KCT setting up another Rs 35-cr IT park

Construction contract awarded; project likely to be completed by March

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`We already have applications from six companies of which two are from Japan.'

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Coimbatore , Oct. 2

Kumaraguru College of Technology (KCT) is in the process of setting up another IT park within its campus in an area of 2.3 lakh sq. ft.

The work on this estimated Rs 35-crore project is expected to commence in the first week of October. "Construction contract has been awarded and we expect the project to be complete by March next," its Joint Correspondent, Dr A. Selva Kumar, told Business Line.

Its first project, which houses IT giants such as Cognizant and Spheris was established in 2005 in a built-up space of 3 lakh sq. ft.

Space set aside

Dr Selva Kumar recalled that the space was then set aside for some start-up IT companies, which could use the facility as an incubator. "But the STPI Director, Ms Rajalakshmi, drew the attention of renowned IT players and Cognizant had no second thoughts about taking up 40,000 sq ft. Spheris came in later, but Cognizant has expanded its presence by taking up another 35,000 sq. ft three months back."

Considering Cognizant's request for additional space and the demand from other IT companies has driven KCT to allocate more space, and this time for establishing an IT park — a plug and play model. "We already have the application from six companies of which two are from Japan. Our preference would be to lease out the space to IT companies because of the park's proximity to the engineering college," he said.

Beneficial to students

Dr Selva Kumar pointed out that lot of students were benefited by the location because they got to do projects in these companies and the executive programmes could also be conducted within the campus.

"Connectivity is no issue as the STPI earth station is located close by and 6 ISPs have fibre terminations here," he said.

The 150-acre KCT campus is now using just 50 per cent of the area. "We still have another 70 acres. Future expansion possibilities are bright," was all he said when asked if the management would look at allocating that space for promotion of IT parks

Courtesy : The business line