KOCHI: In a significant boost for Kochi’s IT sector, the state government has given in-principle approval for the establishment of the Infopark Phase III campus, which will span over 300 acres in the Kunnathunadu taluk.
The proposal for the third campus was made by Infopark, as the first two phases are currently operating at full capacity. Discussions for land pooling driven by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) were initiated; however, progress was hampered due to awaiting necessary clearances from the IT department.
According to an order from the Electronics and Information Technology Department, “in-principle approval has been granted to Infopark to advance with the Phase III project, which encompasses over 300 acres in the district, aimed at developing an integrated township.” The planned IT-integrated township will feature residential, commercial, sports, and healthcare facilities.
As per the order, Infopark will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the GCDA and initiate preparatory actions for land pooling, including feasibility studies, stakeholder consultations, preliminary surveys, master planning, and detailed project reports. Infopark will finance these initial activities, acting as the owner agency for the project, while the GCDA will implement the land pooling scheme on its behalf.
GCDA and Infopark will collaboratively submit a detailed proposal to the government within a year, post completion of land pooling formalities.
The order specifies that “Infopark must promptly complete the bylaw amendment process and transition into a corporate structure to legally facilitate ownership, development, and management of such a large-scale commercial project, as well as to engage in the necessary contractual IT agreements for the land pooling scheme.”
The land pooling method is a cooperative approach where landowners voluntarily combine their parcels to create a larger area, usually for planned urban development. Under this system, landowners transfer development rights of their individual plots to a designated authority that consolidates the pooled land, undertakes essential infrastructure development, and redistributes a portion of the enhanced value land back to the owners as developed plots. This way, landowners retain ownership of a portion of the developed land.
The order highlights that Infopark has been instrumental in promoting the land pooling model to the government and will continue to collaborate with the GCDA and other stakeholders to further this project.
Infopark CEO Sushanth Kurunthil stated to TOI that all obstacles have been cleared with the new order, and Infopark is poised to soon sign the MoU with the GCDA regarding this project.
