Kochi to get ₹129 crore under Centre's Amrut scheme

Kochi/Urban Transport News: The city will get ₹129.3 crore for the implementation of various projects under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme. During the 2016-17 fiscal, the allocation for the city was ₹123.57 crore.

The water supply scheme will get the highest amount during the current fiscal as ₹53.01 crore will be allotted from the project. Sewerage schemes will get ₹38.78 crore and drainage ₹21.93 crore. While projects in the urban transport sector will get financial support of ₹12.93 crore, parks in the city will get ₹2.56 crore. The State and the local body too will have to raise funds for the implementation of projects to match the Central aid.

While the Centre will allot 50% of the project amount, the State will have to foot 30% of the project cost and the beneficiary local body the remaining 20%. The State High Power Steering Committee, which recently met at Thiruvananthapuram, has decided to allot 15% of Kochi Corporation’s share from the State’s kitty. The remaining amount shall be deducted from the Plan Fund allocation to the Kochi Corporation from the State government over the next 10 years.

Thus, the financial burden on the local body in implementing the project will be reduced significantly, it was decided. Storm-water drainage Meanwhile, the Kochi Corporation is likely to choose Kitco as its consultant for the preparation of the detailed project report for the storm-water drainage project proposed for the city area. KITCO was the only agency that took part in the e-tender for the project, which has the financial support of ₹39.42 crore from the AMRUT scheme.

The company has quoted 1.35% of the project cost as the fee for preparation of the detailed project report and consultation fee. The consultation fee will be paid by the State office of AMRUT. The works committee of the corporation, which met a few weeks ago, has approved the tender submitted by KITCO.