By Ashraf Padanna/KochiOverseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi yesterday opened Partner Kerala, the state’s ambitious initiative to find partners to improve its urban infrastructure.All the five city corporations and some 60 municipalities and city development boards are attending the meet to present their projects before the potential investors who are expected to bring in the capital and expertise.Some 500 investors, including several non-resident Indian groups, are attending the two-day summit where some 84 projects are on offer.“This is an innovative model which could be replicated elsewhere in the country,” Ravi said. “It provides a new platform for the local bodies to find funds for the development projects. The rest of the country could follow this model to develop the urban centres”.State Minister for Urban Affairs and Welfare of Minorities Manjalamkuzhi Ali, who presided over the inaugural function, assured the investors that the government would ensure that their investments would be safe.“Though we are committed to ensure that the investors get good returns for their investments, not a single piece of government land will be given to private players,” the he said. “We are considering to launch a new department to oversee proper implementation of such projects”.Presenting a paper on the public private participation (PPP) in local self-governments, EK Prakash, special secretary to Finance Department, said Kerala’s economic indicators such as purchasing power were strong enough to attract investments.He said the government was seeking private partnership in projects which were in the best interest of the general public. ”The ultimate aim of the government is to improve the quality of life of people in Kerala,” he added.The state government has lined up 84 projects worth Rs6.5bn for the private investors to partner with to build world class infrastructure across the cities where more than 40% of people live in urban areas according to the 2011 census.Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the senior ministers under him are attending various sessions interacting with the potential investors in the state’s attempt to help the cash-strapped local bodies to generate revenue.The investors can also hold discussions with the concerned civic authorities while the government will take steps to ensure speedy clearance as per the prescribed rules and regulations. Investments are invited in areas like waste management, sewerage, flyovers, bridges and parking lots, bus terminals, comfort stations and markets; amenities like shopping complexes, convention centres and multiplex cinema halls and amusement parks, besides parks, town beautification, street lights and hoardings.