Sahara Prime City to raise Rs 2000 crore to build townships

Realty firm Sahara Prime City said it would raise Rs 2,000 crore in the next 12-18 months to part fund development of 217 integrated townships across the country.

The company, which is planing to invest the amount in the first phase of the plan that will see development of 102 townships, is looking at both debt and private equity investments to raise the fund. The move by the firm follows consolidation of real estate business of the Sahara Group under it as the holding company.

“We plan to develop 102 townships in the first phase. The average project cost for developing townships would be 150 million dollar,” Sahara Prime City Head (Strategic Finance) Sandeep Wadhwa said. Asked about source of funding for the project that will spread over 100-300 acre, he said it was being done through sales, debt and promoters contribution but there is a gap of Rs 100 crore in each project.

“We will raise Rs 2,000 crore by 2009-10 fiscal as debt and private equity,” Wadhwa said, adding the company was in talks with banks, financial institutions and private equity firms. The company is open to selling stakes at both company and project level, he added. It is also in talks with global developers to form joint venture for townships development.

On initial public offer, he said the company would unlock value when market condition improves. Sahara Group had announced its plan to develop townships in 217 cities in 2004-05. It has launched nine townships where construction is in full swing and is planning to launch 22 more townships by middle of 2009.

Sahara Prime City has 20,000 acre of land, including 10,600 acre in Aamby Valley City near Mumbai.

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