KOCHI: Kochi may soon have one more feather added to its developmental initiatives. The first-ever Electronic Park in the state, a ` 7,000-crore project, which is expected to create about one lakh job opportunities, may soon come up at Amballoor panchayat near Piravom on the suburbs of Kochi.
The state government has already made a decision in this regard. The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has begun steps to acquire about 340 acres of land at Amaballoor panchayat.
The Electronic Park, the first of its kind in the state, is expected to fetch an investment of ` 7,000-crore. The project is expected to create more than 20,000 job opportunities directly and 70,000 indirectly, according to a study conducted by the KSIDC. Piravom MLA M J Jacob said the KSIDC has already begun the land acquisition process. “The area proposed for the project begins from the north side of Puthenkavu-Kanjiramatton Road and goes adjacent to Manthuruthel church in Amballoor Pallithazam. It’s a marshy and barren land, and there are only 22 houses on 340 acres of land,” Jacob said.
As an initial step the state government has allocated ` 250 crore through the fast track scheme for land acquisition. “The land development will be carried out without harming the environment and ecology. Konothupuzha, the river flowing through the land, will be protected,” said KSIDC officials.
The infrastructure facilities for the park will be set up by the KSIDC. Major electronics companies manufacturing TV, refrigerator, washing machine, computer and other electronic gadgets are expected to set up offices at the proposed electronic Park. The land will be given to industries for lease for a period of 90 years, said the officials.
The KSIDC has designed the project in such a way that the fuel for different operations in the park can be taken from the LNG Terminal, Puthuvype. The electronic park has also been included in the Coimbatore-Kochi, Kochi-Mangalore Industrial Corridor.
The KSIDC began a study to acquire a total of 3000 acres of land for the project. However, the state government has given sanction for only 340 acres of land in the initial stage. Sanction for the entire project area is expected in the second phase. “One of the main advantages of the project is that there will be very little eviction of families for the project. The evictees will be given land free of cost,” the officials said.
kochi@expressbuzz.com