Smart City to be implemented in two phases

TPURAM: Aimed at exploring the information technology sector, the state government has earmarked Rs 153 crores 77 per cent increase from the previous year, for the development of IT in the state.

Presenting the budget, Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac said the Smart City, which had been lying in limbo, would definitely be implemented.

Stating that the Smart City project would be implemented in two phases, he said the Info Park would take up the first phase of activities and an amount of Rs 50 crore had been earmarked for it.

A business model would be formulated in line of CIAL or VISL for the second phase, he added.

The Budget allocated Rs 70 crore for the development of IT Parks at Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, cyber parks at Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargode and Info Park at Kochi. An amount of Rs 20 crore had been set apart for the Information Technology Infrastructure Company for land acquisition.

Issac also said Rs 6.8 crore was earmarked for Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management. An ICT Academy would be established at Thiruvananthapuram with Central assistance, he added.