Pink city wonder

Jaipur's proposed World Trade Park will combine business and entertainment.

If you think Rajasthan is a land of sand dunes and forts, think again. There will be an under-water restaurant in the state soon.

And if all goes according to plan, the World Trade Park, that will house the under-water eatery, will also have an exclusive food lane for major foreign restaurant brands.

The nine lakh square feet trade park, that's coming up in Jaipur, is being developed by the real estate company R F Properties Pvt Ltd co-founded by Sajjid Khan, promoter of the Saks Group with interests in hi-fashion and hospitality, architectural engineer Anoop Bartaria and real estate developer Jagdish Poddar.

The advertising campaign for the over Rs 400 crore project was unveiled in June and the construction of the park is expected to begin shortly.

"The target is to complete the project in two years," says R F Properties' director Jagdish Poddar. The park is aimed at promoting international trade.

It will allocate space to the construction and interior materials industry, fashion and textiles, IT, the financial (banking and insurance ) sector, BPO units, important cottage industries like gems & jewellery, handicrafts and carpets, and the retail and entertainment sectors. "It is an infrastructure project that will function not only as a facilitator but also as a place of business," says Poddar.

The World Trade Park's design has been conceived by Anoop Bartaria whose company is said to have completed projects worth Rs 1,500 crore in the state.

At the World Trade Park, massive spaces have been earmarked for the trade fair hall and exhibition centre, convention and business centres, hotels and clubs, food courts and a 3-screen multiplex among other things.

"The multiplex and the food lane will ensure footfalls, though I must add that it is a not a shopping mall but an international trade centre" says Poddar.

"We selected Jaipur to build the park as it is a very peaceful city and a popular international tourist destination." Besides Rajasthan also exports goods worth Rs 12,000 crore every year and the trade park promoters expect the park to boost exports from the region.

Besides promoting trade, the World Trade Park promoters hope the building will be viewed as a unique architectural creation. "For the construction work we are negotiating with companies in Singapore," says Poddar.

The building envisages 1,000 ft. metal wings in brushed stainless steel. It will also use temperature control glass that will be imported from the Emirates.

The entire building will be a high security zone with finger tip analysers and magnetic card entry system. Travel within the building complex will be aided by club cars. Nearly 30 escalators, several travelators (for horizontal travel) and 22 lifts will be operational.

R F Properties expects the trade centre to generate employment in the state. "Obviously, an investment of over Rs 400 crore will create job opportunities," says Poddar adding that they expect an incremental growth of 5-6 per cent in employment once the park is operational.

More than that, the company hopes that Jaipur will attract high quality manpower from around the world once companies set up base in the city.

Apart from attracting investments, the trade centre is being seen as a venue that will bring in corporate work culture in the state. Promoters claim 55 per cent bookings.