Subway project to link Technocity campuses

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A subway has been proposed to offer connectivity between the two Technocity campuses spreading on both sides of the National Highway at Pallipuram near here. Technopark authorities, who are in charge of the Technocity project, have sought the nod of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for setting up the subway for pedestrian movement between the two campuses. An underpass is also being planned for offering connectivity for vehicles.

“We have submitted a proposal to the NHAI for setting up a subway connecting the Technocity campus spreading on both sides of the NH so that pedestrians can move freely without crossing the NH,” said Technopark chief executive officer S. Ramanathan. He also said that an underpass connecting the campus of either side of the NH was  under consideration.

A major chunk of the 423-acre Technocity campus is on the right side of the NH (in Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam direction).  The IT campus, biotechnology and other industrial units are planned on the right side, whereas the administrative, residential and other support facilities are proposed on the premises on the left side of the NH.

Meanwhile, the Technopark authorities are now planning to construct a two-lakh-square-feet building On Technocity campus.  “Our plan is to have a development centre with state of the art facilities,” said Mr. Ramanath.

Tata Consultancy Services and Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management – Kerala have commenced construction activities On the campus, while SunTech  is learnt to be in the final stages of bidding  for awarding the construction work. Infosys, which had earlier acquired space, had dropped their plans for the campus.

A Knowledge City project is also proposed in Technocity, which is being conceived as an integrated IT township with IT/ITeS infrastructure, residential apartments, shopping malls, multiplexes, hospitals, hotels educational institutions and other support facilities.