Cochin Smart Mission Limited: Rs 198 crore smart' funds lie idle

Kochi: The Rs 198 crore allocated by the Union government for projects under its urban rejuvenation programme Smart City Mission remained unutilised since its transfer early 2016. Due to the delay in appointing the project management consultant (PMC) after constituting a special purpose vehicle, Cochin Smart Mission Limited, with A.P.M. Mohammad Haneesh as CEO, not even a single project proposal could be taken up. Though the works were expected to kick off in July after the funds were received, delay in selecting the PMC slowed down the process.

Mattancherry, Fort Kochi, Marine Drive, Broadway and MG Road were included in the area-based development projects such as waste management, rejuvenation of water bodies, improving and pedestrian walkways, smart lighting and cycle tracks. Though the CSML had prepared a preliminary project report on various component projects, none of them could be implemented. Meanwhile, it signed an agreement with the recently selected PMC, the IPE Global Limited, on Thursday. The PMC is responsible for preparation of detailed project reports, implementation and monitoring of 83 projects to be executed under Smart City programme. 

The agreement was signed between Mr Haneesh and Anil Kumar Bansal, the director of IPE. “Construction works can be started by the end of this year after finishing the DPR preparation soon,” said Mr Haneesh.   According to Mayor Soumini Jain, though delayed, selection of the PMC will help to speed up the process of DPR preparation and project implementation.