Forum to build Berhampur mall

Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kolkata based real estate company, Forum Private Limited, for construction of a Rs 95.78 crore integrated commercial-cum-residential complex here.

The complex, which will come up under the banner of Gajapati Plaza on a 5 acre plot, will be built on the model of Public Private Partnership (PPP).

"Facilities like shopping malls, hotel and entertainment arcade will be provided in the complex" said Sarat Ranjan Patnaik, chairman of BDA.

The executive committee of BDA approved the project on Wednesday and decided to send the proposal to the government for final approval.

According to the proposal, BDA will provide the land to the real estate company on 75 years lease for construction of the complex and will manage it after completion.

Forum wanted the land at a price of Rs 8. 5 crore, but BDA demanded market value of the land which is estimated at Rs 12 crore.

"The negotiation is going on and it will be finalised very soon before sending the proposal to the government for approval" Patnaik said. Forum was selected to construct Gajapati Plaza through competitive bidding.

BDA had floated tender inviting applications from the companies for construction of the proposed project.

While 14 applications were received, only four were selected for pre-qualification bid.

Of them only two were in the final bid and Forum was awarded the tender.

Forum, promoted by the Sarafs of Kolkata, had earlier constructed the Forum Mart in Bhubaneswar.

Sarafs were working on a project to set up a titanium dioxide plant near Chhatrapur in Ganjam district.

"The face of the Berhampur will change when the Gajapati Plaza constructed at the Corporation Road, on the side of National Highway 217 in the heart of the city comes up", he said.

BDA has approved a proposal for construction of Vivek Vihar Phase II, residential housing project and a by"�pass from Gokarneswar temple to All India Radio office in Berhampur.

According to Patnaik, the housing project would cost about Rs 7.50 crore and would come up over 29 acres at Ambapua at the outskirt of the city. About 100 houses of different categories would be constructed.

The price of the houses would range between Rs 2.81 lakh and Rs 16.34 lakh depending on type.

BDA however did not raise loans from any agency for construction of the houses.

"We decided to construct the housing project from our own fund" he said.

BDA has decided to construct 600m by-pass from Gokarneswar temple to AIR office at a cost of Rs 1.69 crore to solve the acute traffic problem in Gate Bazar area here.