CHENNAI: Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Saturday inaugurated Information Technology Special Economic Zones (IT-SEZs) set up at Madurai and Tirunelveli besides the State Data Centre at ELCOT office here through video-conferencing facility at the New Secretariat here.
The Chief Minister said IT-SEZs in Madurai and Tirunelveli districts were likely to attract an investment of nearly Rs 3,400 crore in the next five years, besides ensuring employment for over 2.7 lakh persons.
The ELCOT has invested Rs 32 crore on Ilandaikulam and Rs 45 crore on Vadapalanji IT-SEZs at Madurai, Karunanidhi said adding that the IT-SEZ at Gangaikondan in Tirunelveli with an ELCOT investment of Rs 50 crore would attract an expected investment of Rs 2,000 crore.
These projects were part of the State’s decision to attract IT investments in Tier-II cities like Madurai, Coimbatore and Tiruchy, he said. He also inaugurated the State Data Centre at Perungudi in Chennai and said the Central-State initiative had come up at a cost of over Rs 60 crore.
In Madurai: Adi Dravidar Welfare Minister A Tamilarasi, after the inauguration, said that the foundation stone for this IT park was laid by the CM on April 26, 2008, on 28.91 acre in Ilandhaikulam.
This IT park was expected to generate employment to more than 10,000 professionals directly and to over 20,000 persons indirectly.
She also said that the software companies such as Honeywell and Chella software have been allotted 4.5 acres and 2.25 acres respectively in this facility.
Tirunelveli: The Rs 50-crore Gangaikondan ELCOT IT Park near Tirunelveli is situated on a sprawling 500-acre site on the NH 7.
The first phase of Gangaikondan ELCOT IT Park is constructed on a 100-acre area, which includes infrastructure and a two-storey main building.
The two-storey building is built on a plinth area measuring 50,000 sqft.
Tirunelveli Collector M Jayaraman said that the IT Park was a landmark for the district and it would be useful for people from Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Kanyakumari and Virudhunagar districts, at present employed in other cities. ELCOT officials said that as of now, only the 100-acre land of the park would get SEZ status.