Delhi, Pune & 18 others make the cut for Smart City project

Bhubaneswar Is No. 1, None From Mumbai Region

Lutyens' zone, already the nation's envy for the benefits it enjoys, has made it to the list of 20 cities which are to be turned into Smart Cities as part of the Modi government's ambitious urban modernization programme. The list released on Thursday saw Bhubaneswar emerge on top with a Rs 4,500 crore plan to retrofit and redevelop 985 acres around the railway station with modern amenities.
The race for inclusion in the Smart City league--a concept centred on provision of basic amenities such as 24X7 power and drinking water supply as well as contemporary attributes like e-governance and IT infrastructure--saw Madhya Pradesh bagging the maximum three spots, while populous states such as UP , Bengal and Bihar failed to make it in the first round. Varanasi, the PM's own Lok Sabha constituency , failed to make the grade, finishing with the second most disappointing score among 97 contenders.
All the 4 entries from Mumbai--Greater Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Kalyan-Dombivli--could not make the cut either. New Kolkata, Gandhinagar and Vadodara also missed out.
For the national capital, initially, the scheme will be focused on “retrofitting“ 550 acres in and around Connaught Place in what will mark a big push to the historical shopping district which has just overcome decades of decay to re-emerge as a hot spot. In all, 23 states failed to find a place, something which do es not address the concern about urbanization deficit and led Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu to give them a second shot by April.Each state will submit the improved proposal of their highest ranking cities for this round of selection. By 2017, the Centre intends to identify 100 cities to be taken up for the programme.
The 20 cities which feature in the first list are expected to spend almost Rs 51,000 crore to upgrade the quality of life--a generous step-up of allocation of funds for upgradation of a significant urban swathe even if some of the projects would have possibly been taken up in normal course.
The concept of Smart City marks a big departure from the traditional municipal body-led model of urban development to one marked by corporate features such as a CEO who can even be drafted from the private sector and will have job security , a special purpose vehicle route for raising funds and execution of the development plan.
Unlike in the past, when the burden of development was on the states and the Centre, this time over 60% of the resources are proposed to be generated by the cities concerned. The selection of cities has been influenced by their capacity to deliver as determined on the basis of their past performance and financial strength.
Importantly , only one of the 20, Kochi, will focus on taking up a green project. This might mean the revival of the localities which are groaning under burgeoning population and are hamstrung by woefully inadequate infrastructure for current and future requirements.
The selected cities will get Central funding of Rs 500 crore each in the next five years and states will put up an equal amount to kick-start the project roll-out. Almost 60% of the investment will come in the form of private investment and innovative mechanism that the cities will adopt.
To begin with only selected areas in the cities proposed by the municipal bodies will be developed or redeveloped within two to five years. “These will work as catalysts and will become lighthouse to expand similar projects or work to make cities better,“ Naidu said.
Congratulating the win ners, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “I wish the cities the very best as they move forward with implementation and transform urban India.“
Sources said since this is one of major flagship projects announced by the PM, cabinet secretary P K Sinha will interact with all the chief secretaries and Smart City mission heads besides the 97 municipal commissioners on Friday for effec tive roll-out of the mission.
The cities have been selected through a transparent mechanism of scoring and through an open challenge, the first of its kind in India and possibly in the world. “It is also the first time that the government is investing funds in urban development on the basis of a competitive selection,“ an urban development ministry spokesperson said.





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Ganjam Jewlery Boutique, Bangalore

Ganjam, an ultra-luxury jewellery brand headquartered at Bangalore with a strong tradition of craftsmanship, approached Masters to undertake the PMC for their flagship store at Vittal Mallya Road.

The 15,000 sft project which includes a spacious jewellery boutique and the back offices, was conceived by the renowned French firm, Rena Dumas Architecture Interieure (RDAI), which designs boutiques for brands such as Hermés. In keeping with Ganjam’s heritage and philosophy, the design was inspired by traditional Indian vignettes – the five elements of earth, fire, air, water and ether, the ancient kingdom of Hampi, the peacock, the banyan tree and the Gandeberunda, a two-headed mythological bird, which symbolizes the brand – the essence of which was captured and translated to create a highly elegant setting for Ganjam’s bespoke jewels. Inaugurated on 14th October, the store like Ganjam’s Jewels redefines luxury, both through the restrained elegance of its design and the extremely high quality of finish which was achieved by local and international specialist contractors under the discerning eye of the Clients and guidance of Masters’ PMC team and has become one of the key attractions in the city of Bangalore.

 

Construction of Jack-up Floor Slab at Blue Frog by Bivash Bag

The Blue Frog at Lower Parel, Mumbai was conceived to promote international/ world music in a live performance space. The live performances are played out in the intimate environs of a hip, lounge bar and restaurant and can be recorded live in the state of the art studio located adjacent to it.

Bearing in mind that a recording studio must have stringent measures for noise and vibration control, one of the requirements stipulated by the acoustic engineers based in the UK was to physically and acoustically segregate not only the walls and ceiling of the studio from the building in which it is encased but also the floor as well. This was achieved by casting a new floor on the existing floor slab and then raising this off the original floor by a series of jacks (very similar to how one jacks up a car to replace a flat tyre).

The process, which was carried out under the direct supervision and involvement of Masters is documented in the photographs below:

 

FSN FLOOR PLAN

 

 

FSN - 3500

 

 

JACK ( FSN – 3500 )

 

 

JACKS ARE INSERTED IN THE REINFORCEMENT OF SLAB
( BEFORE CASTING )

STEP - 1 

 

JACKS ARE INSERTED IN THE REINFORCEMENT OF SLAB
( BEFORE CASTING )

AFTER CONCRETING REMOVING OF RUBBER PLUG 

 

SLAB AFTER CASTING

 

STEP - II

 

CONCRETING OF THE SLAB IS DONE. (CONCRETE USED IS M35)

STEP - II 

 

NUMBER OF BOLTS ARE INSERTED IN ORDER TO LIFT IT UP THE SLAB
WITH THE HELP OF ROTATOR.

ROTATOR

 

STEP - IV

 

ROTATOR IS USED,TO LIFT UP THE SLAB. ONE ROTATION CAN LIFT THE
SLAB UPTO 3.2mm. 14 ROTATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO LIFT UP THE
SLAB BY 45mm.

 

AFTER JACK UP

 

Advantages of hiring a Fit-Out consultant

Choosing the right Fit-out consultant will help you acheive your optimum outcome on time.

The decision to relocate and expand your business does not come easily and there are many processes to go through from needs assessment to property search, leasing arrangements, concept design, fit-out, information technology management, internal change management, relocation planning, client communications and many more.

Generally once the decision is made to relocate and expand the timeframe is tight which puts pressure on the need to get all of these processes right. And the cost of not getting it right can be significant, with impacts on staff, clients, business continuity and corporate intelligence.

Here comes the need to have on-board, people who have a strong understanding of fitouts and relocation process to partner you on this important journey. The more knowledge and understanding you have with you through the journey the greater the chance you have of a smooth and successful process from start to finish.

The key elements you need to consider in this process are time and value for money.

Some of the benefits of using a fit-out specialist are highlighted here:

• The approach and attitude of the Fit-out consultant speaks for itself. Each with their own area of expertise, fit-out personnel take great care and pride in getting the finer details just right for the end user.

• The construction process itself is also treated with great care and respect as fitout consultants understand that tenants often make refinements and adjustments along the way. For this reason communication and collaboration is a high priority in the management of a fit-out project.

• Throughout the construction process and in any team discussions fit-out personnel maintain integrity of the design and always focus on the design intent when considering any possible changes to the scope of works or specifications, in consultation with the designer.

• Provides greater attention to detail and finishes to optimise the end result.

• Hands-on proactive personnel look to identify potential challenges and suggest alternative building methods before they become an issue for the client’s budget or program.

• Fit-out consultants are focused on fast turn-around of information, documentation and problem-solving to ensure the client has ample time to make informed

About Masters Management Consultants

Masters offer complete solutions for you large projects like relocations, fit-out works and major refurbishment projects.

Some of the Interior Fit-out projects where we honed our reputation for quality, craftsmanship and a genuine commitment to the client are:

1. Indochine, New Delhi
2. Blue Frog, Mumbai
3. Hard Rock Café, Pune
4. Shopper’s Stop
5. Harvard Business School Executive Education Centre
6. Sample Apartments for The Imperial, Mumbai
7. Tote on the Turf, Mumbai

View the complete list of Interior Fit-out projects executed by Masters Management

How to Make a Construction Site Safe

This article is directed to construction site workers who desire a safe work environment.

1. Perform a thorough walk through of the site. Identify and assess any workplace hazards and write down anything that may be considered unsafe. Notify your managers of possible dangers that he/she should know about.

2.Train all personnel in work-site safety and operating procedure either on-site or at a training facility.
• Search the Internet to see if online instruction is available. Training should include proper lifting techniques to help reduce common back injuries sustained on the job

3. Identify and mark any hazardous materials. Determine any risk involved to personnel.
• Label and store any materials deemed hazardous in proper containers and secure them in a safe location. Post precautions for handling nearby. Make sure there is an MSDS (material safety data sheet) for all potentially hazardous chemicals/materials.

4. Inspect equipment to be sure it is working properly. Be on the lookout for unusual noises and jerky movements. Report any problems immediately and do not operate the machinery until repairs have been made.

5. Use harnesses and other safety equipment when performing roof work or working on scaffolds. Standard personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) incorporate three primary components, commonly referred to as the ABC's of fall protection. These include: the anchorage connector, body support and connecting device.

6. Provide personal protective equipment to all employees, including hard hats, safety goggles and boots, work gloves, ear plugs (or another form of protection) and face masks.

7. Be sure OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards are met. Follow all recommendations and mandates from occupational health and safety inspectors. If you work for a private company, ask managers whether they've hired or contracted a health and safety inspector.

8. Prepare for emergencies. Operators and site workers should know what to do in case of electrical, mechanical, power failures, or injuries.

9. Protect the public by barricading the construction site during work hours.After working hours, lock all points of entry. After working hours, lock all points of entry.