SmartCity talks to continue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The director board meeting of the company setting up the SmartCity Kochi project met here today, without taking any major decision on the issues that have delayed the project. Minister S Sharma said here that the discussions today were part of a regular director board meeting.

The key point of contention is the demand of the Dubai-based Technology and Media Free Zone Authority (Tecom), which is the state government’s partner in the project, to have free hold status over 12% of the land allotted for the project.

The state government has not agreed to the proposal. Matters have also taken a negative turn recently after chief minister VS Achuthanandan suspected Tecom’s financial position. Tecom officials denied any financial constraint and invited the CM to visit their facility in Dubai, a proposal the CM has not taken up.

Mr Achuthanandan had laid the foundation stone for the Rs 1,700-crore project two years ago, after which there has been little progress on the project. Minister Sharma said the state cabinet had not considered any other partner in place of Tecom to undertake the project. The SmartCity project envisages 88 lakh sq ft of built-up space on a 246-acre campus and creation of about 90,000 direct jobs.