Date:21/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/07/21/stories/2006072102642100.htm

Back Madurai identifies two sites for IT parks

Our Correspondent

Madurai , July 20

The Madurai District Administration has identified two sites for establishing an IT park and TIDEL Park respectively in the outskirts of the temple city - 280 acres on Madurai Kamaraj University campus and 55 acres near the Mattuthavani Integrated Bus Stand. And, with the Electronic Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) agreeing in principle to set up an IT park, the process has been set in motion.

According to the ELCOT Managing Director, Mr C. Umashankar, the sites are conducive for the projects and steps would be taken to obtain special economic zone status for the two sites.

It would take at least two years for the proposed IT park to become fully operational. In a stopgap arrangement, in the mean time, buildings in the city would be either bought or taken on lease for accommodation of IT firms. Stating that there was enormous scope for the growth of the IT sector in Madurai, he said ELCOT has planned to make two films highlighting the salient features in terms of connectivity and facilities to attract the major players in the industry.

An IT event would soon be organised in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry and Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he said.

Mr Umashankar further said that ELCOT has identified Madurai for the establishment of a `Disaster Recovery Centre' as a back-up mechanism to the `State Data Centre' being set up in Chennai.