Contract for SmartCity’s first IT building soon

Piling work for the building expected to be completed by mid-February

Civil work in progress at the SmartCity site in Kochi.

Contract for civil and structural work of the first IT building proposed as part of the SmartCity Kochi project is likely to be awarded in a week’s time.

A release issued by the SmartCity Kochi (SCK) management here on Tuesday said piling work for the 6.5-lakh sq. ft building named SCK01 was expected to be completed by mid-February. The management is moving ahead with its plan of completing the building by December this year.

The management said of the total 560 piles, 126 had been completed. The work was progressing at the rate of 15 to 16 piles a day, employing four hydraulic rigs and six DMC rigs.

Culvert

A box culvert of 30 m across Edachira canal to access the land notified as SEZ from Infopark Road has been completed. The culvert has facilitated the smooth movement of heavy construction machinery and materials to the project site.

SCK01 is going to be the first in a cluster of futuristic buildings planned to house information and communications technology, media, finance, research and innovation giants from across the world in the 246-acre knowledge hub, envisaged as a joint venture of Dubai Holdings and the State government.

Even as construction work is in progress, SCK is in talks with a number of global majors for joint ventures.

Dubai-based GEMS Education had announced their first south Indian campus in SCK, the release said.

Eco-friendly

SCK01 has been conceived as one of the largest LEED Platinum-rated IT buildings in India with all structures being developed in an environment-friendly manner. SCK had appointed Bangalore-based Synergy Property Development Services as consultant for project management consultancy services in May last year. Renowned Canada-based architect B+H was roped in last August for developing the master plan and providing architectural and engineering services for the first IT building, associated offsite facilities and infrastructure development.

Environmental clearance for the first IT building was obtained in August last year and application for the entire project was filed in December, the release said.