart of Europe and way beyond, encircling the Mediterranean area.

Roman roads were famous for their straight design and engineering excellence. “Much like ours,” says Singhal. “And I can tell you, we are champions when it comes to road building in Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India.”

Agroh Infrastructure Developers Pvt Ltd is a fast growing construction conglomerate clearly focused on creating superior infrastructural assets at both state and national levels. Incorporated in 2001, the company has grown in strength over the years to emerge as a leading player in road building, highways and bridges in Madhya Pradesh. The company has pioneered several BoT projects in the state with resounding success.

Safety and comfort Agroh Infrastructure employs a

fleet of heavy-duty Volvo construction

projects pan-India. Singhal knows exciting times are

ahead. Just as the country is on the verge of a ‘growth break-out’, he believes, so too is his company.

“And with a fleet of Volvo equipment by your side, there’s no telling how far you can go,” he signs off with a smile.

Shailendra Singhal, Managing Director, Agroh Infrastructure Developers Pvt Ltd

July 21-27, 2014 10IN PERSON

‘Harnessing energy of the sun is solution to India’s energy security’

Welspun Energy Pvt Ltd (Wepl) is a leading independent developer of renewable energy projects with a vision of commissioning 1.75 GW of solar and wind projects. The clean energy generator has time and again demonstrated its ability to design, engineer and build renewable projects with high performance outputs and low cost-delivery period.

It also holds the distinction of winning one of the world’s largest solar projects of 151 mw (DC).

Welspun Energy is setting up a 50 mw project on a public-private partnership (PPP) model with the Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (Mahagenco). The power producer will be fully responsible fo r par t- f inance, des ign, and commissioning of this grid interactive solar power.

For the next 25 years, the project will generate enough green energy to power 24 million households. Among the three bids received for the project, Welspun Energy emerged as the highest revenue sharing bidder.

Apart from Maharashtra, the company is building large capacity solar projects in Tamil Nadu and Punjab. Construction has begun on its 36 mw Punjab project site and a MoU has been signed for an additional 151 mw capacity. The organization is targeting to develop 1.75 GW of renewable capacity in next three years.

What are Welspun’s plans in terms of generating highly competitive cleaner and greener power in anticipation of future energy needs of India?

We have ventured to undertake a leading role in rapidly building up India’s solar and wind energy capacities and transitioning to low-carbon energy regime. The company is developing geographically diverse solar and wind portfolio in high potential locations, towards a cumulative target of 1.75 GW within next three years.

We have pioneered solar power solutions, both in terms of plant size and total installed capacity. Two of our landmark solar projects, in Neemuch 151 mw (DC) and Phalodi 55 mw (DC), have established benchmarks in project execution and capacities achieved.

We are ISO 9001:2008 certified, and this is one of the reasons why the organization is able to scale its operations to manage multiple projects across the country. We have been appreciated by former prime minister Manmohan Singh for being the first to commission a solar project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission’s (JNNSM) phase-1, batch-1.

How instrumental has Welspun been to meet energy demands of developing nations like India?

A s a d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r y, India needs to meet its growing energy demands while balancing environmental concerns. The National Solar Mission’s target of 20 GW installed solar capacity by year 2022 can significantly help address India’s energy deficit.

In line with this target, we have been working aggressively to set up solar and wind power projects. We have emerged as one of the largest renewable energy developers nationally, with benchmark projects like the Neemuch 151 mw (DC) project – one of the largest solar projects globally.

O u r e m p h a s i s o n p r o j e c t management has ensured we commission our projects well within committed timelines. Almost all of our projects have been developed ahead of schedule. In terms of performance our solar power plants are listed among the highest performing projects of the country. This continued delivery on quality and performance has ensured that we are able to contribute to India’s rapid renewable energy plans and thereby sourcing clean energy.

Which states in India are potential markets for your technology and solutions?

Almost all the states in the country receive fair levels of solar irradiation and have also been identified within

the National Solar Mission. State governments and the Solar Energy Corporation of India (Seci) have been offering project capacities up for bids.

We have been actively participating in these bids and our solar footprint has grown across eight different states – Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Tamil Nadu. We are fairly confident that the upcoming bids will help us in growing our portfolio further.

Any new groundbreaking technology implemented or in the pipeline to supply green energy to state grids in rural India?

We l a y a g r e a t e m p h a s i s on technology and engineering. Consequently our utility scale projects are among the highest generating solar plants in the country, as corroborated by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE). With each power project we have been perfecting our project designs and engineering innovations. We have received provisional patents for six of our best practices.

Recently our EPC (engineering, procurement & construction) received the ‘Golden Peacock Innovative Service Award 2014’ for modifications in the module mounting structures. Due to the innovations made, the project erection time gets reduced drastically with lower cost implications. Given its simplified design, the need

for training or technological expertise required also reduces, leading to faster commissioning of solar projects.

Resource augmentation and growth in energy supply have failed to meet the ever increasing demands of the multiplying population. Please comment.

India needs a fairly balanced environment-friendly energy mix to meet its commercial and residential energy demands. Given its geographic positioning, the country receives signif icant percentage of solar irradiation.

As per estimates harnessing solar energy received in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert alone can generate close to 700 to 2100 GW, while our extensive shoreline offers a huge opportunity for offshore wind projects.

Renewable energy-based projects have a strong advantage in that they can be scaled for off-grid projects, thereby being ideal solutions for far-flung population pockets which can’t be connected to the national grid network.

G i v e n t h e s e s i g n i f i c a n t oppor tun i t ies , we need s ta te governments to increasingly adopt solar energy generation. Solar energy is already close to achieving grid parity and continued widespread implementation will drive it towards grid parity.

How can serious energy shortages that continue to plague India be curbed -- forcing it to rely heavily on imports?

Look at how conventional energy costs have been increasing recently. Cities like Gurgaon and Bengaluru are hubs of economic development, but power shortages seem to be on an upward trend.

We need to realize that thermal energy can no longer be thought of as a bankable solution. It isn’t environment friendly for one; while on the other hand coal imports are draining the nation’s coffers. Bankability of these projects has gone down since most discoms have a bad history of payments for power purchased.

Harnessing the energy of the sun can be the solution to India’s energy security. The cost of solar energy is stabilizing. With increasing adoption, renewable energy projects are fast becoming cost effective.

In the Indian scenario the tariffs have decreased from Rs 17 to approximately INR 6.5 a unit, thereby closing on to grid parity. As mentioned earlier, applying projects in varied geographies as off grid projects is a big advantage. The future is renewable, conventional energy is increasing becoming difficult to sustain.

Investors are shying away from conventional energy due to policy uncertainties. What should be the new government’s initiatives?

The renewable energy sector, particularly solar, has done well. For a further growth impetus to this sector, the new government needs to put in place the much-needed policy measures. Otherwise it will be very difficult to retain India’s 6th most globally attractive position for renewable energy investments (Ernst & Young’s Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index 2014). Some of the issues that need addressing are:

Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO): RPOs have been defined for

Vineet Mittal, Vice Chairman, Welspun Renewables Energy Pvt Ltd share his vision with Remona Divekar on his motto of commissioning renewable, solar and wind energy projects across the country to deliver high performance outputs and low-cost delivery period. Excerpts:

state distribution licensees, open access consumers and captive consumers of power. However, the sector is not witnessing the percentage increase in solar power to the degree it should have experienced. Without a legal enforcement mechanism for RPOs, India will not be able to make a steady and sustainable transition to green economy.

Mandatory domestic content requ i remen t : Th is i s a g rea t impediment to India’s energy security. There is a wide gap between the scale and operations of Indian manufacturers as compared to their global counterparts.

Indigenous manufacturers don’t possess the scale to meet the supply requirement of the IPPs. Adhering to this policy will continue to drive project cost upwards, thereby dissuading project developers to invest in solar energy based generation. The government must work toward creating an entire ecosystem for solar manufacturing in India.

Funding challenges: This is one significant area that needs attention from the government. Renewable energy f inanc ing in emerg ing economies faces particularly daunting challenges. But there are creative policy solutions that could potentially reduce the cost of renewable energy support by as much as 30 per cent.

Banking and financial institutions in India should therefore have separate sectorial limits for lending to renewable energy projects.

Improve cost-effectiveness of domestic renewable energy support programmes: provide lower-cost debt through debt concession programmes which the research shows could lower the total cost of providing required support.

Land banks: Land availability for projects has been a challenge, and a more proactive role by the government is required. Post assessing the solar potential of each state, government land banks should be created and allocated to projects which are coming up.

Additionally, as solar and wind are non-polluting industries; these projects should fa l l under the Non-Agricultural Land Conversion exemption. For private land to be used for setting up solar power plants, stamp duty exemption may be considered.

What is your take on the recent budget?

Our complements for the great road map drawn up for the renewable energy industry as a whole and the special thrust for broad-basing and upscaling the solar power sector nationally.

To start with the proposed UMPPs in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Ladakh, J&K with a budget of Rs 500 crore is very encouraging. If the government ensures issues of evacuation, land and availability of water is taken care of, there will be a lot of players willing to enter this segment.

Another positive move is the government relaxing requirements of CRR, SLR, priority sector lending, because of this banks are now being able to issue long term bonds as loans for projects as long as 25-30 years!

There is good news for the manufacturers as well, especially with regards to concession of duty. A concessional basic customs duty of 5 per cent is also being extended to machinery and equipment required for setting up of a project for solar energy production. This will give a shot in the arm for local manufacturers.

Implementation of the green energy corridor project will be accelerated in this financial year to facilitate evacuation of renewable energy across the country. Overall it is a step in the right direction.

Gujarat 15 mw

July 21-27, 2014 11

“We feel there is a need for some kind of standards/regulations particular to Indian environment and we hope that IFFA (the Indian Facade and Fenestration Association) will bring these ideas to the market,” says Teruyuki Sekine, Manager (Business & Product Development), YKK AP Inc in an interview with Pramod Shinde. Excerpts:

IN PERSON

‘Opportunities galore for aluminium doors & windows’

How do you analyse India’s emerging market for aluminium windows for residential and commercial segment?

We strongly feel that there is big potential for aluminium windows in both residential and commercial segments. We see that the market is shifting towards usage of completely integrated and trusted window system for these requirements.

We have big expectations for the future, as the Indian market as well as the industry is gradually maturing and it is adopting the practices and standards being followed in the advanced markets.

How YKK AP pursues the values suitable for coming age through its architectural products?

Today, YKK AP is doing business in Japan, USA, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brazil. Its main strength lies in understanding the requirements of the market and developing systems as per the needs.

Since the climate and culture is different from region to region, we develop systems that is suited to the conditions of each market, based on the standards and regulations of that country. Profiles and accessories (hardware) are both developed and manufactured in-house to maintain the quality as per our standards.

On the challenges and opportunities for aluminium windows market in India.

Major challenges in India are the lack of standards and a price conscious mind-set. There are no specific standards which the industry follows. For most of the projects, AAMA, BS, EN, and/or AS standards are followed.

We feel that there is a need for some kind of standards/regulations particular to Indian environment and we hope that IFFA (the Indian Facade and Fenestration Association) will bring these ideas to the market.

Regarding price conscious mind-set, of course, we need to provide products that are affordable. However, in order to maintain standards of our products, the quality of accessories (hardware) will not be compromised. Regardless of these challenges, with

the new government coming in we see huge potential for the next five years.

Any plans to launch a new brand in aluminium windows for Indian market?

We are in the process of developing

a w indow system spec i f ica l l y designed for the Indian market, which is scheduled to be launched in FY15.

The market is in a transit ion period where system companies f rom abroad are coming in to the market with dif ferent types of products. By bringing India specific systems, we are hoping to change the mind-set towards aluminium windows/doors systems.

On YKK AP’s superior technology and quality aspects.

We are a part of the YKK Group which is the world’s market leader with over 45% market share for fasteners (zippers). YKK’s business has spread across the globe, keeping the same quality worldwide.

As a group company, YKK AP is also maintaining same quality levels across all regions we do business.

W i t h t h e e x p e r i e n c e a n d technologies developed, we are confident to capture the market with our high quality systems. Since we are taking into account the requirements and needs of the market in India, we hope to propose something unique to the market.

Your vision for YKK AP in India’s urbanization.

We see India as a huge market in coming years. Although the speed of development hasn’t been as anticipated, we are hoping the new

Do you have any raw material tie-up with primary players to maintain global quality and remain cost-effective?

We have taken over the extrusion business of Bhoruka Extrusions Pvt Ltd in June 2013, with a Japanese technical head guiding in Mysore. With the collaboration of YKK AP and over 30 years of experience in the Indian market through Bhoruka, we are confident of maintaining global quality as well as cost effectiveness in India.

government will speed up the process and provide incentives to MNCs like us to invest more in the future. We will initially focus on Tier I cities.

How would you cater to various locations?

India is a broad and diversified count ry w i th var ious reg iona l requirements. We see Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, and Chennai as major hubs. Initially, we plan to focus in these major hubs.

July 21-27, 2014 12

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EVENTSJuly 25, 2014

5th Annual Seminar on ‘Metamorphosis in Building & Construction Industry 2014’Hilton Mumbai International Airport Hotel, Andheri (East), Mumbai The Seminar has been designed to create an interactive platform for business associates, connected with the building, construction & infrastructure sector, to discuss crucial issues pertaining to changing dynamics of building materials, reviewing methods and techniques and delivering long term development plan. Contact: contact@konstructionreview.com editor@mmronline.com Telephone: 022-22660623

August 9, 2014ManexeITC Kakatiya, HyderabadManexe is a 1-day event being held on August 9, 2014 at the ITC Kakatiya in Hyderabad. This event showcases various products and services related to the manufacturing industry and more, etc in the building construction industry. Contact: The Confederation of Indian Industry, 203-204, Sears Tower, Gulbai Tekra, Near Panchwati, Ahmedabad

August 15-17, 2014BACE Expo (Building Architectural Construction & Engineering Symposium & Trade Show)Milan Mela Ground, Kolkata BACE Expo will be held for three consecutive days at Milan Mela Complex, Kolkata. The key industry players and market leaders will discuss about modern tools and technology associated with the building and construction sector. Participants will discuss about growth of the real estate sector and build strategic business alliances with manufacturers and dealers. The prospects of some of the major construction projects in Kolkata will be highlighted. Some of the products that will be displayed include ceramic and stones, elevators, escalators, bath and sanitation. Contact: Ask Trade & Exhibitions Pvt Ltd, Flat 307, Alsa Towns Ville,170/38 Arcot Road, Valasaravakkam, Chennai

August 15-18, 2014Construction Architecture & Interior ChennaiChennai Trade Centre, ChennaiThe show is a 4-day event being held from August 15 to 18, 2014 in Chennai. This event showcases various products and services as well as equipment related to construction, architectural firms and interior design, latest designs and technologies and more in Building Construction, Architecture & Interior Designing. Contact: I ads and events Pte Ltd, 61, 1st Floor, Gold Towers, 50 Residency Road, Bengaluru.

September 11-13, 2014The Big 5 Construct IndiaBombay Convention Centre, MumbaiIt will provide the ideal platform for influential architects, contractors, consultants and engineers to share ideas about innovative construction tools and services. Contact: DMG: Events. PO Box No 33817 Dubai, UAE

October 4, 201419th One Full Day WorkshopThe Institution of Engineers (India), Mahalaxmi, Mumbai Workshop on Jirnoddhara of RCC buildings which contains Structural Audit, Upgrading (House - Keeping, Regular Maintenance, Repairs, Rehabilitation); Fixing Leakage and Waterproofing of existing RCC buildings and a total new concept to construct RCC durable buildings without leakage with practicals on acrylic polymer-based flexible membrane waterproofing system. Contact: Jayakumar Jivraj Shah, Single Faculty Course Conductor, 203, Wing-B, Lakshmi Apartments, Corporation Bank Building, Behind Anand Nagar, Dahisar (East), Mumbai 400068. Cell: 919819242649 Phone: 28483541/9819242649 jjshah123123@rediffmail.com The Institution of Engineers (India), Mahalaxmi, Mumbai Phones: 022-23543650/23542943 Mobile: 09820392726

December 4-6, 2014Ceramics AsiaGujarat University Exhibition Hall, Ahmedabad This event will be organized to enhance that potential by bringing industry professionals from different corners of the world under one roof. Ceramics Asia is going to be organized for three days at the Gujarat University Exhibition Center in Ahmedabad Contact: Unifair Exhibition Service Co. Ltd, Room 802-804, Daxin Building, 538 Dezheng North Road Guangzhou, China

December 15-18, 2014bC India ShowIndia Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida The International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Mining Machines and Construction Vehicles-provides the international construction industry with a professional platform for the construction industry. Contact: B C Expo India Pvt Ltd, Lalani Aura, 5th Floor, 34th Road, Khar (West), Mumbai

TERI, USGBC join forces to promote high performance buildings in India

The Energy & Resources Institute (Teri) and the US Green Building Council (USGBC) announced a strategic collaboration to accelerate the development of high performance buildings in India and South-East Asia.

Developing a sustainable approach to the built environment is not only a global issue, but also a major

and technological ly advanced mechanisms, which is crucial in regionalizing Leed in India and South-East Asia.

Speaking at the event, Dr RK Pachauri, Director-General, Teri, said, “Several studies have estimated that most of the buildings projected to be standing in 2030 in India have yet to be built. The demand for energy, water and other inputs for these buildings and those that already exist will be staggering. Designing and constructing Green buildings would ensure that India, and the world, do not get locked into a pattern of resource use intensity that would be unsustainable for a variety of reasons. Teri and USGBC share common goals in promoting Green buildings round the world.”

“Implementing a more sustainable approach to the built environment is a global imperative, but nowhere is its impact more critical than in developing countries. This partnership between USGBC and Teri promises to take Green buildings to the next level in India and across South-East Asia,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, the US Green Building Council. “India is already the third largest market for Leed outside the US, and USGBC is committed to bringing our resources to advance more rapid adoption of green building practices.”

The partnership will focus on two key initiatives:

Existing buildings: The Griha Council implementing and supporting the Leed for existing buildings rating system and the Leed Dynamic Plaque for Indian and South-East Asian markets.

New buildings: Offering seamless

pathways for dual ra t ings for new buildings: Griha projects will have the opportunity to earn Leed certification and Leed buildings will have the opportunity to earn Griha certification.

The partnership comes on the heels of last month’s announcement from USGBC regarding its expansion of support for Leed in India.

“Griha has pioneered a regional ra t ing system that addresses the environmental impacts of the construction sector in India. It was further modified and adopted by the ministry as a benchmark for sustainable buildings within India. We applaud these extraordinary achievements and greatly look forward to advancing this regional system with our global rating system as both parties seek to transform the built environment into one that includes the most sustainable, safest and healthiest buildings for all,” said Scot Horst, Senior Vice President, Leed, USGBC.

USGBC has also established a Leed customer service hub in India that will help accelerate the adoption of Leed in India. The Leed hub is a local technical, market, certification and customer support centre for Leed project teams.

Additionally, in an effort to continue strengthening the global consistency and review quality of the Leed rating system, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) now manages certification of projects to all Leed rating systems in India.

The Leed hub, USGBC’s renewed commitment to India, along with the strategic partnership with Teri, will add significant capacity in the market, encouraging even greater adoption of green standards across more populations in the region.

Leed v4, offered by USGBC and SVA Griha, Griha LD, which is offered by the Griha Council, will continue to co-exist and be promoted by the respective bodies.

(L-R): Scot Horst, Senior Vice President for Leed at USGBC; Dr RK Pachauri, Director-General, Teri ; Mahesh Ramanujam, Chief Operating Officer at USGBC & President of GBCI; and Mili Majumdar, Director, Sustainable Habitat, ADaRSH at Teri

concern for developing countries. Teri’s Griha (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) and USGBC’s Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) have partnered to promote the best of global and Indian practices to ensure efficiency of design, construction and operation of high performance buildings.

Griha has created locally relevant