metro mart magazine- may 2013

May 2013 1www.metromartdaily.com

METROT H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M martFabindia presents Ballads

Dining

Dining Divine at UDS

City Development Activities

Waste Disposal to Seaplanes

“City to benefi t fr om CSR initiatives of UDS”

A new home collection available at the city store

“Evaluate all aspects of the society”

Faizal KhanManaging Director, NIMS

Shopping

Naz Home Space off ers stylishand aff ordable furniture

Beauty

Divya Spa bags GeoSpa Asia Spa India Award

Quick Tips

6 incredibly useful websites providing great services

Prasad ManjaliVice President, UDS Group

Volume 2 Issue 10 & 11 May 2013 `40

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Dear Readers,

Thiruvananthapuram was in the news of national media for a good reason. The credit goes to Haritha V Kumar, who topped the prestigious Civil Services Examinations this year from our city after almost twenty two years when Raju Narayanaswamy achieved the feat way back in 1991. We share the moment of success and happiness with Haritha and her family, and wish her all the best in steering the growth of our nation through better governance.

Be it waste management, infrastructure, electricity, water supply or other amenities, it’s common to hear our citizens blaming the authorities for the drawbacks we face on a day to day basis. But is it really the authorities who are solely responsible for such municipal mismanagement of our city? If not then why are they held singularly responsible?

Accusing someone else is the easiest way of running away from our own responsibilities. If you go through world history or epics, better country is built by its own people along with their rulers. Comparing to any developed country or developing country of India’s stature, we are blessed to live with freedom to the most. Instead of respecting the responsibility of the freedom this country bestowed upon us, we tend to misuse or abuse it time to time, to spoil its glory and pride.

It’s each of our responsibility to keep our city developed. The authorities who rule our city are the ones whom we have chosen from ourselves, they are not diff erent. They just represent us. Let’s pledge ourselves to change for the betterment of the society, and contribute to its lost glory. As committed, Metro Mart continues to feature further in this edition about our city’s development.

Metro Mart always believes in being part of the noble eff orts initiated by the cityites. With the support of Kalanidhi and FRAT, Metro Mart got the opportunity to be a helping hand of Manakattu Vilakattu Veettil Sasidharan Assari’s family in Kadinamkulam who were adopted by the trio. A carpenter, for the last seven years Sasidharan Assari was suff ering from urinary disease, but was continuing his work carrying a bag to collect urine. He was detected with cancer two months ago which brought the entire family into distress. Assessing the situation, the trio were not only able to give temporary relief to the family, but a hope to their future.

In this edition of METRO, we are featuring Naz in shopping, Divya Spa Leela in Beauty, Fab India in Home, UDS in Dining along with our other regular contents. It’s always encouraging to hear from you, the only medium for us to improve. You can write to me at [email protected]. Let me take leave till we come out with the next edition.

Cheerz!

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Published, Edited and Printed by Hari Shanker A G and Owned by Haritha Media Pvt Ltd and Printed by him at SB Press Private Limited, Statue, Trivandrum 695001 and Published from Tharangam, Kodunganoor Post, Trivandrum 695003

Metro Mart is a monthly journal published from Trivandrum. Views and opinions expressed in the journal are not necessarily those of the Publishers.

Metro Mart reserves the right to use the information published here in any manner whatsoever. While every eff ort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published in this edition, neither the Publisher no any of its employees accept any responsibilities for any errors or omissions.

© All Rights Reserved RNI No: KERENG/2011/40037

Corporate Offi ce:-

Metro Mart ThiruvananthapuramJayaraj Plus Towers, Murinjapalam, Medical College Post Trivandrum - 695011Tel: +91 471 6065511/ 6065522Email: [email protected]

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No:217, 3B Main, OMBR LayoutBangalore – 560 043Tel: +91 85530 12371 Email: [email protected]

Volume 2 Issue 10&11 May 2013

Annual Subscription `400

Managing Editor Hari Shanker [email protected] CEO & Managing Director Siji Nair [email protected]

Sub Editor V Viswanath

Editorial Assistant Pooja Jayan

Art & Creative Avijit Kar

GM Sales Sibu Nair

GM Administration Binoy Krishna

Circulation Manager Lalu Paul

Business Executives Vishnu G A

Anand A

City Development Acti viti es

Waste Disposal to Seaplanes

Cover Feature

Our City to benefi t from CSR initi ati ves of UDS - Leader Speak

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Trivandrum to take a dip in ‘Mall culture’

Thiruvananthapuram Development – Some Ideas

Good Living

Naz Home Space off ers stylish and aff ordable furniture

Educati on


Travel

Beauty

Fair Mart

Quick Tips

The Last Leaf

Metro Update

8


City Development Activities Waste Disposal to Seaplanes

Continuing with our efforts to uphold the develop-ment process of Thiruvananthapuram, we had begun - in our last issue - to examine the various development activities in the city. The responses we received for the feature were amazing. Further significant suggestions have been put forward to us by many, relating to our city and its development.

V Viswanath

Corporation Ltd (KMCL), the Special Purpose Vehicle, will implement the Monorail project.

Off-street parking facilities are the need of the hour in the city for reduction in

turnkey contractor was finalized. The second stretch involving the Kesavadasapuram-Karyavattom route could be taken up only after widening of the roads. Kerala Monorail

Moving on with the topic Monorail from Technocity to Karamana - The first section of the elevated rail-based mass rapid transit system could be commissioned in 30 months after the

COVER FEATURE



traffic congestion on the roads. Cutting of parking at regular intervals, converting roads into blocks, restricting entry and exit, encouraging dependence on public transport vehicles and cycles, restricting speed and diverting traffic via parallel roads have been suggested for the arterial roads.

Development of multi-level parking at Thampanoor has been finalized by the

city corporation. It has set aside Rs 50 lakh from this year’s plan fund for the project. Another multi-level car park is planned by the government near the new secretariat annex. Such multi-level build-ups would not only reduce traffic but also drastically cut down on the requirement of land, which is at a dearth in the city.

Development of Waterway Transport is being considered in the city.

With multi-modal hub plan gearing up momentum, effective use of Parvathy Puthanar canal has come in to focus. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation K.C. Venugopal has announced to start cruise tourism from the airport side to the famed beach resort of Kovalam. Parvathy Puthanar can connect to Killipalam, Jagathy, Pangode, Maruthankuzhi at Sasthamangalam, Vattiyoorkavu, Peroorkada and Vazhayila. If water



transport is enabled in this canal it would become the most preferred mode of transport in the city.

Railways development in Thiruvananthapuram has been steady, even though in a slow pace. Mainline Electric Multiple Units service has been started between Kollam-Nagercoil in the last year. AC Duronto service to Chennai has started from the city. With track doubling of Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari sector and increasing passenger trains between these stations would be a boon to the commuters in the southern end of the city.

Kochu Veli Terminus is being developed to ease the congestion in Thiruvananthapuram Central Station. Basic amenities in this station needs to be improved to be passenger-friendly. Remoteness of the station is to be addressed.

Connectivity to city center has to be improved. A foot overbridge connecting platforms on eastern and western side is long pending.

Even though Nemom railway station has been considered as another terminal in the city, development works are yet to take off . This station is also considered to become coach maintenance hub of the division. At the recently presented Railway Budget, the city received a new weekly train from Kochu Veli to Lokmanya Tilak.

The Guwahati-Ernakulam Express train was extended to Thiruvananthapuram. In view of the growth in various sectors in the city connectivity problems across the country is bound to rise. To prevent this frequency and number of trains has to be increased suffi ciently.

For quite a long time there have been demands for a High Court bench in the city, although it has not materialized yet. Union Minister Shashi Tharoor stated in a press note that the decades-old demand for the setting up of a high court bench at the state capital should be considered seriously.

The Union power ministry has decided to include Thiruvananthapuram in the Restructured Accelerated Power Reforms & Development Programme (R-APDRP) mooted by the Centre. The programme aims at bringing revolutionary changes in power transmission like laying underground cables for electric supply, formation of a common network that establishes connectivity among all electricity offi ces, a swift system to address the grievances of the consumers and online

“Only when we create basic infrastructure facilities will we be able to invite more investment. Only then will we be able to provide more job opportuni-ties and thereby increase the purchasing power of the people.”

Oommen Chandy Chief Minister



billing system.

From Aruvikkara to Peroorkada Kerala Water Authority has been laying “unbreakable” ductile iron pipes, in place of the usual pre-stressed concrete pipes to prevent pipe bursts. Repeated pipe bursts can be prevented by complete replacement of old prestressed concrete pipes with mild steel pipes. The ultimate water demand in the service area by 2031 is 410 mld at the rate of 200lpcd for urban, domestic use along with a provision of non-

domestic and industrial requirements and 135lpcd for peripheral areas.

Augmentation of water supply scheme in the city is of utmost importance to meet this requirement. The state government has decided to set up Kerala Drinking Water Supply Company Limited (KDWSCL) for drinking water supply in Thiruvananthapuram. The Water Supply project assisted by Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) currently underway in the state

capital is to benefit around 84,000 people. Out of this around 30% would be having the facility of piped water for the first time.

Rain water harvesting is a technique which should be promoted for effective utilization of natural resources. The presence of a large number of ponds and water tanks is a boon to the people of the city. However, the lack of maintenance is a problem faced. If cleaned up properly and adequately maintained, these ponds and rivulets would reduce



Thiruvananthapuram too, it is creating difficulties to the civic administration. It is seen from records that Corporation gave importance to sanitation works right from 1897 when push carts were used for cleaning duties. Plastic usage is a factor in increasing waste disposal problem.

The city corporation has started promoting various methods like pipe compost for managing the waste at the source. Small Industries Development Corporation had purchased a truck-

(on the basis of hydro-graphic surveys, both manual and dredging), freshwater fisheries development (scientific aquaculture, replenishing of disappearing species, releasing native fish etc.,), setting up a laboratory for water quality assessment, weed control, conservation of flora and fauna, and awareness creation among user-groups and other social activities to protect the lake.

Waste disposal is a major problem faced by almost all developing cities. In

the dependence on KWA. One such initiative is the restoration of the freshwater body of Vellayani Lake with an Rs.26-crore project.

The project plans to include activities such as controlling the encroachment of the lake, compensation to ‘kayal’ land owners, agro-forestry, soil and water conservation, afforestation of adjoining areas, sustainable agriculture development, pollution abatement (including effluent treatment methods), de-silting


mounted garbage disposal system to deal with both bio-degradable and plastic wastes. Solid waste management has to be addressed with great importance to prevent outbreak and spread of diseases.

The city of Thiruvananthapuram has been promoting Arts, Culture & Crafts through various promotional activities. International Film Festival of Kerala is conducted annually at Thiruvananthapuram. The city has been the centre of cultural activities from early days. Scope for international multicultural activity is accentuated by the presence of Goethe Zentrum – the German language institution, Alliance Francaise – the French language institution, and the Russian Cultural Centre in the city.

Kerala State Chalachitra Academy is based in the city. Renovation work is being carried out at Tagore Theatre adding a total of 7000 sq.ft. to

the existing 32000 sq.ft. theatre complex. Another 3 cultural venues, including two mini-auditoriums and an open-air amphitheatre is being added to the complex. The theatre would be equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, acoustic panels, aircraft quality sheets, projection facilities and reflective ceilings. Kerala Crafts Village at Vellar near Kovalam is witnessing renovation and expansion works. The village aims to showcase the traditional arts and crafts of Kerala.

The government has begun Capital Region Development Program Phase II this year. 10 projects are envisioned. The fiscal year of 2013-14 would see taking up of four projects.

Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar said the four projects that were given the nod for initiation in the forthcoming fiscal were ring and link roads for 42 km of city roads that were being developed now;

parking plazas; expansion of shopping centres and markets; and planting of one lakh tree saplings as a part of green initiative.

TRIDA chairman P.K. Venugopal said, “As an immediate step, we are planning to take up the widening of Maruthamkuzhi-Vattiyoorkavu-Nettayam stretch and improvement of Vattiyoorkavu junction.” He also stated cleaning work of Parvathy Puthanar will be taken up by water resources department. The remaining projects in this phase include Cleaning of waterways and water bodies, Connectivity improvement (Wi-Fi, Broadband, etc.), formation of Heritage commission and building centres of music and arts, alternative source of Energy development, ensuring Drinking water facility to all, and efficient Sewerage treatment system.

Chief Town Planner Eappen Varughese, Additional Chief Town



Planner Jacob Easow, and Town Planners S. Ajayakumar and K. Baiju have prepared a Master Plan for the city dividing the town in to four areas. Department of Town and Country Planning has prepared this as a master plan for the city up to 2031. The guidelines in this plan include connecting the waterways of Kovalam-Thiruvallom and Veli-Akkulam to city center, Mobility hub at Veli, Court complex at Kazhakkootam, Logistic hub at Vizhinjam, Kovalam-Thiruvallom Tourist hub, Techno hub at Kazhakkootam, among others.

Two intermediate ring roads, outer ring road, Parassala-Kazhakkootam bypass, radial roads, development of major junctions and waterways are also included in the plan. Monorail from

Technocity-Neyyatinkara is planned to be commissioned by 2018. Proposed 32 safe cycling paths connecting different areas is a major boost in the environmental aspect.

In 2011, Thiruvananthapuram had a population of 3,307,284 of which male and female were 1,584,200 and 1,723,084 respectively. The rate of growth in population is 2.5% compared to 2001. The initial provisional data released by census India 2011, shows that density of Thiruvananthapuram district for 2011 is 1,509 people per sq. km. Population density per sq. km is 1509 compared to 1476 in 2001. The increase in population leads to shortage of land. One of the main aspects which hinder development is lack of vacant space and the

increasing value of land.

An example of this is the 120 acres that was required for the construction of an integrated terminal building and associated facilities of the Trivandrum International Airport. Only 38 acres could be handed over in phase I. The government will be able to acquire the remaining 82 acres only in a phased manner. Again at Vizhinjam it was a Herculean task to acquire land. The government has acquired the land for Vizhinjam project giving market value for the land, market value for houses if any, free land for affected landowner and hardship allowance for six months.

The growth in population has lead to tremendous pressure on development initiatives in the city. KPCC President Ramesh


Chennithala had said at a function that the state needs to think about bringing a law which will control the purchase of land by non-natives of the state.

The spotlight has been turned at Thiruvananthapuram by a number of companies. Microsoft Corporation India Pvt Ltd, in conjunction with NGO partner Aide et Action, launched in Thiruvananthapuram their second YouthSpark center in India. The Thiruvananthapuram center will focus on Information Technology enabled services (ITES), automobile, hospitality and retail. There has been many new private television channels started in the state which has established studios in Thiruvananthapuram.

The advancement of Medical care facilities and medical tourism is bringing

in more visitors to the city. People wanting to settle down after retirement are also attracted to Thiruvananthapuram due to its laid-back and quiet-city nature.

The tropical climate of the city due to its proximity to sea and the weather being pleasant throughout the year works magic on visitors. The strong connection with its traditional culture also makes the city fascinating. Low cost of living – yet another factor – leads people choose Thiruvananthapuram over other cities in India.

It was the tertiary sector – employed in the government offices – which formed around 60% of the population in Thiruvananthapuram in the beginning of the new millennium. With the advent of IT parks and increasing number of associated services this has changed. At

present, professionals in the field of construction, IT, Healthcare, Tourism, etc. are present in greater proportions in the city when compared. However, basic infrastructure facilities need to be boosted for all around prosperity.

Any and all enterprises taken up for the upliftment of a city are interlinked. When an area is developed as a tourist centre, it eventually leads to the upliftment of people around the area by means of improved roads, better sanitation, etc.

For example the completion of Enchakkal new bus terminal would increase the land value of the area as well as bring on many other developmental initiatives in the area. Mayor K. Chandrika, said the clean-up of the Parvathy Puthanar is directly connected to the completion of the Muttathara sewage



treatment plant, which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 72 core. The interconnection of development initiatives is evident from this too.

The final goal of all planning is development. Development should be all around and for everyone in a society. The developmental activities taken up should not reduce our resources.

Conservation of resources should be kept in mind while initiating various programs for

development. Growth-oriented programs should not side-track issues relating to environment. However, long-term gains and long-lasting returns should be uppermost in mind while deciding upon developmental schemes. Society as a whole should be taken into account.

Huge development in the city would attract big businesses and offer expanded employment opportunities. This would result in people from the outskirts of the city migrating to the city limits.

Housing, transportation, piped water supply, waste disposal, health infrastructure, and other civic services would be highly used up.

Hence, the government should foresee the requirements of the future and take measures to address the necessities which would arise. The city’s steady growth in the commercial, tourism and other sectors would benefit greatly if these development initiatives are carried out in a timely fashion.


“Our City to benefi t fr om CSR initiatives of UDS”

LEADER SPEAK

What is your view on tourism in Kerala?

Kerala is a beautiful place. We have a lot of resources. Considering tourism, we have ayurveda, backwaters, wildlife, beaches and others. But

the nature that god has given us is being spoiled.

Thiruvananthapuram has been witnessing various development activities. Are there any areas where more focus is needed?

When we speak

of development in Thiruvananthapuram, there are two areas where immediate attention is needed. Many tourists complain regarding this.

They are cleanliness and infrastructure. Foreigners and people from other

Prasad Manjali, Corporate Director of Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel & Spa, has a vast experience in the hospitality in-dustry. He is a person who keeps track of the changing sce-narios in the hotel and tourism industry.

As a person who has had consistent contact with the guests at Uday Samudra and also keeps an eye on their suggestions and views online, Prasad Manjali comments on the necessities of further development activities in Thiruvana-nthapuram.



states alike think that Kerala is a very clean place. But the sight of garbage piled up beside the roads puts them off .

Garbage heaped up high along the roads makes the tourists wonder about the civic sense or rather the lack of it in Kerala being the state with high literacy rate.

The organization South Kerala Hotelier’s Forum (SKHF) is actively involved in sanitation drives, etc. We should have provision for eff ective garbage disposal. Public and government should not close their eyes.

A permanent solution need to be found for this problem or else image of Kerala would take a beating. If a city like Chennai can get their Coovum River cleared up, we should also be able to get our Parvathy Puthanar cleaned. We have been taking a lot about Parvathy Puthanar, but nothing seems to get done.

We know Uday Samudra does certain programmes to promote cleanliness and create awareness among public. Could you elaborate on them?

UDS gets beach cleaning done in Samudra beach by our gardeners every day. Every morning and evening, our people clean the beach and the adjacent parts. Plastic bottles, papers, all that waste items are removed and bagged.

Other than this, Uday Samudra on its own is taking a lot of initiatives in terms of cleaning up the local area. To create awareness on cleanliness and sanitation, we have small programmes conducted in various junctions. That is also not enough.

Secondly, we are also trying to do cleaning on one side. Thirdly, we are creating a mechanism where we have a monitoring system which includes SKHF members, municipality, corporation, and local police. That is also needed for a long-lasting eff ect to our cleanliness drive.

We would be very active on this programme by the end of June. Before the rains we would clean up the major part and then it is only the maintenance part remaining.

In your opinion what sort of infrastructure is required currently?

International tourists panic at the sight of traffi c congestion and state of roads. Connecting other tourist locations such as Alleppey and Thekkady to Thiruvananthapuram too needs to be prioritized. If proper roads are built, the rest all will fall in place. Some governments back there was a plan for express highway; however, it has not come up. Express Highway is also something which is very critical for Kerala. Comparing other states, we are very much backward.

Governments should come up with bold decisions. If such an express highway comes up in the long run there will be changes in the economy. We should be thinking of the requirements of 50 years from today.

20 years before there was nothing in Malaysia. First thing they did was construct a highway from one end of Malaysia to the other. All developmental activities there including fl yovers, bylane development



and other infrastructure came up once that road was built. Their tourist infl ow increased because of the infrastructure development.

The proposed helicopter tourism will have a lot of takers because people are scared to travel on the roads that are there now. If the government has fund shortage, then they can make it a phase by phase process. Thiruvananthapuram Airport director Mr. Chandran is a very dynamic person. He has come up with a concept where Thiruvananthapuram

Airport would have water, road, and railway along with air connectivity. This proposed multi-modal hub if executed is a beautiful plan.

Would Vizhinjam Port be a fi llip to development in Thiruvananthapuram?

The coming up of Vizhinjam Port will defi nitely be an economic boost to Thiruvananthapuram. The hotels itself will be benefi ting, because there will be a lot of guests traveling in and out of the city. However, some hotels will be facing the

problem of acquisition and demolitions. This is a direct eff ect. There is an indirect part to this. Today, Kovalam is one of the best beaches. The port coming up nearby will aff ect the beach. This is proven in a number of other places. The tourist infl ow will gradually reduce. It is two sides of the coin.

What are the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives by Uday Samudra?

As part of Uday Samudra’s CSR initiatives, the roundabouts at Vellayambalam, Chackai,



Kallumoodu, and Airport Arrival are being spruced up and maintained by us. Ponnara Sreedhar Park at Thampanoor is also being taken care of by Uday Samudra.

We have employed staff at each of these places for proper upkeep of these parks. We would defi nitely look in to maintenance of further areas if there is an initiative from the government or corporation’s part.

Uday Samudra has taken up several causes as part of our corporate social responsibility. We have

teams going about the Vellar area who talk to people on maintaining their places. We do medical camps. We tell them that they should keep their surroundings clean and hygienic in order to achieve good health. In the entire Thiruvananthapuram region, we do marathons.

Every year, we have one marathon which is primarily focused on clean Thiruvananthapuram. We have anti-tobacco campaign in schools and colleges, where we try and create as much awareness as possible. We have props

created for the anti-tobacco day. Last year we did a skeleton with smoke coming out of the mouth, with a board saying this is what smokers would eventually become.

The campaigns are designed in such a way that people are able to see and understand the ill-eff ects of tobacco. In the last one year, in association with Round Table we have planted more than 800 trees in various public places like school compounds. It has been done continuously for the last two years.



“Evaluate all aspects of the society”

In the current scenario, we are unable to analyze what would happen in the next two years. We have a large number of projects announced, but the number of projects implemented is almost nil.

There are contradictory statements about projects for Thiruvananthapuram. This puts a dampener on the programme ‘Vision 2030’ projected by the Chief Minister. Speaking about Thiruvananthapuram development at this

juncture is futile. From an economic viewpoint, prices of all commodities have gone up and still increasing.

Even though government intervention is seen to prevent this, there should be a detailed study by the government. The salary hike to nursing and other allied staff in hospitals declared by Labour Minister Shibu Baby John is a requisite for the employees due to the price rise. However, the standard of clients at

private hospitals should be considered while fixing salaries.

Mostly financially well-off patients visit high-profile hospitals in the city, while hospitals in the panchayats and taluks would have patients from the low-income group. Hospital running cost in all these is the same. Even though this is a charity hospital, government sees the hospital as having a commercial interest. They do not give value to charitable hospitals.

LEADER SPEAK

Faizal Khan, Managing Director, NIMS



“Waste Management should be decentralized”

Common people’s life is not given attention.

To provide salaries to a section of society, another section of society would have to be deprived of treatment facilities. Low-income patients in this area have to get treatment here since there is no other better facility available nearby. The government has to take all this together. Coordination of different ministries is required and suitable studies should be

conducted. Classification of hospitals must be after taking in to account of the multifarious aspects.

In order to provide the announced salary increase, the government needs to take appropriate measures such as supporting non-city hospitals.

Government hospitals in the rural areas do not have neurosurgeon, cardiologist and at times full-time physicians. There is no dialysis facility or ICU.

This makes the common folk to approach hospitals like NIMS to get quality treatment.

If the proposed salary increase is implemented, even hospitals in the rural area will have to increase the cost of treatment. Either government should provide complete insurance coverage or provide full-fledged treatment facilities in government hospitals to reduce the hardships of the common man.

Waste collection should be set up at various centres such as Ulloor, Peroorkada, Pappanamcode, etc. It should be consolidated in a major collection centre. Scientific effectiveness treatment should be brought into waste disposal. In Delhi, waste bins are automatically loaded on to lorries.

Entrepreneurship should be promoted in productive activities to increase employment opportunities. Parking space has to be designed.

Dr. V. Santhosh, Chief - Perspective Planning Division Kerala State Planning Board

Increase fee for high-end cars with hourly payment. This would promote use of public conveyance. Pedestrians should be given primary importance. Encourage cycling which would ensure decreased environment pollution.

Vision and goals can be achieved with strategic planning. We have to design smart, clean, green cities with Economic activities, Strong infrastructure and sustainable transport systems, Sustainable resource management,

pollution prevention, environmental protection, Cultural facilities, community facility for aged population, good governance with transparency and community participation in decision making, Mixed zoning and vertical growth.



FEATURE ARTICLE

Trivandrum to take a dip in ‘Mall culture’

The capital city of God’s own country is now on the verge of a quantum leap in development, especially in the shopping arena. The good news is that Trivan-drum will soon become a shopper’s paradise as many new malls have geared up lure the shopaholics. From traditional to cosmopolitan, Trivandrum has some-thing for everyone, whether visitors are searching for a cultural experience or lavish city life Trivandrum has lots to offer.

Trivandrum is at its best in infrastructural facilities which include an international airport, railway stations, super specialty hospitals, excellent educational facilities and entertainment and recreational options. The rate of floating population is much higher in Trivandrum. Therefore the biggies have roped in hot spots in Trivandrum, to rise up grand malls.

Currently the main shopping centers in Thiruvananthapuram are MG Road, Chalai, Attukal Shopping Complex, Power House Road, Saphalya (Palayam), Narmada Shopping Complex (Kowdiar), and Kedaram (Kesavadasapuram). With the coming of new malls, the Trivandrum is sure to become one of the most

sought after destinations for shopaholics.

The first Green Mall, ‘Big I Mall’ is an upcoming shopping mall in Thiruvananthapuram. The mall is built as per the guidelines of the Indian Green Building Council. It will have a built up area of 15,300 square metres (165,000 sq ft). High speed Schindler elevators from Switzerland and for the first time in Kerala, Travelators will effortlessly transport guest to every floor of the mall. The Big I Mall is located on the NH bypass opposite Technopark, close to the international airport.

The biggest commercial shopping complex in Thiruvananthapuram will come up at Thampanoor on land owned by the Kerala State Industrial

Enterprises Limited (KSIE). The project is implemented jointly by KSIE and Infrastructure Kerala Limited (Inkel). The project envisages a commercial complex with shopping mall, food court and premium office space.

The mall will have eleven storey and parking space of two lakh square feet which will accommodate 175 cars in the first two floors. The first ,second and third floors will offer shopping space, fourth floor with dining and entertainment facilities, fifth to eleventh floor will be for premium office spaces.

One of the world’s largest owners and operators of mall and office spaces, Plaza Centres is all set to start a massive mall in Trivandrum. This group is a


leading emerging markets developer of shopping and entertainment centers. This mall situated near Akkulam , toll gate is spread over 2.1 million square feet area.

The massive 2.1 million square feet complex will include over a million sq. ft. of offi ce space in addition to a huge shopping mall and luxury hotel.

Artech World mall is one of the upcoming Shopping mall in capital city. The centrally air conditioned shopping mall is located at Pattoor ,Trivandrum. The Shopping mall is promoted by Artech Realtors.

Nikunjam Saras Mall, is another mall coming to Tiruvananthapuram to entice the shoppers. The large Shopping Mall is promoted and designed by Nikunjam Builders. The shopping mall is located at Pattom, Trivandrum.

Nikunjam City Square is another venture of Nikunjam group. Nikunjam City Square spread over 175000 square feet area. The shopping mall is located at Paramount Junction, MG Road which is one of the hottest spots in capital city.

Varkey Mall is the one of the upcoming Mall in capital city. The Mall is located at MG Road, Trivandrum. The Varkey Mall is spread over 125000 square feet area. The mall is by Iyer & Mahesh, which have made its mark over the decades as Architects, Engineers& Interior Designers, by providing high quality, eff ective design services to clients.

Another shopping mall coming up at Pattom is the

Condor Mall .The shopping mall is positioned on 2 lakh square feet area. This project is taken up by Condor Builders, engaged in construction and contracting in West Asia. This group has fi nalised plans for fi ve major projects in Thiruvananthapuram with an outlay of around Rs 200 crore. With the coming of these malls, Trivandrum is sure to get a face-lift. These malls will surely leave an indelible mark of happiness on the minds of person who visits it. Shopping in Trivandrum truly will be an immensely delectable and unforgettable experience in the coming years…..


Trivandrum City Connect: A new initiative towards development

City Connect - Trivandrum (CC-TRV) is an industry initiative to improve city’s infrastructure through sustainable development. This program brings various urban stakeholders outside government together on a single platform.

The sole aim of Trivandrum city connect is to assist governmental agencies by providing the knowledge base and support to help the development on urban infrastructure and services. It assists government agencies by providing knowledge, assistance and support for better planning and implementation of urban infrastructure in Trivandrum. It will connect with various government authorities, local bodies, industry associations, citizens and agencies.

This also helps government respond in a constructive, collaborative manner to the voices coming from outside government, and create value-added partnerships. It will also act as an

endorsing body that will help various agencies design and implement reforms and changes for the city.

At a later stage, it is envisioned to bring in elected representatives, resident associations, NGO’s, social groups and other voluntary organizations as members of CC-TRV.

Various stakeholders like residents of the city, employers, industry associations, NGOs and community organizations are acutely aware of the challenges that the city faces ,therefore they can aid the government in decision making , implementation etc.

CC-TRV will be set up as a

Trust on the lines of those established in other cities of India. The members of CC-TRV will comprise of members of major industry associations of Trivandrum – Trivandrum Agenda Task Force (TATF), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce (TCoC), Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industries (CKTI), Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association (CREDAI), Group of Technology Companies (GTECH), Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), Indian Medical Association (IMA), Trivandrum Development Front (TDF), Trivandrum Management Association (TMA), South Kerala Hoteliers Forum (SKHF) and Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). An Executive Council will be chosen from among these members and a full time CEO will be appointed to run the CC-TRV Secretariat.



Thiruvananthapuram Development – Some IdeasCaptain K A Pillai of National Club writes in detail how to make our city better. He was involved in preparing project report for Vallar-padam, Vizhinjam, Inland Water Transport Corporation, and Super Express Highway.

Transportation is the greatest challenge of a modern city. Communication has become seamless and no more a challenge. Growing cities such as Kolkatta, Mumbai, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila and Beijing are clogged by traffi c.

Beijing recorded the world’s highest level of air pollution and fog. If we want to save Trivandrum from these future problems we have to act now. Transportation is one sector in which the citizens are helpless and the state action is the only solution.

Circular Outer Ring System

This can be monorail or normal railway system. Powering can be electricity or compressed air. The routes to be connected are Airport, Anchuthengu, Varkala, Kallambalam, Kilimanoor, Palode, Nedumangad, Kattakkada, Neyyattinkara, Vizhinjam, Kovalam, and back to Airport.

Radial Rail System

The centre of the system is to be Thampanoor. The circular ring stations are to be connected by radial system to Thampanoor.

Inter State Bus Terminal

Interstate bus terminal is to be located near the Airport. Like in London, an air traveler must be able to pick up his luggage in a trolley and walk down to the interstate terminal.

City Bus Terminal

City bus terminal located in Thampanoor is to be connected with interstate terminal. Wide fl yovers to be constructed from

city terminal to rail station so that passengers can walk from bus terminal to railway station.

Current Transport Policy

Current transport facilities are designed for the benefi ts of auto drivers, taxi drivers, KSRTC employees and porters. This policy is to be changed to the benefi t of travelers.

Taxi Meters

Auto and taxi must charge only the metered charges. The rates if required can be enhanced. But the police must strictly enforce pay by meter rule.

FEATURE ARTICLE


Public Transport

By improving the quality of public transport system, the need for self-driven cars and two wheelers will come down. This will reduce the number of vehicles on the road and air pollution.

City Map

The corporation and Tourism department must act together and produce a city map like the one in Singapore. With the aid of this street map any traveler can reach his destination.

Time Table

BEST the Mumbai transport service printed and published a timetable in 1984. This is still valid and strictly followed. A good published timetable will help reduce traffi c problems.

Public Toilets

At least 1000 public toilets are required for Trivandrum city alone.

Some can be free and some can be pay and use. Private investment can be attracted to this sector.

Cycle Paths

All the roads must be converted to cycle path. This will reduce pollution. Cycling will help exercise and healthy life.

Coastal Cycle Way

A coastal cycle path from Vizhinjam to Varkala will attract tourists.

Kayaking & Canoeing

Canal network from Vellayani to Varkala need to be dredged to facilitate Kayaking, Canoeing and Boating.

Clean up Parvathyputhanar - All canals and waterways need to be cleaned and dredged.

Chalai Shopping Mall

Chalai is to be redesigned to accommodate all the existing shops. The new mall is to be citizen-friendly and clean.

Garbage Disposal

The primary duty of City Corporation is to collect and dispose garbage safely. Distributed garbage processing will cause pollution of groundwater table. The entire process is to be centralized and automated.

Expatriate Workers

Photo identity cards are to be issued to all expatriate workers.

Pest Control

Dogs, cats, rats and mosquitoes are to be controlled as per existing law.

Citizen Policing

Police network is to be increased through volunteers from Residents Associations.

Distributed Development

Development can be distributed all over the district. Concentration will lead to congestion, pollution and crime.


Thiruvananthapuram girl tops Civil Services examination

Haritha is the daughter of R. Vijayakumar, a businessman and Chithra Vijayakumar, a homemaker. She is currently undergoing training for Indian Revenue Service at Faridabad. Her father R. Vijayakumar said that she worked very hard for the examination. This is her fourth attempt for the coveted examination.

Ms. Kumar residing at Thycaud,

In more than 20 years,

Haritha V. Kumar has

become the first person

from the state to top the

prestigious Civil Services

Examination. It is the

third time in a row a

woman has topped the

UPSC examination The

last candidate to bag

the top rank was Raju

Narayanaswamy in 1991.

FEATURE ARTICLE

Thiruvananthapuram is an engineer by training and an ardent lover of Carnatic music, old Malayalam movie songs and Malayalam literature.

She had done her schooling at St. Theresa’s Convent School in Neyyatinkara and did Electronics and Communication programme at Government Engineering College,

Thiruvananthapuram. She had chosen Malayalam as one of her optional subjects. Her other optional subject was Economics.

It is the third time in a row a woman has topped the UPSC examination. V Sriram, an MBBS holder from Kerala University has bagged the second position in the Civil Services examination. Alby John Varghese from Kerala



Awards make their way to Kerala

got the fourth place in the examination. The civil service toppers Haritha, Sriram and Alby were received as special guests by Kerala Governor Nikhil Kumar at Raj Bhavan.

When questioned by one newspaper daily on the problems faced by Kerala, she was of the view that it cannot be generalized and for each area there are individual problems such as Thiruvananthapuram

having garbage issues, while other areas having its own problems. Haritha had always set her sight on Indian Administrative Service.

She said that her discussions and debates with her friends at the academy had helped her in gaining confidence for the examination. She attributes her success to her parents and family saying that her parents

encouraged her to dream and aim high.

Her brother Sadharsh too is undergoing preparation to appear for the Civil Services examination. Hopefully, the state would have more Civil Services examination toppers in the coming years.

Metro Mart Thiruvananthapuram congratulates Haritha on her success.

Kerala Tourism has added golden feathers to its cap by winning many awards in 2012. The latest honour comes in the form of Conde Nast Travel Award 2012.In its efforts to put ‘Brand India’ on the global map Kerala tourism won this award for the year 2012.

The ‘Brand India’ Global Award, instituted this year,

was presented to Rani George, Director of Kerala Tourism, at a ceremony in New Delhi .The award is an appreciation to the significant contribution made by Kerala Tourism to the travel industry and its efforts to showcase India to global audience.

Aimed at recognizing and honouring the best in the travel, tourism

and hospitality industry, the awards are decided by the global readers. In November, Kerala Tourism also won the prestigious CNBC Awaaz Travel Award for2012. It was conferred the award in the ‘best travel and tourism State’ category. Kerala Tourism was adjudged the best for constantly striving to push the boundaries of excellence.


GOOD LIVING

Fabindia presents BalladsA new home collection available at Trivandrum store

This summer turn your living space into a welcoming retreat with Fabindia’s Ballads - a new home collection inspired by the beauty of flowers. The collection brings you an exclusive range of bed, bath and table linen, curtains and cushion covers highlighting a medley of soothing floral motifs and colours that speak of the season.

Capturing the essence of summers, cool shades of peach, sage green and sunshine yellow form the colour palette of the collection. Make your

bedrooms a relaxing sanctuary with bed sheets, throws, bed and cushion covers highlighting hand block printed motifs on soft breathable cotton

whites. Other than prints, you can pick from bed linen in appliqué work with contemporary layouts, classic chikankari embroidery and cutwork.


Absolute show stoppers from the collection include the range of curtains, cushion covers and bed linen that beautifully use two distinct craft techniques of hand block printing and cutwork.

Treat your eyes to a floral fiesta with the exciting variety of table linen in printed chanderi and fine cotton. Choose from subtle white on white prints, overall block printed floral expanses accentuated with gold khari in table covers and complementary plain solid woven runners and napkins.

To help you extend this refreshing look into your

bathrooms, Ballads has an interesting range of bath linen that uses similar motif language in its towels, shower curtains and bath mats.

Complete the look with breezy mull curtains in kantha embroidery and plain solids in cutwork to complete the look.

With 169 stores across 74 cities in India and eight international stores, Fabindia Overseas Private Limited is India’s largest retail platform for a wide range of products produced by artisans living largely in rural areas. Our endeavour is to blend indigenous craft techniques with

contemporary designs in order to present aesthetic and affordable hand crafted products to today’s consumers using natural materials and fibres.

The product range extends from a large variety of garments for men, women, teens and children to home furnishing, floor covering, furniture, gift-ware, jewellery, organic food and personal care products.

Fabindia also provides online B2C shopping facilities to support customers across 33 countries, including India.


Located adjacent to the National highway near Karamana Junction, Naz Home Space in its two floors has a wide variety of furniture that are unique in craftsmanship and economical.

Naz Home Space is dedicated in furniture creation with an honest approach to customers. Right from the selection of wood – whether it is Teak, Mahogany, Rosewood or any other type - to

finishing the product, quality is ensured.

Apart from the readymade furniture available at the outlet in Karamana, Naz Home Space also offers custom-made furniture for living room, kitchen, bedroom, and office space. For customized furniture, designing is done based on the area available, existing interior pattern and the client’s preference.

The collection at Naz includes traditional, modern, and space-saving furniture. Any type of wood the customer desires is available at Naz - be it

SHOPPING

Naz Home Space offers stylish and affordable furniture

Located adjacent to the National highway near Karamana Junction, Naz Home Space in its two floors has a wide variety of furniture that are unique in crafts-manship and economical.


hardwood, softwood such as pine or manufactured wood such as MDF.

Chairs, couches, designer sofa sets such as Italian and Moghul, couches, study tables, wardrobes, dining tables, beds, bedroom sets, dressing room sets, and other

accessories are available at Naz. Naz also offers modular kitchens and kitchen accessories.

Office furnishing includes executive chair, executive table, 3-seaters, revolving chair and visitor’s chair. Curtains and its accessories in different color schemes

are available at Naz. Team at Naz also undertakes partitioning of rooms and halls. Naz Home Space Sales Manager Bijukumar says “Specialties at Naz include custom made U-Cliner, Plush sofa sets, aesthetically designed Cook Space modular kitchen, and


the traditional furniture Antq. The products are guaranteed and they offer the customers after-sales service for years”.

“While some stores hide facts when dealing with customers, we at Naz are truthful about facts and reality when dealing with customers. The customers’ product requirements are met exactly”, says Noushad of Naz Home

Space. He also said that plans are underway to produce a low-budget bedroom set including a bed with mattress, two pillows, a side table, a cupboard and a dressing table.

Furniture at Naz are created by renowned craftsmen at their own factory, thereby ensuring quality monitoring and timely delivery of

products. Product designs are innovative. Word of mouth publicity by customers has created a steady increase in new clients at the newly setup outlet in Karamana.

The deeply religious Managing Director Abdul Nazar’s motto is to provide affordable and quality furniture without any compromise in values. The affordability, high quality and style quotient makes the products at Naz stand apart. The experienced team at Naz can be relied to plan and model an efficient design for your home decor.

Abdul NazarManaging Director

NAZ Home Space


‘The Courtyard’ with its multi cuisine and seafood grill has a seating capacity of 90. Be sure to taste ‘The courtyard’ specials like UDS Mixed Grill, Mangal Pandey Ki Pasand Kheema, Gilafi Naan, Warqi Paratha, Tiger Prawn Sizzler, Seafood Lasagne and of course the Keralite dish

Appam with Fish Molly.

Grasshopper – the all-day buffet restaurant is spacious. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The culinary delights at Grasshopper include international cuisine as well as from all parts of the country. With

a seating capacity of 150 it faces the swimming pool, the garden and the beach beyond.

The specialties at ‘Aquamarine’ are Italian, American and Tandoor dishes. The choice of Italian pastas is not to be missed here; also the

With the close proximity to the sea at the famed Samudra beach of Kovalam, the dining experience at Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel is something not to be missed. The multi-cuisine restaurants at Uday Samudra offer a wide variety of seafood. The choice of cuisine is varied such as Mughal, Chinese, Italian and Continental in addition to South Indian and other Indian cuisines.


DINING


kebabs and Tikkas, UDS club sandwich, Jhinga Jalpari, and Seafood Lasagne. They serve delicious eatables for around 50 people at a time.

The all-day dining ‘The Lounge’ has a juice and snack parlour. The assortment of ayurvedic and herbal juice available here gives a boost to your health as well as spirits. Snacks such as fish’n chips, half and half burgers, crumb fried prawns

tantalizes your taste buds.

Make it a point to visit ‘Waves’ at the beach. Seafood is the prominent feature of Waves. Crabs, lobsters, delicacies made of fresh small fishes are among the variety catered at Waves. Entertainment is also provided here. It could be anything from watching Kathakali to listening to live bands.

The type of clientele at Uday Samudra ranges from local tourists to

Europeans and Russians. Seasonally there is a change in the inflow of guests.

Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel has expert cooks with Rhynold as the Executive Chef. The preferences of guests are given top priority. Comments from each guest is collected regarding service and the variety of food. Guests are guided to all the outlets at Uday Samudra and given a taste of special


servings of the day. The ingredients for the cuisines are imported. Fishes for seafood varieties are sourced locally.

A number of conferences and high-profi le meetings are conducted at Uday Samudra for which catering is done by the hotel itself. Demands by customers to be catered at other locations are also taken up. Rhynold said that there are many companies which conduct their annual meetings regularly at Uday Samudra.

The vast experience of

Chef Rhynold includes working as a chef in ocean liners where over 15,000 meals are catered per day. He says a lot of hard work is put in to create the wide variety of food stuff in good quality. Comparing his days onboard, he said in a hotel the chefs need to be fl exible whereas onboard everything goes on mechanically. Chef Rhynold said extreme hygiene is maintained in the restaurant. He also said it is ensured that only authentic and fresh ingredients are used for preparing the dishes. Chef Rhynold has already

started on his plans to conduct a ‘Food fest.’ This year it is his intention to showcase a variety of Mexican delights at the fest.

This calm retreat off ers you a stimulating fusion of cuisine and décor. Be it an informal lunch or a formal event, the hotel provides a wide choice from individual menu to an elaborate buff et. The food here does justice to the taste buds. Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel has always been a cut above the rest.


It is an amazing experience. The cross-cultural communication skills you will gain while studying abroad will be incredibly valuable and will help you to become a global citizen.

While at fi rst you may feel a little uncomfortable and insecure, usually students are more eager and surprised when they have to choose one destination for their Study Abroad

program.

When choosing a country, bear in mind that the style of teaching and fl exibility of programmes varies across the continent. It is generally accepted that the further north in Europe you are, the more you will be left to your own devices in terms of planning and carrying out your course, while the further south you are, the more traditional and structured

the learning. This aspect is often overlooked, potentially leaving you with a nasty shock on arrival.

Here are few favorite destinations for our students.

Canada is one of the world’s most developed nations, with the sixth ranking in human development. Subsequently, Canada

Thinking of studying abroad but are not sure whether it is something for you? Studying in a foreign country will be a fun opportunity, not only to learn about people and cultures from all over the world but also to gain greater insight into your own skills, strength, and aspirati ons.

Glimpses of Studies Abroad, for Indian choice…

EDUCATION



has excellent education network consisting community colleges and universities. Most colleges and universities provide co-op term for students with placement and work for full time in between their studies. Cost-eff ective education with a pack of 11 lakhs including your study and living for one year.

Universities in America are extremely competitive. A minimum GPA of a 2:2 is usually expected. Like all other countries, they will also take other factors into consideration such as suffi cient fi nancial resources, profi ciency in the English language and other academic and extracurricular achievements.

It is a good idea to apply to more than one university, as you may not be accepted on to your fi rst choice. Scholarships and grants are available in the US, although competition for them may be high.

As an international

student, you should be prepared to pay up to $13,000 a year at a state university and up to $35,000 for a private university. If you live on campus, as most students in North America do, you will probably have living expenses of $3,000 to $5,000 per annum in addition to your fees.

A real benefi t to studying in Europe is that the tuition fees can be a lot lower than in any other country. It starts from 4.5 lakhs. Quite a number of universities off er education free of cost. A potential worry when considering studying in Europe may be the language barrier, but don’t let a lack of language hold you back.

An ever-increasing number of Europe’s higher education institutions off er international study programmes with English as the main language. Many students use their free time to take up a new language while they’re abroad, and you’ll pick it

up from daily life anyway. If you are going to apply to a course taught in a language other than English, be prepared to present some kind of proof of ability such as a basic language test.

New Zealand off ers a range of internationally recognised degree courses and it’s becoming increasingly popular with students. It boasts some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth, and with a population of only four million it remains natural and unspoilt.

New Zealand is one of the recommended destinations specifi cally for students who wants to pursue there PHD Degree. Tuition fees of PHD level courses is now cut down to domestic level course fee and it costs a student approximately NZ$ 4275.

The Australian education system has a strong international reputation. Australia is also one of the best places to live. It is a



young, vibrant and friendly country in which students can live, learn and grow. So if you want a quality education and a good lifestyle, choose Australia.

Australia is to streamline the process of obtaining a student visa for university as part of new measures to boost international education. Under the system overseas students – regardless of their country of origin – visa will be treated as of low risk, and will need to submit less evidence in support of

their application.

Instead, they will have to give evidence of their fi nances, English language skills and academic qualifi cations direct to universities, which will in turn vouch for their credibility. Students can take

English program with their major subject in Australia, which releases the pressure of taking the language profi ciency program in the home country.

The world is looking at Asia – its strong economic gains and growing affl uence alongside rapid modernisation. To stay ahead in a landscape fi lled with a multitude of culture and heritage, one needs to take a fresh look at the region with the people who know it best.

As the bridge between the East and West, Singapore, Malaysia and Bangkok will be your ideal starting ground. Besides Masters and Research, course available after 10th without IELTS and with guaranteed work placements.

There are so many amazing things to experience around the world. See the world and broaden your experience, gain new perspective on your own country. Improve your professional and fi nancial potential, outlooks through new relationships and become a full-time learner.

For further details write to Natasha Kombara, Director, ICCA-Education Consultancy Pvt Ltd Tel: +91 471 406 4673 Visit: www.icca.in



In this fast-paced world of technology, travel businesses have to keep abreast of the changes happening with regard to softwares, mobile applications, and web spaces. Companies that are online give stiff competition to traditional travel and tour operators. International Conference on Travel Technology (ICTT) comes at the right time.

It would play a big part in enlightening all those hotel and tour operators

who want to expand their businesses online. ICTT will be benefi cial for Hotels and Resorts who wants to build new client partnerships with tour operators and develop strategies for doing business with direct clients and the corporate.

Delegates – Indian and international - would include travel and tour operators, hotel and resort owners, tourism marketing professionals, researchers, and academics.

The organizers of ICTT India are Association of

International Conference on Travel Technology – the fi rst of its kind in the country is set to be held at ‘The Leela’ Kovalam from June 7th to 9th, 2013. It aims to assist the travel and tourism industry to leverage the full potential of the internet. ICTT India would have talks given by 17 eminent international and do-mestic speakers such as Sheila Scar-borough, Philip Calvert, AvijitArya, Adam Franklin, KarthickPrabu, and Chad Wiebesick.

Bringing Technology into Travel & TourismInternational Conference on Travel Technology

TRAVEL


Travel Trade Organisations, India (ATTOI).

ATTOI works in association with Kerala Department of Tourism to promote responsible travel and sustainable tourism.

ICTT would also provide an avenue for the travel technology companies to showcase new softwares, mobile applications and online resources. An exhibition is also to be conducted along with the

conference.

Technology and communications services providers, national and state tourism departments, international and domestic tourism

“Around 52% of potential travelers depend on internet for booking their tours. Earlier, foreign tourists would contact a tour operator at their base place who will in turn contact their Indian counterpart and then arrange the tour – it was a time-consuming process. The current trend is fi nding and direct booking of tours through online.

This necessitates the need to educate the domestic tourism stakeholders on web marketing and how online resources can be used to further their businesses. ICTT would fulfi ll this necessity. We are expecting around 400 delegates to be present at ICTT. On the sidelines of the conference, there would be an exhibition with around 60-70 stalls.”

Anish Kumar P K Secretary, ATTOI



“There are IT companies in Technopark which deal with travel software; however, they are not linked to tour operators in the state. ICTT would provide that connection. The best online tourism marketing agencies are being brought to ICTT. This would help in promoting Kerala as a tourist destination.

The speakers at ICTT would be able to guide the delegates on promoting their businesses through social media. June-July being European vacation season, ICTT would also pave the way for bringing in more European tourists.”V Sreekumara Menon

President, ATTOI

organisations, travel and tour operators, hotels, resorts, spas and medical tourism businesses, IT companies, fi nancial service providers, airlines, education institutes and tourism publications would

be among the exhibitors. Understanding the importance and power of internet, ways to use the resources available online to drive business, getting inputs in adapting to the changing technology and

acquiring skills to beat the competition are the key takeaways of the conference. With about 23 topics being taken up, the conference would provide a complete analysis on travel technology.



The ‘Divya Spa’ at The Leela Kovalam was awarded second time the prestigious Asia Spa Award (first in 2008 and again in 2012) for the category of “Best Ayurvedic Spa & Wellness Center’. The GeoSpa Asia Spa Awards was instituted in 2005 in order to recognize exceptional sensational spas in Asia.

Divya Spa features Ayurveda, an age old Indian science of life in contemporary settings which offers ancient remedies to today’s needs. The signature treatments of the spa include Udvarthanam, Shiodhara, Elakkizhi and Navarakkizhi. A team of sixteen highly trained

Divya Spa bags GeoSpa Asia Spa India Award

therapists and dedicated Ayurvedic doctors work towards offering a retreat to every guest who seeks solace from the rigorous complexities of their daily lives.

Divya Spa at Leela Kovalam Kovalam, cradled between two sweeping beaches on a rocky outcrop and offering panoramic views of the famed Kovalam shoreline, the inspiring

Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach is a lush retreat in the greenest heart of Kerala.

The Divya Spa is an extraordinary building occupying 8000 square feet right on the cliff top. Divya itself means “light” and it light that defines and inspires everything here from the rooftop yoga pavilion to the views from the treatment rooms. The primary focus of the spa is on Ayurveda treatments with 3 doctors and 20 therapists. The experience is personal and unique. Medicinal plants come fresh from the spa greenhouse. Amenities are world class and the range of treatments extensive.

The Leela Kovalam awarded second time Best Ayurvedic Spa & Wellness Center

BEAUTY


The event was presided by One Roof India MD, Siji Nair. Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Deputy Mayor G. Happy Kumar, FRAT president Pattom Sasidharan Nair, Secretary Maruthamkuzhi Satheesh, Treasurer C. Manoharan Nair, Rakshadhikari Adv. Vennikulam George Varghese, Nazir Salam, Sreevidya Santhosh, Kalanidhi General Secretary Geetha Rajendran, and Kalanidhi Chairman Parvathipuram Padmanabha Iyer were at the event. Bharatiya Vichara Kendram Director P. Parameshwaran was felicitated at the event.

This year the event is being expanded to cover other cities in Kerala such as Punalur, Tiruvalla, Thrissur, and Malappuram. At Punalur the event was inaugurated on April 21st by Chairperson of Punalur Municipality Gracy John. Binoy Krishna gave

The third edition of Gurukul expo was inaugurated by Bharathiya Vichara Kendram Academic Director Dr. K.N. Madhusoodhanan Pillai at Kanakakunnu on April 19th, 2013. More than 30 establishments had put up their stalls at the expo. Educational and career guidance services were carried out at the event. The expo in Thiruvanantha-puram concluded on April 20th.

Gurukul 2013 - Wings Expanded!

FAIR MART

welcome note at the occasion.

Punalur Municipal Vice Chairman S. Biju, Former Punalur Municipal Chairman M.A. Rajagopal, Former Punalur Vice Chairman V.P. Unnikrishnan, Punalur Municipality Opposition Leader Abraham George, Punalur Municipality Education Standing Committee Chairperson Mini Madhukumar, Punalur Town Ward Counselor Valsa J.P. John, Janakiya Suraksha Vedi Chairman Adv. Raghunath

Kamukumchery, Bharathiya Mahila Morcha State General Secretary B. Radhamoni, Recipient of National Teacher’s Award U. Noorunnisa Begum were at the event. In Punalur, the expo was conducted at Punalur Govt. Higher Secondary School. U. Noorunnisa Begum was felicitated at Gurukul for being awarded National Teacher’s Award.

Like in the previous editions of Gurukul in 2011 and 2012, this year too the expo was a resounding success making it the


biggest education and placement event in Kerala. The expo witnessed a huge turnout of professionals; leading companies, HR consultancies, parents and college students.

The students looking out to further their education had the chance to get firsthand information from the colleges present at the event. Employment seekers made use of the HR consultancies that had put up their stalls in Gurukul at Kanakakunnu.

Representatives of various institutes and academics from across the country and also from abroad were present at Gurukul 2013 providing information on the courses available at their institutions. A job-seeker Pramila Shyamkumar from Nedumangaud expressed that ‘I came here looking out for the recruiting organizations. In addition to that I found a part-time software course which would increase my employment potential.’

The stalls put up included that of Kodai International Business School, ICCA Education Consultancy, A.R. College of Engineering & Technology, Global

Education Consultants, Career World, Europe Study Centre, Tamizhan College of Engineering & Technology, Karavali Group of Colleges, Wonderful Times, Mathrubhumi, Deccan Chronicle, Central Coir Research Institute, Business Boom, Star Card, IELT Kerala, DC Media, One Roof Placements, Tube Binding Machines, Energy Management Centre, Shine College, Edroof Educational Consultancy, MS Ramaiah Harsha Hospital, and Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar College.

At Kanakakunnu, painting competitions and quiz competitions were held

during the expo. In Punalur, along with the painting and quiz competitions, a seminar on ‘Higher Education and increased employment potential’ was also organized on the sidelines of Gurukul Expo. Team Gurukul is sure that the success of ‘Gurukul Education and Career Expo 2013’ at Thiruvananthapuram and Punalur in providing a platform for educational institutions, HR organizations, students and employment seekers to meet up will be repeated at the expo to be conducted at Tiruvalla, Thrissur and Malappuram.


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type. RedBus also allows the us-ers to choose their seat.

Drop-box is

an online fi le hosting service that off ers cloud storage. With Dropbox you

can bring all your fi les such as photos, docs, and videos anywhere. You can use this service

to backup your precious data from your desktop or laptop and none of your data will ever be lost. You can access your dropbox account from any-where. With the free package you will get 2GB of

online storage. You can install free Dropbox software on Windows, Mac, Linux, and

Mobile. Dropbox works on Android, iOS, Blackberry and Kindle Fire

platforms.

6 incredibly useful websites providing great services Compiled by Amal Babu



Ohlife.com is your online digital di-

ary. Ohlife is really simple. They will send you friendly emails asking

simple questions like “How’d your day go?”. All you need to do is to reply to those mails and eventually you will

end up with a neat collection of your life stories. Only you can

read what you write.

Issuu.comIssuu is the world’s largest

digital publishing platform with 52 mil-lion monthly readers. There are more than

210,000 new publications per month. They of-fer magazines, catalogs and newspapers. Millions

of people have uploaded their best publications to create beautiful digital editions. Issuu is free and anyone can publish their content in the site. Accord-ing to Adam Fisher of Time.com the titles that are

archived on the site comes so close to the feel of the actual thing. Issuu is also crafted for

mobile. Grab your iPad or mobile and enjoy the perfect reading expe-

rience on the move.

B o o k -MyShow is a web-

site which fulfi ls all your tick-eting needs. You can book tickets for Movies, Plays, Concerts, New

Year parties, Sports, and Other events. With Ticket Buddy, you can pre-book your tickets in

advance. You can cancel any time prior to fi nal confi rmation and get your full refund. The tick-ets can be booked from your mobile using

the BookMyShow mobile app. The app is available in iPhone, Android, BlackBer-

ry, Windows Phone, Nokia OVI Store and Ticket Buddy.

R e d -Bus is an on-line travel agency off ering bus tickets

in India. They have associated with over 700 bus travel operators and of-

fer bus tickets to more than 10000 routes across the country. You can book your bus tickets online, by phone, or in person.

You can also choose from buses based on boarding points, timing and bus

type. RedBus also allows the us-ers to choose their seat.

Internet has become much more useful and practi cal over the past 15 years. Here is a list of entertain-ing and useful websites that might come in handy. These all have simple web addresses that you can memorize thus saving you a trip to Google.

ets can be booked from your mobile using



Union Tourism Ministry sanctioned a package of Rs. 13.60 crore for the fi nancial year 2013-14 to develop Kovalam tourism hub. Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor has said that the package is intended to make this internationally-renowned locality more

The Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi hospitals of KIMS have been empaneled under the medical reimbursement scheme of the government. Nephrology, Neurosurgery, Critical illnesses such as cancer and cardiac are among the

Department of Prisons in association with Kerala Social Security Mission will be providing free lunch on a daily basis to around 2,500 patients in Medical College Hospital and SAT Hospital.

NGOs, NSS volunteers and student police cadets will be assisting in transporting

Kovalam beach tourism to get Rs. 13.60 crore package

Treat�ent at KIMS to be reimbursed for State Government employees

Thiruvananthapuram to be hunger-fr ee city

tourist-friendly and envisages comprehensive development of tourist amenities, including construction of walkways, landscaping and lighting. Union Tourism Minister Chiranjeevi would be inaugurating the development project next month. Development of Kovalam bus stand,

construction of an amenity block, a park near the harbour, sidewalls for the road leading to the fi sheries harbour, walkways linking various beaches, and synchronized lighting system at the beach are some of the activities that are to be taken up with the package.

specialties in KIMS.

Government employees can avail these treatment facilities at KIMS from now on using the government empanelment. The helpline number 9747009166 can be contacted for further details.

the food to the hospitals and health offi cials would be involved in distributing the food. A new kitchen has been set up at Central jail for the project with around 100 inmates

involved in the preparation of food. The estimated expenditure per day is about Rs. 50,000.

METRO UPDATE


MetroMart in association with Kalanidhi Centre for Arts Culture and Research and Federation of Residents’ Associations Thiruvananthapuram have adopted a family which is financially backward.

Manakattu Vilakattu Veettil Sasidharan Assari’s family in Kadinamkulam is the family that is adopted. The other members in the family include his wife Susheela, 57, son Anil Kumar, 46, daughter Sheela, 33, and ninth standard student Shyam, 14. The wife and both children are physically challenged.

Sasidharan suffers from urinary disease for the last seven years. He was continuing with his carpentry work to look after the five-member family, even though he has to carry a bag to collect urine during work. He was detected as having cancer two months ago and he could not continue his work and he was unable to

MetroMart’s part in Corporate Social Responsibility Family adopted by MetroMart, FRAT and Kalanidhi

pay rent for the last couple of months.

When this incident came to light, MetroMart managing director Siji Nair, Kalanidhi general secretary Geetha Rajendran, and FRAT treasurer C Manoharan Nair visited the house of Sasidharan Assari and assessed the situation.

After the visits to his house, they promised to take care of Sasidharan Assari’s treatment, education for the children, daily needs and rent for the house. Kesavadasapuram Holystic Medicine director Dr K B Pillai donated medicines worth Rs 6,000 and

a month’s essential commodities were handed over to the family. A student of Kadinamkulam Muslim High School, Shyam was assured to be provided uniform and study materials.

Anil Kumar who can repair electronic equipments will be given a wheel-chair and a tailoring machine to Susheela. She will be supported to buy hen, goat and cow. If the panchayat or any voluntary organisation took the initiative to provide land, the members who visited the house also assured to build a house for Sasidharan Assari and family.

METRO UPDATE


Trivandrum emerges winner in Housing and Transport category

Pioneer in the media industry, India today group has published ‘best cities’ survey results to highlight the liveability of our cities. In the “Housing and Transport” category Thiruvananthapuram emerged as the Best City and Rajkot as the Emerging City.

The report says, “2% of Thiruvananthapuram’s total population lives in slums, the lowest among the 50 cities in India; 44% of the city’s residents use public transport and 49% residents take less than five minutes to cover 5km in their neighbourhood, only 13% can do the same in Mumbai”. Also, in the overall category,

Thiruvananthapuram is positioned at 15th, whereas Chennai is placed at first position followed by Chandigarh, Mumbai and Hyderabad.

The survey assesses each cities under nine categories-housing and transport, education, entertainment, environment, crime and safety, public services, healthcare, investment and economy. In addition to these categories, the survey also compiles all into an overall category.

The survey results give a glimpse of the performance of various cities and its state governments. The future

of India, in many ways, depends on the prosperity of its cities, therefore India Today have chosen to assess the performance of 50 cities, all of which have a population of around 1 million people. India is urbanizing rapidly.

In 2001, around 270 million Indians lived in cities. By 2012, that number had grown to almost 370 million, which is one third of India’s total population.

It is estimated that by 2020, there will be more than 500 million people living in urban areas. Therefore it is necessary to periodically identify the liveability of cities.

On May 20, 2013, S. Harikishore took charge as the director of the Kerala State Tourism Department. He is a 2008-batch IAS officer. He is also serving as the director of Scheduled Tribes Development Department.

S Harikishore new Tourism Director He had an earlier stint as District Tourism Promotion Council Secretary in Wayanad.

He considers improving the marketing of Kerala tourism as his prime agenda. He looks forward

to develop new products in order to drive the industry.


At a function in Durbar Hall while presenting ‘Swati Puraskar’ to carnatic musician and composer V. Dakshinamoorthy, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy welcomed the interest of Ace music maestro and Sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan to

begin an international school of music in Thiruvananthapuram.

Culture Minister K.C. Joseph said that the ace musician has expressed his interest to start the school in Thiruvananthapuram if the state government

provides land. Three acres of land is to be off ered.

Ustad said, “In my music school, there will be students from all over the world and it would function in the lines of a gurukul model.”

International school of music by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in association with National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL), organized an Investor Awareness Programme on “Securities

Investor Awareness Programme by SEBI & NSDL

Market & Common Man” at Thiruvanathapuram. Investor education on capital markets was the objective of the seminar.

Senior SEBI and NSDL offi cials spoke at the

event. Holding and handling of securities in electronic form with a Demat Account was explained. Tax benefi t of ‘Rajiv Gandhi Equity Scheme’ was detailed at the event.



Kallingal Bajaj in association with NIMS Medicity and Vasan Eyecare conducted a medical camp at LMS Palayam. The camp was attended by over three thousand people. At the auto expo, the Bajaj three-

Kallingal Bajaj Medical Camp and Auto Expo conducted

wheeler dealers Kallingal had provided a free service off er of Rupees four thousand to its customers.

Kallingal Shafeeq said that treatment worth Rupees two thousand fi ve hundred was off ered free of cost

to customers of Kallingal Bajaj.

He also said that the medical camp helped the drivers to test and become aware of their health conditions in terms of diabetes, cholesterol, etc.


THE LAST LEAF

It is good to note that Thiruvananthapuram is on its fast track for develop-ment, achieving new milestones with a number of initiatives.

Thiruvananthapuram Technopark grows by 4,000,000 square feet with a capacity to accommodate over 40,000 technology professionals. It would probably result in about Rs. 4,000 crores of annual IT exports and bring in more than Rs. 1,200 crores to the local economy as disposable income and taxes.

City Connect is another notable development initiative to improve city’s in-frastructure through sustainable development. This program brings various urban stakeholders outside the government together on a single platform.

In tourism sector, the Union Tourism Ministry has sanctioned Rs. 13.60 crores for development of common amenities at the famous coastal tour-ism spot Kovalam. It will change the face of Kovalam and should attract more tourists to the destination. DTPC has started its project for developing Shangumugham as one of the best tourist spots in Kerala.

Infrastructure development is another highlighted area on developmental process. The widening of the existing 29 km of two lanes to four lanes from Karamana to Kaliyikkavila would be of international standard.

Thiruvananthapuram development initiatives will be accompanied by de-tailed and continuous interfacing with various development stakeholders - citizens’ groups, business community and Government - to discuss, debate and to develop new ideas and initiatives to transform Thiruvananthapuram into a Metropolis of the 21st Century along with constant monitoring to ensure that development does not falter.

Development is the need of the hour!

Siji Nair

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