SmartCity Kochi Gets Environmental Clearance For the IT/ ITES SEZ Township of 246 acres Entire; First IT Bldg Nearing Completion

Kochi: As the construction of SCK01, the 6.5 lakh sq. ft. first IT building in SmartCity Kochi (SCK), is fast nearing completion, SCK received the environmental clearance for the entire project covering 246 acres of land, where it will develop no less than 8.8 million sq. ft. of built-up area with substantial extent of land area will be left for greenery and open spaces, to house Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Media, Finance and Research & Innovation clusters, attracting companies from within India and from abroad. “For the first IT building SCK01, we had received the environmental clearance in July 2013 and later we applied for the rest of the project, which has been cleared now.” Mr. Gigo Joseph, CEO, SCK said. 

The clearance was given at the meeting of State Environment Impact Assessment Authority Kerala (SEIAA-K) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests followed by the State Expert Appraisal Committee’s (SEAC) recommendations. While considering the application, SEAC appreciated SmartCity’s effort in presenting a clear cut master plan of the project. “Now, as the decks have been cleared for the entire project, we are looking forward to speed up the construction activities of own, joint and infrastructural developments. Of own developments, construction of SCK01’s seven story structure is in an advanced stage of completion and as announced in the Director’s Board meeting held in Abu Dhabi, the building is expected to be inaugurated in March 2015,” Mr. Gigo Joseph added.

Once complete, SCK01 is aimed to be one of the largest LEED Platinum-rated IT buildings in India, as well as all of the forthcoming structures coming up here are being developed as environment friendly by protecting the environment in the true sense including preservation of endemic local flora and fauna. During piling works, an intense replanting drive was also undertaken when trees were replanted elsewhere, highlighting the green credentials of SmartCity.

SCK has also entered into agreements for joint developments with leading IT, hospitality, realty and education companies, to make the hub coming up here an integrated township with facilities for live, work and play. “Approvals and designs of such joint developments are at various stages now while a couple of them are already on the verge of starting construction,” Mr. Gigo Joseph revealed.