Kochi (Kerala), Nov 11 (IANS) The foundation stone for the Rs.15-billion ($381 million) Smart City project to be built by Dubai Internet City (DIC) will be laid at the site near Kochi this Friday.
Joseph C. Mathew, IT advisor to Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, told IANS that a high-level delegation from Dubai is arriving for the ceremony.
“DIC officials are now working on the master plan of the project. It would take almost a year for the work to commence on the buildings. First, they will have to build two bridges and then two years from now, the first phase of the project would be ready,” said Mathew.
The project has come under a cloud since former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy last Monday asked the state government to come clean on the changes made in the deal.
Brushing aside the charges made by Chandy, Achuthanandan Friday said that the opposition is raking up issues unnecessarily.
“Our agreement with DIC is much better than what they made,” said Achuthanandan.
Chandy, who began discussions with DIC more than three years ago, told IANS that he will not take part in the Friday programme because he has to attend the All India Congress Committee meeting in Delhi.
“I am handing over a letter to Achuthanandan that he should come clean on why he has made many changes after it (the project) was cleared by the cabinet. The government order to this effect indicates that the changes were made because DIC was insisting on it. The people of Kerala wish to know why these changes were made. It is detrimental to the interests of the state,” said Chandy.