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MEGAPROJECT: Technocity Trivandrum | 20 Mn Sq Ft SEZ

655K views 2K replies 195 participants last post by  aravindar37 
#1 · (Edited)
Techno City near Pallippuram soon

Friday October 14 2005 12:58 IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The proposed ‘Techno City’ will come up on a 5,00-acre land between Pallippuram and Mangalapuram near the Technopark here.

The Techno City project is being conceived as a township, which will address most of the long-pending demands of the IT companies and techies working in the Technopark here.

The Techno City will be set up as a joint venture initiative. However, the modalities for the public-private participation for the project are yet to be decided.

As per the initial proposal, the government will have to spend at least Rs 100 crore for the acquisition of land earmarked for the ambitious venture for creating basic infrastructure facilities such as power, water and road facilities.

According to sources, the initial proposal is yet to get the ratification from the Finance Department.

As per the proposal, apart from the facility centres in the IT and IT-enabled services sectors, the Techno City will also meet the residential purposes of those working in companies in the Techno City.

It will also house education institutions, hospitals, entertainment centres and commercial complexes.

The 440/220 KV line of the National Power Grid is expected to supply adequate power to the Techno City.

The logic behind the setting up of a Techno City as a joint venture is that large-scale development over a considerable area of land is more conducive and acceptable when creating infrastructure facilities for IT and ITES industries.
 
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#171 · (Edited)
Biggest-ever IT project taking shape in state

The biggest- ever IT project of the Kerala Government, Technocity is taking wings. The Kerala State IT Infrastructure Limited (KSIIL), the implementing agency of the Technocity, will invite tenders from IT developers and companies on May 28 for starting the Rs 8,000-crore project of the State Government.

The project will come up near the Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram.

The KSIIL will issue the 49 percent equity of Technocity to the public, private investors, banks and other financial institutions by September this year. The 51 percent equity will be owned by the KSIIL.

“The Technocity project will be the biggest ever IT project of Kerala. The project is expected to create around two lakh job opportunities within 10 years and by issuing the share to the public and others, government can start the project with the participation of people,” IT Secretary Ajay Kumar told this website’s newspaper.

The bidding process will be conducted in phases. In the first phase (Request For Qualification) qualified IT companies will be short-listed.

In the second phase (Request for Proposal) will be invited and tender will be finalised in December. Different IT companies and IT developers will set up buildings in an area of 2-crore sq ft in the park.

The state government will have a stake of 26 percent in the proposed companies. Companies can use 70 percent of space for IT processing and the remaining for other purposes.

“We are trying to sell our project across the globe and attract IT giants to the state. The project will generate more job opportunities than the Smart City Kochi. More IT giants can start their ventures at the Technocity than the Smart City Kochi,” said Ajay Kumar.

The estimated infrastructure of the project will be Rs 800 to 1,000 crore. Of this, 500 crore will be utilised for purchasing land near the Technopark and Rs 300 crore will be spent for the infrastructure like water and power supply.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEX20080521010750&Page=X&Title=Kochi&Topic=0&
 
#175 ·
Global tenders for Technocity floated
Source: thenewindpress.com
T'PURAM: The ambitious 500-acre Technocity being developed by the Kerala State IT Infrastructure Limited (KSITIL) under the State Government near the Technopark here has got a boost with the floating of the global tender inviting 'Request for Qualification’ (RFQ) for pre-qualification.

KSITIL, which is directly managed by the Chief Minister’s office, has already acquired nearly 300 acres of land for developing IT-related projects along with the third-phase expansion of Technopark activities.

The notification on RFQ was released on May 28. The last date for submitting applications is June 30. Technocity envisages the creation of a self-contained IT township spread across 507 acres located about five kilometres away from the Technopark near Pallippuram.

Other than IT and ITES projects, it would also give attention to sectors like biotechnology, nanotechnology, high-end manufacturing and research and development. KSITIL would seek special economic zone status for Technocity.

"Around 200 acres of land has already been acquired for Technocity and 100 acres of land adjacent to the Technopark is identified for the third-phase development. It is expected that Technocity would become operational with in five years , " senior manager - business development of Technopark M Vasudevan told this website's newspaper.

The projects would be developed on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP)-basis with KSITIL holding 26 percent equity. The developer will have to form a `special purpose vehicle’ (SPV) for executing the project. The SPV will be responsible for designing, engineering, financing, procurement, construction, marketing, operation and maintenance of the project.

The projects will be carried out in three different categories - IT/ITES project for parcel size up to 50 acres, IT/ITES project for parcel size greater than 50 and up to 100 acres and IT/ITES project for parcel size greater than 100 acres.

High rank in infrastructure and social development indices, low cost of operation, high HR, quality of life and law and order situation as well as availability of large number of graduates are cited in the RFQ notification as factors that make Kerala an attractive IT destination.
CHeers!!!
 
#177 ·
Multi-developer strategy for Kerala Technocity

The Government of Kerala has decided to adopt a multiple-developer strategy for setting up the 500-acre Technocity IT township near Thiruvananthapuram.

Working with multiple developers will make it possible to spread the risks associated with the project and will also encourage healthy competition among the developers, said Dr Ajay Kumar, Secretary-IT, Government of Kerala. This approach will help ensure that the entire project is not held up if one developer runs into any delays, he told Business Line.

The investment in land and basic infrastructure alone is expected to be around Rs 1,500 crore, Dr Ajay Kumar said. When completed, the Technocity is expected to employ around 1.5 lakh people in the IT and ITES sectors, he added. The space used by the IT and ITES companies will have special economic zone status.

According to the project’s master plan that is being finalised, developers can bid for parcels of land based on their requirements, said Mr N. Radhakrishnan Nair, Director, Kerala State Information Technology Infra- structure Ltd. Currently, the plan is to offer parcels of land that are smaller than 50 acres; parcels that vary in size from 50 to 100 acres; and parcels of land that are more than 100 acres, he explained.

Technopark model


Around 50 acres of land in Technocity will be retained for the expansion of the existing Technopark, Mr Nair said. This land will be developed with the model used to develop Technopark, he added.

Land in Technocity has also been set aside for residential purposes, an education hub and a commercial zone with hotels, multiplexes and other retail space. Approximately 25 acres has been earmarked for social amenities such as a hospital and a club.

Common infrastructure for the project will be developed by the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Ltd. This company will also form special purpose vehicles (SPV) with each of the selected developers and will have a stake of up to 26 per cent in each such SPV.

Kerala State IT Infrastructure Ltd is currently acquiring land for Technocity and is also evaluating potential developers through a ‘request for qualification’ process.

SOURCE:The Hindu Business Line
 
#179 ·
Nine companies bidding to develop Technocity

Here is the official announcement....

Wednesday July 2 2008 10:17 IST

Arjun Raghunath

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Larsen & Toubro, Raheja and Suzlon are among the nine major groups who have come forward for developing the Technocity, the-state-of-the-art IT township set up by the State Government on 500 acres in the state capital.

Emaar MGF, Maytas, Sun Forrester, SREI, Brigade and Ramki are the other major groups that have responded to the request-for-qualification’ (RfQ) invited by the Kerala State IT Infrastructure Limited (KSITI) for developing IT and IT-Enabled Service projects at the Technocity as well as the third-phase of the Technopark. The RfQ was released on May 28. The last date for submitting applications was June 30.

A committee headed by Chief Secretary P.J.Thomas will scrutinise the applications. The committee will have Secretaries of IT, Industry, Finance and Law Departments and Chief Executive Officers of the Technopark and the Infopark as its members. Those who do not satisfy the conditions prescribed in the tender notice would be rejected. The Cabinet should approve the final list of developers for the Technocity.

IT Secretary Ajay Kumar said that the land acquisition process for the Technocity at Pallipuram, around five km away from the Technopark, was progressing and the construction works were expected to begin within six months. The Technocity would have all the facilities of a town, including a school and a hospital, on its premises.

While 70 percent of the space would be utilised for IT-related activities, the remaining area would be utilised for other supporting infrastructure. The projects would be developed on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP)-basis with the KSITI holding 26 percent equity.

The developers will have to form a `special purpose vehicle’ (SPV) for executing the project. The SPV will be responsible for designing, engineering, financing, procurement, construction, marketing, operation and maintenance of the project. The project will be carried out in three different ranges - IT/ITES project for parcel size up to 50 acres; IT/ITES Project for parcel size greater than 50 and up to 100 acres; IT/ITES Project for parcel size greater than 100 acres.
News Link

Two international developers and a range of domestic majors have lined up to develop Kerala's largest IT project. Never any hype, but lots of genuine interest. The action will now hot up over the next two months as the bid process is completed and land allocated. :eek:kay:
 
#180 ·
Here is the official announcement....



News Link

Two international developers and a range of domestic majors have lined up to develop Kerala's largest IT project. Never any hype, but lots of genuine interest. The action will now hot up over the next two months as the bid process is completed and land allocated. :eek:kay:
Ajay,

How much more time all other processes will take?
 
#183 ·
Technopark today advertised in the leading dailies seeking Engineering Consultants for Basic infrastrure (Land Development, Road Network, Power, Water supply, Sewerage facilities, Lighting etc) that is common to multiple SEZs in Technocity.
The Infrastructure Consultant will design how all services are delivered to the door-steps of each of the SEZs within Technocity, inside which the respective developer will take over. Considering the scale of the project, this will take 4-6 months although it will be a parallel activity to the completion of the bid process. :)
 
#185 ·
Big Developers queuing up for Technocity

^^
Foreign developers to hold talks with CM

Saturday July 19 2008 11:48 IST

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Giving further fillip to the development of the Technocity, the heads of the UK-based Sun and US-based Forest City, two internationally acclaimed developers, will hold talks with Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan next week on investing in the project.

Besides, eight other leading developers, the Sun and Forest City had jointly submitted a ‘Request for Qualification’ (RfQ) to take part in the tender process for the Technocity. As a follow-up to this, a delegation comprising Sun chairman Nant Khemka and his Forest City counterpart Gayle Sarris will visit the proposed site for Technocity next week. They are also scheduled to call on the CM on Tuesday, sources at the Kerala State IT Infrastructure Limited (KSITIL) said.The Larsen & Turbo, Raheja, Suzlon, Emaar MGF, Maytas, SREI, Brigade and Ramkey are the others who had submitted the RfQ. The representatives of some of these companies had already visited the site and held talks with the KSITIL officials.

The KSITIL had invited expression of interest (EoI) from professional agencies for appointment as engineering consultants for the Technocity. Coming up on 500 acres of land, the Technocity envisages IT/ITES business spaces, commercial establishments, hotels and restaurants, health care centres, educational institutions, residential accommodation and recreational facilities. A broad master plan has already been prepared. Technopark chief executive officer N Radhakrishnan Nair said that the first-phase construction work is expected to begin at least by 2009 beginning and it would be commissioned within a year of that date.
Forest City is one of the largest developers in the United States. Among the other bidders is Emaar MGF, the Indian JV of Emaar Properties, the world's largest property development firm. The K. Raheja Corp and L&T are leaders in the Indian property development sector. Never in Kerala's history has such response been seen from acclaimed developers to an IT project, bar none!
 
#186 ·
Update

Acquisition begins for Technocity

Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram, July 22 The Kerala Government has started acquisition of land for the proposed Technocity near Thiruvananthapuram.

The Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, said in reply to questions in the State Assembly on Tuesday that 204 acres of land, out of a requirement of 500 acres, had so far been acquired. The Government has reached an understanding with landowners on the acquisitions and accordingly Rs 140 crore would be paid to them, he said.
News Link.
 
#187 ·
10,000-cr investment offered

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sun Forest City - a joint venture of UK-based Sun Developers and Forest City of the US - has offered investment to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore in the state.

A delegation of top officials of these companies which called on the Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, also expressed their interest to set up a biotechnology park as well as IT and IT-enabled service projects in the state, sources said.

The delegation headed by Sun chairman Nant Khemka and Forest City chairman Gayle Sarris called on the Chief Minister and other top officials at the Legislature complex on Wednesday. They briefed the Chief Minister on the credentials and experience of the companies in these fields.

Sun Forest City, which is already setting up an IT park in Chennai, is taking part in the bidding process for the Technocity project coming up on 500 acres at Pallipuram near Technopark here.

The delegation also visited Technopark and the land acquired for Technocity and left the state by evening. Chief Secretary P.J. Thomas, IT Secretary Ajay Kumar, Technopark chief executive officer N. Radhakrishnan Nair and senior business development manager M. Vasudevan also attended the meeting.
 
#192 ·
In translation and in brief:

- The empowered committee of Secretaries chaired by the Chief Secretary has cleared all nine bidders for participating in the bid.

- The recommendation of the committee will be ratified within this month by the Cabinet.

- The bids will be issued right after this is completed.

- Selected firms will partner with KSITIL through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).

- Work needs to start within 180 days of signing the agreement.

- Development of the project expected to start in Mar - April 2009

- Kerala's largest IT project will create a total investment of over Rs 8000 Crores!

Cheers!
 
#194 · (Edited)
Site visit

The Chief Operating Officer of the IT Parks & Commercial Division of Emaar MGF, Mr. Aman Kapoor visited the Technocity site and met with key officials in the Govt. today.

This is a shot of the Western side of the project area, adjacent to the CRPF base. Mr. Sreekumar, New Projects Manager for Technopark is seen explaining the layout of the site to Mr. Kapoor.


Shot with iPhone at 2008-09-03

Another short of the beautiful site. This portion of the project area stretches over nearly 120 acres and acquisition is fast nearing completion here.


Shot with iPhone at 2008-09-03
 
#999 ·
The Chief Operating Officer of the IT Parks & Commercial Division of Emaar MGF, Mr. Aman Kapoor visited the Technocity site and met with key officials in the Govt. today.

This is a shot of the Western side of the project area, adjacent to the CRPF base. Mr. Sreekumar, New Projects Manager for Technopark is seen explaining the layout of the site to Mr. Kapoor.


Shot with iPhone at 2008-09-03

Another short of the beautiful site. This portion of the project area stretches over nearly 120 acres and acquisition is fast nearing completion here.


Shot with iPhone at 2008-09-03
A flash back to the past and sharing thoughts on the future

The present CEO, Hrishikesh, has always played a proactive role, while he was CEO, Infopark, Kochi. I am sure he will adopt the same approach in Technopark / Technocity, as well, now that he is holding responsibility of all the three IT Parks in Kerala.

Unfortunately, he has taken charge at a time, when the IT Industry is in a state of flux and growth trajectory has flattened out. In this rather bleak condition, now it is very difficult to attract IT Companies to set up operations in a greenfield destination. With so much surplus built-up space available in the more developed markets, it is also equally difficult to attract Infrastructure Developers to a virgin destination.

The Technocity failure is due to a combination of some bad luck, official complacence and political apathy towards Trivandrum.

Back in 2008-09, I was part of the New Projects Team of Technopark, involved in resolving the land acquisition related issues and wooing potential Investors to Technocity.

The reference above is to Ajay’s post in September, 2008, in this thread, which says –

“this is a shot of the Western side of the project area, adjacent to the CRPF base. Mr. Sreekumar, New Projects Manager for Technopark is seen explaining the layout of the site to Mr. Kapoor”

At that time, we had already ironed out all land acquisition related issues for nearly 460 acres of land in Technocity and about 250 acres were already in our physical possession. We were quite upbeat about attracting a few good Developers to Technocity. Simultaneously, we were also planning to construct one building in Technocity, directly under the control of Technopark.

Unfortunately, the timing was wrong. Around September, 2008, the global economy turned upside down and none of the eight Developers, short listed in the Request for Qualification (RFQ), came forward to submit their financial bid in the RFP stage.

So, in the initial stage itself, Technocity became a “no show” and Technopark was saddled with a Rs. 350 Crore loan taken for acquisition of land in Technocity. At that time, the attention of the then State Government, under Shri V S Achuthanandan, got diverted to more pressing priorities like developing IT SEZs in Eramam (?) in Kannur, Chemeni in Kasargod, Koratti and Ambalapuzha.

Out of sheer frustration, I quit the Technopark Job and left the State. With limited budgetary support forthcoming from the State Government, the Technopark Authorities were desperate to monetize the Technocity land and leased out the prime parcels to various entities at attractive rates.

TCS for their Global Learning Centre – 115 acres
Infy for their next phase of expansion – 50 acres
Asian School of Business (ASB) – 16 acres
IIITMK for their new Campus – 12 acres
Suntec – 10 acres

The saving grace is that Technopark got out of a potential financial crisis by collecting hefty upfront lease premium from these Organisations. The tragedy is that for various reasons, except the ASB Campus, none of the other Projects have taken off till date. Probably IIITMK may start functioning from the next academic year. I understand Infy has officially written to the State Government that they are willing to surrender the land.

I personally know every single inch of this land and can state that it is way superior to the land parcels in Technopark Phase I, Phase II and Phase III, which were mostly filled in paddy fields, of course with the exception of 50 acres originally obtained from Kerala University.

From a practical perspective, my assessment is that Government has to request Infy and TCS to plan some limited expansion of their Development Centres in Technocity Area, so that we have at least two major anchor clients. Both Companies already have significant presence in Technopark and would be the natural choice to plan some expansion in the same City.

Simultaneously, Technopark should plan another building of at least 0.50 million square feet, offering it for existing Technopark Companies looking for their normal organic growth in Trivandrum.

Given the present state of the Industry, I guess this is the only way we can salvage the Technocity Project from certain death.
 
#196 ·
Kerala Govt. showcases Technocity

Kerala betting big on IT

Published on Mon, Sep 22, 2008 at 08:53 , Updated at Mon, Sep 22, 2008 at 09:02

If it was the catchy phrase �God�s Own Country� associated to wooing tourists to Kerala, it is now �God�s Own e-State� to attract investment to the State�s IT sector. �After tourism, IT is the next big opportunity for the State,� said Mr N. Radhakrishnan Nair, CEO, Technopark, India�s first IT Park.

By 2015, nearly Rs 15,000 crore will be spent on IT infrastructure, including Technopark expansion and creation of Technocity, in the State to facilitate an employment of over two lakh people, he told members of Nasscom at a road show to attract potential investors to the State. Officials from Kerala are travelling across India, and will also visit the US to woo IT investment, he said.

There is a perception outside Kerala that due to labour problems the State is not ideal for IT investment. This is not true, he said. In the last 13 years of operation, not a single day was lost at Technopark due to labour problem. Outside the Technopark, there could be labour problems, a bandh or strike but not inside the campus, which houses around 150 companies employing 20,000 people.
Link

Cross-posted from the main Trivandrum projects thread.

Meanwhile the State Cabinet is likely to approve the issue of the RFP for the Technocity project this week. :) Stay tuned!
 
#205 ·
Technocity to be the mainstay of IT development in Kerala

The Govt. of Kerala expects Technocity to make up 50% of all IT investment in Kerala.

Kerala lines up Rs 20,000 Cr to attract IT companies

Bs Reporter / Chennai September 25, 2008, 0:42 IST

The Kerala government has come out with an over Rs 20,000-Crore investment package to promote the state as an IT destination. The state’s main target is IT and ITeS companies that are planning for further expansion in Chennai and Bangalore.

Through its arm Kerala State IT Infrastructure Limited (KSITI), the government is planning to set up an IT city and IT parks across the state, which would have a seating capacity of 200,000 people by the year 2015. KSITI will promote these projects through the public-private partnership model.

The two key marketing words for KSITI are ‘continuous power supply and single-window clearance’ which saw the participation of several top companies in the roadshow held in Chennai recently.

N Radhakrishnan Nair, director, KSITI and chief executive officer of Trivandrum Techno Park, said that Kerala, which was promoting tourism as ‘God’s own tourism country’ now want to promote it as ‘God’s own e-state’. The IT/ITeS sector contributed around Rs 5,000 crore to the state last year.

The state government is planning to set up a Techno City, spread over 500 acres, in Thiruvananthapuram with an investment of between Rs 8,000 crore and Rs 10,000 crore. Land acquisition for the new facility, which will come up in close proximity to the existing Techno Park, is in the final stage. The Techno City is expected to be ready by 2015. It will have facilities including residential flats, hotels, shopping malls and theatres.

KSITI is also planning to expand the 130-acre Techno Park. The company had acquired another 200 acres. Infosys and UST Global have already started the construction work.

Both these companies are planning to invest around Rs 1,000 crore. Currently, the park employs around 20,000 people and by 2012, it is expected to employ around 100,000, Nair said.

When the Techno City and expanded Techno Park will become operational by 2015, around 200,000 people will be employed.

Speaking about the advantages, Nair said, “Low-cost and uninterrupted power and single-window clearances are the two main mantras. For instance, for IT/ITeS, the state is supplying power for Rs 3.20 a unit, while in Chennai it is around Rs 3.50 a unit (only for IT companies not for ITeS). In Kerala, since all the IT parks will be located near the power grids, companies do not have to depend on the local electricity boards.”

If a company wants to set up a facility in Kerala, it will not take more than 4 weeks for all the necessary clearances, Nair said. In Chennai, Infosys waited for four years to obtain approvals for its Mahindra City facility. The Kerala government has created an industrial area Act, which will allow the CEO of the park, who is a non-IAS officer, as the signing authority.
Link
 
#206 · (Edited)
The Govt. of Kerala expects Technocity to make up 50% of all IT investment in Kerala.

Kerala lines up Rs 20,000 Cr to attract IT companies

Bs Reporter / Chennai September 25, 2008, 0:42 IST

The Kerala government has come out with an over Rs 20,000-Crore investment package ..............

Link
Good news. But I would have loved the news more if the heading was "Thiruvananthapuram lines up Rs 20,000cr to attract IT companies".
These beggers will always generalise as Kerala if the project is in Tvm.
 
#207 · (Edited)
Technocity final drawing is over

Total Area - 461 acres

Total No of SEZs - 9

SEZs - 365 acres
IT SEZ #1 - 38.44 acres
IT SEZ #2 - 48.75 acres
IT SEZ #3 - 27.82 acres
IT SEZ #4 - 38.12 acres
IT SEZ #5 - 40.62 acres
IT SEZ #6 - 50.85 acres
IT SEZ #7 - 44.69 acres
IT SEZ #8 - 25.12 acres
TP SEZ - 50.00 acres

Social Amneties - 20.31 acres
School - 5 acres
Hospital - 5 acres
Stadium - 5 acres
Club - 2 acres
Postoffice/Police station - 2 acres

Commercial zone - 8.64 acres
Multiplex - 4 acres
Hotel - 4 acres

Educational Hub - 16.17 acres

TP Administration - 4.66 acres

Residential - 7.34 acres

Substation - 4.95 acres
 
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