Kerala will invest nearly ₹1,000 crore in Technopark and satellite centres in land acquisition and infrastructure development costs as well as scaling up of marketing efforts.

The proposal will be approved soon and the funds made available over the next five years, according to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Silver jubilee function He made the announcement at a function at the Technopark campus to honour founding members and administrators of India’s first and largest IT park that has completed 25 years.

Chandy said the fund would boost the prospects of the phase-I, phase-II and phase-III campuses of Technopark adjoining Technocity and the Kollam Technopark, a satellite centre.

He also referred to the proposed ₹1,500-crore investment by the Taurus Investment Group in phase-III campus. It has been approved and construction would commence soon.

Labour welfare IT and Industries Minister PK Kunhalikkutty, who presided over the function, addressed concerns raised by several stakeholders of Technopark. He announced a roll-back of the hike in applicable rentals here. He hoped to replicate the Technopark development model in several other fields.

Technopark founder CEO G Vijaya Raghavan, also a member of the State Planning Board, traced its origins to a 1989 meeting at the Government Guest House. “The credit goes to three great visionaries — the then chief minister EK Nayanar, KR Gowri Amma and KPP Nambiar,” he said.

Recollecting some initial run-ins with trade unions, he said Technopark has been fair and firm in dealing with labour issues.

But the project had garnered support that cut across political affiliations, and all governments have promoted its cause in a big way.

Vijaya Raghavan also appreciated thousands of construction workers and hundreds of head load labourers for their cooperation and dedication through the construction stage.

Those associated with the inception of Technopark, including Vijaya Raghavan and Kunhalikkutty, members of the first project implementation team and governing board, were honoured at the function.

Prathidwani, a forum of Technopark employees, handed over a letter signed by 1,000 members volunteering for organ donation to the Chief Minister.

“The forum began its campaign a few days back and the number of volunteers is expected to touch 3,000 in the next two days,” said Technopark CEO KG Girish Babu.

The Chief Minister also received a cheque for ₹75,000 pooled in by the employees of a car washing company in Technopark for welfare of cancer patients.

Also present on the occasion were PH Kurian, Principal Secretary, IT and Industries, and VK Mathews, Chairman, GTECH (Group of technology Companies).

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