The first step towards a new phase for Alappuzha, a district hitherto known for its coir industry, class struggles and the fishing community's sufferings, was made at Pallipuram near Cherthala as Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan inaugurated the first phase of the Cherthala Infopark.
The district's foray into information technology would mark the revival of Alappuzha's industrial history, Mr. Achuthanandan said, adding that work on the second Infopark in the district would soon commence at Ambalapuzha. The State, he said, had recorded the fastest growth in the IT sector in the country over the last four and a half years, with the number of IT parks going up from two to 10, and the software exports from Kerala rocketing to Rs.3,200 crore this fiscal from Rs.630 crore in 2006.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had laid emphasis on development of basic infrastructure for the IT sector, resulting in a five-fold growth in the facilities offered to investors. With the Infopark, Cherthala would soon develop as a satellite city of Kochi, while on the south, the Technopark at Thiruvananthapuram had seen completion of three phases. Work on the fourth phase of Technopark, titled Technocity, would shortly commence on 428 acres acquired recently.
In north Kerala
On the north of the State, work on the Kozhikode Cyber City as well as the IT Park at Cheemeni in Kasaragod was progressing while the IT Park at Eramam of Kannur would be opened on January 15, Mr. Achuthanandan said. That the developmental surge was not restricted to the IT sector alone, but across all sectors including public welfare in the State, the Chief Minister added.
He also laid the foundation stone for a working women's hostel and a day care centre on the IT Park campus on the occasion. P. Thilothaman, MLA, presided. K.C. Venugopal, MP, K. Suresh Kumar, Secretary (IT), Infopark CEO Ishita Roy, District Collector P. Venugopal and Cherthala Municipal Chairperson Jayalakshmi Anilkumar too spoke.
