Latest news with #InfoparkKochi
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Infopark Kochi commended for ‘excellent performance' in GST payment
Infopark Kochi won commendation from the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance for its 'excellent performance' in GST payment during 2024–25 for the third consecutive year. The letter of appreciation, awarded by the central government to taxpayers with an excellent compliance record, was instituted in 2021 on the fourth anniversary of GST implementation in the country, said a statement issued by the Infopark authorities.
The Hindu
14-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
GCDA may become first local body to serve as appropriate authority for land pooling for a major project
Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) will be the first local body to act as an appropriate authority to make available land for a major project in the State under the land pooling rules, if and when it goes ahead with land pooling for the third phase expansion of the Infopark Kochi. The State Government order dated October 18, 2024, designated the GCDA as the appropriate authority for the proposed land pooling under Section 56 of the Kerala Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act, into which land pooling rules were incorporated through an extraordinary government gazette dated March 16, 2024. 'Though we have undertaken projects like Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road, which can be construed as executed through land pooling, this is the first time a local body is being designated as the appropriate authority under the land pooling rules,' said GCDA sources. Out of the 300 acres which the GCDA proposes to make available, 100 acres would be made available to Infopark Kochi, while the remaining 200 acres would be enhanced in value through infrastructure, and a portion of it would be returned to landowners, which is at the heart of the concept of land pooling. According to the Kerala Land Pooling Rules, 30% of the land would be used for commercial, industrial, and housing purposes, and the remaining land would be returned to landowners. The municipal corporation, municipal council, town panchayat, or village panchayat may, through a resolution, decide to prepare a land pooling scheme in respect of any part of the area within its jurisdiction. Once not less than 75% of landowners of the proposed land pooling scheme area give their consent, the appropriate authority may issue the final notification for the drafting of the scheme. However, it is mandatory that the landowners who decline to give their consent should also be included in the scheme. Even if the consent is not forthcoming, the appropriate authority may, with the approval of the government, take an appropriate decision with regard to the scheme. Landowners with plots not less than five hectares in municipal corporations, seven hectares in municipalities, and 10 hectares in panchayats can apply to the appropriate authority for inclusion of their plots in a land pooling scheme in their areas.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Infrastructure gaps delay liquor service at Infopark Kochi despite Kerala's new permit rule
The Infopark Kochi campus is unlikely to serve liquor anytime soon, despite the Kerala government permitting it in government-controlled or owned Information Technology (IT) Parks, due to infrastructure shortcomings. Last week, the Kerala government notified the Foreign Liquor (5th Amendment) Rules, inserting a provision for the issuance of Foreign Liquor Information Technology Park Licence with an annual fee of ₹10 lakh to developers of IT parks. The beneficiaries include government-controlled/owned IT parks such as Techno Park, Info Park, Cyber Park, and parks operating on public-private partnership, such as SmartCity Kochi and Private Information Technology/Information Technology Enabled Services Parks. Only developers and not individual companies will be granted licences. Susanth Kurunthil, CEO of Infopark Kochi, told The Hindu that the campus has no land or separate building to spare to set up or operate licensed premises in either Infopark Phase I or Phase II in compliance with the licence provisions. 'We already have a long list of around 120 companies waiting for space on our campus. Our priority would be to set up IT buildings even if we were to find land,' he said. Among the 28 conditions set for the issuance of licence to developers is that 'the licensed premises should be a separate area inside the Information Technology Park premises, other than office space. The licensed room should have an independent entry and exit, other than the normal entry and exit of the connected organisation, of which the licensed premises may physically be a part.' Anish Panthalani, president of Progressive Techies, a combine of IT employees, agreed that space constraint was indeed an issue on the Infopark campus. 'Both the State government and Infopark Kochi have proposed a third phase for the IT park. The proposed licensed premises can be executed only if that materialises,' he said. Mr. Panthalani said serving liquor within the IT park premises will only 'improve' Kerala's profile as a preferred IT destination. 'Companies are facing difficulty in attracting quality hands here because of the limited avenues for leisure time activities, unlike in other IT destinations such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad or Noida. It also enables companies to host guests, including international clients, in a favourable ambience amongst like-minded social drinkers, since the facilities within the park would be inaccessible to the public,' he said. As per the notification, the licensed premises will be accessible 'only to the staff working in the Information Technology Parks and the official visitors/guests of the companies functioning in the Technology Park who shall have authorisation from the authority concerned in the Information Technology Park.'
