Kerala’s Kochi Corporation to audit Smart City assets as CSML winds up
The Kochi Corporation in Kerala is set to undertake a detailed stock-taking of assets procured under the Smart City project, as the special purpose vehicle
The Kochi Corporation in Kerala is set to undertake a detailed stock-taking of assets procured under the Smart City project, as the special purpose vehicle (SPV), Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML), created for its implementation, prepares to wind up operations on completing its mandate. Mayor V.K. Minimol has directed the superintendent engineer to submit a comprehensive report on the efficiency and utility of assets and projects created under the project, now being handed over to the Corporation, which will be largely responsible for their future operation and maintenance. The council is expected to hold an in-depth discussion on the matter once the report is tabled, with councillors, particularly from the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF), sharply critical of CSML’s functioning and procurement practices. Originally conceived for infrastructure development and retrofitting in a limited number of Administrative Business District (ABD) divisions — one-and-a-half divisions in the city and five in West Kochi — the Smart City project was later expanded into a pan-city initiative. With the Centre’s approval, funds were channelled into projects beyond ABD divisions, including the improvement of parks, installation of streetlights, and the purchase of machines and vehicles such as compactors for waste management.
“Does Kochi look like it has received funding of more than ₹1,000 crore under the Smart City project? Deviations from the original plan were made without taking the Corporation into confidence,” Ms. Minimol remarked. She pointed out that CSML, chaired by the Chief Secretary, had only the Mayor representing the Corporation, despite the project being meant for the city. Taking a veiled swipe at former mayor M. Anilkumar, she wondered whether he had “remained silent while the city’s interests were sidelined.” Anilkumar countered by recalling that the project commenced in 2015 when the UDF was in power both at the State and the Corporation. “The LDF was highly critical of the Corporation not having control over the SPV formed for implementing the project, whereas the UDF supported it at the time. The idea of restricting the project to ABD divisions was short-sighted. That is why it was expanded into a pan-city initiative during our tenure,” he said. UDF councillor M.G. Aristotle argued that indiscriminate implementation has left the Corporation saddled with the operation and maintenance of assets that should have been managed by other agencies. “We are now liable for maintaining parks belonging to other agencies, PWD roads, and even signal lights.
The BriefWire