Kerala CM promises hi-tech city

Thiruvanathapuram: While Indian states vie with each other in the race to woo IT investment, can God's own country afford to be left behind? This week, Kerala CM Oomen Chandy made some commitments to improve and attract IT interest on existing projects such as Smart city and expansion of the Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram in the state.

Besides the Technopark, the CM revealed plans to set up a "Technocity" as part of the fourth phase of the Technopark expansion in Thiruvanathapuram. He announced this during a visit to the Technopark. A new facility called Thejaswini, with a capacity of six-lakh sq ft, is being built at the Technopark campus.

Chandy said that around 500 acres of land would be allotted towards the Technocity. This high-tech city would have commercial space, residential properties and other amenities needed by IT and ITES industry professionals.

He hopes to rope in international partners in a JV as a public-private participation and hopes to create half a million jobs in Technocity.

The second phase of expansion in 86 acres of land at the Technopark is in progress at present of which 50 acres have been allocated to Infosys Technologies.