CHENNAI: The draft report to develop Ponneri in North Chennai as one of the three smart cities on the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor has been completed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
“We had prepared the draft report by the end of March. Now we are seeking the comments from all stakeholders. Once, we get the comments then it will be incorporated in the report. The final report could be ready before June,” said senior representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency, Ichiguchi Tomohide.
He also said the masterplan for both Chennai Bangalore Industrial Corridor as well as the smart city in Ponneri is likely to be ready before June.
The stakeholders of the smart city project are Central government agencies, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and Tamil Nadu Government, he added. JICA is looking at developing around 3,00 hectares in the area. The masterplan would include industrial parks, residential area besides commercial space. JICA is planning to conduct a seminar on the Chennai Bangalore Industrial Corridor to gain feedback from the industry and policy-makers once the master plan is ready. It is likely to be held in Chennai in the next few months.
Although Tomohide ruled out Ennore Port’s role in developing the smart city, he said the role of Ennore Port could be considered while looking at the import and exports from the industries which would be housed in the smart city.
A top Ennore Port official said that developing Ponneri as smart city is the Union government’s ambitious plan to have smart cities along its 12 major ports. He had said that the plan of the Union government by linking Ponneri to Ennore Port is to help grow the smart city. He told CE that the Shipping Ministry is playing a major role in augmenting this smart city.
The plan of JICA is also to develop Ponneri as one of the industrial hubs for Japanese companies. The other two nodes are planned at Vasant Narasapur at Tumkur in Karnataka and Krishnapatnam near Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. On JICA’s participation in Global Investors Meet, Tomohide said that Japan External Trade Organization is taking part but did not rule out JICA’s participation.