Even as Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Limited (SCTL) has decided to prematurely terminate the contract for project management consultancy with IPE Global Limited, the consultancy will continue to handle the works till the end of this month, until the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) takes over. The KIIFB will have the responsibility of the remaining works.
The move to terminate the consultancy's services had come as a surprise, as the SCTL had earlier this year decided to extend the contract till May 2023. However, the 20th and 21st Board of Directors meeting of SCTL had decided to prematurely terminate the contract extension period provided to IPE Global and handover the consultancy responsibility of balance works to KIIFB.
According to Corporation officials, the company was not prompt in providing regular updates on the progress of the various projects. Another reason being cited is that much of the work requiring the services of a consultant are currently over. The remaining work, including the preparation of revised estimates, can be handled even by the Corporation's own engineering department.
