Asit Ranjan Mishra &Amp; Nayantara Rai

Stories by Asit Ranjan Mishra &Amp; Nayantara Rai

Alfred Ford, DLF plan luxury homes

Alfred Ford, DLF plan luxury homes

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2007

They have realised that there is a lot of money to be made from selling ultra-luxury villas at holiday destinations in India. The target customers will be high net worth individuals, since each of these villas is being branded as "second homes" and will be sold for upwards of Rs 2 crore (Rs 20 million).

DLF may buy Ferragamo franchise

DLF may buy Ferragamo franchise

Rediff.com   30 Nov 2007

DLF, the country's largest realty firm, is eyeing the India franchise rights of ultra luxury brand Salvatore Ferragamo. The Italian brand's original franchise partner, Sports Station India, has decided to exit the business and instead concentrate on premium brands such as Levi's and Dockers.

GDP growth in Q2 may fall below 9%

GDP growth in Q2 may fall below 9%

Rediff.com   30 Nov 2007

A relatively slow performance by the industrial sector and a high base effect may slow down gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the second quarter (July-September) of fiscal 2007-08 to below 9 per cent, feel analysts.

1 Prithviraj Road up for sale

1 Prithviraj Road up for sale

Rediff.com   21 Nov 2007

One of Lutyens' Delhi's much sought after addresses, 1 Prithviraj Road, is being put up for sale. Anil Thadani, the founder of private investment advisory firm Schroder Capital Partners, is the owner of the property, which is just under one acre. Sources told Business Standard that the property was being valued at Rs 60-80 crore (Rs 600-800 million).

Now, no Cabinet nod for projects below Rs 150 cr

Now, no Cabinet nod for projects below Rs 150 cr

Rediff.com   16 Nov 2007

In order to provide greater leeway to central government departments and ministries to finalise centrally-funded projects, the Department of Expenditure under the finance ministry has increased the financial limits of projects requiring approval from various cost-approving bodies.

DLF to buy ultra-luxury Amanresorts for $250 mn

DLF to buy ultra-luxury Amanresorts for $250 mn

Rediff.com   14 Nov 2007

DLF Ltd is acquiring the privately-held super luxury resorts and spa chain Singapore-based Amanresorts for around $250 million.

Bharti, UB to bid for Delhi, Mumbai, B'lore teams

Bharti, UB to bid for Delhi, Mumbai, B'lore teams

Rediff.com   13 Nov 2007

Bharti Airtel and United Breweries have expressed interest in acquiring, respectively, the Delhi and Bangalore or Mumbai teams in the impending Indian Premier League for Twenty20 cricket matches.

Plan panel mulls cess for rural roads

Plan panel mulls cess for rural roads

Rediff.com   7 Nov 2007

Faced with huge cost overruns due to a delay in building the rural roads under Bharat Nirman, the Planning Commission is now looking at alternative ways to fund the ambitious rural development project of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.The rural road project, christened the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), has seen tardy performance on the target of constructing 146,185 km of rural roads by 2009.

Emaar MGF land bank sparks debate on FDI

Emaar MGF land bank sparks debate on FDI

Rediff.com   1 Nov 2007

A disclosure on its land reserves by the joint venture firm Emaar MGF has sparked off a debate on whether a real estate company with foreign investment can own agricultural land in India. Dubai-based Emaar holds around 41 per cent in the joint venture that is expected to raise Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 billion) from an upcoming maiden public issue.

Post dept may collect inflation data

Post dept may collect inflation data

Rediff.com   30 Oct 2007

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) is in talks with the Department of Posts to take the help of its staff in collecting sample data for the proposed Consumer Price Index for Rural India (CPI-R). The data for the index would be collected from 1,000 villages, Chief Statistician of India Pronab Sen said on the sidelines of a national seminar on the results of the 61st round of the National Sample Survey.

FinMin sees no need for Noida airport

FinMin sees no need for Noida airport

Rediff.com   30 Oct 2007

The finance ministry has opposed the proposed airport at Greater Noida, and has instead favoured upgrading infrastructure at Delhi airport, which it says makes more economic sense. This has come as a shot in the arm for the GMR group, the private sector developer of Delhi airport, which has been opposing another airport so close to the existing one.

Parsvnath's mobile plan hits roadblock

Parsvnath's mobile plan hits roadblock

Rediff.com   20 Oct 2007

Real estate firm Parsvnath Developers' quest for a mobile licence seems to have hit a roadblock at the Department of Telecom (DoT). Parsvnath, which is one of the seven realty firms in the fray for mobile licences, hasn't mentioned the business of "telecommunications" in its memorandum of association (MoA).

Good news for govt staff, salaries to rise

Good news for govt staff, salaries to rise

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2007

The Sixth Pay Commission is likely to significantly raise basic salaries for an estimated 4.5 million central government employees. The recommendations are expected to be submitted in January, a few months ahead of schedule, and the award is likely to come into effect from January 2006.

Big spenders drop ads on TV channels

Big spenders drop ads on TV channels

Rediff.com   16 Oct 2007

Leading TV channels will see a blackout of spot advertising from midnight tonight after Hindustan Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Airtel, Pepsi, Coca-Cola and Reliance Communications, among others, directed their media-buying agencies not to book such advertisements on 16 news and entertainment channels, including NDTV, Network 18, Zee News, Star News, starting October 16.

<i>Babus</i> want pvt sector salary with govt perk

Babus want pvt sector salary with govt perk

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2007

Officers of the elite Indian Administrative Service (IAS) want their pay scales to be determined on the basis of prevailing market rates. However, they are not ready to give up the substantial perks they enjoy, like palatial bungalows in city centres, number of attendants, guards, drivers and other assorted facilities.

Anti-retail lobby has a new target

Anti-retail lobby has a new target

Rediff.com   9 Oct 2007

An assorted bunch of farmers, small traders and non-government organisations (NGOs) have trained their guns on a legislation that allows private companies to directly procure produce from farmers. Termed the Model Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act, the legislation was drawn up by the central government a few years back.

DLF, AT&T in talks for mobile services

DLF, AT&T in talks for mobile services

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2007

AT&T has also applied for a universal access service licence (UASL), which allows operators to offer services in both GSM and CDMA technology, with the Mahindra & Mahindra group, for 22 circles. The US company, however, has stipulated that it wants a majority equity stake in the mobile venture.

Govt plans performance-linked salaries

Govt plans performance-linked salaries

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2007

The sixth central Pay Commission is examining the feasibility of introducing performance-linked salaries for government employees. The commission has constituted a study group headed by Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad Professor Biju Varkkey to develop a model on these lines.The study group has submitted interim reports and is expected to send its final report soon.

Govt may relax ECB norms for infrastructure

Govt may relax ECB norms for infrastructure

Rediff.com   5 Oct 2007

The high level of capital inflows has forced the government to put fresh restrictions on ECBs. In August this year, the Reserve Bank of India tightened ECB rules by limiting the use of foreign loans in India at $20 million per company.

DLF to develop New Bangalore

DLF to develop New Bangalore

Rediff.com   3 Oct 2007

The project will entail an investment of over Rs 60,000 crore (Rs 600 billion) and will be developed in a 50:50 joint venture with the Dubai-headquartered Limitless Holdings, a sister company of Nakheel and a part of the diversified Dubai World group