Partner Kerala meet: 41 EoIs for Rs 1,863 cr signed

The last day of Partner Kerala Meet witnessed signing of 41 expression of interests (EoIs) worth over Rs 1,863 crore between the private players and the state government.

The EoIs were signed for developing various infrastructure projects under the PPP model in urban centres.

Minister for Urban Affairs Manjalamkuzhi Ali said it would soon form a state-wide expert committee to expedite the process of finalising the projects.

He said the government would opt for either the Swiss challenge process or open tender process for selecting the private partners.

The EoIs were sig#ned for the Thrissur Corporation's Sakthan Nagar Development (Rs 700 crore), Thiruvananthapuram Corporation's Chalai waste treatment plant (Rs 30 crore), Kochi corporation's shopping complex projects at Edapally and Kacheripaddy (Rs 55 crore each), Greater Cochin Development Authority's Mundamvelli regional sports complex (50.19 crore) and shopping mall at Dr Ambedkar Stadium (Rs 126 crore) and Palakad Municipality's Indira Gandhi municipal stadium (Rs 60 crore) and an indoor stadium (Rs 150 crore).

The meet also discussed multi-crore projects unveiled by urban local bodies of Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Thrissur and Kozhikode.

Over 500 delegates interacted with the representatives of local bodies, which are aimed at learning more about the commercial prospects of the projects.

The Thrissur Corporation authorities projected the development of Shakthan Nagar, with an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore, as one of the biggest projects at the meet.

The initiative is expected to give a face-lift to the existing area through the implementation of a scientific plan and design.

The Calicut Development Authority earned the attention of the investors through its Palayam area re-development project worth about Rs 865 crore.

Delegates also evinced interest in the Vyttila Mobility Hub Society's project to kick-start construction of the second phase of the hub at an estimated cost of Rs 433.34 crore.