As Technopark gears up to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its founding in 2015, techies are looking forward to expansions galore. The campus that’s now home to over 45,000 employees, is bigger and, arguably, better than ever before. Phase III has finally opened its doors; Park authorities and the government have begun to take an active interest in improving safety and security measures; transportation has become marginally more commuter-friendly, whether it’s more number of trains halting at Kazhakoottam, a few more buses plying to and from campus and pot-hole free roads within campus; dining options in and around campus has also improved... Nonetheless, techies do have a few things on their wish list for the New Year.
Parking space and public transportNo surprises there, infrastructure concerns top the wish list.
“Car parks are still very much congested and it’s near impossible to find a parking space on campus. Tejaswini building, for example, has very little parking space for even those who work in the building. Park authorities are working on solutions such as carpooling and paid parking, but nothing seems to be working. Then, what we really need is a good public transport system within and from campus,” says Rafeek K. Mohammed, chief executive officer, PIT Solutions.
“Also, I wish that the roads leading to Technopark, especially the bypass to the airport, was cleared of garbage and less congested. We have a lot of clients coming in and for many of them the road is the first and only impression of the city,” he adds.
Dileep Choyappally, a group manager with IBS, too wishes there was a sure fire solution to the traffic issue. “We desperately need more public conveyance. A hop-on-hop-off bus system would also come as a boon to employees who want to move around within the campus,” he says, echoing the thoughts of many.
All-night shops“I have been working on campus for the past 13 years and Technopark has come a long way since then, infrastructure-wise. However, I wish that there were more shopping avenues or at least a large all-night supermarket on campus. With all the traffic into the city and late hours at work, it has become very difficult to shop for essentials,” he adds.
Stop pleaseTechie Rajeev Krishnan, secretary of Prathidhwani, a socio-cultural organisation on campus, chips in: “I wish that more number of trains that go via Alappuzha stop at Kazhakoottam. In 2015, I hope that KSRTC starts operating direct services from Technopark to places such as Kattappana, Pattanamthitta, Ranni and the like, especially on Friday evenings. Several employees of Technopark hail from that area of central Travancore. I also hope that the government starts a working women’s hostel near campus.” Jubi M. F., a trainee operations manager at Tech 4 Travel, meanwhile, would also like a “park or a garden where people can go sit, de-stress and connect with nature.”
Incentives and tax breaksOn the professional front Rajeev wishes that there were more number service-oriented companies on campus. “We need service-oriented companies for career growth. It will be an incentive for more people to come and work in Technopark,” he says.
Rafeek meanwhile wishes that the government would continue the 10-year tax break that it gives small businesses.
Platforms for interactionsOn the personal front many of them say that they yearn for a regular platform for interaction between employees of different companies. “We are supposed to be a family…but that’s more on paper,” says Divas Sadasivan, a corporate communications executive. Divas and Rafeek add: “There are many avenues for interaction within companies but very few opportunities outside, save for organisations such as Natana and Prathidhwani. What we need are clubs and forums where like-minded people can get together.”
Positive vibesBoth Dileep and Jubi also want all the “positive work” that is being done in Technopark to be known to the masses. “Only the unfortunate incidents get reported. Technopark is so much more than young people with big salaries and their vices. We are a hardworking lot and do a lot of CSR activities too. We wish people would stop stereotyping us.”
