Fast track CSML projects: A C Moideen

Kochi: Kochi’s deadline for implementing the Smart City Mission programme will end in March, though the city failed to implement not even a single project in four years.

The Kochi Corporation and the Cochin Smart City Mission Limited (CSML), the implementing agency, claim that more than 25 projects are in various stages of execution.

Amidst complaints against this failure, minister for local self-governments, A. C Moideen, convened a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. He instructed mayor Soumini Jain and the CSML authorities to expedite the works and advance the schedule of projects’ implementation.

“As per the current plan, the tendering of many projects will be completed by December only. The minister asked to redesign the project to complete the procedures without further delay,” a source said.

Launched in 2015, Kochi city could spend only less than five per cent of the Rs 2075 crore programme. The Centre has already given Rs 196 crore for the projects.

However, Thiruvanantha-puram, which was included in the programme in 2016, will get one more year to complete the projects.

Meanwhile, there have been complaints against the constitution of CSML, the special purpose vehicle for the programme.

“The corporation, the major stakeholder, has no enough representation in CSML. Mayor is the only member while all the other nine members are government secretaries with KMRL MD Mohammed Hanish as the CEO. With the busy schedule of officers, no regular meetings are convening, and there is no system to monitor projects,” said a source close to the civic body.