Kerala, TECOM getting ready for SmartCity Kochi meeting on March 16

The proposal for the Rs15bn SmartCity, a knowledge township in Kochi, has received a fresh impetus with both Kerala and Dubai officials reciprocating their keenness to pull the project out of limbo.

Both sides are getting ready for the next director board meeting scheduled for March 16.

Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan’s statement in the State Assembly the other day, doubting that the global meltdown might hamper the project, had put off Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority (TECOM) officials since they felt the delay had really been on account of cumbersome procedures in Kerala.

Reacting to the statement, Smart City CEO Fareed Abdul Rehman told reporters in Dubai last week that he did not know teh basis of Chief Minister’s apprehensions.

The financial meltdown had not affected the project and the groundwork and design of project were progressing well.

That phase of mutual doubts is apparently over. Both Kerala Cooperation Minister S Sarma and Fareed Abdul Rehman welcomed statements on either side.

Sarma said today that doors were open for TECOM and they could approach the State Government any time for the land registration process.

He was awaiting the arrival of TECOM officials and there were no hurdles to registering the land for the SmartCity project in the name of TECOM.

Reportedly, Rehman also promptly welcomed the Kerala Government statement that it was ready to initiate the registration process anytime and that the formalities could be completed in ten minutes.

Reciprocating Sarma’s statement that there would be no delay in signing the deal, Rehman said there would be no delay from their side too.

Source :THE PENINSULA

SmartCity targets global investors for key projects

The South Indian state of Kerala is encouraging UAE investors to set up special economic zones and technology parks.

The state is talking to several leading UAE investors including the SS Lootah Group, non-resident Indian groups and Emaar MGF.

SmartCity Kochi, a joint venture between the Government of Kerala and Dubai's Tecom, is an Rs17 billion (Dh1.28bn) project to develop 8.8 million sq ft of built-up space. Other UAE investors are keen to participate in IT projects in Kerala, a senior government official told Emirates Business.

Dr Ajay Kumar, Secretary, Information Technology, Government of Kerala said: "We are currently negotiating with leading business groups from the UAE like SS Lootah and NRI bodies for joint IT projects in the state. We are offering several key projects with special economic status to UAE investors including a 450-acre technology project in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital.

He said Emaar MGF, the Indian subsidiary of UAE-based Emaar, is also negotiating for an IT special economic zone in Kerala.

Dr Ajay said the Kerala Government was also considering a plan to encourage small and medium-sized NRI groups from the Gulf region to set up IT parks in rural and semi-urban centres throughout the state.

"The UAE-based SS Lootah Group is keen to have a major presence in Kerala's IT sector and we are not feeling depressed about the current slowdown in the US and European markets, the main source of business for IT outsourcing firms," he added.

Projects includes a 25-acre site in Kollam with special economic zone status. Investors would have to use 70 per cent of the area for industrial operations and 30 per cent for commercial developments such as convention centres, recreational facilities and socio-economic infrastructure.

The expected investment for one project is Rs300 crores. In Cherthala, six five-acre units are available and the investment sought is Rs50 crores per project. In the same city there are plans for a technocity – an integrated IT township – covering 60 acres. An 80-acre technocity project in the same city needs hotels, convention centres and recreational facilities worth Rs800 crores.

N Radhakrishnan Nair, CEO of Technopark Thiruvananthapuram, said the centre was undergoing major expansion involving the addition of a further 92-acre section and a 450-acre technocity. He said the Taj Group has commissioned a business class hotel inside the Technopark.

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SpEC (Specialised Engineering consultants)opens second office in India

Seeing the huge potential for specialised consultancy in the field of electro-mechanical design and supervision, UAE-based Specialised Engineering consultants, has opened its second office in the country.

With mega projects like Smart city and Medi city coming to Kochi, SpEC views Kerala as an area of vast growth potential, the firm's Managing Partners Syed Sabzada and Syraj Hamza said at a press meet here.

The company, which has offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, started its operations by opening an office at Kozhikode followed by the one at Kochi. There is lack of professionals at present in India to take care of the mega projects coming to the country, Sabzada said.

SpEC management team is associated with various projects in UAE, including Internet city, Media city, Knowledge village, Financity city, Dubai Sports city, Marriott Hotel among others. They are also involved in various Data Centre design projects for Emirate Airlines group, Dubai Mercantile Exchange.

Among its projects in India, SpEC has taken up the design and supervision of the Choice Group's Rs 50 crore tallest residential building in South India -- The Choice Paradise in Kochi which is expected to be ready by 2009.

It is also involved in the Rs 80 crore expansion project of the Le Meridian Hotel here for setting up convention centre, hotels rooms and a new shopping centre, the company's Director India operations Ashar Panakat said.

The current project list of SpEC worldwide includes US$ 670 mn, 3.2 mn square feet area development project comprising hotel and service apartment.
Total value of the projects designed and implemented by the consultants exceeds US$ 2.5 bn internationally.

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Dh1.8bn Sky City plan in Kochi by UAE

UAE officials are working with the Government of the Indian state of Kerala to develop a Dh1.8 billion Sky City project at the coastal city of Kochi. The proposal involves building an eight kilometre-long elevated highway above an existing 4.2km bridge that carries traffic over water.

The new road would be lined on both sides with 20,000 square metres of residential and commercial space.

Kochi is a booming commercial city in the southwest of the state flanked by the Arabian Sea on one side and hills on the other.

Sky City has been proposed as a solution to the city’s growing traffic congestion problems, which would not put pressure on the limited land resources in the area.

Three-storey apartments, shopping centres, leisure facilities and other amenities such as pedestrian paths and car parks would be built on the highway platform. There could also be helipads and marine transport.

“The UAE Government is currently studying the Sky City project in Kochi,” said Ashok Lal G, general manager of projects at the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation.

“The project involves the construction of a bridge up to eight kilometers long over an existing bridge and will use the space above it to build shopping complexes, offices and residential buildings.

“There is an acute shortage of land in Kochi to develop new roads and people are reluctant to give up their land for road development.

“Last December, a UAE delegation led by Younis Al Khoori, secretary of the UAE Ministry of Finance and Industry, and other senior government officials visited Kerala to boost UAE investment.

During their visit it was announced a new investment company, a joint venture involving the governments of the seven emirates, would invest in Kerala projects.”

The UAE has experience of reclaiming space for construction through projects, such as Dubai’s Palms and the World and Abu Dhabi’s Breakwater and Al Raha Beach development.

“We are trying to use Dubai’s expertise in growth and infrastructure development. Part of Dubai is reclaimed from the sea and we are confident Dubai companies will be actively involved in the development of the 20m to 30m high bridge above the existing Maradu-Thevara bridge and the development of residential and commercial buildings.”

The official said the Kerala chief minister’s office had approved the Sky City proposal.

Once the feasibility study is completed a memorandum of understanding would be signed by the two governments setting out details of the project’s structure and financing.

“The Government of Kerala will have to grant rights to build over the existing bridge and the Coastal Zone Authority will have to approve the project.”

The proposed development would have supermarkets, community halls, entertainment centres, restaurants, hotels, garment and jewellery shops, car showrooms, offices and business centres.

The plan also involves provisions for amusement centres, healthcare facilities, water sports, an oceanarium and a theme park.

The state government is working with Tecom to develop Kochi SmartCity, an information technology infrastructure project.

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