Kochi: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday inaugurated the first IT building in Infopark Phase 11 campus here which is expected to generate one lakh jobs when it is fully developed by 2020. “The aim of the government is to make big strides in the IT sector and create employment. A total of 80,000 candidates will get direct employment. Another 20,000 indirect job opportunities will also be created when the second phase, that includes a Township consisting of an educational institution and hospital among others, gets completed,” Mr Vijayan said while inaugurating ‘Jyothirmaya’, the four lakh square feet state of the art IT building.
The 10-storey building alone can house over 4000 IT professionals and 16 companies, including Cognizant Technology Solutions and UST Global, have already signed a pact to function here. “Smart City officials have of late informed us that the funds for the project implementation has already been set aside and the work will be hastened now. It will also generate lakhs of employment opportunities. Infopark First phase has given employment to 30,000 people already and 20,000 more are expected to benefit in a couple of years,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister also emphasised the need to conserve the Kadamprayar river nearby which could resolve the drinking water crisis in the area. “I think it’s necessary to include the river in the ‘Haritha Keralam’ scheme. The local authorities too should immediately take steps to clean it and ensure water-flow. There is a plan to further extend the Vytilla-Chittettukara Water Metro services to the Infopark. Also the Kochi Metro will be extended to Infopark in the second phase, but it will take some time,” he said.
