CM hopeful of concluding agreement on Smart City Project

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 5: Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today expressed hope that an agreement would be concluded with the Dubai Internet City (DIC) for setting up the Smart City Project in Kochi in a month.

Talking to mediapersons after talks with DIC representatives here, the Chief Minister said both sides put forward their views on the project and were hopeful of signing the agreement in a month.

Asked whether the project would be in joint sector, he said all options were open.

He said the government would study the alternative proposals suggested by the DIC team and the response would be sent within two weeks.

Meanwhile, DIC Business Development Officer Deepak Padmanabhan told reporters that talks with the Chief Minister were cordial and the DIC team would convey the conditions put by the government to the top executives in Dubai.

The feasibility of the project had to be examined in the context of the conditions placed by the government, he said while expressing the hope it would be set up in Kochi.

After visiting the government-owned Infopark in Kochi yesterday, the Chief Minister made it clear there was no question of handing over the 90-acre project to the DIC for its proposed Smart City IT Park.

The four-member DIC team held discussions with Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sheela Thomas and IT Secretry P G Tensing on the project.

UNI