The Hindu Business Line : SPVs for satellite towns suggested

Speakers at a session on satellite townships at the Connect2006, a two-day conference on information technology and communication that got underway on Friday, discussed the need for a regulatory body to implement satellite townships. They suggested forming special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to implement satellite townships.

"Only SPVs can provide continuity and coordination to infrastructure creation projects," said Mr Som Mittal, President and Chief Executive Officer, HP Global Soft. He cited the example of the Noida township, near New Delhi, that was built through an SPV.

Mr Amrit Pandurangi, Executive Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers, said the proposed Indian model of satellite townships was inappropriate. According to the present model satellite townships would house only residential areas while offices would continue to be located in the city, he said. "A satellite township must house workplaces, residences, education institutes, shopping centres and avenues for entertainment", he said.

Mr Pandurangi said satellite townships must be given autonomy to plan their development. "They will envisage growth better than state governments," he said. The State Government, he said, should be responsible for creating land banks and providing good connectivity (roadways, internet connectivity) for these townships.

The need for planning townships anticipating future growth versus building them to "catch up" with growing industrial demand was discussed through examples.

Ms Chong Siak Ching, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascendas Private Ltd, shared her company's experience in building satellite townships around Singapore. She emphasised the need for governments to identify and safeguard potential growth locations.

"In India getting land for satellite townships is the biggest hurdle. Unless this is sorted, it will be difficult to move forward," she said.

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