Kochi SmartCity Construction Works to Start in November

As per the latest news, Dubai's Tecom and partners are planning to start the construction of the prestigious SmartCity project in Kochi by November.

The second project monitoring committee meeting of the SmartCity Kochi project was held yesterdat in Dubai under the Chairmanship of Ahmad Humaid Al Tayer, Member of the Supreme Fiscal Committee of Dubai. The meeting was also by  prominent persons such asAbdul Latheef Al Mulla, Vice-Chairman, SmartCity and Group CEO Tecom, Dr Adnan Chilwan, Deputy CEO, Dubai Islamic Bank, Suresh Kumar, CEO of Emirates NBD Capital, Yousuf Ali M.A., Vice-Chairman of Norka Roots, Government of Kerala, and Dr Baju George, Managing Director, SmartCity.

The meeting reviewed the progress of the SmartCity Kochi project and set a time line for the activities that is supposed to be completed in the first year. The meeting also allotted the required funds for the same. As per the reports from various sources, the construction works of the Kochi SmartCity project would start on 29th September. As per the project plan the work on the headquarters building of the Cochin SmartCity project would start from November 19th and the committee  have also included Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy as a special invitee to the SmartCity Kochi board. Apart from Oommen Chandy, Kerala Ports and Excise Minister K. Babu and Yousuf Ali M.A. have also been included as special invitees.

As per Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, things are moving fast and work would begin next month according to the time table  and all the hitches seems to be over enough to make the SmartCity Kochi project move on a fast track.

It was Shri Oommen Chandy who had first finalised the proposed mega IT project during  his previous tenure as the Chief Minister of Kerala.  But unfortunately during the Left Democratic Front reign, headed by V.S. Achuthanandan  nothing else happened except for the foundation stone laid for the project.

Cruise Tourism is Back in Cochin

With the country’s first cruise liner AMET Cruises launching its operations from the first week of October, Kochi is all set to welcome the prestigious cruise tourism. The M V AMET Majesty will be initially setting sail from Kochi to Maldives, Lakshwadeep and  would also be undertaking a cruise on the high sea.

The M V AMET Majesty would sail from Kochi to Maldives (four nights), Kochi-Lakshadweep (two nights) every week and would also operate one high-sea trip during the night for those trying something new for holidaying.

The AMET cruise has introduced a new and unique holiday format, recreation and entertainment in the country. Before, the only the foreign cruise liners used to visit the Indian ports  and were always focused towards the rich people. But now AMET cruise has come out with the rightly priced packages which bring cruise tourism options within the reach of the urban middle class. The minimum price for the cruise would be around Rs 5,000 per person for a night and port charges. Special packages would be offered for those who book the cruise in advance.

The AMET cruise is planning to operate throughout the year and would operate in the west coast from October to March and in the east coast from April to September.

Some of the features of the AMET cruise include dance floor, disco casinos, show lounges bars, swimming pool, barbeque, conference room, kids’ zone, event floor for business meets, seminars, trade shows, anniversaries and social gatherings. Apart from these the cruise comes with luxurious state rooms, suites and stag cabins.