The Damodar Group has revealed to the Fiji Sun its designs for its much-talked about Damodar City Labasa project.

With this projected $10 million investment, the Damodar Group hopes to tap into the untapped potential in the North.

Damodar Group chief executive, Div Damodar, said confirmed the land on which the Damodar City Labasa project will be built on is a new sub-division.

He said it is located right opposite the court house and is near the site where the Fiji National University’s new Labasa campus will be.

Mr Damodar said they believe there is so much on offer in the North including tourism, agriculture, mining and retail.

The Damodar Group has already been extremely successful with its investment in Damodar City Suva in Raiwai.

The complex in its second year, has 600 people employed and 200,000 people visiting the complex per week on average.

“We want to make this centre very similar to Damodar City in Suva,” Mr Damodar said.

“Essentially we want to take the Suva experience to Labasa and the North. This is what the Look North policy of Government is all about.”

Land and project

Mr Damodar said fresh survey and civil engineering plans have been drawn as part of the process towards obtaining the formal Title for the land.

“Once the Title is received, then the formal plans for the development can commence,” he said.

“So at this stage, we have lodged all required civil engineering plans and are awaiting approval from the various regulatory authorities.”

Construction is scheduled for early 2016.

But, Mr Damodar said this was very much dependant on how quickly they obtained the land Title and secondly how quickly the regulatory authorities processed their construction plans.

“Once the land Title is obtain, we will then be in a better position to confirm our project launch date,” he said.

The complex

The Damodar Group is looking at two or three screen cinemas, two supermarkets, two large department stores, a food court and at least 20 retail shops.

The complex is proposed to also include offices, a museum, warehouse, children & family fun centre, car and machinery show room and a car park for 500 vehicles.

Mr Damodar said they may also look at a hotel if the numbers stacked up.

“We could be looking at 70 to 100 employees during construction direct and indirectly and over 250 once the Centre opens for trading,” he said

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