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Kerala readies for global investors meet
Friday, 18 October 2002, 19:30 IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala hopes to attract funds for a clutch of projects - among them a 540-km highway linking the state capital to Kasaragod - at the global investors meet to be held in the port city of Kochi in January.
Public Works Department Minister M.K. Muneer said Thursday that a vision document for the highway had been prepared and would be presented to the cabinet for approval.
"We have planned this to be built in five phases. The total cost of the highway is estimated at 
6,000 crores ( 60 billion)", said Muneer.
If it materializes, the highway will be the biggest infrastructure project in the state. The project would be executed on a build-operate-transfer basis.
Among the other projects for which Muneer's ministry is readying reports is three major roads in north Kerala and for renovating and operating rest houses and guesthouses owned by the Public Works Department.
"We have already received bids for six of these rest houses. They would be given out for a period of 30 years," said Muneer.
Local Self-Government Minister Cherkulam Abdullah said among the projects for which his ministry hoped to attract investments were state-of-the art trade centers at Kochi and Kozhikode.
"We have also planned to showcase several infrastructure projects like bus stands, commercial complexes and a modern amphitheatre at Kochi.
"PriceWaterhouseCoopers has been assisting in preparing the project reports and we will soon place them before the cabinet for approval," said Abdullah.
The transport department has planned a sky bus project for Kochi on the lines of the one in Germany.
While the tourism department has planned theme parks and water parks, the information ministry is preparing a report on an integrated studio complex and a film based entertainment park here.
Kerala Chief Minister A.K. Antony expects the global meet to bring investments pouring into the state. The government is also rewriting the laws that delay the investment process because of the outdated rules that are still being followed.
Labor laws are being reworked to remove the stranglehold of militant trade unions.
The official Web site of the investor meet, www.gimkerala.com, has been launched to give participants an idea of what they can expect at the event.
Source: IANS
6,000 crores ( 60 billion)", said Muneer.
If it materializes, the highway will be the biggest infrastructure project in the state. The project would be executed on a build-operate-transfer basis.
Among the other projects for which Muneer's ministry is readying reports is three major roads in north Kerala and for renovating and operating rest houses and guesthouses owned by the Public Works Department.
"We have already received bids for six of these rest houses. They would be given out for a period of 30 years," said Muneer.
Local Self-Government Minister Cherkulam Abdullah said among the projects for which his ministry hoped to attract investments were state-of-the art trade centers at Kochi and Kozhikode.
"We have also planned to showcase several infrastructure projects like bus stands, commercial complexes and a modern amphitheatre at Kochi.
"PriceWaterhouseCoopers has been assisting in preparing the project reports and we will soon place them before the cabinet for approval," said Abdullah.
The transport department has planned a sky bus project for Kochi on the lines of the one in Germany.
While the tourism department has planned theme parks and water parks, the information ministry is preparing a report on an integrated studio complex and a film based entertainment park here.
Kerala Chief Minister A.K. Antony expects the global meet to bring investments pouring into the state. The government is also rewriting the laws that delay the investment process because of the outdated rules that are still being followed.
Labor laws are being reworked to remove the stranglehold of militant trade unions.
The official Web site of the investor meet, www.gimkerala.com, has been launched to give participants an idea of what they can expect at the event.
Source: IANS