
Kochi's IT future brightens with mulitple infra projects
Kochi: With several major IT infrastructure projects in the pipeline — including a new project by a private group in Infopark Phase II and the newly inaugurated IT Twin Towers in SmartCity — hopes for Kochi's IT sector are being rekindled.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while inaugurating the Lulu IT Twin Towers on the SmartCity campus on Saturday, announced that the Lulu Group will also set up a new IT tower in Infopark Phase II, Kakkanad. The Rs 500-crore project will come up on 3.5 acres near the Brahmapuram bridge and offer 9.5 lakh square feet of built-up space. The tower is expected to generate at least 7,500 jobs, and the state govt has pledged full support for the venture.
Recently, UST Global has started construction of its new campus on 8.5 acres in Infopark Phase II, which is projected to provide direct employment to around 5,000 IT and ITeS professionals. The Lulu Twin Towers itself is expected to create approximately 30,000 jobs.
Following the state cabinet's approval of TECOM's exit from the SmartCity project in Dec 2024, there are renewed hopes of integrating the 246-acre SmartCity campus with Infopark Phase I.
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A special committee submitted its recommendations in Dec, but a final govt decision is still awaited. The launch of the Twin Towers is expected to give a revitalize the long-stalled SmartCity development.
Further boosting the region's IT ecosystem, industries minister P Rajeeve recently laid the foundation stone for Geojit's IT park in Infopark Phase II. The 16-storey, 1.3 lakh square foot building is scheduled for completion within two years.
Additional projects include the World Trade Centre Tower III in Infopark Phase I, a 37-acre TCS campus in Kinfra Park and V-Guard's upcoming IT park, which is nearing completion. Prestige Group's Phase II project is also under consideration in SmartCity, and Infopark's extension campus at the South Metro station is expected to begin operations soon.
These developments are set to increase the current IT workforce in Infopark, SmartCity, and nearby campuses from 1 lakh to an estimated 1.5 lakh.
Meanwhile, Infopark authorities are awaiting final govt clearance for a proposed third campus spanning 500 acres in Kunnathunadu panchayat. The plan, jointly initiated by Infopark and the GCDA using a land pooling model, is pending approval.
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