KOCHI: I am thankful to the people of Kochi, who have given me an opportunity to serve them as the Mayor of the city. Personally, I believe that this is also an opportunity given to me by God. So, my first priority will be to act in accordance with public interest. Every new administration is a continuation of governance. So, a pressing matter will be carrying forward the projects which were mooted by the previous council.
Kochi is included in the list of the cities selected by the Union Government under the ‘100 Smart Cities’ project. Only the first 20 cities will get financial support this year and so we need to ensure that Kochi is included in that initial list. We have already designed some ambitious projects to improve urban infrastructure as well as other sectors, including e-governance, waste treatment, water and energy management and urban mobility. So, the most important task of the present council will be ensuring that all these projects are being carried forward.
The last Council had also identified 33 key projects under ‘Mission Kochi’ programme. While some of the projects were completed, some are in various stages of completion, while a few are remaining as non-starters. We will also see to it that those projects are completed in a time-bound manner.
To the opposition, my request is that our politics should be ‘’development.’’ Irrespective of political differences, we should stand together when it comes to issues related with the overall development of the city. I also promise everyone that every administrative activity will be carried out in the most transparent manner.
And let me wind up by reciting a few lines from Robert Frost’s poem, ‘Stopping by woods on a snowy evening’:
‘’The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.’’