Tuesday, Aug 13, 2013
Dubai: Dubai Holding, the main promoter of SmartCity Kochi, has received the permit for construction of the first building from the single window clearance board.
“We will be able to start construction work by the end of this month. The tendering of piling works will be completed first,” Baju George, managing director of SmartCity Kochi, told Gulf News.
He said land development activities had started on Monday. Different activities had been taking place from July, prior to the construction of the first IT building.
“We expect piling to start this month and the first building to be given out for fit-out by December 2014. The fit-out is expected to take three months,” George said.
The agreement for SmartCity Kochi was signed in 2007 when the new government took charge but the land was registered in February 2011. The total area of SmartCity Kochi is 246 acres.
Regulatory requirements
Abdul Latif Al Mulla, CEO of SmartCity Dubai and chief business development officer of Dubai Holding, said that all major regulatory requirements for the first building have been obtained and the building is expected to be ready for fit-out by the end of next year.
He said the project is going as planned. As per the agreement, the entire project needs to be completed within 10 years, but Al Mulla is confident of completing it in six years.
The total area of the first building, targeted to be one of the largest LEED platinum-rated IT building in India, is 6.5 lakh square feet and is expected to be completed within 18-22 months and cost around Rs1.7 billion-Rs1.8 billion (Dh107.8 million).
The design for the next building “will start when the construction of the first building begins. Our expectation is to start the construction of the second building in six months.”
The first phase covers close to two million square feet.
“SmartCity Kochi already got five tenders. Awarding of the tender for the construction of the building can be given to more than one if they are not able to finish in a stipulated time. This will be decided by the project management after studying the requirements,” Baju said.
By Naushad K Cherrayil Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
