KOCHI: The inauguration of the first phase of SmartCity in Kochi today will provide a leg-up to the efforts of Kerala to emerge as a major destination of information technology industries and IT-enabled services in the country.
The first phase of the project to be dedicated to the country, in the presence of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and UAE minister for cabinet affairs and chairman of Dubai Holding Mohammed Al Gergawi, Leader of Opposition V. S. Achuthanandan and others, is expected to generate over 5,000 job opportunities.
Speaking to reporters in Kochi on Friday, Jaber bin Hafez, chairman of SmartCity Kochi, said tthe project will provide a world-class IT industry infrastructure in the state in the next four years with the completion of the second phase.
The completion of the second phase of the project will provide nearly five million sq ft of built-up space for IT industries, residential and commercial properties.
The project will be fully commissioned in 2020, Mr Jaber said. He added that Tecom Investments, the promoters of the venture, is ready to set up similar ventures in other parts of the country as well.
Smart days ahead
Kochi, which had a delayed start in the IT industry in Kerala compared with the state capital, will make a big leap on Saturday when the much-delayed inauguration of the first phase of SmartCity Kochi will take place.
The first phase of the project with 6.5 lakh sq-ft IT tower will be dedicated to the nation in the presence of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Mr Mohammed Al Gargawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs UAE and chairman of Dubai Holding and several other dignitaries.
The inauguration is taking place a decade after the project was first mooted by the UDF government led by Mr Chandy in 2005. Although a joint venture agreement for the SmartCity project, promoted by the Dubai-based Tecom Investments, was signed by the LDF government in May 2007, it took eight years for the realisation of the first phase due to various reasons, including the slowdown in the Dubai economy following the meltdown in the property market in the emirates.
Speaking to reporters in Kochi on Friday, Mr Jaber bin Hafez, vice-chairman of SmartCity Kochi, said that the delay in the completion of the first phase was due to the uniqueness of the venture as there was no benchmark to carry out the operations.
“Moreover, infrastructure facilities like roads, bridges and power supply had to be developed before the commencement of the construction process,” he said.
Mr. Jaber bin Hafez expressed satisfaction that 27 information technology companies had already taken on lease 75 per cent of the leasable space in the first IT tower and many of them were busy finishing their fit-out jobs. He, however, withheld the names of the firms saying that it was a secret to be revealed on the inaugural day.
The companies are expected to be fully functional within the next three to four months. “Once fully operational, the phase-I can generate a minimum of 5,000 job opportunities in one shift, said Dr. Baju George, Interim CEO and board member, SmartCity Kochi. According to Mr. George, a company in SmartCity Kochi can have virtual presence or physical presence in the SmartCity in Dubai or Malta.
The inauguration of the first phase will also see the launch of the second phase of the project involving the construction of 4.7 million sq-ft built up space. The second phase will have seven towers, including the tallest IT tower in the country comprising 1.8 million sq- ft promoted by Sands Infrabuild, the IT division of the Lulu Group.
Other major projects to be completed in the second phase included the ventures by UAE-based Holiday Group, GEMS International School, Bengaluru-based Maratt Projects Pvt Ltd, Prestige Group and Kochi-based Elton Technologies.
The completion of the second phase will generate 60,000 jobs, according to Mr. Jaber Bin Hafez. The second phase is expected to be completed in the next 30-36 months, he said.
The second phase will also have non-IT buildings, he added. “The full-fledged version of the Smart City will be ready by 2020,” he said. Mr. Jaber Bin Hafez has also evinced interest in setting up similar projects in other parts of the country.
