Kerala gets tough with TECOM on SmartCity

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA: Kerala will ask TECOM, the joint venture promoter of SmartCity IT Project in Kochi, one last time if it wishes to honour its pact to set up a Rs.1,500 crore ($335 million) infotech project in Kochi, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said on Tuesday.

"We have decided to write to them one last time to see if they still stand by the pact that was inked with the government," Achuthanandan told reporters here, implying action will be taken based on their response.

It was three years ago that the foundation stone for the proposed Rs.1,500 crore Smart City Kochi Mega IT Project was laid and Smart City Dubai was supposed to develop this project in an area of 246 acres of land near the airport.

All that has happened after that are 22 board meetings of Smart City Kochi. Differences still persist with the Kerala government, which is adamant that under no circumstances can freehold land that Smart City Dubai,  promoted by Dubai Holding member, TECOM Investments, will be getting for the project can be sold.

Smart City Dubai insists that they should get 12 percent freehold rights (of around 30 acres) to sell.

State Fisheries Minister S. Sarma said the government will give Smart City Dubai 10 days to reply on what they propose to do. "If we do not get a reply by then, we will decide what needs to be done," said Sarma.