A meeting chaired by chief minister Keshubhai Patel in Gandhinagar on Thursday decided to clear the proposal for a foreign developer for the ambitious Infocity project here.

The Infocity project will now be developed by a foreign developer on a build-own-transfer basis, in two phases, on the 192 acres allotted for the purpose by the state government.

Top officials of Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board, finance minister Vaju Vala, Narmada minister Jaynarayan Vyas, power minister Kaushik Patel, water resources expert C.C. Patel, financial adviser to the chief minister S.K. Shelat and chief secretary L.N.S. Mukundan were present at the meeting.

A decision was taken to form Gujarat Infrastructure Fund as financial source for implementation of infrastructure development projects in the state. While guidelines for attracting foreign investment in infrastructure projects was also cleared with few corrections in the original draft.

A draft of Gujarat Gas Regulation Act was adopted in its proper form and a decision taken to invest money in Gujarat State Petronet Company for implementation of Gujarat Gas Grid Project.

Chief minister Keshubhai Patel asked the authorities to equip project development cells in various government departments and come up with proposals for new infrastructure projects before the board. The meeting also deliberated on the proposal for formation of Gujarat Infrastructure Fund after reviewing a project prepared by Gujarat Industrial Investment Corporation.

Decision was taken to prepare Techno-economic feasibility of gas grid considering the demand and requirement of gas in the state. Gujarat has taken a lead in forming Gujarat Gas Regulation Act for the coastal states of the country, said the press release after the meeting. Liquitied natural gas terminals are being developed at Hajira, Dahej, Pipavav and Maroli ports in the state, said the press release.

The meeting finalised the investment pattern proposed by GIDC to allow private developers to construct a township in Ankleshwar. The meeting finalised a proposal by Sui Berger-International of the US to prepare a feasibility report for launching Integrated Public Transit System in Ahmedabad.

Compiled from Asian Age