Infopark development to be complete by 2008:CM

Kochi, Aug 4 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today said several major companies were keen to invest in the Information Technology infrastructure in Kochi and added that the government-developed Infopark here will be fully ready by 2008.

Talking to reporters after visiting the Infopark campus, Mr Achuthanandan reiterated that there was no question of handing over the 90 acre Infopark to the Dubai Internet City (DIC) for its proposed 'Smart City' IT park in Kochi.

Referring to the talks, going on in Thiruvananthapuram today between the state government officials and a DIC team, the chief minister declared ''Infopark is not a topic of discussion at the talks''.

As the leader of the opposition, Mr Achuthanandan had vehemently opposed the then Oommen Chandy government's proposed move to hand over the Infopark to the DIC for the 'Smart City'.

He had also criticised the DIC demand that the government should not allow any other IT park to come up in Kochi.

Declaring that other companies were welcome to invest in IT infrastructure here, Mr Achuthanandan said several major companies were keen to come to Kochi.

Earlier, during his nearly half-hour visit to the Infopark, the chief minister was given a briefing about the park's ongoing development projects by senior technical advisor K Kurian.

He also visited the 'Thapasya' and 'Vismaya' complexes in the Infopark and spoke to officials of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which was operating from the Vismaya building.

Infopark officials told UNI that TCS had asked for 50 acres of land to develop its own campus in the Infopark.

Among the ongoing development projects at the park are WIPRO campus, spread over 25 acres, and a Larsen and Toubro building 'Tejomaya' being constructed in 4.5 acres.

Another 250 acres of land was also proposed to be acquired for further development of the park, officials said.

''The chief minister expressed satisfaction at our development programmes and indicated that the government was keen to further expand it,'' they added.

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