THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan assured the officials of Dubai Internet City (DIC) that his Government was sincere and keen in bringing the Smart City project to fruition. He said this when the officials called on him at his office on Saturday.

The Smart City project, which the DIC wanted to promote at Kakkanad in Kochi, was thought to have been shelved after the LDF came to power. Mr. Achuthanandan, when in the Opposition, had opposed some of the conditions the previous Government had allowed in the agreement between the two sides for setting up the project.

`Infopark faring well'

The Chief Minister assured the officials that they would get the Government's strong backing to make the project a success. He told them that Infopark, which was already functioning at Kakkanad as a Government institution, was faring extremely well and would surely develop into an IT hub such as Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram. The State Government did not want to surrender its ownership and make it part of the proposed Smart City, as was envisaged earlier. With healthy competition in the sector, the DIC would fare much better than otherwise with its project, he said.

He told them that it was not good business on the part of the State Government to allow any company to monopolise IT infrastructure in any part of Kerala. The DIC had, earlier, wanted the Government not to promote any other IT park directly or as a joint venture in the Kochi region. The Government would be going back on its promise to the people were such a condition accepted, he said.

Mr. Achuthanandan said any extent of land required by the DIC for their project could be acquired and given to them for providing jobs in the IT sector. There was no confusion about the Government's stand. The Government wanted the DIC to come here and help the IT industry in the State.

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