Technopark Companies want Upgrade in Transportation Infrastructure

TechnoparkToday.com>> Group of Technology Companies (GTech), the industry body of IT/ITeS companies in Kerala, has sought urgent and comprehensive upgradation of transportation infrastructure around Technopark to support the ongoing development projects and to stay competitive among other IT destinations in the country.

A delegation led by GTech, joined by the representatives of Confederation of Indian Industry and Chamber of Commerce met Chief Minister Oommen Chandy  to seek his intervention in key transportation infrastructure development projects in the area.

The delegation apprised the Chief Minister on the need to include flyovers and underpasses along the stretch from Kazhakkuttam to Aakkulam Bridge, and route Metro lines through Technopark Phases I, II and III, extending to Kochuveli Rail Terminal and Trivandrum International Airport, to solve the transportation woes in the area.

The representation handed over to the Chief Minister pointed out that the ongoing 4-laning project for the NH-66 does not include flyovers or underpasses.  “This will result in massive traffic congestion as most vehicles will have to take U-turns at multiple locations to enter and leave the Phase 1, 2 and 3 campuses. Also, the proposed 4-lane width of the NH-66 is likely to be inadequate to handle such traffic along the stretch. Flyovers, underpasses and MRTS would be the key to decongesting the route”, said Anoop P Ambika, Secretary, GTech.

Technopark Phase I, II and III, campuses of UST Global, Infosys, VSSC and the proposed site for the Downtown Technopark project of Taurus Investment Holdings lie on the 4.5 kilometer stretch from Kazhakkuttom junction. This area constitutes a combined workforce of 50,000 IT professionals and 5000 employees of VSSC.  Moreover, ongoing business expansion of technology companies and associated development along this stretch is expected to add large numbers to the peak traffic load.

Mr. Ambika said it is critical to develop sufficient transportation infrastructure not only to ease congestion, but more importantly to stay competitive. Tier 1 destinations like Bangalore and Gurgaon, and even Tier 2 destinations like Coimbatore, Vishakhapatnam and Jaipur have better transportation infrastructure with metro systems and flyovers, he added.

The delegation included Anoop P Ambika, Secretary, GTech, Renjith Ramanujam, CEO, GTech, P. Ganesh, Chairman CII Kerala, S N Reghuchandran Nair, Chamber of Commerce representative,  Nandagopal R, Director of Operations, UST Global and Hari Gopinathan, Senior Manager, Oracle India.