MEGAPROJECT: Technocity Trivandrum | 20 Mn Sq Ft SEZ

[Kannan46]

Technocity project to be speeded up - Hindu online news

Phase IV Technopark expansion envisages the acquisition of 500 acres (just over 200 hectares) of land at Mangalapuram, about seven kilometres to the north of the Technopark Campus.

The Housing and Urban Development Corporation and a few nationalised banks have indicated their interest in financing this expansion programme, which will be called the `Technocity.'

Additional Chief Secretary John Mathai told the meeting that 27 Revenue officials would be specially assigned to handle the responsibilities of acquiring land for Technocity.

The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation was given the task of preparing a detailed project proposal for `Technocity' some time back, but it is yet to complete the work.

The `Technocity' is envisaged as a self-contained territory for IT and ITES companies with good schools and hospitals, commercial places and residential and recreational facilities for the families of those working there. In Phase IV, approximately 1 lakh professionals are expected to be employed.

The IT Department is targeting to make all these possible over the next five years, the official said.
===============================================================
Cheers!!!

[Ajaypp]

- Great update. Nice to see the Government go on a war footing for this project. 200,000 IT jobs in Trivandrum....kewl!

[Ajaypp]

In today's Independence Day speech, VS reiterated the commitement to create 200,000 jobs in the IT sector in the next 5 years. Nice to see that the emphasis on Technopark and Technocity is on....

[rajeshvs]

Any idea abt the land prices in TVM nowdays? I am planning to buy on apartment there and zero down couple of builders like Skyline, Heera & Valley View. Let me know which is best and whats current market area?
Thnaks,
Rajesh/Seattle

[Ajaypp]

- Rajesh, please drop a Private Message/mail to Sudheesh, he will give you all the details. Better buy soon, prices are rising faster than they can print them. Areas along the IT Corridor have seen price rises of upto 1000% in the last 6 months and the real estates have hit Rs 30 Lakhs/cent in some of the city's prime areas.

[Ajaypp]

The Govt. has issued notification for immediate acquisition of the 500 acres of land required for the Technocity project. With a dedicated team of Revenue Dept. officials deployed for the job, the process is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

[sanjay4]

Hi
I am also looking for some property around Technopark. Anybody has any idea about the land prices.

Thanks
Sanjay

[godman]

Kerala chief minister pushes Technocity project

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 6: Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan is taking steps to speed up the setting up of Technocity near the Technopark campus here.

Technopark acting CEO V.K. Jayakumar told IANS: "He has appointed a special officer to acquire 507 acres for Technocity."

The chief minister's interest in the project comes as a surprise because it was mooted by former chief minister Oommen Chandy. The project is being opposed by the youth wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) which says it would lead to eviction of people.

"We expect the special officer to acquire the land in less than a year, and then it is up to the government to decide on the modus operandi for the development of Technocity.

"A few big developers have shown interest for developing the Technocity," the CEO said.

The Technopark campus, on the outskirts of the capital city, has come up in a big way. There are 105 IT firms on the campus which employ 12,500 people.

"By November another 600,000 square feet would be ready, which has already been booked. In less than a year 6,000 new jobs would be created in this new block," the CEO added.

The investment at Technopark for developing 236 acres has crossed Rs.7 billion. There are two special economic zones in the Technopark campus, which have already been booked by IT giants Infosys and TCS.

[Ajaypp]

Originally Posted by sanjay4

Hi
I am also looking for some property around Technopark. Anybody has any idea about the land prices.

Thanks
Sanjay

Hi Sanjay, welcome to SSC. Please get in touch with Sudheesh, one of our moderators, who is working in the real estate industry and will be able to give you a good idea. You can drop him a PM through the forum or send a mail on his ID which would be available on his profile.

Btw, nice to see that VS is maintaining an active interest in the project. Hope things speed up now.

[Ajaypp]

Infosys plans expansion in Trivandrum
An integrated township called Technocity is on the cards in Thiruvananthapuram
Monday, October 30, 2006
Priya Padmanabhan

BANGALORE: IT services major Infosys, which is on a massive expansion spree, is likely to have its own campus in Thiruvanathapuram in a year or two. N Radhakrishnan Nair, CEO, Technopark campus, who is part of the Kerala delegation at BangaloreIT.in said that the company would have its own campus in the city. “Starting November, Infosys will begin construction of its campus and has taken up 50 acres of land. It plans to have 2.5 million square feet of space that can seat more than 5000 people,” he said.

In the first phase of construction, around 600,000 sq feet of built space will be completed. “The catalyst for the Infosys’ interest in Kerala is the COO Kris Gopalakrishnan who hails from Thiruvananthapuram,” said Nair.

At present, Infosys has more than 500 people working at its facility in Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram. In May this year, senior Infosys executives including Kris Gopalakrishnan met with Kerala CM V S Achuthanandan to discuss their growth plans in Kerala.

The Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram houses 110 companies and 12,500 people. In the next six months, the number of employees is expected to touch 20,000.

Another initiative by the Kerala Government is an integrated township for the IT sector called Technocity. This project would be a private-public partnership involving 500 acres of land very close to the existing Technopark. The land acquisition is expected to happen in the next one year.

Courtsey: Kannan46, Technopark - II thread.

The acquisition of the 500 acres needed for Technocity is well underway by a special team of officers dedicated to the largest IT project in Kerala.

[Ajaypp]

Yesterday's Cabinet meeting put the 500-acre Technocity project under the Fast Track system of land acquisition to speed up the State's largest IT project - expected to create 100,000 - 150,000 IT jobs in the next 5 years.

[sudheeshnairs]

Originally Posted by Ajaypp

Yesterday's Cabinet meeting put the 500-acre Technocity project under the Fast Track system of land acquisition to speed up the State's largest IT project - expected to create 100,000 - 150,000 IT jobs in the next 5 years.

Yes Ajay, I saw the news about Cabinet meeting on Hindu front page today, but didn't find it in online edition..

[sudheeshnairs]

Seems good sign, now Kerala CM also thinks the Budhadeb way..

CPI-M changes mind, agrees to Technocity IT campus

Tuesday December 5 2006 00:00 IST

IANS

T’PURAM: In what seems to be a change of stance, Kerala’s ruling Left government on Monday gave a green signal to the setting up of an IT campus, Technocity, near Technopark here.

“We will see that the 500 acres of land for Technocity would be brought under a fast track scheme,” Communist Party of India-Marxist’s (CPI-M) Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

However, he parried questions on whether this was the same project initiated by the previous Oommen Chandy government. “This is going to come up near Technopark,” was all he said.

On Feb 6 this year, a meeting called by the Thiruvananthapuram district collector to discuss land acquisition issues for the proposed Technocity had been disrupted by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the student’s wing of the CPI-M.

They had alleged that the huge real estate lobby had hijacked the entire project and that it would lead to many families being evacuated. “If they had not created a ruckus then, the project would now have been on the right track. But now they have a different attitude,” said former chief minister Oommen Chandy.

According to his erstwhile Congress government, the proposed Rs 50 billion Technocity would house IT and biotechnology companies, a residential complex, schools and other infrastructure. The state government was to provide Rs 250 million and another Rs.750 million as loans for Technocity to buy the land.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems...apuram&Topic=0

[Kannan46]

Technocity in the news again -Collector visits Techno-city site
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: District Collector N. Ayyappan gave the assurance that the Government would exempt the property of persons with `genuine' grievances in connection with the acquisition of land for construction of Techno-city in Kazhakkuttom.

He was speaking after making an on the spot inspection of the proposed sites, a total of 507 acres spread across Pallippuram, Andoorkkonam, Melthonnakkal and Veloor, along with the local MLA M.A. Vahid and the block panchayath member M. Muneer on Friday.

The inspection came in the wake of petitions filed by the local residents, Action Council members, landowners, madrassa, Jamaat and members of the church and charitable trust against the acquisition of land.

It is estimated that the project would lead to the demolition of 37 houses. Out of this, 26 of them are located in Pallippuram alone. "Our demand is that residents whose houses are built within five to seven cents of land should be given exemption from demolishing their buildings," said Thaufeeq Panayil, chairman of the Action Council. "Those who are displaced should also be provided adequate rehabilitation," he said.

"If at least 20 acres in Melthonnakal and Veloor is avoided the problem can be avoided," said Panayil.

According to Mr. Ayyappan people who are displaced by the project will be provided rehabilitation at Karamoodu and Pallippuram. "They will be relocated by providing five cents of free land," he said.

cheers!!!

[sanjay4]

Hello Gentleman,
I have been reading this forumn for quite sometime and it is quite informative and impressive. It is really glad to know that of late Trivandrum has made lot of progress in the IT sector. Technopark had only handful of companies and some call center type workers last time I visited there. I had to move over to bigger cities in search of better career opportunities. Now I think Tvm is equally competent.

[Ajaypp]

Yes Sanjay, things have changed a lot. With Infosys, TCS, PCS and other national and MNC players in town, we are definitley in the mainstream now. Looking forward to having people like you back in town, buddy!

[lloydsagar]

Is there any updates on this Techno City Project. I have been hearing more about Smart City ? Any updates would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks

[Ajaypp]

The land acquisition work for Technocity is underway. The Govt. is deploying a special team of Revenue Officials considering the sheer scale of the project. At last count, close to 300 out of the 523 acres for the project had been completed.

Parallely, Technopark has invited International Consultants for the master-planning, business planning and marketing of Technopark Phase IV - Technocity. The final choice of consultant will be made in the next couple of weeks, on submission of the Financial tenders.

Lloyd, the so-called "Smart" City project grabs all the headlines for whatever reasons, but work is going on here quietly and steadily for Technocity which is twice its size. And as the old adage goes, actions speak louder than words!

[Kannan46]

Originally Posted by Ajaypp

The land acquisition work for Technocity is underway. The Govt. is deploying a special team of Revenue Officials considering the sheer scale of the project. At last count, close to 300 out of the 523 acres for the project had been completed.

It is great to hear that 300 acres have been acquired which is far more than the present technopark area. Since it may take some more time to acquire the balance 223 acres, have they started any infrastructure and other works in that area under possession?
There is a saying "make hay while the sun shines" . So we must utilize this opportunity which is supported by the eagerness of many national and international companies to invest and expand their facilities.
Hope that our govt and leaders understand the seriouness of this and take speedy action to implement the shemes.

Cheers!!!

[sathyalal]

Kannan, Very valid point. Since no space is available in current technopark, why do they want to wait for the complete 523 acres. They can start with the 223 acres.

Originally Posted by Kannan46

It is great to hear that 300 acres have been acquired which is far more than the present technopark area. Since it may take some more time to acquire the balance 223 acres, have they started any infrastructure and other works in that area under possession?
There is a saying "make hay while the sun shines" . So we must utilize this opportunity which is supported by the eagerness of many national and international companies to invest and expand their facilities.
Hope that our govt and leaders understand the seriouness of this and take speedy action to implement the shemes.

Cheers!!!