IT Park Site getting ready

TIRUCHI: Nearly eight months after its notification as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) has commenced levelling work on the alienated site of 147 acres (of which 123 acres is SEZ) at Navalpattu for establishing the IT Park.

After the process of levelling and fencing is completed, the next step will be to hand over 10 acres each to Sutherland Global Services and Cognizant Technology Solutions, the first phase allottees.

Simultaneously, tenders will be invited for the laying of internal roads and creation of amenities under public-private partnership mode. During this week, the Government would decide on the allotment to be made to applicants in the second phase, official sources said.

The ELCOT has decided to construct an administrative-cum-IT incubation building at the site within six to nine months. The structure with a 50,000 feet builtup space will house the Customs unit and serve as the incubation facility for companies keen on commencing their operations before creating their own building infrastructure.

Private companies are likely to take up to two years for operating from their own facilities from the time of handing over the layout.

ELCOT sources said that the slowdown in the IT sector was not likely to have an impact on the expansion plans of the companies since tier-II cities were seen as the ideal destinations where operational costs could be reduced by 30 to 40 per cent. Tiruchi ranks top among tier-II destinations on the fronts of its advantageous location, human resource availability and physical connectivity.

The ELCOT, it is learnt, is pinning hopes on the district administration for relaying the 120-feet-road that links the IT Park with the Tiruchi-Pudukottai Highway, and is also confident that the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, which has been provided five acres to establish a sub-station, will complete its task simultaneously.