Cyberpark Kozhikode notified as an SEZ

The Kerala IT department has announced that the Union commerce ministry had given final notification for the 25 acres of land identified for setting up Cyberpark at Kozhikode which will be known as IT/ITeS Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Cyberpark Kozhikode is the Kerala IT department’s foray into the Malabar region. The department has procured a total of 43 acres of land for developing IT/ITeS infrastructure in Nellikode and Pantheerankavu in Kozhikode to set up the park.

Cyberpark will provide SEZ space for IT/ITeS and other knowledge-based industries for clients serving the domestic and international markets. The park is in the process of setting up the basic infrastructure such as a 110 KV substation, internal roads, rain water harvesting and waste water recycling and eco-friendly waste management.

 

“The SEZ notification has come at the right time as we are in the process of finalising companies for the various works,” said  Binu Pazhoor, CEO of Cyberpark. He also said that by 2015 when the Cyberpark would be completely operational, it will generate 70,000 jobs for IT professionals and over 100,000 jobs indirectly.

Facilities planned at Cyberpark include eco-friendly buildings with energy efficient layouts and interiors, fully furnished incubators to support start-up SME initiatives, variety of recreation facilities and adequate eco parks, banks, ATMs, food courts, and food kiosks, day-care facilities, reprography centres, internet centres, healthcare, gym, pharmacy, emergency management systems including ambulance, utility services like travel/tourism counters, courier and post office, rainwater harvesting and inhouse water purification plant. The whole facility would be backed up by 100 per cent  in terms of electricity supply.

The spoke models of Cyberpark are coming up Kannur and Kasargod districts. Kannur Cyberpark is developed in 25 acres of land in Eramom village in Taliparambu taluk. The complete land acquired is notified as an SEZ. The draft master plan has been completed and design works of the first IT building of 50,000 sft is in progress.

Kasargod Cyberpark will be developed on 100 acres, of which 25 acres will be developed initially as an IT/ITeS specific SEZ. The initial building planned here is of 150,000 sft and would ensure employment to over 2000.

A high development potential for Cyberpark coming up in Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod is due to the absence of any organised IT infrastructure in the gap starting from Kochi to Dakshina Kannada, along the west coast.

There is a very strong opportunity for IT and ITeS companies to tap into the huge potential of untapped human resources. Many ITeS majors are looking at this region as a potential destination because of its high rate of literacy, the high quality of living and closeness to major IT destinations like Bangalore, Mysore and Mangalore.

The connectivity by air to these locations is also another attraction. The international airport at Mangalore is the nearest airport to the Cyberpark coming up in Kasargod. The international airport at Kozhikode is only about 150 km from the upcoming Cyberpark.

However, the fourth international airport in the state is nearing completion at Mattannur in Kannur district. With the completion of this airport, the proposed park in Eramom, which lies in the southern border of the district, will become more easily accessible by air, a press release said.