Mahindra World City, New Chennai

Infosys building at Mahindra city

Infosys building at Mahindra city

Mahindra World City, New Chennai is India's first operational Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and India's first Integrated Business City is promoted by the Mahindra Group and TIDCO (Govt of Tamil Nadu Enterprise). It is a public-private initiative.

Introduction

Sitiuated on the NH45, Mahindra World City is located 60 km from Chennai city and is 45-50 mins away from Chennai international airport. Spread over 1,500 acres (6.1 km2), Mahindra World City is well connected by both road and rail links, with Paranur railway station on site.^[1]

Business Zone

Mahindra World City is divided into 3 sector-specific Special Economic Zones (IT/ITES; Apparel and Fashion Accessories and Auto Components),^[2] a Domestic Tariff Area and a Residential / Social zone. Mahindra World City today has over 45 customers with leading companies like BMW, Braun, TTK Group, CapGemini, Infosys, Nestronics, Mindtree, Renault-Nissan, Tech Mahindra, Lincoln Electric, Wipro, Timken, cyber vole and TVS group of companies, among others.^[3]

Lifestyle Zone

Mahindra World City will offer a housing zone with social infrastructure that matches its business facilities. Situated in Mahindra World City, the housing zone is surrounded by hills, lakes and a reserve forest.

The award winning^{[citation needed]} master plan for this lifestyle zone has been developed by one of the world's master planning and architecture firms, HOK (Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum). HOK has drawing up the Master plan for 325 acres (1.32 km²) of the social and residential community, with a focus on low-density living spaces and a stress on clean environment.

Sylvan County

Sylvan County is Mahindra World City’s first premium residential enclave designed by India’s foremost architects, Hafeez Contractor.^[who?] Spread over 22 acres (89,000 m²), Sylvan County offers a wide range of low–density housing options – from picturesque independent bungalows to serene semi–detached houses to richly landscaped apartments.

The Canopy

The Canopy is the first shopping, lifestyle and commercial centre at Mahindra World City that offers several retail and entertainment options in an area of 60,000 sq ft (5,600 m²).

Located in the heart of Mahindra World City, the Canopy is for everything from retail stores, a supermarket, a food court, entertainment areas, a book store, a music store, essential services like banks and ATMs, a medical centre, a travel desk and more.

Mahindra World School

Mahindra World School threw open its doors in June 2008. The coeducational school based on the CBSE syllabus, is currently functional from classes kindergarten to standard X with 413 students and 34 teachers. A new class will be added on every year. The school will cater both to the schooling needs of the children of Mahindra World City employees/ residents as well as of those residing in surrounding areas.

Designed by the architect, Hafeez Contractor, the school is spread over a 5-acre (20,000 m²) campus nestled amidst sylvan surroundings.

Paranur Railway Station

Mahindra World City Developers Ltd (MWCDL), the pioneer in Special Economic Zones (SEZ) development in India, on 14 December 2007, inaugurated the redesigned station building and passenger amenities at the Paranur railway station, adjoining Mahindra World City, Chennai. A public private partnership initiative between Mahindra World City and Southern Railways, the Paranur railway station is the first to be redesigned and maintained by the corporate sector. This is another pioneering effort from Mahindra World City, which has built India’s first operational and highly successful SEZ in a public-private partnership.

The Paranur Railway Station is widely regarded as a pioneering vision to transform India's public railway infrastructure. Befitting this trendsetting venture, Shilpa Architects^[4] has incorporated several design elements that capture global best practices in amenities for rail passengers from countries such as Japan, France and China, where high volume of passenger traffic combines efficiency and passenger comfort.

Ticket reservation areas, passenger waiting rooms, staff offices, drinking water fountains, strategically designed passenger walkways, night lighting, overhead pedestrian bridges, garbage disposals, contoured ceilings, durable materials, carefully coordinated colors, signage, disability friendly infrastructure, landscaping, fountains and even public art, are some of the few aspects that define this widely acclaimed station, that is truly world-class and yet distinctly suited for India. Many companies such as Tech Mahindra, Infosys & Cap Gemini run shuttle services between their respective offices and the Paranur railway station.

Mahindra World City Going II in Chennai

The Mahindra Group has plans to replicate this model of an integrated business city with industrial, residential and social infrastructure at Gummidipoondi in north part of Chennai.^[5] The Gummidipoondi facility will cover 1,000 acres (4.0 km²) abutting NH5 will mainly focus on Domestic Tariff Area (DTA). It will also have a logistics park and a residential park.^[6]

References

External links

• Mahindra World City, Mahindra World City
• Mahindra World City, Chennai, Chennai
• Mahindra World City, Jaipur, Jaipur
• Sylvan County
• World's Largest IT Campus - The Hindu
• The Hindu news article
• Press Clipping, Government of Tamil Nadu
• Mahindra World City expects $1.5 bn investments