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MARG SWARNABHOOMI EMERGING AS AN EDUCATION CLUSTER FOR A NEW ECONOMY

~Education initiatives under the banner Swarnabhoomi Academic Institutions (SAI)

~ Will provide a platform for world class education with International faculty~

~Complete learning & living experience in the smart ecosystem of MARG Swarnabhoomi ~

~Extensive exposure to International alliance partners & on-site training at project sites

~Good employment opportunities within the Group for meritorious students~

Chennai, July 20, 2011 : MARG Ltd., one of India's leading Infrastructure companies today announced that its flagship project, MARG Swarnabhoomi, christened as the city of education, research and innovation is fast emerging as an major education cluster for new economy. Swarnabhoomi Academic Institutions (SAI) a MARG education initiative is aimed to address the global needs towards creating an equitable society by enabling young individuals to bridge the socio economic divide. Affordable quality education, Skills development & Employability enhancement training in identified industries, promoting our heritage & culture and vocational skills development are key focus areas for SAI.

Swarnabhoomi Academic Institutions (SAI) has embarked upon education ventures like Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music (SAM), MARG Navajyothi Vidyalaya, MARG Institute of Design and Architecture, Swarnabhoomi (MIDAS), Virginia Tech – India Campus and Finishing School (EXCEL), in the cultural corridor consisting of Mahabalipuram, Auroville and Kancheepuram, renowned for its architectural inspiration. Besides these, a Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Studies that will take a uniquely integrated look at parameters like water, waste management ,energy and green building initiatives, is also in the anvil.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. GRK Reddy, Chairman & Managing Director, MARG Group, said, "Our education initiatives are strategically located in the quite, green, pollution-free and pristine eco-system of MARG Swarnabhoomi. Also, the fact that students will be exposed to on-site training at MARG facilities & project sites, extensive interaction with our international partners & faculty, and that meritorious students will be absorbed within the MARG Group is a key differentiating factor. We are building 60 million sq ft of development, 2 airports at Bijapur & Bellary and 2 ports at Karaikal & Mugaiyur. This will be excellent learning ground for our students".

MARG has entered into strategic tie-ups with international majors like PYCSA S.L of Spain, LAGAN Construction of Ireland, Los Angeles headquartered and Fortune 500 listed AECOM and International Infrastructure Consultants (IIC). These international partners will interact on and off site with students and share best practices.

Also, the PURA (Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) projects being undertaken by MARG in a phased manner will offer huge scope for students towards community development initiatives too. The pilot projects covering 11 village panchayats in Tamil Nadu (Kancheepuram district) and 8 village panchayats in Puducherry (Karaikal region), benefitting over 80,000 people in total will help develop rural infrastructure like water supply system, sanitation facilities, village streets, drainage and watershed projects apart from placement-linked skill development activities.

Mr. Ganesh Ram, Chief Executive Officer–MARG Swarnabhoomi says, "Senior Managers at MARG have taken a pledge to dedicate 30,000 man hours to the Group's education activities annually. This strong reserve of visiting faculty alongwith a research based learning environment of MARG Swarnabhoomi is meant to enhance the learning curve and make the students career ready".

MARG Institute of Design and Architecture, Swarnabhoomi (MIDAS) aims to provide excellence in architecture and design, focusing on nurturing, inspiring, and equipping the students with the best of knowledge, tools and training. MIDAS will cater to the needs of students from all over India and abroad. The courses that are offered in MIDAS are 5 years Bachelor Degree Program in Architecture Studies (B. Arch - Architecture Studies) and 5 years Bachelor Degree Program in Interior Design Studies (B. Arch – Interior Design Studies). Both the programs are aimed at being residential programmes. In addition to standard courses in architecture and design, specialised Continuing Professional Development (CPD) short term courses for working professional architects are also in the anvil.

Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music (SAM) is India's first professional music college for contemporary jazz, rock and world music & is on a par with major music colleges around the world .Operational for the past 2 years, SAM is planning to expand into various fine arts disciplines and become a deemed university dedicated to the field of music and fine arts to cater to over 1000 students.

MARG Navajyothi Vidyalaya, based on CBSE syllabus will provide opportunity to the first generation school goers for quality education at an affordable cost. Started in June 2011 with about 200 children from 1st to 7th standard, the school will be expanded to offer the entire KG to 12th standard curriculum in near future. The school currently offering affordable education to first generation students from the neighbourhood of MARG Swarnabhoomi has plans to start atleast 10 schools in under the brand name of MARG Navajyothi Schools in various parts of India to provide quality education to over 5000 students.

Exemplarr Center for Employability and Learning (EXCEL) is a Finishing School which offers industry specific course curriculum and provides placement assistance. It is aimed towards generating rural employment opportunities while offering composite and holistic career matrix to aspiring young talents.

The other knowledge initiatives of MARG include Virginia Tech (India Campus) and Marine and Logistics Institute. The campus is designed on the same lines of Virginia Tech, USA with the objective to deliver programs in India for graduate education as well as scientific and technological engagement through a model of collaborative research, education and outreach that will address current and future global issues and create opportunities.

ABOUT MARG SWARNABHOOMI

MARG Swarnabhoomi, the flagship project of MARG is being developed as an inclusive and integrated new paradigm city based on the principles of new urbanism with unique offerings for education, research and innovation. This integrated city will house a R&D hub and an innovation led futuristic Science Park supported by an educational, commercial and residential framework. MARG Swarnabhoomi has been designed to be an aspirational habitat based on the principles of 'new urbanism' where Education, Research and Innovation will coexist in a stress free atmosphere.

Christened as the "Land of New Thinking"- the global city of education, research and innovation that brings together educational institutions, manufacturing & research companies, IT services firms, housing and healthcare facilities all under one roof. It has already roped in several companies including the likes of Grundfos India, Polyhose, Van Spall Associates, Virgo, Sumeet Machines and TVS Kwikpatch in the engineering category. Strand Bioprocesses and Micro Therapeutics Research labs have been tied up in the Research & Innovation domain.

MARG Swarnabhoomi has been shortlisted as Indian Green Building Council's (IGBC) pilot project for the first Platinum rated city in India.

About MARG:

MARG Limited (BSE: 530543), incorporated in 1994 and headquartered in Chennai, is an infrastructure, real estate development and services company. The Company is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and its shares are traded on the NSE under the category of 'Permitted Security'. The holistic regional development undertaken by the group is unlocking economic prosperity and creating inclusive & sustainable growth models.

With over two decades of reassuring presence and the credit of pioneering the development of economic growth centers, MARG's portfolio spans across the entire infrastructure value chain - urban and industrial infrastructure, urban residential clusters, marine infrastructure & services, malls and EPC division. The group is expanding its sectoral presence with airport projects in Bellary and Bijapur and Multi-level car park projects. Listed by Dun & Bradstreet among "India's Top 500 Companies 2010", today MARG Group has projects worth more than Rs. 5000 crores under execution, a seasoned human capital of more than 1000, global partners in the Infra space and offices spread across India, Singapore and China. The MARG CSR brand – MARG Parivarthan complements these business verticals. More information on MARG is available on http://www.marggroup.com

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