KOCHI:Admitting that the SmartCity project was delayed due to ‘confusion’ among the authorities concerned, Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson said the progress of the project was hampered by absence of close monitoring and lack of clarity on the part of government departments.

“There were certain confusions and lack of clarity among the different departments. These issues will be sorted out soon, and weekly monitoring will be carried out hereafter to ensure unhindered progress of the project,” the Chief Secretary told mediapersons here on Friday, after holding talks with SmartCity officials and officials of various government departments.

The Chief Secretary said the ‘Kerala style’, including local protests, hartals and the recent quarry strike, affected the project. “Construction of the building is fast progressing. But, it is not the case with the infrastructure facilities around it. The stark realty is that no party will  be happy to come here now, considering the present state of the roads. So, we have to clear all such hindrances,” he said. The Chief Secretary informed that construction of the road from Edachira to the Brahmapuram bridge would start on Monday. The estimate for construction of the Brahmapuram-Karimugal road will be prepared by July 31.

He said the District Collector had been entrusted with the task of taking action against encroachments on the SEZ land - of around 35 cents. He said that the problems related to registration of the lease deeds of co-developers, for want of clarification on their eligibility for stamp duty exemption, would also be sorted out very soon. “Meanwhile, the related infrastructure facilities will be completed on long-term basis,” said Jiji Thomson.

According to him, the first IT complex will likely be inaugurated in August or September. “We expect the work to be completed by August end or in the beginning of September, for which the date will be fixed after consulting the Dubai team,” he said.

SmartCity, Kochi, interim CEO Baju George said that after assuming office, he had put the project on ‘acceleration’ mode with a more aggressive project plan and additional manpower, in order to overcome the past delays. He said that 40 per cent of the space in the first IT complex had already been leased out.

“The SmartCity has five co-developers who have obtained approval from the Union Commerce Ministry to construct 43 lakh sqft of IT office space in the next 30-36 months,” he added.

Industries and IT Principal Secretary P H Kurien and PWD Secretary A P M Mohammed Haneesh also attended the media conference. Later, the Chief Secretary and the other officials visited the site of the first IT complex, which is nearing completion.