SmartCity Kerala snippets

Nearly eight years after it was first proposed, the Rs.2,000-crore Smart-City project in Kakkanad finally got a design, with the promoter, Dubai-based Tecom, promising to complete the work in five-and-a-half years.
Abdullatif AlMulla, group CEO of Tecom, said the company was planning to expedite the work, much ahead of the scheduled period of ten years.
He unveiled the design of the buildings in the first phase, and promised to complete the construction of the first IT building in 18-22 months. He said the work would started once the government gives environmental clearance for the project. He said that both Kerala and Dubai governments have offered support to the venture.
The application for environmental clearance of the project has been submitted, and the state board for environmental clearance, which will meet on Saturday, is expected to give its nod without further delays.
The application for building permit of the project will be submitted on July 15. “The application will be processed through the singled window clearance system specially made for SmartCity. So, the building permit will be available within 15 days,” Baju George said. With the design of the project complete, the company will start preparing the detailed master plan.
The first IT building will be a five-storey one with two underground parking lots. The building will be made to specifications for a platinum rating. It will have a built-up area of 6 lakh sq ft. Of the total 246 acres, 68% will be open space. There will be car parking for every 40 sq ft.
Of the 246 acres earmarked for the project, 14 acres of land has not received SEZ status. Since Kadambrayar river passes through the project site dividing it into three, the SEZ board of approval had only granted SEZ status to 131 acres, initially. After much hue and cry, it was decided to grant single SEZ status. to 232 acres. The state government will have to put pressure on the Centre for the whole project area to be granted single SEZ status
Poor road connectivity to the project site. Even existing roads are in a pathetic condition with potholes all over them. The PWD has prepared a project for constructing three four-lane roads to offer better connectivity to the site. If this project is approved and completed quickly, it would boost the prospects of SmartCity