Smart City Kochi - Under Planning & Development

[DileepKS]

Yes, a bridge is perfectly fine to make the land contiguous. That provision is there in the SEZ rules.

Monorail is needed because the campus is huge.

[georgescifo]

Originally Posted by arunpr

I really doubt whether this TECOM can able to implement this project. Kunjali and Chandy want to loot govts money in the name of agreement change with the silent support of TECOM.

Instead of Smart City, Govt should give more priority to the Infopark 2nd Phase expansion. Smart City is a private investment and govt doesnt need to give so much importance. Govts priority should be the Infopark Phase 2 expansion and it is 100% govt funded project. Mostly Kochi is going to loose everything it gained in IT in the last 5 years !!! Thanks to TCS for starting their campus construction, otherwise Chandy will take over that land also and will give it to TECOM !!!

I also doubt whether this smartcity project would be fulfilled in the near future, as I am quite aware about the political parties and leaders in Kerala. By the time, the smart city project become a reality, we might have got retired from our jobs...

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by georgescifo

I also doubt whether this smartcity project would be fulfilled in the near future, as I am quite aware about the political parties and leaders in Kerala. By the time, the smart city project become a reality, we might have got retired from our jobs...

Why not? In Kerala the problem is always to make a ball roll as well as to end its rolling.... Once the ball starts rolling, no one will touch it.... I meant mainly political parties.

For example, Land reforms Act found stiff opposition from Congress and all other parties. But once implemented, after Congress came back to power, they never scrapped it. Now even Congress doesnot want to scrap it at all....

Regarding Smart City, already a date has been announced and works will have go in that direction. So lets be optimistic.

With OC at lead, I am sure he is moving towards Adhivegam Bahuduram!!!!

[bhasidali]

Smart City Kochi model projects in Europe, Asia

ALAPPUZHA: Promoters of Smart City project, Tecom Investments, is ready to set up Smart City Kochimodel projects in the European and Asian countries. Tecom Investments sources from Dubai told Express that their Smart City Malta project proved to be a big hit and that they have been getting good responses from various IT giants in the world."Many countries, both from Europe and Asia have already approached us for setting up our future projects in their countries including China and we have broad plans to set up projects like Smart City Kochi and Malta Model projects in other countries. However, we have not finalised any countries for our project and discussions are on," the sources said. "Now we are mainly zeroing in on Smart City Malta and Kochi projects. Once the the Smart City project is completed, we will execute similar projects in more countries," the sources added.The problems, which created road blocks for Kochi Smart City project for a long time, were already cleared and now the firm is trying to execute the project on time. The vision of the Smart City project is to create a global network of selfsustained business townships to foster the knowledge economy. "We utilise our specialised expertise in the creation and management of knowledgebased industry clusters to create an infrastructure and environment to cater to the requirements of these companies and their workers," they said.With a minimum investment outlay of $300 million, Smart City Malta will transform Malta into a stateofart Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Media business community based on the successful clusters of Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and Dubai Knowledge Village. Smart City Malta is the largest ever foreign direct investment in the ICT and media sectors ever made in Malta," the sources said.Smart City Kochi will be one of India's largest business parks and we regularly hold discussions with the world's IT giants for setting up their shops here. The project has an employment generation potential of over 90,000 jobs and multiplier effects are expected to bring several other benefits to the state, " the sources said.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/smart-cit...57-60-116.html

[DileepKS]

From Manorama Print Edition

Describes the advantaged of Smart City being converted to a multi service SEZ.

[induzcreed]

Smart City Kochi model projects in Europe, Asia
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/smart-cit...57-60-116.html

who cares about this crap and hype? BS! people have started throwing satellite TV's out of their homes! But I tend to believe, some of the blue chip companies will be featured here. I trust my resources.

[mohammedirshad06]

Friends,

Glad to inform that the draft of Masterplan of Kochi Smart city is almost ready. It will be soon submitted for Tecom's and DIFC's final approval. The recent change of guard at DIFC has caused some delays in approval of the draft plan. Once DIFC approves, it will have to be approved by Smart City Kochi Board, before submitting to Indian SEZ BOA for its joint SEZ approval status.

Anyway, its learnt that by next Monday we may get some more happy news.... Its glad, some solid movement is happening....

[agnath.]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

Friends,

Glad to inform that the draft of Masterplan of Kochi Smart city is almost ready. It will be soon submitted for Tecom's and DIFC's final approval. The recent change of guard at DIFC has caused some delays in approval of the draft plan. Once DIFC approves, it will have to be approved by Smart City Kochi Board, before submitting to Indian SEZ BOA for its joint SEZ approval status.

Anyway, its learnt that by next Monday we may get some more happy news.... Its glad, some solid movement is happening....

MI, thats a real good news, hopefull SEZ BoA approves smartcity SEZ in the next meeting , Smartcity was supposed to reopen their office by Aug 31st any news on that ? .... Waiting for the Monday update

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by agnath.

MI, thats a real good news, hopefull SEZ BoA approves smartcity SEZ in the next meeting , Smartcity was supposed to reopen their office by Aug 31st any news on that ? .... Waiting for the Monday update

SEZ BOA requires a conceptual masterplan design to understand how both the parcels of land are interconnected to approve as ONE COMMON SEZ. Hence its important for them prepare masterplan at the earilest. It has to be approved at multiple levels.

I have no idea whether Smart City Kochi office has been opened or not. Anyways, Industries Minister Kunjahalikutty will be visiting soon.... I heard it from KMCC-Dubai that they are planning for a grand reception for hims... Probably it might be for unveiling the masterplan

[mohammedirshad06]

The district administration decided to launch Kochi IT Hub Water Supply scheme, to ensure uninterrupted water supply in the growing IT Metropolis of Kakkanad which includes Smart City and Infoparks

The water supply scheme to use water from Choodi River for providing 5 million litres of water. When the project is complete, around 3 Million litres could be distributed to the residential units around IT hub and 2 Million litres to the IT facilities.

[agnath.]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

SEZ BOA requires a conceptual masterplan design to understand how both the parcels of land are interconnected to approve as ONE COMMON SEZ. Hence its important for them prepare masterplan at the earilest. It has to be approved at multiple levels.

Next SEZ BoA is scheduled for Sept 9th .. Hopefully we will have the masterplan ready before that ...
http://www.sezindia.nic.in/writeread...e_9_9_2011.pdf

Mohammed Irshad, Are you aware of any updates in masterplan readiness. ?

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by agnath.

Next SEZ BoA is scheduled for Sept 9th .. Hopefully we will have the masterplan ready before that ...
http://www.sezindia.nic.in/writeread...e_9_9_2011.pdf

Mohammed Irshad, Are you aware of any updates in masterplan readiness. ?

My friend in TECOM says its almost ready. But unveiling delayed owing to many factors, which he doesn't know. I inquired with KMCC about the proposed Kunjhalikutty's visit... It was supposed to be last week, but postponed due to several reasons... I believe, it will be unveiled soon....

[Malayaali]

Everything gets delayed during Ramadhan!

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by rajkrish

Smartcity in limbo

You seems to be TO MUCH Interested in Kochi now-a-days

Well, as usual our journalists have lot of reasons to believe and report, which may or may not be true....... I am sure, this news is put because of recent rumours of second recession.... But things in UAE are not in bad shape, as it used to be in past. There are several Malayalees in UAE and you can ask them whether finances of the state is in bad or not.....

There are lot of news, which you may like to believe, which I can't help..... The funding of Smart City comes from Emirates NBD and DIB mainly, not from any local seths or marwadis of Mumbai as the Journalists believe.

Ever since US, Europe went into much issues of recessions, most of the UAE/Arab Investments is getting withdrawn from the market and naturally the money has put some where.... India, China and Singapore are some of the destinations, now most of Arabs love to park their money, hence funding is not as big issue as most of local journalists believe.

They have already given a date- Oct 31 2011, to start their Indian operations. There is sense, if such news is posted after this... Prior news, is always interests of several lobbies and political interests.

But anyways, there is no doubt, we missed the major bus to development, hence now we can't expect to be superfast......

[rajkrish]

Well, I'm not interested in knowing UAE's financial status. If ever I need to know it I'd rather depend on S&P or Reuters reports than unreliable sources like you

Well, as usual our journalists have lot of reasons to believe and report, which may or may not be true....... I am sure, this news is put because of recent rumours of second recession.... But things in UAE are not in bad shape, as it used to be in past. There are several Malayalees in UAE and you can ask them whether finances of the state is in bad or not.....

Well, Truth is a bitter pill. Can't help if someone can't swallow it

There are lot of news, which you may like to believe, which I can't help..... The funding of Smart City comes from Emirates NBD and DIB mainly, not from any local seths or marwadis of Mumbai as the Journalists believe.

Ever since US, Europe went into much issues of recessions, most of the UAE/Arab Investments is getting withdrawn from the market and naturally the money has put some where.... India, China and Singapore are some of the destinations, now most of Arabs love to park their money, hence funding is not as big issue as most of local journalists believe.

They have already given a date- Oct 31 2011, to start their Indian operations. There is sense, if such news is posted after this... Prior news, is always interests of several lobbies and political interests.

But anyways, there is no doubt, we missed the major bus to development, hence now we can't expect to be superfast......

[mohammedirshad06]

So things are cleared

The board meeting of Smart City Kochi was held at Dubai just few hours back. The parent company TECOM approved the budget of Smart City from next one year of constructions. The ground for the headquarters would commence on November 19 2011. Invitations would be extended to Chief Minister Ommen Chandy, Minister K,Babu and Yousaf Ali soon to Dubai, after securing their confirmed dates, for unveiling the masterplan.

The Smart City MD, would hold a press meet soon, making the list of plans to be commenced.

[psanthosh]

News about smart city 1st year funding in Deepika



http://malayalam.deepikaglobal.com/l...sp?ncode=79324

[mohammedirshad06]

The 2nd Project Monitoring Committee meeting of SmartCity Kochi project was held in Dubai under the Chairmanship of HE Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer, Member of Supreme Fiscal Committee of Dubai Government. and attended by Abdul Latheef Al Mulla, Vice Chairman, SmartCity and Group CEO TECOM, Dr. Adnan Chilwan, Deputy CEO, Dubai Islamic Bank, Suresh Kumar, CEO, Emirates NBD, Yusuffali MA, Vice Chairman of NORKA ROOTS, Government of Kerala and Dr. Baju George Managing Director, SmartCity.


The meeting reviewed the progress so far of the project and set time line for the first year's activities and allotted the required funds for the same. As per the the reports available the work on SmartCity Pavilion, which will showcase the various advanced technological advancement of SmartCity Kochi will begin on 29th September.

This pavilion will also have the offices for the Administrative and Project Management team.

"As per our project plan the work on Head Quarter building will commence of 19th November and rest of the work be implemented in a time bound manner" said Abdul Latheef AlMulla after the meeting.

Taking into consideration the importance of the project and need for speedy decisions, the committee decided to induct Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy as an Honorable Special Invitee to the SmartCity Kochi Board. Kerala Ports & Excise Minister K.Babu and Yusuffali MA have also been made special invitees.

"The decisions taken today are very important and will further boost the effective implementation of the project in a mutually beneficial manner" added Dr. Baju George.

"I am sure, with the inclusion of Kerala CM and fixing of dateline for various activities, the project is going in right direction and we can soon see the positive impact of this in the economic scenario of Kerala" opined Yusuffali.

http://www.ameinfo.com/273423.html

[mohammedirshad06]

Work on the much-delayed Kochi Smart City IT project will begin September-end, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said Sunday.

Speaking to IANS, Chandy said that he has been told that the decision was taken at a meeting of the Smart City Dubai board in the emirate Sunday.
"Yes, things are moving fast and work would begin next month according to our time table that we have drawn up when they were here after we took over. All the hitches are over and it is going to be on the fast track," said Chandy.

Incidentally it was Chandy who had first finalised the proposed mega IT project in his previous tenure. The succeeding Left Democratic Front, headed by V.S. Achuthanandan, laid the foundation stone for the project but nothing else happened during its rule.

"We have got the news that they have included me, (state minister) K.Babu and (Middle East businessman) M.A.Yusuf Ali as special invitees on the board," added Chandy.

The road map for the mega project, which is expected to come up on a 250 acre plot in Kochi, is expected to provide close to 100,000 jobs.

The roadmap that has been prepared indicates that the first phase would be commissioned before Oct 31, 2012.

Incidentally it was Ali, who was largely instrumental in reviving the project.
The Dubai meeting also gave directions for the necessary fund allotment.

http://expressbuzz.com/states/kerala...dy/306276.html

[Malayaali]

Great news! No more clarifications required!