India's first 'Water Theme' IT Park notified as SEZ

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA: India’s first ever water theme IT park will go on stream in Alappuzha by Aril 2011. The Centre has formally notified 33 acres of Infopark Ambalapuzha, in Alappuzha district, Kerala, as Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The new park under development will be the first ever ‘Water Theme’ IT Park.

According to Ajay Kumar IAS, Principal Secretary - IT, Kerala, the Ambalapuzha Infopark is planned to be developed as the first ‘water theme’ based IT Park in India with immense untapped potential working towards promoting IT and Knowledge Services in the heart of Kerala’s famous backwaters.

“With this park, we aim to create an ambiance that is extremely conducive for professionals to work in a totally stress-free environment and for busy professionals to indulge in fruitful learning training and learning activities while recharging themselves,” he said.

This decision to notify the park under development as an SEZ was taken at a meeting of the Board of Approvals, Union Ministry of Commerce. Infopark Ambalapuzha, located on the National Highway 47, about 22 km from Alapuzha town, is being developed in about 100 acres of prime property in Smrithivanam, Purakkad village.

As much as 33 acres of this property had formally got a sector-specific Special Economic Zone status in late 2008 and notified now.

Said Siddhartha Bhattacharya, CEO, Infopark: “The work for Ambalapuzha Infopark commenced in April 2009 and the first phase infrastructure work is expected to be completed by June 2010. With the completion of the first IT building by April 2011, there will be space to initially provide employment to over 1000 IT and ITeS professionals in this park”.

The basic infrastructures that will be developed in Phase-1 include power receiving and distribution facility, potable water through RO plant, access roads, land reclamation and development, drains and boat jetty. We have sought to develop the park through partnership and the investment in the first three years is approximately Rs 150 crore, he added.