With Rs.500-crore allocation, Kochi's Smart City mission in top gear.

The city’s journey towards becoming a Smart City under the Centre’s ambitious scheme for urban rejuvenation is expected to shift to top gear after Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac earmarked Rs.500 crore for the project in the State Budget.

“We could immediately start implementing the detailed project reports in various sectors. Kochi will receive a matching grant from the Centre. The Project Management Consultant will be appointed by the end of this month,” said A. P. M. Mohammed Hanish, State Mission Director.

Cochin Smart Mission Limited is expected to float the tenders for various works without delay. The project management consultant will specifically focus on area-based development, concentrating on the city’s central business district and West Kochi. Priority will be given to waste management, rejuvenation of waterbodies, improving and building pedestrian walkways and cycle tracks.

THE HINDU