To do better than the Ebène Cybercity. Now that it is renowned, Business Parks of Mauritius Ltd(BPML), designs other projects. Some are of average scale. This is proven by mini-business parks’ constructions in Port-Louis and Arsenal, costing Rs 100 million each. However, there are other ambitious projects.
“Ebène is working properly and we are concentrating on other projects.” States Dharam Naugah, BPML president. On the top of the list is the second Highlands’ cyber city where the Government intends to erect a new town of a surface area of 2500 acres i.e. times more than the Port-Louis city centre and equal to the Beau-Bassin/Rose-Hill surface area.
Regarding the scale of the Highlands’ project, BPML intends to build a bigger cyber city. “Here, in Ebène, we occupy a 106 acres surface area. In Highlands, we intend to use 150 acres for better quality infrastructures development.” Underlines Dharam Naugah.
“We have the funds and we have the expertise. Furthermore, the potential is here. In Ebène, we cannot satisfy the demands. If we can progress in Highlands, it will be a rentable project. We will be able to create 10 000 jobs”, he adds. Just like in Ebène, BPML offers to build an ultra-modern building which cost is estimated at Rs 500 million.
What happened to the cyber city project in Côte-d’Or? According to BPML, it has been put aside. They shall choose between the two but there is an incline towards Highlands. They however need to obtain the required lands. According to Dharam Naugah, they are still negotiating. There is an ongoing agglomeration project in Highlands. Mahindra Developers Lifespace (Inde) and Bloom (United Arab Emirates), the two companies who wish to act as strategic partners for the Government are preparing their respective initial financial offer which shall soon be ready. Following this process, the partner will be chosen, the legal entity for the project’s development will be created, the masterplan conception and the scale model.
They intend to work fast and to start the construction during 2010 second part according to the Chief executive officer of the State Land Development Company (SLDC), Girish Dabeesing. He mentions that due to the project’s scale, the construction work will last for 15 to 20 years. It shall depend on the market’s demand.
It consists of the construction of a modern town, well planned which is self-sufficient. Commercial spaces, offices, shops, residences, green spaces, leisure activities, schools and higher education institutions are planned in order to provide a better lifestyle to the residents. In parallel, there will also be a Bagatelle Dam where a waterfront is planned.
