As part of the efforts to turn Kerala into one of the most sought after IT/ITeS destinations in the country, Thiruvananthapuram based technopark on Thursday commenced the work on its third phase infrastructure development activities.

Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan officially inaugurated the 3rd phase development at an august function held at Technopark campus. According to him, Kerala government would provide land at reasonable rates for setting up IT and allied industries across the state.

Speaking about the expansion plans, R K Nair, CEO, Technopark said, “This is a giant step towards our aim in putting Kerala among the top 5 IT destinations in the country by 2012.”

TECHNOPARK set up in July 1990 with the objective of creating the infrastructure and providing support required by hi-technology IT/ITES companies in Kerala had its foundation stone laid on 31.3.1991.

The inauguration of the 3rd phase development marked the commencement of construction of the new 110 KV sub-station at a cost of Rs. 10 crores. Technopark is the largest IT Park in the country with 150 nationally and internationally reputed companies in four million sq.ft., built-up area and over 20,000 IT/ITES professionals employed directly.

The first phase will provide additional employment opportunities for 15,000 IT/ITES professionals when the special economic zone campuses of TCS, IBS Software Solutions and buildings of Aushim Soft (Leela Group), Tata Elxsi, NeST, Case Consult, etc., are ready and fully operational.

The second phase will provide employment to 30,000 professionals by Infosys Technologies and UST Global when this campus is fully operational. The first building of Infosys Technologies is expected to be operational by March 2009 in this campus.

The third phase 92 acres will provide employment opportimotoes to 35,000 professionals when it is fully ready. It is expected by the year 2012, with these three phases fully operational TECHNOPARK will provide direct employment opportunities to 100,000 IT/ITES professionals and 400,000 indirectly.

The major companies currently in the campus include Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys Technologies, Toonz Animation, Ernst & Young, Mckinsey & Co., Allianz Cornhill, Collabera, RM Educational Software, Alamy Images, Kanoo Group, Saudi Engineering Group, and home grown companies like UST Global, IBS Software Solutions, NeST, SunTec, Accentia Technologies, Seaview Support Systems, etc.