Smart City: A moral victory for Achuthanandan

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 25 (UNI) It is a moral victory for Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and his Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government for making the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority (TECOM), the promoters of Dubai Internet City (DIC), to agree to almost all the demands on Rs 1,500 crore Smart City Project at Kochi.

The Kerala Government today finally gave the nod for the project and the final agreement with TECOM would be signed by the end of the month.

Mr Achuthanandan told reporters after a Cabinet meeting today that TECOM had agreed to almost all the demands raised by the LDF Government and the TECOM authorities had been invited to sign the deal.

The development is seen as a moral victory for Mr Achuthanandan as he had earlier opposed the terms of the project worked out by the then Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Government - a stance which was seen as anti-development. The IT project was also thought to have been shelved after the LDF came to power.

While in the Opposition, Mr Achuthanandan, had opposed some of the conditions the previous government allowed in the agreement between the two sides for setting up the project. He also alleged it was a real estate project.

After assuming power, the Left government had held talks with the DIC and the company officials made many rounds to the state. At every stage, the development was positive and the Chief Minister had always insisted on starting the project, but with new conditions and the pact for the Smart City comes as a boost to Mr Achuthanandan.

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