If the proposed projects in the recently concluded Emerging Kerala do indeed proceed as per plan, Kochi stands to be the biggest beneficiary. Nearly half of the projects from the said list of 45 are in Kochi and an estimated Rs 11913 crore will flow into the city as projects. This is in addition to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the state for a Rs 14,225 crore Integrated Refinery Expansion Project (IREP) at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, the Kochi Refinery. IREP will provide direct employment to 10,000 persons and nearly 25,000 will get indirect employment.
The Petrochemical Joint Venture projects of BPCL worth Rs 6000 is the biggest of the 19 projects. Next comes the Rs 3000 crore Water City, an integrated centre with hotel, retail malls, multiplex, aqua park, art gallery, wellness centre and residential complex.Healthcare Village,Logistics Park and Warehouse and Convention Centre, Science Park, Planetarium and Heritage Village project are the other mega projects proposed.
Another International Convention Centre, worth Rs 115 crore and a Rs 120-crore project for a Helicopter Service are proposed by the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). "It would enable faster travel to Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and hill stations ,including Sabarimala. It is viable as it will have no issues of land and pollution,“ says K N Marzook, KCCI chairman.
Among the six projects in the manufacturing sector, the factory for the Pre-stressed and Pre-fabricated Housing Component will be a novel initiative in the state. The Rs 40-crore factory for manufacturing precast units will be set up in the 50 acres of land at Kakkanad for the project allotted by KINFRA.
A 20 crore eco-friendly Gypsum-based new generation building material manufacturing unit is also featured in this manufacturing sector. The Edu Hub project and the International Institute of financial services are the projects coming up in the knowledge sector.
The Rs 10 crore water sport unit and the Rs 8 crore umbrella manufacturing unit lie at the bottom of the development projects proposed for the city.
“The government should show the mindset and will power to implement all these projects. It needs 36 licences to start an industry and a single window clearance was promised at the Global investors Meet(GIM) 2003, which never turned into a reality. We suggest opening of an office for clearing of all the proposals in Emerging Kerala.” said Marzook.
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