The two-day Partner Kerala Meet organised by Department of Urban Affairs (DUA) has turned out to be a huge success with 100 Expression of Interest (EoIs) being signed for developing 64 projects at a total cost of Rs 4291.89 crore.
Describing the meet, which began here yesterday, as a "big hit", state's Urban Affairs Minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali told reporters here that the government managed to attract investors for two-third of the projects showcased at the event aimed at helping the cash-strapped local bodies to find partners to develop various infrastructure.
The local bodies and development authorities had showcased 84 projects worth Rs 6,500 crore at the meet.
"We are promoting a new investment culture. It's a new beginning in the state as the local investors who used to shy away from making investments in the state have come forward to partner with the government to develop projects in their respective home towns," the Minister said.
Once the respective municipalities finalise the projects, the government will initiate steps to give other clearances to the projects within a month, he said.
Of the 60 projects for which the investors have signed EoIs, four each EoIs have been signed for Rs 85 crore-Tunnel Marine Aquarium of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) and Shakthan Nagar redevelopment project of Thrissur Corporation (Rs 700 crore), three each for GCDA's shopping mall at Ambedkar Stadium (Rs 126 crore) and Nadakkavu area development of Kozhikode Corporation (Rs 20 crore).
