INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT APACE IN MADURAI IT PARKS
Madurai
The Hindu
The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) has decided to start construction on an area of 50, 000 square feet in the proposed information technology parks at Ilanthaikulam and Vadapalanji on the outskirts of the city.
Addressing a meeting organised by the Madurai zone of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here on Wednesday, Santhosh Babu, Managing Director, ELCOT, said that tenders had been finalised for construction work and built up space would be offered for local entrepreneurs in the special economic zones.
The space to be provided by the ELCOT could also serve as an incubation centre for big companies.
The Vadapalanji IT park, where land had already been apportioned for IT majors, would have space for both SEZ and non-SEZ companies. On the plea of CII members that small IT companies which concentrated only in the local market should be given space in the SEZ, he promised to take it up with higher officials.
Development of infrastructure in the Madurai IT parks had gathered momentum, the MD said. Now compound walls, roads and ducts were being put in place. This would be completed by September at Ilanthaikulam and November at Vadapalanji, where the available land was yet to be leased out fully. Dr. Santhosh Babu, who had earlier inspected the ongoing work at both places, said that infrastructure development was taken up at a cost of Rs 22.43 crore. Provision had also been made to apportion small areas, starting from two acres, for small companies.
Replying to members’ questions, Dr. Santhosh Babu encouraged them to present their products to ELCOT, which, in turn, would recommend them for use by other government departments and agencies.
On the rate the ELCOT would fix for space in the IT park, he said that the organisation was not looking at profits but was keen to develop the IT industry in a tier two city like Madurai. He also welcomed the idea of having common infrastructure facilities for small and medium IT companies.