KOCHI: Preliminary works on the Rs 395-crore Cochin Cancer Research Centre (CCRC) project will begin on March 15 with INKEL, the PPP firm entrusted with building it, tendering the works. According to Prem Panicker, project head, INKEL, the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) under the state government has given the nod to INKEL to tender the preliminary works till setting the foundation for CCRC. The tendering process is now on and the works will begin on March 15.
"We were allowed to present a preliminary appraisal note based on which we were allowed to take up these works by KIIFB. The works include the survey and the landscaping, including the laying of roads. The clearance from KIIFB for the remaining part of the project needs to come only by March middle or later," he told DC on Thursday. It is learnt that landscaping works will be undertaken for Rs 4 crore. The total clearance for the project will come up before KIIFB director board meeting in the middle of next month.
KIIFB chief executive officer K.M. Abraham told DC that the steps to place the CCRC project before the KIIFB director board were now underway and that there need not be any apprehensions about its smooth sail. "The director board of KIIFB is an eminent body and a proper appraisal note on the CCRC project has to be placed before it. We have entrusted the Centre for Management Development (CMD) with preparing the appraisal note. We have received the Detailed Project Report (DPR) from INKEL also," Dr Abraham said. Recently only the CCRC project had got environmental clearance and the project needs to be ratified by the KIIFB director board and not its executive committee as its cost exceeds Rs 100 crore.
