Kerala seeks partners for urban infra projects

'Partner Kerala Meet' on Feb 24-25 aimed at mobilising resources for cash-strapped corporations and municipalities

The Department of Urban Affairs (DUA) is launching a major initiative - Partner Kerala Meet - seeking partners for key development projects.

The 'Partner Kerala' Urban Development Meet will be launched with the objective of attracting investments worth about Rs 2,000 crore for over 100 projects in major cities in the state through public-private partnership. The two-day meet will be held at Taj Gateway Hotel here on February 24 and 25.

Minister for Urban Affairs, Manjalamkuzhi Ali said that the meet was an attempt to mobilise resources for cash-strapped corporations and municipalities, which were unable to develop amenities in rapidly expanding cities.
 

"Hundreds of potential investors, not only from Kerala but also within the country and abroad are expected to take part in the meet, which will showcase investment opportunities in a number of projects focusing on waste management, sewerage, flyovers, bridges and parking lots, bus terminals, comfort stations and markets," he said.

Projects like shopping complexes, convention centres, multiplex, amusement parks, town beautification, street lights and hoardings, would also be showcased at the meet. Projects best suited for the layout, density and geography of each city would be presented at the event.

Some of the major projects proposed for the meet include Thrissur Corporation's development of Sakhthan Nagar (estimate Rs 700 crore); Calicut Development Authority's Palayam area re-development (Rs 865.6 crore) and Big Bazar area development (Rs 750 crore); Trivandrum Development Authority's Palayam area development (Rs 230 crore); Greater Cochin Development Authority's shopping malls at Manapattiparambu in Kochi (Rs 182 crore) and Ambedkar stadium (Rs 126 crore); construction of bus stand-cum-market having multi-level car parking at Kottakal in Malappuram district (Rs 233.38 crore); municipal mall at Kannur (Rs 113 crore); Sabarimala edathavalam transit yard at Pathanamthitta (Rs 17 crore); and City Centre project of Kochi Corporation at Kacheripadi (Rs 55 crore).

The Urban Affairs Department will also organise road shows at major locations of the country to attract investors.