Mission Director APM Mohammed Hanish tells V. Sajeev Kumar he is confident of completing the Kochi smart city project in the assigned time-frame in a citizen-friendly and sustainable manner. Excerpts from an interview:
What does it mean to make Kochi “citizen-friendly and sustainable”?
In a citizen-friendly city, the services offered should be excellent, and access to information and services should be based on e-governance and m-governance. Sustainability implies the creation of better urban services – water, power, roads, and walkways.
A smart city will have spin-offs in every sector. One of the important objectives is the enhancement of economic opportunities.
The multiplier effect on the economy will be impressive as the investments will conservatively be ₹10,000 crore in 10 years.
Kochi Corporation feels its powers will be usurped by the SPV.
There are no reasons for apprehension on this count. The policies and programmes as decided by the corporation council will be given adequate weightage in the implementation of smart city schemes. The Mayor and the Corporation Secretary will be directors of the SPV.
How do you visualise Kochi in five years?
Our effort is to make Kochi a connected, accessible city with a vibrant identity. It will emerge as an inclusive, smartly governed, clean, green and healthy city.
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