1000 Crore worth comprehensive development Plan for Technopark

Chief Minister Honours Visionaries Behind the Park

TechnoparkToday.com>>   Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy announced a Rs. 997.65 crore comprehensive development project   to assist the Technopark and its satellite centres in infrastructure development, land acquisition and marketing in the next five years.

Speaking after inaugurating the function held at Technopark campus to honour the visionaries and the administrators behind India’s first and the largest IT Park, he said : the project would cover the

Technopark’s phase-I, phase-II and phase-III campuses, Technocity and the Kollam Technopark, which is the satellite centre.

“The project will be approved by the government soon”,  he said.

In this context, Mr Chandy referred to the proposed Rs 1500 crore investment project by IT giant Taurus in Technopark’s phase-III campus, and said it  has been approved by the Ministry and the construction activities  would  commence immediately. “The huge development scheme combined with the large scale investments will make a big-leap in Kerala’s IT industry”, he added.

Addressing the concerns raised by several stakeholders  of Technopark, Minister for IT and Industries Shri PK Kunhalikkutty, who presided over the function, announced the decision to roll-back the rent-hike in the Park. “Technopark’s development model, which is the biggest and the brightest success story of Kerala, could be replicated and in several other fields”, he added.

In his special address,  Technopark founder CEO Shri G Vijaya Raghavan, who is also a member of the state planning board,  went down the memory lane to recollect the story behind the Technopark. “The concept of Technopark originates in a 1989 meeting held at the Government Guest House in Thycaudu and the credit goes to three great visionaries – the then Chief Minister EK Nayanar, KR Gowri Amma and KPP Nambiar. “, he said.

Recollecting some initial issues with trade unions, he said that Technopark had always been fair and firm regarding labour issues. “The entire project had always been seen beyond political affiliations, and all successive governments supported Technopark in a big way”.  He also appreciated thousands of construction workers and hundreds of head load laboures, who cooperated sincerely with the Technopark during its constructions.

Visionaries behind Technopark’s success story including Shri Vijaya Raghavan and Shri PK Kunhalikkutty, first project implementation team members, Members of the first governing board and the founding team of India’s first IT Parks were honoured on the occasion.

Prathidwani, a forum of Technopark employees,  handed over a letter of consent signed by 1000  employees volunteering for organ donation to the Chief Minister in the function.  “The forum began their campaign just few days back and the number of volunteers is expected to touch 3000 in the next two days”, said Technopark CEO Shri KG Girish Babu. A cheque of  Rs 75,000 pooled by the employees of a car washing company in Technopark was donated to chief minister for the welfare of cancer patients.

Mr PH Kurian, Principal Secretary to the Department of IT and Industries; Adv. K Chandrika, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Mayor ; Shri MA Wahid, MLA; Shri VK Mathews, Chairman, GTECH  were also present.

The official event was followed by a live performance by the music band Thaikkudam Bridge.

In the wake of Technopark celebrating its silver jubilee, an extended series of events have been planned which included the inauguration of the new Rs 2.5-crore solid waste management plant, the new security control room and laying of the foundation stone for the largest IT building in the Phase I campus of Technopark during the month of August.