Smart City projects in Kochi gather speed

Various Smart City projects in Kochi, Kerala have gained momentum since the appointment of the project management consultant (PMC).

New Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and revision of earlier DPRs have already started and fron next month onwards, tenders for various projects will be floated.

Two months back, the State government has appointed IPE Global as the project management consultant for the Smart Cities Mission. The PMC will design, develop, manage and implement various projects under the Mission.

“Though more than 80 projects were identified in 2015 when the city got shortlisted for the Smart City Mission programme of the Union Ministry of Urban Development, the implementation of many projects has been initiated by other stakeholder agencies. Hence, we had to redraft the list of projects and revise the DPRs accordingly,” said a top official of the Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML).

A 20-member team deployed by Project Management Consultant in Kochi  have started a situation analysis and discussions with stakeholder agencies.

“Based on the input from stakeholder agencies like Kochi Corporation, Kerala Water Authority, Kochi Metro Rail Limited, Kerala State Electricity Board and Education Department, project proposals will be finalised,” the official added.

 By January next year, a detailed town planning scheme would be implemented for areas like Fort Kochi, Mattanchery, Marine Drive and MG Road which have been selected for the Smart City programme.