Kochi can come up with more development projects on Public-Private-Participation (PPP) mode by exploring the possibilities at the Investors meet scheduled to be held in January 2014.
The investors meet for urban local bodies is planned by the Ministry for Urban Affairs and is mooted as a platform for local bodies to showcase their ambitious projects and find funds for its materialisation by attracting global investors.
The Kochi Corporation had already submitted six proposals mooted in PPP mode in its annual budget.
“We have mooted various PPP projects in the last two annual budgets. Some selected projects have been submitted for the investors meet,” said Deputy Mayor B Bhadra.
The list of projects submitted by the civic body are in the health, infrastructure and commercial sectors. The major infrastructure project submitted by the Corporation is the development of a North-South Corridor. The others are proposals for setting up a modern abattoir at Kaloor, IT Hub at Kacherippady, a shopping complex at Paramara Road and a commercial and trade centre among others.
Meanwhile, experts are of the opinion that the Corporation should look into developing new projects for the city instead of sticking to the earlier proposals. “The Kochi Metro Rail construction was launched after the presentation of the Corporation annual budget. The infrastructure requirements of the city has witnessed a drastic change after the launch of the project. This is the right time for the authorities to think of new projects that can cater to the needs of the public. The Kochi Metro Rail authorities too are looking for developing a feeder system. So the civic body could have looked into the possibilities of mooting new proposals,” they said.
They also said that other neighbouring local bodies like Thrissur and Kozhikode have come up with new projects that require huge capital investment. “The meet is the right venue to showcase capital investment projects.
It is learnt that the Thrissur Corporation has come up with projects worth `350 crore while Kozhikode has submitted plans for setting up a modern waste treatment plant. Kochi should also follow the same path by identifying new projects according to the city’s urgent requirements,” experts said.