SmartCity: State may go for other options

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said the State government will seek alternative means for the development of SmartCity project in Kochi if the proposed deal with the Dubai-based Tecom failed to materialise.

Speaking after launching the development project of the Technocity IT township at Pallipuram near here on Friday, Mr. Achuthanandan said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government would not dilute the terms of the proposed pact with the investors of SmartCity project. ��The Dubai-based company does not seem to be ready to come to an agreement on our terms. In that case, we will have to look at other alternatives, Mr. Achuthanandan said.

Mr. Achuthanandan said six technolodges would be opened this year to provide infrastructure facilities for IT firms in rural areas. �There has been a spurt in the development of Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram, and Infopark, Kochi, over the last four years. The Cyberpark in Kozhikode and the satellite IT parks at various locations are also aimed at broadbasing the development of the IT sector in Kerala.