Govt appoints KIIFB as PMC for Kochi smart city projects

15 Jan 2022 CW Team

The government has appointed Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) as the project management consultant (PMC) for Kochi Smart City projects.

The earlier team of PMC was a private firm that had expired. Manu Jacob, councillor at United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kochi municipal corporation, said that KIIFB lacks experience as a consultant. After issuing the tender document, the government changed the conditions for appointing KIIFB.

Officials of the Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML) said that KIIFB has adequate knowledge as a consultant. The government has appointed KIIFB as PMC by adhering to the tender norms.

Officials said that the Smart City projects registered a 20% growth from 2020. Many projects, including the road works, registered around 50% progress. Many mega projects are yet to be carried out. CSML had to scrap the vacuum sewer project worth Rs 166 crore proposed at Fort Kochi. People had objected that the sewage treatment plant (STP) should be constructed near Fort Kochi Taluk Hospital.

Opposition leader of the Kochi corporation, Antony Kureethre, said that some officials from the earlier consultant firm demanded commission from the contractors for submitting the bills. He said that the contractors abandoned the work as they could not pay the commission to the officials.

Under the smart city project, CSML has renovated many roads in the smart city area. Out of 74 divisions of the Kochi corporation, eight divisions, including three in the central business district and five in Fort Kochi, come under area-based development (ABD) of the smart city.

Also read: Cochin Smart City to use funds earmarked for vacuum sewer project

Products

19 May 2025

unWOOD transforms plastic waste into durable wood alternative

unWOOD, a breakthrough innovation, is converting hard-to-recycle plastic waste into a durable alternative to natural wood. Developed through a proprietary process called Intelligent Compounding, unWOOD uses a Macro Molecular Fiber Matrix (MMFM) structure to replicate the strength, look, and feel of hardwood鈥攚ithout the environmental cost.Conceptualised by Dr Babu Padmanabhan, the material addresses key flaws in traditional plastic recycling by consuming minimal energy, using zero water, and generating no microplastics. 鈥淎ny application that introduces plastics into areas where it cannot be..

Real Estate

19 May 2025

H盲fele launches Matrix undermount runners range

H盲fele has introduced its new Matrix range of undermount runners, designed to enhance drawer motion across kitchens, wardrobes, bathroom units, and more.Available in four weight capacities and a wide range of lengths, the Matrix undermount runners support diverse drawer designs. The 40 kg and 60 kg variants feature synchronised technology for superior motion and drawer stability. All runners come with an integrated soft-close mechanism to ensure smooth and noiseless operation.This in-house range is ideal for kitchen cabinets, bed storage units, living room furniture and bathroom drawers, offe..

Real Estate

19 May 2025

India's first AI-integrated campus announced in Noida

Yashoda Hospital and Bhutani Infra have announced plans to develop India鈥檚 first fully AI-integrated mixed-use campus in Greater Noida West. The upcoming project will feature a hospital, retail spaces, offices, SOHOs, serviced apartments, and a hotel鈥攁ll operating within a self-learning, generative AI-powered ecosystem.The AI-first campus will integrate real-time data systems, predictive analytics, and adaptive infrastructure to offer personalised experiences across functions. From AI-enabled footfall tracking and dynamic energy optimisation to smart F&B and retail insights, the develo..