Kochi 08-10-2011: The first phase of the proposed SmartCity Kochi project will turn operational within two years, said CM. He was talking after launching the work of the pavilion of the Smart City and added that the pavilion will be completed within 14 weeks.

After the completion of the pavilion first phase of the project will start immediately and it is expected to be complete within 20 months. The whole project is expected to be completed in two years, said CM.

CM stressed the need to complete the project in a time bound manner and assured all support to the promoters

Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty said that the project will enable educated youth from the State working in other countries return to the home State.

Speaking on the occasion, Abdullatif Almulla, Group CEO of Tecom Investments, said that SmartCity was a strategic project for Kerala. “We are committed to create 90,000 jobs as per the framework agreement. It will attract Foreign Direct Investments and talented people to the State. And it will create the right opportunities for many start-ups to grow,” he said.

S. Sarma, MLA and chairman of SmartCity Kochi during the term of the previous government, said that political divisions should not come in the way of the progress of the project as it was the collective need of the State and added that Tecom had in an agreement signed with the previous government in February had committed to start the work in March and only Tecom alone knows the reason.