SmartCity
finally takes off
Three years after Dubai-based TECOM approached Kerala
government with the proposal to build a knowledge industry
hub in Kochi, chief minister VS Achuthanandan on Friday
unveiled the plaque for SmartCity. The Rs1,700-crore
project aims to generate as many as 90,000 jobs and
build 88lakh square feet of office space in three phases
spanning ten years.
The project, claimed by both the ruling Left Democratic
Front and the opposition United Democratic Front as
their baby, was put into an agreement on May 13. On
Thursday, state IT director Ajay Kumar and TECOM executive
director Farid Abdul Rahman signed the lease deed for
234.5 acres of land earmarked for SmartCity for 99 years.
Achuthanandan, who had led a relentless campaign against
the original pact with TECOM when he was the leader
of the opposition, said: “The SmartCity Kochi
project is at the forefront of Kerala’s aspirations
to develop into a knowledge-based economy. With its
world-class infrastructure, environment and support
systems, SmartCity Kochi forms part of the key building
blocks necessary for the state’s growth.”
Though TECOM officials first came to Kerala on October
2004 with the proposal, the then UDF government had
to shelve the project in the face of stiff resistance
from the Left. The revised agreement struck down provisions
by which the government was to hand over the Infopark
in Kochi to the SmartCity and was refrained from promoting
any other IT park in central Kerala.
Though the present agreement empowers the government
to take over the project if the company backs down on
its promises, opposition leader Oommen Chandy alleges
that the government had actually shouldered a heavy
burden.
The former chief minister, away in New Delhi, alleged
that that the government had amended a clause to the
cabinet-approved agreement. Now the government will
have to pay more if it were to retain its 16% stake
in the company, he said.
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