hief Minister Oommen Chandy on Wednesday announced a Rs.997.65-crore project for infrastructure development, land acquisition and marketing initiatives of the Technopark here and its satellite centres.
Inaugurating the silver jubilee celebrations of the Technopark here, Mr. Chandy said that funds to be provided under the project would be used over the coming five years for developing Technopark’s phase-1, phase-2 and phase-3 campuses, Technocity at Pallippuram, and the Kollam Technopark, which is its satellite centre. “The project will be approved by the government soon,” he said.
The Chief Minister said information technology (IT) giant Taurus would invest Rs.1,500 crore on the Technopark phase 3 campus. The project had already been approved and the construction activities would begin soon, he added.
Presiding over the function, Industries and IT Minister P.K. Kunhalikkutty said the government had decided to roll-back the hike in rentals at the Park. “Technopark’s development model, which is the biggest and the brightest success story of Kerala, could be replicated in several other fields,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Technopark founder-Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and State Planning Board member G. Vijayaraghavan said the concept of Technopark originated at a 1989 meeting held at the Government Guest House at Thycaud in the capital city, and that the credit for having envisioned the project went to three great visionaries — the then Chief Minister E.K. Nayanar, the then Industries Minister K.R. Gowri Amma, and visionary technocrat K.P.P. Nambiar, who passed away recently.
The Chief Minister honoured Mr. Kunhalikkutty and Mr. Vijayaraghavan, besides several others who had led the Technopark during its growth years.
Organ donation
Prathidwani, a forum of Technopark employees, handed over to the Chief Minister a letter of consent signed by 1,000 employees volunteering for organ donation.
“The forum began its campaign just few days ago and the number of volunteers is expected to touch 3,000 in the coming two days,” Technopark CEO K.G. Girish Babu said.
Industries and IT Principal Secretary P.H. Kurian; Mayor K. Chandrika; M.A. Wahid, MLA; and V.K. Mathews, chairman, Group of Technology Companies (GTECH); were present.
