Kollam IT Park master plan approved

The Project Implementation Board of Technopark approved the master plan for the development of Kollam IT Park. Following the `hub and spoke’ model of development strategy of the IT Department and the State Government for the promotion of IT/ITES industries in the State, the Technopark here, one of the hubs, is developing the Kollam Technopark, as its spoke.

Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan inaugurated the project in February  this year. The Government had already allotted a 40-acre plot for this purpose at Kundara on the banks of the Ashtamudi lake. The park will soon be notified as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Tendering for infrastructure development works such as 110 KV substation, internal roads, water supply scheme etc. are in progress. A sewage treatment plant is also part of the master plan.

IT secretary Ajay Kumar, who is also the chairman of the Technopark Board, said that conceptual design for a modern IT building, measuring half-a-million sq.ft. of built-up space incorporating the green building concept, had already been approved by the Board. “The proposed IT building has a futuristic design marking a clear distinction from the conventional construction,’’ he said.

Mervin Alexander, CEO, Technopark, said that the first phase of this building with a built-up space of one lakh sq.ft. was expected to be ready for occupation by August, 2010. Apart from this, developed plots of varying extent will be offered on lease basis to interested co-developers. The Park will have a direct employment  potential of 8,000 IT professionals.   The PWD has already initiated action to widen and develop the existing road leading to the IT park from NH 47 at Kottiyam. The Inland Water Navigation Department has also drawn up a plan to provide  facilities to promote water transport to the Park. The Technopark has already approved a proposal for a boat jetty designed along the traditional Kerala architecture.