TCS to develop Mega-campus at Technocity

Kerala's most ambitious IT infrastructure project, the 450 acre, $ 1.5 Billion Technocity has officially taken off with its first technology tenant being allotted a massive 82 acre parcel at today's Cabinet meeting.

India's biggest IT firm, Tata Consultancy Services, plans to develop a gigantic Global Training Center, or rather a University, which can churn out 10-15,000 techies in each batch! To be developed along the lines of the 1.5 million sq.ft Infosys Mysore facility, the Technocity facility would probably be even bigger and incorporates accommodation for the 15,000 trainees in each batch. Looking at the numbers that TCS is talking about, about Rs 1500 Crores on the training campus alone, we could be looking at close to 5 million sq.ft of space!

Infosys Mysore

Image Courtesy: Genial.Soul @ Forum.Xcitefun

This is probably the best vote of confidence that Trivandrum could receive as a Knowledge Destination. TCS is one of the oldest technology investors in Trivandrum with a presence here for the past 15 years or so, including its massive 500,000 sq.ft Peepul Park. By choosing Trivandrum for its biggest facility in the world, TCS has reaffirmed the city's ability to sustain massive development in the knowledge sector. What is more, TCS has promised to convert the entire campus - 40 acres - at Technopark Phase I, into a massive Development Center. Work on this project, for which the company has received all approvals, would commence as soon as the land parcel at Technocity is allotted to it. With 26 acres of SEZ space, TCS would probably bring in 15,000 IT professionals to work at this facility.

And, with the competition between the desi IT giants - TCS, Infosys, HCL and UST Global - to set up campuses in Trivandrum hotting up, the global majors are not far behind! Just as this deal has been brewing over the last few weeks, there are at least a couple of even more significant developments due to be announced over the coming weeks, which could see two of the world's biggest technology giants pick Trivandrum for their first investment in India outside the metros! Looks like the tipping point for Trivandrum is approaching.

Needless to say, stay tuned! (Any bets on how much coverage this news will get in the local media? No?!!)

Greetings from Boston!

After what has probably been my longest period of absence from the blog over the past couple of years, I am back. And for the next year or so, this blog about Trivandrum  will be written from Boston. Or rather, Cambridge, Massachusetts to be exact.

The last couple of weeks were so hectic, desperately trying to settle in here at MIT before classes start tomorrow, that there has been little time even for email, let alone long blog posts. But now that that's over, we will be back up to speed soon, I have a couple of topics lined up already!

In the meantime, we have made it to 100,000 visits by all of you. As always, a big thanks to all my readers for being patient and attentive with me. With any worries about me vanishing in the Bermuda Triangle put to rest, let's get back to business as usual, folks. Stay tuned!